DEAR ABBY: I have been at my job only about nine months, so I'm a little afraid to talk to my supervisor about a problem I'm having with a co-worker. I try very hard to do the best job I can, I'm dependable, and never miss work without a legitimate reason, while she wastes time, takes off for little or no reason, and "brown-noses" the bosses.
Abby, she lies to them about me, blaming me for every error she makes and accusing me of all sorts of things. It has become almost a full-time job defending myself, but if I don't, my supervisors may believe what she says, and I can't afford to be without an income.
I'm about ready to quit, but jobs are hard to find. Help! -- FED-UP LINE WORKER
DEAR LINE WORKER: Your supervisors can plainly see that you are doing a good job. They can also evaluate the performance of your co-workers.
If it's any comfort, Abraham Lincoln was also wounded by the arrows of his "enemies." This is what he had to say about it: "If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how -- the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.
"If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference."