Well, Delly, I'm neither a psychologist nor a lawyer, but I've had to learn quite a bit about human nature and how to manage very difficult situations prompted by extremely difficult people. Not saying I'm an expert, but I have triumphed on more than one occasion.
Many years ago I took up a job in what was to me a new part of the country; this was to be a really promising career move. Over a few months, I discovered that there was another woman in that Institution who had thought my job was hers by rights, but hadn't been interviewed as the Director of the Institution didn't think she was suitable. She was working in admin and my job was academic. She had a 'thing' for my own Line Manager, apparently they had been inseparable, so she 'persuaded' my LM to create a second post (in effect half my own). The LM then 'persuaded' the Director to appoint her (I shall call her Madonna - not her real name). The Director was a rather weak person and gave in for the sake of peace. By then, there was a new Deputy Director who didn't know the history to all this, and was even weaker.
Problems Problems. I was side-lined very quickly so had to watch how I was treated and the work I took up. I politely and firmly insisted on keeping to my job description, which was quite detailed.This annoyed both Madonna and the LM.
The Institution was spread over several sites, and it reached me that Madonna was slandering me (some of what she was claiming was seriously slanderous) in the main building, where she had worked in admin for many years. As I was very new to that Insitution and to that town, I had to be very careful. I didn't know anyone, was in the process of buying a house and could not up-sticks and move. I made a point of getting to know colleagues on the main site and being friendly and helpful, without saying anything critical of Madonna. Sure enough, her behaviour became more desperate as mine remained diplomatic, friendly and supportive.
On the site where Madonna and I were stationed, she became extremely provocative. It was clear she was trying to make me boil over so she could make a formal complaint, so I did the opposite, i.e. was consistently pleasant, cheerful and helpful. It occurred to me that as I was very much a new girl, people would not come to my defence unless they could see the situation getting really really nasty, with her behaviour going over the top and my behaviour being consistently reasonable and co-operative. In was in my interests to encourage Madonna to get worse, painful though that was. So, whenever she was foul mouthed, I would offer to make her a cup of tea, or do something else kind for her. She hated being in the same room as me so as soon as she went into a side rooom, I would find some excuse to go in there too, e.g. to photocopy something. She would growl and flounce out again back to her desk. So I would innocently return to my own desk, which would prompt her to growl even more loudly and go off downstairs. I would remain detached.
It worked. A colleague from the main site phoned me up and advised me not to turn my back on Madonna if she had something heavy in her hand (yes, really). Eventually, staff on the main site complained to the Director that matters were getting out of hand, and that the problem didn't lie with me as I was being reasonable. They were revising their views of Madonna, and could see the same level of nastiness getting out of control across the Institution. There was an investigation and a meeting prompted by senior staff. I was exonerated in front of the shop steward; Madonna and our Line Manager were both given written warnings. Madonna was moved to a different site under a different LM.
I then had to work similar psychology on my LM. He played some very silly games, so I stuck to my job like glue and was helpful and supportive of him. I had to behave to him as though I liked him as, of course, if people think we like them they are more likely to like us, so we can then build a mutually helpful relationship. It was painful but it worked. After a year we had a decent working relationship and he actually apologised for his earlier treatment of me.
I'm not suggesting that Alibobs' colleagues are anything like as underhand as the people I've known, but similar psychology might help. Assuming the Asian colleagues are nice, shy people who are just a bit immersed in their own culture and protecting themselves, friendliness could bring them out of their shells. And if the Line Manager is trying to sideline Alibobs, then she will see how good A is at getting on with colleagues of all cutlures and will not be able to claim anything against her.
Chin up everyone; keep going.
