Be more professional than bossy co-worker

DEAR AMY: I have had 20 years' experience with my company. I moved into a new area within my company two years ago. My co-worker, who has equal professional status, has been with the company for three years but has experience in only one rather specialized field. She moved into this office three weeks before I did and has become the "queen bee," so to speak. We're supposed to share responsibilities, but she takes over everything, and, although the boss assures me that he'll address the issue, he doesn't. She's also decided not to speak to me, which doesn't help. I've been looking for another job but haven't been successful. This makes for a very stressful environment. What can I do?Cranky Colleague

DEAR CRANKY: If you wanted to be dominated and socially isolated, you could just go back to high school (though a boss of mine once described the average workplace as "high school, minus the Clearasil").

The toxic situation in your office is interfering with your ability to work, and this should be your primary concern when you bring the issue to your supervisor.

Your co-worker's refusal to communicate with you, even about work projects, means she is being extremely unprofessional in a way that is sure to affect your productivity. If she won't play nice, then you should do what you can to regain a foothold in your own workplace by angling to take charge of projects - doing all the work yourself, if necessary.

Send her polite and professional e-mails asking detailed questions on matters you need to know about. If she won't reply or if she supplies you with misleading or inaccurate information, you'll have a paper trail leading back to her.

At the same time, you should look for opportunities within your company to join a different team. Your focus should be on your determination to get the job done.