How would you feel about this?

p_joker

I would just like peoples opinions on this please because I don't know if its just me,
My husband works in a super market he's been there for about 3 years now, he's a lovely man trusts everyone wouldn't be in a fight with anyone or anything maybe a little soft for his own good. Well over the last year or so they have taken on a few other blokes and I only hear what their like from my husband but one is what I can only describe as a bully. He calls my husband fatty and specky in front of everyone, calls him useless. I don't know if this is while the shop is open or closed, I go into the shop every now and then but to be honest If we need anything I normally ask my husband to get it so they would have seen me a few times but at least 2 of the men there have had rude things to say about me to my husband too, baring in mind I don't know them and they know nothing about me would you take this personally or would you just ignore them? its got to the point where my husband hates going to work when this guy is on.

floss2

Is this guy your OH's line manager? Your OH could either ask this person when in front of others not to speak to him that way (which I know may not be what your OH wants to do) or he could ask either his line manager or his HR department for a copy of their Dignity at Work policy and progress things on a more formal basis.

Good luck!

Plans_all_plans

I would be upset in your husband's position. Has he told the other guy to leave it out as the "joke's" getting old now and he's getting fed up with it? If not, I'd say he should do that first. It may just be that the other guy is trying to be 'matey' with him and getting it all wrong.

If your husband tells him and he doesn't stop, then your husband needs to tell his manager that either he needs to change his shifts so he's not working with this guy or, if they can't arrange that, then he expects the manager to have a word and get the other man to shut up.

Motivatedworkingmum

Well I think your husband has two options - report the guy to HR for bullying or play the guy at his own game and bite back. I would do the latter and make sure this guy knows that I would not take any carp from him. I'm sure he will then back off. If he then does not back off from the bullying I would then raise the issue with HR. Being bullied is not nice and should not be allowed to happen. Just in case, your husband should be making a note of the comments that are made to him, with the date and any other details he has and who has witnessed the comments.

p_joker

Thanks everyone, I would get him to tell the manager but from what Ive heard about him he is hardly ever about and doesn't get involved. For eg my husband doesn't get his contracted hours sometimes and he just said its tough and not much he can do about it.

LillythePink

I think then that your OH needs to give as good as he gets - not down to the other blokes level, but he can make him feel small by being bigger than him (in the intelligence stakes!)

meritaten

er - no matter what I think about my OH - anyone who abused him in MY hearing would be decked! and a complaint made to their line manager!
your OH is too nice for his own good! he doesnt have to actually SEE his manager - a complaint in writing will bear more wieght and he should keep a diary of what these asholes say. and get witnesses if possible. and if the manager doesnt take note - then copy all correspondence to head office or the owner!

Counting_Pennies_2

I know jobs are hard to come by at the moment, but has he thought about approaching another supermarket to see what work is there?

In the meantime I think he needs to raise a complaint about the behaviour. Banter is one thing, but this sounds like it is moving to a different direction.

I would suggest raising it first with the line manager, await the useless response you are expecting, and then get him to raise the complaint with HR.

In raising it both with the line manager and HR, I would suggest if they aren't prepared to look into the claims further that he would appreciate being rota'd on to a different shift to that of the other chap.

Bullying is unacceptable, all workplaces have to have policies on this, so do get DH to look up the policies, and take the action suggested in there. Often a 'family tree' chart is drawn up in the policy clearly stating the steps.

Another thought, does he have a colleague who is willing to back up what DH is saying? That will go a long way in helping him?

FelinePrincess

This sounds like a serious case of bullying - your husband need to speak to his line manager immediately, if his line manager doesn't think it's an issue then he should go over his head and speak to his manager. If your hubbys line manager does't take this seriously then he really shouldn't be doing that job in my opinion.

Hope it gets sorted asap

Mupette

As a customer, what about you complaining about the coments made about you

GemJar_2

If he says it to your husband in public, I'd get all the details of the latest one (time, date, what was said), I'd be writing to tesco as a furious bystanding customer (fake name, friends address) and telling them that you found their staffs bullying tactics to another staff member very upsetting and that you don't want to shop their again because of it. Give a full description of the bully and hope he gets disciplined or sacked. There are far to many good, decent people needing jobs that your husband could be working with. Sneaky and deceptive, I know, but if your husband doesn't feel he can say anything himself then I'd be looking at other options outside of the box. Good luck, I'm currently being bullied at work (sadly not in public), and stuck in a very similar predicament except my boss is the one bullying me, its truely awful.