Weird situation, need advice

[Marcia from MI]

Last month I took on a new job as an Independent Contractor and was very happy.  I am a court researcher and collect public record information for Insurance companies and banks.  Well all was going along well until just before Christmas when someone who works with the company I contract with started taking charge of everything and telling me how things are going to be done(different than the original info), now he is making big changes that I am uncomfortable with. 

The Owner of the company I contract with has been very good about answering all my questions and is even paying me more than was originally stated in the contract.  I like this woman and her managers because they are there when you need help.  Well, this guy, as it turns out is bad mouthing the owner and although I don't know what is up between them I am very uncomfortable with the situation.  Also when I sent the guy a PM with my schedule and info about the courts he claims he never received it(he did as I have the confirmation) and when I sent it again to him in a PM he told me not to bother him.   

Since the owner hired me and gave me the assignment I was told by one of the managers to work with her, but this other person appears to be the type who will stop at nothing to get rid of people who don't follow him.  I sent an email to the owner this morning with my latest spread sheets and told her the situation concerning my disability and she did respond.  She was very nice and thanked me for the time I put in helping them and that I should continue to send her the spreadsheets and my invoices for the work I have done. 

So here's my question do I say anything to the other guy before he asks for the paperwork or do I just let the Owner deal with him, I hope she does.  Another thing that bothers me is that this guy owns his own company that does the same thing my company does, but he uses our workers and I am cvoncerned that we will not get the pay that we deserve and earned because he said he is going to do the invoicing. 

Also his posts on the company message board treat everyone as if they are idiots and he is the only smart person alive.   I am so torn right now and don't know who to trust, any suggestions, or comments.

Thanks fr listening.

PS Eddie says no new animals have invaded my yard - they all fear me.

[Leslie]

Last month I took on a new job as an Independent Contractor and was very happy.  I am a court researcher and collect public record information for Insurance companies and banks.  Well all was going along well until just before Christmas when someone who works with the company I contract with started taking charge of everything and telling me how things are going to be done(different than the original info), now he is making big changes that I am uncomfortable with. 

The Owner of the company I contract with has been very good about answering all my questions and is even paying me more than was originally stated in the contract.  I like this woman and her managers because they are there when you need help. 

Since the owner hired me and gave me the assignment I was told by one of the managers to work with her, but this other person appears to be the type who will stop at nothing to get rid of people who don't follow him.  I sent an email to the owner this morning with my latest spread sheets and told her the situation concerning my disability and she did respond.  She was very nice and thanked me for the time I put in helping them and that I should continue to send her the spreadsheets and my invoices for the work I have done. 

So here's my question do I say anything to the other guy before he asks for the paperwork or do I just let the Owner deal with him, I hope she does. 

Also his posts on the company message board treat everyone as if they are idiots and he is the only smart person alive.   I am so torn right now and don't know who to trust, any suggestions, or comments.

Thanks fr listening.

PS Eddie says no new animals have invaded my yard - they all fear me.

I have used this phrase at work when I need my supervisor to assist me:  "Please join me in the dialogue with so and so so you can guide this to a more productive outcome."  What she does next will answer your trust questions.  If she helps ya out, she will gain a better understaning of your needs.  When I did this, I was in a situation where I was trying to work out a particvlaurly hairy problem, and the co-worker was so frustrated--and I needed her help--that she kept saying, "oh forget it, this is too hard" and giving me info piecemeal when I didn't understand the whole picture.  Of course my superviosr was well aware of her personality, but his assistance when I asked him for help added another layer of trust to our relationship.

Does that help?

[PattyInAK]

This does sound complicated.  My feeling is that you should let the owner know everything that is going on, and let her handle "him."  Also, I would document everything.....keep a daily journal. 

[cheryl186]

Yes this is very complicated and Patty is absolutely right...Documentation of Everything is the Key here.  Leslie's advice is very sound also.  The owner of the company is the one who hired you and that is the person you are accountable to unless they tell you otherwise.  So, let the owner know what is going on and how you feel about everything.  They need to deal with this man who is giving you the problem.  Continue to send the owner the paperwork you have completed.  The owner should step up to the plate and help you out. 

[PattyInAK]

Yes this is very complicated and Patty is absolutely right...Documentation of Everything is the Key here.  Leslie's advice is very sound also.  The owner of the company is the one who hired you and that is the person you are accountable to unless they tell you otherwise.  So, let the owner know what is going on and how you feel about everything.  They need to deal with this man who is giving you the problem.  Continue to send the owner the paperwork you have completed.  The owner should step up to the plate and help you out. 

Well put, Cheryl

[Mike]

This guy sounds like a class 1 bully.  I am assuming here that you report directly to the owner.  If this is correct, I would "nicely" inform Ivan the Terrible that until your supervisor informs you differently, you will continue to do your job as originally instructed.  By allowing him to upset you, you are allowing him to put you in the middle of his power struggle.

[Marcia from MI]

Thank you everyone for the advice.  After many sleepless nights and weighing the Pros and Cons I decided to tender my resignation with the company.  I went into the job with the understanding I would only work so many hours a week for Social Security reasons, but the company kept pushing more and more work on all  the Independent Contractors, but the pay was not up to par unless you worked at it full time.  So when I discovered the payment I was going to receive would barely cover my fuel costs I said enough and emailed the owner yesterday.

Now I have to double up on my mystery shopping to the end of the month to make up for the week of shopping jobs I canceled to work "the perfect job".  Ow well, its a good thing I love to shop and hey Eddie gets free dog food out of the deal.

Again thanks.