Threat of violence by colleague at work

SkittyKat

My other half has been in his job for nearly 10 years and over the past 2-3 years has been seated near a very angry (for no apparent reason) colleague. Over recent times this colleague has got angrier and angrier... any slight thing sets him off - the sound of someone else typing, or being on a phone call (business call - not personal), the everyday sounds of the business running, the squeak of a chair, a customer arriving, etc etc etc.

Just recently this man has started to 'shove' my partner out of the way if he's walking past him in the office. This has happened a few times now, but yesterday he shoved him so hard that my partner spilt a cup of water all over the floor.

They work at a small company (fewer than 10 employees) and although this guy is angry with pretty much everybody, he seems to have made a beeline for my other half and is frankly intimidating my partner for just being there and doing his job.

The owner of the company isn't a very good boss, sad to say, and I'm growing increasingly concerned for the health and safety of my partner. He's no pushover, but this atmosphere and bad feeling is really affecting his mental wellbeing, and now with the violence thrown in neither of us know where to turn for help and advice. So here we are (well me at any rate).

Any advice would be very very welcome! :beer:

nicechap

SkittyKat wrote: »

My other half has been in his job for nearly 10 years and over the past 2-3 years has been seated near a very angry (for no apparent reason) colleague. Over recent times this colleague has got angrier and angrier... any slight thing sets him off - the sound of someone else typing, or being on a phone call (business call - not personal), the everyday sounds of the business running, the squeak of a chair, a customer arriving, etc etc etc.

Just recently this man has started to 'shove' my partner out of the way if he's walking past him in the office. This has happened a few times now, but yesterday he shoved him so hard that my partner spilt a cup of water all over the floor.

They work at a small company (fewer than 10 employees) and although this guy is angry with pretty much everybody, he seems to have made a beeline for my other half and is frankly intimidating my partner for just being there and doing his job.

The owner of the company isn't a very good boss, sad to say, and I'm growing increasingly concerned for the health and safety of my partner. He's no pushover, but this atmosphere and bad feeling is really affecting his mental wellbeing, and now with the violence thrown in neither of us know where to turn for help and advice. So here we are (well me at any rate).

Any advice would be very very welcome! :beer:

Your partner should in the first instance tell his colleague that his behaviour is unacceptable and not to repeat it. As it’s gone on 2 years its become “acceptable” or normal way of working so your partner needs to formally complain (in writing/ email) to his boss setting out examples. If your partner sustains an injury from being shoved that needs recording in the accident book. Your parner’s Boss has a legal duty of care for his staff and should take action, investigate the complaint - presumably others have noticed the same behaviour.

TELLIT01

He needs to put all the detail of what has been happening in writing to his manager / owner of the company and ask him to address the situation. Say that he fears for the safety of himself and others. If the person in charge fails to act, and your partner feels forced to leave I would think he would have a strong case for constructive dismissal, but that would need to be taken up with a specialist employment lawyer.
If your partner is injured at work there would certainly be grounds for taking action against the individual, as well as the company if it can be shown that they were aware but did nothing to stop it.

DigitalSheppard

The employer has a duty to provide a safe working environment for their staff managers. All these incidents need to be documented and presented to him/her. If they fail to act, then that's the time to get an employer solicitor involved.

In the meantime, short term solution, but can your partner work from home? If there is a toxic presence in the company, and not dealing with it increases your other half's productivity, then this makes good business sense.

SkittyKat

Thank you all so much - your suggestions make complete sense and I feel that we have a way forward.

perfumeflower

Just to further add to the previous comments...

I’m not an employment expert (just life experience) but it may also be worth reading back on your partner’s contract as it should stipulate that one of the clauses/duties/obligations regarding any threatening or violent behaviour by any member of staff in the workplace is completely unacceptable so it could mean his work colleague is breaching his contract...

This also maybe worth looking into...

TBagpuss

I agree, put it in writing to the boss and expressly state that he feels unsafe.

Ifthe boss does not deal with it, or if the boss speaks to the mployee but the behaviour continues, your partner should then riase it as a formal grievance.

in the mean time, document it (not on a work computer he might not have obgoing access to) and confirm each further incident to the boss with a request that it is addressed (this coukld be via e-mail which your partner then forwards to his own oersonal e-mnail account so he has a record)

Unless he feels it would put him in immediate danger, he houls also address it with the coworker directly. This doesn't mean getting angy or agressive himself, just a quick "Hey, don't push me!" or "Please Don't shout at me" in the moment.