Dear Jewish Fairy Godmother:

Someone who doesn’t like me just got told her job is being relocated.
We’ve had an uneasy working relationship since she got here four
years ago. I tried to help her get settled in but she thought I was
trying to sabotage her because I’d applied for the job she got. I was
asked to apply so there’d be an internal candidate who got passed
over. That’s different from situations when outsider schlubbs apply for
something wired for an insider. Diana’s blaming me for the fact that
she has to choose between unemployment and moving to keep her
job. I have inside information about future changes I think would help
her decide. Do I try and tell her or keep my mouth shut?

Still Here

 
Dear Still Here:

You say there’s nothing you can say on a normal day that she’ll listen
to. So why at the time of the most traumatic job experience she’s had
in years do you think she’d listen so someone she thinks of as an
insider chits for someone who’d only likely to turn on you, try and get
you fired, or otherwise retaliate. In addition to which, even if she
doesn’t, what if your covert intelligence isn’t true?

 
You have three choices. The simplest: do nothing and let her make up
her own mind. The second: point her in the direction of whomever
gave you the info you think is relevant, saying simply, So and so may
know more than others are telling you. If she probes, say That’s all I
can say. The last is to go to your supervisor (or whoever asked you to
apply for Diane’s job in the first place). Ask that Diane be given full
information because her anxiety is poisoning morale in the
department. Say you want to keep your own head down and do your
work. Swear the corporate loyalty oath. Then shut up and let it go.