Should I confront/report workplace Bully

buster_Brown

Hi all.

I work in the public sector, and over the past few weeks I and several other members of staff (all clerical grades) have observed a member of staff who is at a higher grade acting extremely disrespectful, rude and abusive to another member of staff (also clerical) who works under him, the victim has acknowledged that they feel his behaviour is unacceptable but for reasons I can only describe as cowardice (I dunno that may be too harsh) is unwilling to either stand up for himself or report it as he doesn't want to rock the boat and probably feels nothing would be done if he did.

I know the classic reaction is "head down nothing to do with you keep walking" but the aggressor is an extremely unpleasant person, the stereotypical deeply embedded public servant who knows what he can get away with and it really annoys me to think someone is bullying someone and getting away with it.

I've discussed with the other staff who have witnessed his behaviour and I want to confront him, tell him I don't appreciate his behaviour and he should treat others with respect and decency, I know he will react negatively to this as I am a lower grade than him and he has shown many times his disdain to people who aren't "on his level".

Best case scenario: he pulls his neck in

Worst case scenario: he makes love worse for the poor guy under him.

Advice, comments?

Thanks.

RoTelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058419248/should-i-confront-report-workplace-bully

First of all you've defined the problem in the Civil Service this idea of grades, I am a CO therefore we sit at the CO table while the HEOs sit over there, TBH even when I was in the CS it was an old hat class system, fine we have people we report to but outside of that I don't really care if you are a CO or a HEO.

Also I have seen it work the other way round, a HEO who was quite blunt but actually in the end looked out for everyone was bullied because of her bluntness, she report those and they were demoted (SO on probation was moved back to CO) or moved to different areas.

Jim2007

The worse case scenario is that you find yourself being disciplined for defaming a supervisor!

You should encourage and support your colleague to go forward with a compliment. But if they don't, you have nothing and you leave yourself open to the supervision coming after you! When you go after someone like this you have to bury them so deep they have no chance of coming back. Otherwise all you do is make a bad situation worse.

Mrs OBumble

Read your organisation's grievance policy, and follow the approach laid out there.

(I very much doubt that it will suggest that you speak to the alleged perpetrator yourself. )

caviardreams

A complaint can only come from the person who has been victimised. I would suggest you talk to the person you perceive as being bullied and offer to be a witness if they require it at any stage during a formal process and show your support in that way.

It may give them the comfort that they will be more likely to be believed if they can evidence it through witnesses and other documentation.

Crakepottle?

Keep a log of incidents which you have witnessed, times, dates, locations and the exact words said. No opinions or judgements, just facts. Don't tell anybody what you are doing. Hopefully you will not need to present it. Support your colleague by being friendly and kind. Do not criticize the other party as this could backfire on you. Model this behaviour in the office and others may follow suit. Tread gently and gingerly. This type of dysfunction is endemic in certain milieux. Unfortunately colleagues can degenerate at times into the role of torture tourists, quietly relishing the panis et circenses a diversion in the banal workplace environment. Your concern is admirable.