Advice? Re: Horrible work colleague

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Aussie_Blogger

Aussie_Blogger

Aussie_Blogger

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I'm 30 years old and work with an 18 year old. This is his first job in his working career and be both were put on at the same time. He has since developed an attitude where in he believes he is my superior regardless of management making it clear that we are equals in our team.

He acts nice as pie when management are around but micro-manages and bullies myself and other (younger and more easily intimidated) staff members when left unsupervised. He is known for running myself and other staff members down behind our backs and I have been told by other staff members that he has said to them that he is aiming to have me fired so he can take my hours. I have approached management about his disruptive behaviour only to be told to "try and ignore him - he's just a kid who will grow up in time".

Other staff members are too frightened to go to management about their similar concerns with him - So I have no back-up. I have spoken to him myself over time and wasn't taken seriously. I have even lost my temper with him at work once which resulted in us both being given a formal warning. Management have made it clear that even though I am a valued employee that we will both be let go if we cannot get along at work.

I cant be seperated from him by taking a different role or time slot as we do not have the extra staff to cover the change.

I dont know if this bit of info helps but, he is the only male in an all-female day shift. We have one other male who works on the night shift.

Any ideas how I can handle this guy?
 
Interesting first post.

By any chance could his issue be with his peers being female?

As to how to deal with someone who thinks they're above their station I have found your superiors advice of try to ignore them effective. Or put them in their place calmly and as nicely as possible.

How exactly does he micromanage you?

Keep a log of what you feel is out of order then wait a week and read it again. Are you sure you're not overreacting in the moment and its building up. I'm guilty myself of taking something too seriously at the time but upon reflection realising it was actually myself being unresonable.
 
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How long have you been employed? makes quite a difference on how easily they can get rid of you and what action you can take.

If its a really big issue that affects a group of people then you could look into collective grievance action (its usually used against management however so not sure of the ins and outs against an individual) - this is quite a serious procedure and can easily backfire if the rest of your colleagues pussy out and/or you've been there less than 2 years but once its in motion its a fairly powerful thing.
 
Tell him where to go. Try to never do anything he asks you to do. I can't stand "wannabe" bosses like this, they just make the workplace really awkward when it should just be a simple case of "go here, do job to earn money, go home".
 
Wipe the rim of his coffee cup around your anus each morning.

You'll find it much easier to stare at him and smile blandly when he's whining in future
 
Do your job well and be courteous but firm. Surely with 12 more years of potential experience you have more to offer than him? Let that shine through
 
Find a way to humiliate him in front of all the female members of staff so that he's too embarrassed to turn up to work again. :p
 
Consider it your first career test and a very good learning experience. Dealing with ***** in business is a skill that's required often.
 
Management tells you to ignore him as he is clearly immature and needs to grow up. You ignore this instruction and end up getting a formal warning. You continue to risk losing your job all for this one guy.

Two conclusions...
1. You should grow up also.
2. You should admit your undying love for him at long last.
 
First of all why are you letting you, a 30 year old, be micro-managed by a 18 year old? If you're on equal terms then just tell him to naff off if he's out of line
 
If he's bullying you and others then take notes of each occasion and then put in a formal grievance with HR
 
Get in a room alone with him, then after a few minutes come running out crying, 'He touched me!'

Get the ****er fired.
 
Iv been in a job before with someone just like you said, albiet older

It took a while but in the end he was let go
 
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