Work Colleagues

fa123

What is the best way to deal with awkward, petty, big for there boots, work colleagues?

Recently I have encountered a lot of the above from one paticular co worker, and I just dont know whats best in dealing with these sorts of people.....Im not a rude person/aggressive but I totally snapped today and gave this co worker a good few truths which he needed to hear.

Can anyone offer any advice? Have you been in similar situations?

CFC

Your first port of call should be to explain the problem to your line manager and ask for their assistance and support in resolving the issues. Be careful not to 'deal with it' without involving your manager - otherwise you can be made out to be the one with a problem...

fa123

I have tried this got no where was told to sit down and discuss it privately with the co worker and it felt as though this manager didnt really care....

AnonymousForObviousReason

Obviously you should rise above such things and just ensure you're doing the best job you can. :A

How did 'snapping' work out, did it make a difference? As the sensible CFC said you should let your manager know, perhaps take them to one side next time you're in and say "Don't know if you've heard but I had a stern talking with X yesterday. They are constantly doing x, y and z - I think some people are plotting murder."

I did start typing some suggestions on how to cut them down publicly but you'll likely just make a bad situation worse - as good as it would feel.

Edit: Just saw you went to manager who ignored the situation. Try again but if that doesn't work try the following:

awkward/petty - go for repeating back to them what they've said or indicated as a disbelieving question. "So you're saying that you can't do X because you feel it's not in your job description?". Also play to the audience in the room, raise your eyes to the heavens, pull faces behind their back.

big boots I'm guessing is an ego problem. Next time they say something, just laugh and say something like sometimes I think you actually believe that rubbish you spout.

Don't constantly do this because you're just become annoying to your coworkers, you're trying to take them with you not alienate them.

InaPickle

I sympathise, but it's hard to be specific without specific examples.

In the case of what happened today pull your line manager to one side and explain why what happened happened before (s)he gets the wrong idea about what happened.

There is one very unpleasant girl where I work. She has caused multiple problems for multiple people. One of my colleagues collared her in the aftermath of a particularly unpleasant incident in front of out line manager so that she couldn't say that things which hadn't been said had been said, but also so that she knew she couldn't mess with the girl telling her how it was, either.

HTH

fa123

I actually felt quite good after snapping at this nasty piece of work. After some time I did feel quite bad because its just not me! The problem is this particular co worker does not work in the same department as me although we work in the same store. I was drinking my bottled water when he said to me I hope that isnt a bottle of water I have just seen you drink. I said well it is and what will you do about it and he started being rude so I snapped and totally gave him what for. He inturn went back to his manager who gave him a policy to SHOW ME which states no eating or drinking on shopfloor, which really !!!!ed me off. As our work place is quite relaxed (allow water) and he himself has done numerous things which is far worse than me drinking water, it really was the last straw and after that it as been a horrible environment to work in we have totally ignored one another....

InaPickle

fa123 wrote: »

I actually felt quite good after snapping at this nasty piece of work. After some time I did feel quite bad because its just not me! The problem is this particular co worker does not work in the same department as me although we work in the same store. I was drinking my bottled water when he said to me I hope that isnt a bottle of water I have just seen you drink. I said well it is and what will you do about it and he started being rude so I snapped and totally gave him what for. He inturn went back to his manager who gave him a policy to SHOW ME which states no eating or drinking on shopfloor, which really !!!!ed me off. As our work place is quite relaxed (allow water) and he himself has done numerous things which is far worse than me drinking water, it really was the last straw and after that it as been a horrible environment to work in we have totally ignored one another....

While I can understand that such a nosy jobsworthy is supremely irritating, be careful that you aren't the one putting you neck on the line. The girl I was referring to had annoyed numerous (i.e. most of) the people who work there, but if you are the one seen to 'rock the boat' and all the others just whinge in the background, you could end up being seen as the troublemaker, even though that is not the case. If such an incident occurs again I would suggest that you tell him that if your behaviour is so against the rules to mention it to YOUR line manager (who from what you've said will realise EXACTLY the type of person (s)he is dealing with ), and appropriately ignore it.

Just make sure you don't labelled the troublemaker.

CFC

fa123 wrote: »

I have tried this got no where was told to sit down and discuss it privately with the co worker and it felt as though this manager didnt really care....

That's fine, you move onto step number 2 - tell your manager that you would like him to set up a brief meeting (in work time) between you and your co-worker so that you can try to resolve the issue. You can ask him to attend as well to offer mediation, but it doesn't sound as if he will.
The point being that if the manager sets up the meeting, he's involved whether he likes it or not. He can hardly avoid setting up the meeting for you though as he's told youo to discuss it privately with your co worker so it needs to be at a time where he can spare you both.....

fa123

This is it I dont want them thnking im the trouble maker. As previously in my work history I have witnessed the bad ones are that literaly get away with murder. This particular co worker has done the same with other workers in the past and it was nearly heading to a formal complaint and he had backed down....seems like its my turn now. But what got to me was the hypocrisy, people just do not preach what they teach.

Why is there always one who likes to make your working life a misery

fa123

CFC I like that idea without being rude/offensive how do I go about talking to this co worker? We ignored one other for the rest of the day and I really want to be the bigger person and try to sort this out, but I really dont think there will be a change

InaPickle

fa123 wrote: »

This is it I dont want them thnking im the trouble maker. As previously in my work history I have witnessed the bad ones are that literaly get away with murder. This particular co worker has done the same with other workers in the past and it was nearly heading to a formal complaint and he had backed down....seems like its my turn now. But what got to me was the hypocrisy, people just do not preach what they teach.

Why is there always one who likes to make your working life a misery

Everyone gets it - the secret it learning how to deal with it. Be polite, but don't take any !!!!!!. If anything potentially problematic needs saying (as in my previous example at my place of work), make sure it's said in front of an independant witness, preferably a superior. Don't be intimidated as you know full well that everyone else thinks the same, but equally don't be the one who cops the flack for standing up for yourself if the others won't as well.

Easier said than done, I know, but best of luck! :beer: