TV's 'The Office' Has Nothing On This Toxic Office

Dear Harlan,

My boss and a co-worker have been in a relationship for two years, and they don't bother hiding that fact too well. She is 17 years older than him and is very controlling. To top it off, she is very unpleasant to begin with, and he seems to be the only person in the office who likes her. Recently, her favoritism has reached a fever pitch. I asked him to help me out with some work, and a few hours later I received a long and demeaning

e-mail saying that his man-hours are only to be used for his specific job description. And just yesterday, she flipped out when a co-worker asked him to drive a client back to his hotel. It's also upsetting that he doesn't stand up for us when she goes on her tirades. Their relationship is disturbing, oedipal and now it's turning the office environment toxic. What actions can I take against this?

Toxic Worker

Dear Toxic Worker,

So, your boss is controlling (some bosses can be that way), your co-worker gets bossed around (some guys like that, call it a fetish) and your boss has favorites (don't we all?). So, the problem? Not all co-workers will support you, some bosses can be horrible bossy people and some offices are toxic. The most important thing is that you get your work done and keep a written record should your job ever become an issue. If you don't like how your co-worker talks to you, nicely offer him a better way to approach you. Office politics can be unfair, office romances aren't always appropriate and office drama can be part of being in an office. If you just can't take it anymore, approach your boss and be prepared to approach her supervisor. But before you do any approaching, make sure you have an exit strategy. Approaching a boss who enjoys bossing people around can make you her new favorite target.