So… how would you handle this situation?

I work with a girl, let's call her Heather, who is very very odd. She has personality conflicts with just about everyone, and does things like go to the bathroom every hour and have phone conversations in there. One of my two bosses really likes her for some reason; perhaps because he's an odd duck too.

About six weeks ago the other boss asked me what I thought of Heather. "For what?" I wondered. She said "leadership." Well, I guess my face gave me away, because she said "that good, huh?"

Trying to be diplomatic, I carefully explained that people in reading had had a lot of angst during a project where she was concerned because apparently her table leaders were "out to get her" and she switched tables 3 times in 6 weeks. I also voiced concern that she'd decide that scorers at her table were also out to get her and demand that they be moved, too.

My boss replied, "Yeah….[other boss] really likes her, but I wasn't thrilled by the idea of using her to begin with. We don't need someone bringing along personality conflict potential like that."

When I left I asked one of the other people in my position, and his response was "Heather? Are you $^&@ing kidding me?" So it clearly wasn't just me who felt that she was not someone we'd be fortunate to work more closely with. I think he told her similar things, but I didn't hear.

Fast-forward to today. A few of us, including Heather, got called in to do some clean up. She asked me if our boss picked people he liked, or any warm bodies. I looked about the group and gave my honest opinion, which is that he (mostly) picked people he liked.

So then she asked if he likes her, what else she'd have to do to become leadership, and wondered why she isn't being used for the next project. Can I get an eek?

Obviously I wasn't going to tell her that our other boss had a couple of us confirm that she was unsuitable for the position. Half truths are handy, so I told her things that are true: he only picks people working on his projects, and his next one isn't until November, so she'd have to get on the other boss' good side too. Okay, that's not going to happen, but it's not going to make her feel better to know that.

And to be honest, I don't really feel like I was giving her false hope. He'll probably make her leadership in the spring, over everyone's objections. Sigh. Maybe she'll find another job by then…