| Topic Name: |
Verbally Abusive Coworker |
| Message Name: |
Keep a Log... |
| Date Posted: |
06/09/2004 |
| In Reply To: |
I am a new hire and had to ask my coworker, who is handing over his project to me, a question. He didn't let me finish or get a word into the conversation, and then started screaming at me in front of our peers. He always wants to leave early, and today was no different. Having a question five minutes before his departure any other time is something I would normally save for the next day; however, this was an emergency and only something he would know---as a new employee, I would not.
When my shift ended, I went to my car and started crying. This is something I have never done, but I was so humiliated in front of my coworkers. As a new hire from a corporation into a government setting, I am having an already hard-enough time adjusting...advice on how to handle this? |
| Message: |
Word Diva:
My advice to you is to keep a detailed and dated log of each event that has occured. Update this log whenever this individual does something inappropriate. As far as helping him, I agree that answering a question to help him can put a positive spin on the situation. I would not, however, go out of my way to help this individual. Your goal with this person should be to behave in a manner which is both diplomatically and strategically poilte.
I was in a very similar situation in my current job and the individual had no regard for work ethic or proper office behavior. I kept a log of each incident and, after a certain point, escalated the issue to senior management. In the end, the result was in my favor, in part (I think), because of the detailed log.
Good luck!
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