Workplace Bullies

[Parris]

Due to potential ramifications, I had to delete this post.

 

[LukkyKnight]

Pragmatically, Parris, I'd say it's up to the person who does her reviews to start from scratch ASAP, calling her in to say something to the effect of "I witnessed {insert specific behavior here} today and I need you to know that it is inappropriate, and that it has to stop." Document that, in a summary of the meeting, then adhere rigorously to the forms from there on out. If the objection is "Never heard an objection to it before..." the reply is "Well, the fact that it wasn't addressed doesn't mean it's acceptable. It has to stop or the next time we meet you and I will be discussing consequences. Is that clear?" Once a pattern is documented your personell types should be able to handle it.

 

[Cherry]

It doesn't sound like she would be open to constructive criticism. She also sounds like the type to be vindictive to anyone who offered constructive criticism.

Maybe, if a group of you went to management and insisted that something be done about her attitude and behavior? Regardless of how these things were overlooked by a prior boss, in today's office environment she can be judged for current innapropriate, non-productive issues.

Let the big time salaries handle it ... and save yourself the trouble.

 

[Parris]

Believe me, the management is aware of the situation and is attempting to handle it in exactly the means you've both described. By the way, did you both notice how you naturally assumed the secretary is a female? Maybe it's wrong of me but perhaps the fact that the secretary is a guy is why the situation feels more threatening.

~Parris

 

[LukkyKnight]

By the way, did you both notice how you naturally assumed the secretary is a female?

Touche'.

Don't suppose you'd buy that men never act like this, eh? ~LOL~
This is why guys shouldn't be secretaries... how's that?

 

[Mensa]

Don't assume

Funny, but reading your thread, I assumed it was a guy because it didn't sound like female behaviour. Unless it was KillerMuffin, that is.

It sounds like this guy could "go postal" if you don't handle him just right.

 

[RainbowBright]

I'm kind of hoping to hear different perspectives on how to deal with a bully in the workplace but even if no one bothered to read all this or has any advice to share, at least I better having vented.

If the buly wont be nice, tell hi smomy.

Here, have a flaower.

 

[Cheyenne]

I assumed female, too. Guilty as charged. But how you handle it officially is the same whether the employee is male or female.

The one time I had to deal with an employee very much as you described, senior management wasn't doing ANYTHING to get rid of him. I went to the person's boss and told him I'd given this guy's picture to my family. If anything happened to me, they were instructed that this was probably the guy who had killed/hurt me. They were instructed to turn the picture over to the police (although my brother would have hunted him down instead) and then sue my company for every cent they could get since the company was doing nothing to protect me.
Funny, soon after that they started to document his behavior. But before he could be fired, he DID eventually go nuts, yelling and screaming and threatening me (hitting a window rather than me though) on the last day he was in the office before he left, never to return. He had mental problems, and was dangerous. I showed no fear when facing him, and it drove him crazy. Literally, I think.

It sounds like everything that can be done is being done to properly document and get rid of the person. In the meantime, avoid him as much as possible.

 

[Cherry]

Yikes, Cheyenne! That sounded terrible!

Hard to believe that management doesn't act quickly after the first complaint. You would think that they would be more protective, if not for their employees, at least to protect the company from litigation.

Glad that it has ended for you without harm done.

 

[Demian]

Sorry, be more to the Point

I now Know texas iz huge

Something about corporate taking almost everything?

 

[Cheyenne]

Yikes, Cheyenne! That sounded terrible!

Hard to believe that management doesn't act quickly after the first complaint. You would think that they would be more protective, if not for their employees, at least to protect the company from litigation.

Glad that it has ended for you without harm done.

I watched for him for months afterwards, when I knew he was still in the area.

It was the threat of litigation, my family suing for my death, that finally got them to move. The answers I got at first when I complained about him were laughs. They couldn't believe that I was actually afraid of what this guy was capable of doing. They didn't see it at all that he was nuts. He actually had to flip out for them to believe.

 

[Cherry]

The answers I got at first when I complained about him were laughs. They couldn't believe that I was actually afraid of what this guy was capable of doing. They didn't see it at all that he was nuts. He actually had to flip out for them to believe.

Thank goodness that he DID flip out, before he could hurt you!

Did you make the point (that they were lax in taking you seriously) with management afterwards?

Sometimes people in managerial positions try to be impartial to a fault. Your situation would have been a good learning process for those involved to learn how to weigh impartiality with credibility ... and, never to take risks with an employee's safety.

 

[zantac666]

Also could it be that he is being over worked being the onle sec. among several people. Good luck hope everything works out.

 

[Guest]

I know just how you felt, Cheyenne. This guy isn't the first bully I've dealt with, unfortunately. I've had to fight bullies all my life. (My older brother and grandmother were both bullies.) I agree with you that not showing fear is the way to go. It makes them totally flip out because the head trip for a bully is exerting control over those around him or her. The person they can't control is the person who presents the greatest threat to the little world they live in. The thing is, I'm just tired of the fight.

Because of my experience dealing with bullies, I was the first on staff to recognize the secretary's Jekyll and Hyde personality nearly two years ago. Since then, I have been doing exactly what has been suggested here, ignoring him outright. The reason I've been drawn into the fray now is that everyone on staff is being interviewed about interactions, complaints, etc. as part of the documentation process. I'm now being told that ignoring the behavior is no longer an option and all staff members must inform the secretary when his behavior is unacceptable.

This is a secretary who won't answer the phone because he says it's a waste of his time (read: insubordinate). Trust me, constructive criticism isn't going to fly. I'm afraid the only card to play is the "control" card. The less this guy feels in control, the more likely he'll be to start re-calculating his odds to succeed in controlling others and hopefully bail out without engaging in any sort of violent behavior. Still, there is the possibility he will, indeed, go postal.

~Parris

 

[Parris]

Well, I was logged on but the thing timed out on me.

~ Parris