Q: I work with someone in the same area of customer service. There are two of us because of the load. She is really good with talking to customers, while I am really good with responding in writing to written complaints. We were both supposed to share and handle every aspect of the job. What resulted was we ended up switching and she gave me her written complaints and I gave her the recorded calls to respond to.

She is personable and chatty to get things done, and I get right down to business in the letters, so I end up handling many more people than she does. I want to talk to our boss about how we switched tasks and how it breaks down in the numbers, but my co-worker will know I went behind her back. What should we do?

A: You and your co-worker should first discuss the situation with each other. Splitting the job as you two do sounds like a logical and more efficient split in the tasks, since writing skills and verbal skills use a different ability. Talking to your co-worker shows you respect her and the arrangement you've made together. Tell her you want to let the boss know because if either one of you leaves your jobs, it will not be easy to establish this setup with a new employee. You won't know what that employee likes and is good at doing. Reporting it to the boss may convince him or her to formally change the two jobs. You will have to leave work quotas and wages up to the employer, but letting the boss know will protect both of you if the company is planning on making job changes in the future.

VENOMOUS PERSONALITY TYPE FOOLS ALL

Q: I befriended a woman in real estate who was very attractive and seductive to all. I'm attractive, but nowhere to her level. What I wasn't aware of in the beginning was that she was like the notorious Black Widow spider. I eventually heard her make statements about sales that showed me she was unethical and didn't care about it. When I asked others in real estate, they said I could report her to the state real estate association, but I didn't want to because she would know that I had done that. She's a very successful liar and I didn't want to take a chance on what might result. This is not the kind of person you want as an enemy.

She uses her looks and body to get into people's good graces, and she was making a lot of money, so I guess I was lured in as well. She suggested I work for her, which I thought would be a great way to learn the business, but I would have been honest and ethical. When it came time to hire me, she changed her tune and told me she wanted all the money for herself. It was perhaps the only time she was honest. After that, I know, I was crazy, but we went on a short vacation together. I watched the spider crawl into action in front of men. She was fascinating but scary. We dropped each other as friends, but I want to know how to spot and avoid such a person in the future. I'm thankful I didn't leave my job based on her offer.

A: Your mistake was giving her a chance once you saw her values. Although psychologists hesitate to classify such a person, you are describing what is known as a psychopathic personality. Look how many people Bernie Madoff fooled. Although psychiatrists and psychologists have a difficult time classifying such personality types, you will want to avoid these types at the first sign their values don't match with yours. These people don't change and are devoid of true feelings for others. This woman might be entertaining and good at attracting clients, but this is not a person you want to work for because you will be left taking the responsibility if anything goes wrong. Lucky for you she dropped you, just in case you think about trying to befriend her again.

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