Is this bullying? Harrassment?

DVardysShadow

foxwales wrote: »

... You need to have formal chats with both A and B to lay down clear guidelines about what behaviour is acceptable and what is not and raise any issues relating to work impacted performance.

B should not have a formal chat unless it s clear that it is 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other.

ceridwen

hcb42 wrote: »

I'd knock their heads together;) , sounds like the stuff of playgroup if some of it wasn't so serious

But why would anyone do that?

It sounds like its one of them that is creating trouble - and the other is just unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end.

Knock one head - and one head only - ie the perpetrator.

If I were the one being harassed like this - then I would expect my supervisor to deal with it and stop this troublemaker in their tracks. If I were Person B I would certainly not expect to have to do anything at all myself to stop Person A from being such a nuisance. I would expect pure and simple to get on with my job - with all obstacles to doing that sorted out - such as Person A's behaviour removed (by Person A being given such a rollocking that they didnt say a peep against me after that). It IS possible - I've been upset with a supervisor being too weak to stop a troublemakers efforts before now and not been happy about having to go higher to get this dealt with myself. When I DID go higher - then my supervisor was told to "cut out being so weak - and be firm with the troublemaker" and they finally were and the troublemaker has obviously been told not to come anywhere near me/say anything against me/etc finally.

It really is sufficient sometimes for a supervisor to treat a troublemaker like a naughty child and give them a "right bollocking" and that will do the trick - rather than going through all sorts of official "rules" on sorting them out - whilst the troublemaker carries on happily creating trouble. People like this are sometimes nothing but adult-size "unruly children" and the best thing is to treat them as exactly that FIRMLY.

Good on you O.P. for not just sitting back and letting them get on with their troublemaking.

coldstreamalways

Thank you all. I have spoken to HR and am awaiting advice on the first step. BTW, I did think my office was secured because I wasn't aware of the existence of a second key. Live and learn. The book is now locked in my filing cabinet which is locked in my office. I don't have enough fing cabinet space to secure all of my confidential information in this way though but the second key is now in my possession.

I desperately don't want to be a weak LM but I'm finding this situation particularly stressful. Thanks again

Any

Good on you OP.
It seems A is on power trip, trying to hide their own insecurities.

Going into your office is unheard of and you can discipline on that line alone - I would!!

Good luck with it. We used to have one like this at my old job and she was constantly on power trip against new comers - who were constantly new because no one stayed!!!!

Manager didn't want to really have to deal with it so started employing people on their ability to withstand it rather then their ability to do the job... Not good really.

Savvy_Sue

coldstreamalways wrote: »

the second key is now in my possession.

In our office, I'd want someone else to have that second key in a secure place, in case you fall under a bus (or trip over a recycling bin!) and are unexpectedly out of the office for some time! Obviously needs to be someone who can be trusted not to give it to anyone else.

coldstreamalways

Ok, I have given it to someone else who I trust with my life and who ironically is the most junior staff member but who has demonstrated absolute loyalty.
So much to think about when you're a boss isn't there? My dad still phones me at half nine asking me what I'm doing *sigh*.

It's sad to think that some people thrive on making others unhappy, why do they do it? Feeling beter now as a: I'm on holiday til Monday and b: I have taken steps towards a solution.

Thank you again.

ohreally

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Ok, I have given it to someone else who I trust with my life and who ironically is the most junior staff member but who has demonstrated absolute loyalty.
So much to think about when you're a boss isn't there?

Isn't there an organisational document which stipulates the keyholder posts?

ceridwen

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Ok, I have given it to someone else who I trust with my life and who ironically is the most junior staff member but who has demonstrated absolute loyalty.
So much to think about when you're a boss isn't there? My dad still phones me at half nine asking me what I'm doing *sigh*.

It's sad to think that some people thrive on making others unhappy, why do they do it? Feeling beter now as a: I'm on holiday til Monday and b: I have taken steps towards a solution.

Thank you again.

Congrats on starting to get this situation under control.

As to why some people thrive on making others unhappy - if I knew the answer to that one I'd be a rich woman. It came as a bit of a shock to realise that there are indeed peeps who do seem to derive some sorta perverse enjoyment from this - but its a sad fact of life that there are people like it:(

CFC

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Ok, I have given it to someone else who I trust with my life and who ironically is the most junior staff member but who has demonstrated absolute loyalty.

.

Give it to another line manager or a senior support staff or similar, not to one of your employees.

If there is really no alternative to giving it to one of your staff, have them sign a document stating that under no circumstances are they to use the key themself or allow others to have it or use it and that in your absence they should give it to another manager to use if needed. You MUST cover yourself when dealing with confidential information.

good luck and post again if you need more advice.