| Topic Name: |
Verbally Abusive Coworker |
| Message Name: |
Verbally Abused by Co-Worker |
| Date Posted: |
06/10/2004 |
| 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: |
Regarding this coworker, what he did was totally inappropriate. You should not be humiliated in front of your coworkers since you did nothing wrong. They most likely were embarrased for you, especially if this is the employee's standard behavior. If that is so there is a problem in your department and your manager should be acting on it immediately since this could lead to workplace violence.
Your manager should ensure that you get to know your coworkers and vice versa. It is also your manager's responsability to make sure that you are trained in all policies, procedures, practices, and culture as well as what is expected of you. He/she is aware (or should be) that you are new to the public sector, which is very different from private industry, and should work with you on the culture and environment.
If you are taking over a project from a coworker then your manager should be meeting with you and coworker to go over the project details and status, and should make sure that coworker makes the project transfer smooth. After all, he/she has the ultimate responsiblity for all work done my his/her staff.
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