un happy with co worker

[lynny 0]

Can anyone advise me on how to handle a co-worker who has decided to make my life a work very unpleasant?

I have work for the same company for nearly three years and have always enjoyed it

My boss is really cool and will over look little things like clocking in 5-10 early or staying back 5-10 mins to finish any reports

This one co worker has always been able to stretch this to half a hour each way giving her 1 hr overtime each night, totally 5hrs a week no one has ever said anything and personally it never bothered me, I just do my work and go home

Anyway I had to do a budget for the big boss, which included overtime hours for each employee for the past 3mths

Well obviously this co workers overtime hrs showed up on the report and she got a warning, (we have the 3 strikes and your out policy at work)

And now she is determined to get me fired, and has told me it will happen

Twice reports that I have written for different clients have gone missing of my desks, minutes before the client is due (lucky I keep backups)

Twice a coffee cup has turned up on my desk (a big no no)

And today a huge report that has nothing to do with me was found on my desk

I do not know whether to complain to my boss or try and ignore it

Any advice would be great

[Mirorgate 0]

If the boss is as understanding and "cool" as you say, you definately need to let them know the situation. If it continues, start to escalate it to HR. That is classified as harrassment, and if allowed to flourish will have grave concequenses on the company. they will be forced to act on it and investigate.

[Nancy2015 2]

This is workplace harassment that would very well fall under "hostile environment" type.

You may want to talk to this nasty co-worker first, before you speak with your boss. If she doesn't cut it off, talk to your boss. If it doesn't get resolved after that, go to HR.

If you have any evidence of this harassment (like emails, or anything that supports your harassment claim), file it and keep it in case someone will ask you to prove this is really happening. If you have other co-workers who know about it and are willing to support you - great.

The company has to take care of it, otherwise you will have every reason to sue them, and I don't think they want it to happen.

[Otto 83]

Talk to your boss, tell him/her your concerned about what is going on. Not in a complainy way...but in more or less the way your wrote it above. I would also him/her to mention your conversation to the Big Boss.

Edited May 10, 2007 by Karin und Otto

[cartaverde 12]

Talk about that with your boss, definitely.

And if that does not help, then time to talk with the boss of the boss and/or HR.

I hope that situation gets sorted, it sucks to work where there is behavior like that ..

[broma25 2]

I agree with everyone else, speak to your boss, but make sure you do not make allegations that it is the other co-worker. Just say that you are concerned that X, Y and Z have happened and it appears that SOMEONE is trying to get you into trouble.

[PaulineA 1]

Sorry to hear about your situation. I would not say anything to your co-worker, accusations will only cause more hassle for you. Even if you were to ask in a nice way I think this person would take offence to whatever you were to say. I would say to your boss about the problems your having. Unless you have evidence to prove who is doing this then don't mention any names. Just tell your boss what has been happening. That way if anything serious happens he will be informed well before hand. Hope this helps.

[Sinergy 3]

shoot him/her....

j/k, talk to your boss. your boss should be able to take care of it.

[Ban Hammer 12,901]

you're being set up. maybe some video surveilance of your desk is in order

[homesick_american 1]

I have had some experience with this sort of harassment at two different companies. At both companies, my bosses said that they understood my frustration but since we were all adults they expected us to handle it ourselves. Neither case involved stealing things out of my desk, but one person did jam my office door so it would not open all the way, which was a health and safety issue.

I ended up leaving the first company where this happened to me because my bosses were unwilling to do anything about this person's harassment, and my complaining about it really only made me look bad even though I had no idea what I'd done to provoke it and I certainly never antagonized the guy.

I also ended up leaving the second company after working there for three years after the woman who was tormenting me took credit for work that I had done that secured the company a £5 million contract and saved about a dozen jobs. My boss acknowledged that she had no right to take credit for it, but did not say anything to her. Then, they passed out raises to the programmers but I didn't get one. I didn't even get a thank you. To me that was the final straw, so I quit and haven't looked back.

The point I'm trying to make is tread very carefully here. I wouldn't discuss this with the person harassing you because you may end up making it worse. Be careful mentioning it to your boss and HR because if you're not careful, you may be the one who ends up looking bad...and if her work is otherwise fine and she's not making a fuss but you're complaining all the time, you may be the one who ends up on the losing end of this...not her. Try to sort it out, but polish your resume at the same time. You may not get a satisfactory resolution here, and people like this woman rarely stop unless forced to. What it will probably come down to is she's going to have to leave or you will. Bosses hate being given ultimatums and if you burst in there shouting "it's her or me" then they may choose her. Just be careful.

[Robor007 0]

Find a time where it's just you and this person. Walk up to them, get right in their face, then tell them with a dead serious face and tone that the only thing stopping you from kicking the living ####### out of them is the fear of losing your job. Then ask them if they want to continue trying to get you fired. Then walk away. Might help to do the Robert De Niro 'got my eyes on you' (from Meet the Parents) motions in their direction from time to time.

Or talk to your boss.

Edited May 10, 2007 by Robor007

[boo boo 1]

Hello, everytime something "strange" or "out of the ordinary happens".....I would document it and then ask your co-workers politely about it....like "has anyone seen or took the reports that were on my desk" "is this someones coffee on my desk".......that way people around you will be aware of the foolishness that is going around and might be your second pair of eyes. If it continues, then I would get w/ the boss and show them your documentation, express your concerns, and just let them know that you wanted them to know and understand your concerns about the situation:)

[JODO 2]

It's time for you to have a "come to Jesus meeting" with your co-worker. Explain to him/her that you will not tolerate his/her unacceptable behavior and that you are simply there to do your job and would appreciate it if he/she behaves like a professional and stops making the work environment hostile. Lastly, lock up anything on your desk or put it in a secure file. No more leaving stuff on your desk with psycho employee of the month trying to sabotage you. Also, document, document, document and approach your "cool" boss immediately if the situation does not improve soon.

[Nizzy 1]

you're being set up. maybe some video surveilance of your desk is in order

That is such an awesome idea! No one can ignore that kind of evidence.

[almaty 19]

you're being set up. maybe some video surveilance of your desk is in order

That is such an awesome idea! No one can ignore that kind of evidence.

careful with that