Threats of violence in the workplace

Jonathan McCoy

Hello,

I would be grateful if somebody could give me advice on the following altercation I had with an employee at work today:

I work as a Health & Safety Officer with the company I am employed with. As part of this role I have at times to make decisions that some people JUST DONT LIKE.

I have been getting hassle from a particular employee and have had runins with him on a few occassions because he did not want to:

1. Recognise my authorithy as a H&S Officer.

2. Comply with reasonable H&S directions which I deliver.

This particular person is of the unsvoury kind and has had runins with other colleagues and management on numerous occassions.

Today we had another altercation which went like this:

I was carrying out an inspection in one of the areas of the plant. I was standing observing something when I caught this man behind me sniggering with an other employee and aiming it in my direction. The impression I got was that he was gesturing "Look at that w**k*r".

On seeing this behaviour I turned around and politely said "Is there a problem here ?". The person responded with "What do you mean ?". I said "I have just seen you laughing and sniggering at me behind my back, which I consider to be undermining me". He turned around and said "No I wasn't ! If I wanted to laugh at you I would do so into your face", he then went onto call me a few foulmouthed names which I cant mention here (but you get the idea) before saying "Why dont you run off now and tell the General Manager". I responded with "I will, because I am not tolerating this beahaviour".

We left it at that and I walked away to carry out the business I was doing. He then followed me down the floor, stopped me in the middle of a conversation I was having and said "Come on, lets take this outside to be settled !" I responded calmly and said "No, I am not that sort of person and I am taking your comments as a threat". He then muttered another few profanities before walking away. When he did I resumed my work related conversation and set about my duties.

Am I right in initiating disciplinary action against this man ?

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

AndyWarhol

Jonathan McCoy wrote:

Hello,

I would be grateful if somebody could give me advice on the following altercation I had with an employee at work today:

I work as a Health & Safety Officer with the company I am employed with. As part of this role I have at times to make decisions that some people JUST DONT LIKE.

I have been getting hassle from a particular employee and have had runins with him on a few occassions because he did not want to:

1. Recognise my authorithy as a H&S Officer.

2. Comply with reasonable H&S directions which I deliver.

This particular person is of the unsvoury kind and has had runins with other colleagues and management on numerous occassions.

Today we had another altercation which went like this:

I was carrying out an inspection in one of the areas of the plant. I was standing observing something when I caught this man behind me sniggering with an other employee and aiming it in my direction. The impression I got was that he was gesturing "Look at that w**k*r".

On seeing this behaviour I turned around and politely said "Is there a problem here ?". The person responded with "What do you mean ?". I said "I have just seen you laughing and sniggering at me behind my back, which I consider to be undermining me". He turned around and said "No I wasn't ! If I wanted to laugh at you I would do so into your face", he then went onto call me a few foulmouthed names which I cant mention here (but you get the idea) before saying "Why dont you run off now and tell the General Manager". I responded with "I will, because I am not tolerating this beahaviour".

We left it at that and I walked away to carry out the business I was doing. He then followed me down the floor, stopped me in the middle of a conversation I was having and said "Come on, lets take this outside to be settled !" I responded calmly and said "No, I am not that sort of person and I am taking your comments as a threat". He then muttered another few profanities before walking away. When he did I resumed my work related conversation and set about my duties.

Am I right in initiating disciplinary action against this man ?

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

Get over it.

Borzoi

Jonathan McCoy wrote:

Hello,
I have been getting hassle from a particular employee and have had runins with him on a few occassions because he did not want to:

1. Recognise my authorithy as a H&S Officer.

2. Comply with reasonable H&S directions which I deliver.

This particular person is of the unsvoury kind and has had runins with other colleagues and management on numerous occassions.

Today we had another altercation which went like this:
On seeing this behaviour I turned around and politely said "Is there a problem here ?". The person responded with "What do you mean ?". I said "I have just seen you laughing and sniggering at me behind my back, which I consider to be undermining me". He turned around and said "No I wasn't ! If I wanted to laugh at you I would do so into your face", he then went onto call me a few foulmouthed names which I cant mention here (but you get the idea) before saying "Why dont you run off now and tell the General Manager". I responded with "I will, because I am not tolerating this beahaviour".
.

H&S is a difficult enough job - hang him. From a height, he's a bully, the more he gets away with the worse it will be

Stark

Jonathan McCoy wrote:

Am I right in initiating disciplinary action against this man ?

Yes, yes and yes.

Ignore AndyWarhol. Based on just a fraction of what you've said here, you already have his job. Bullying in the workplace should not be tolerated in any regard. Threats of violence are cause for immediate dismissal. Ideally you should be keeping a diary of all incidents with him, but even what you've posted here is enough.

There should be an anti-bullying policy where you work and someone to report bullying to.

Bluetonic

Stark wrote:

Yes, yes and yes.

Ignore AndyWarhol. Based on just a fraction of what you've said here, you already have his job. Bullying in the workplace should not be tolerated in any regard. Threats of violence are cause for immediate dismissal. Ideally you should be keeping a diary of all incidents with him, but even what you've posted here is enough.

There should be an anti-bullying policy where you work and someone to report bullying to.

He'd want to thread very carefully though. Our 'victim' here accussed the 'bully' of laughing at him without any proof, he said himself that he confronted the 'bully' and accused him of laughing, "I caught this man behind me sniggering with an other employee and aiming it in my direction".

It would be just as easy for the 'bully' to go to HR and accuse the 'victim' of wrongful allegation, explaining that the reason for his later outbusrt was becasue of the 'victim' confronting him.

homeOwner

It will come down to your word against his unless you have other people who will back up what you say. HR will not fire someone on just your word alone and may not even fire someone for first offence, they might give a verbal, then written warning, then take action.

I agree that work place bullying should not be tolerated but it doesnt sound like bullying to me - were you intimidated by him? even though he said things that are threatening, were you actually feeling threatened or was it generally just hot air? He has no authority over you and you seem to have handled the situation fine.

I would say he is guilty of very inappropriate and aggressive behaviour in the workplace, even the swearing should not have to be tolerated but it will take alot to show you were "bullied" by him - have you anyone else who witnessed him asking you to "take it outside?" and will they back you up? I am presuming you are a bloke as I cannot see a guy asking a girl to "take it outside" as that would just be ridiculous.

It all depends on the environment you work in. If it were me I would report his behaviour to HR every time he does it and document the occurances and who was present. But on the otherhand you cant challange someone everytime you see them laughing, even if you think it was aimed at you.....some people are just @rseholes and is it worth running to HR every time you "think" he is undermining you?

homeOwner

from my previous reply - appologies, I didnt realise your name was on the post, of course you are a guy

LDB

Jonathan
If you can’t address this with him informally and feel threatened by his behavior then you should report it to your manager through your company’s harassment policy.
If your company is good at following up complaints correctly then they will investigate the issue.
If the outcome of the investigation is that he was found to be harassing then they can choose to initiate disciplinary action, you cannot decide this.

If appropriate though it would be best to try and resolve it informally otherwise it could be a messy and drawn out issue.

Good luck

madramor

1:
the employee was having a joke with a collegue and you
came up to him and made accusation about him.

He was not interfering with you doing your job.

You stared this whole incident

2:
you come across like a child:

-"This particular person is of the unsvoury kind"

slagging off the employee

-"has had runins with other colleagues and management on numerous occassions."

other people think the same

-"The impression I got was that he was gesturing "Look at that w**k*r"."

he was laughing at me behind my back

-"Recognise my authorithy as a H&S Officer"
-"which I consider to be undermining me"

i'm in charge so you have to do what i say

3:
Your a bad manager:

If this employe was as you say not
-"Comply with reasonable H&S directions which I deliver."
you should instigated discipline procedures, because he
was not doing his job.

You don't attack employees who are involved in a private
conversation, just because you think its about you.

You sound like a little hitler who want everybody to jump
to attention when your around.

You encountered a problem in work and you go and post it on
the internet rather than being professional about it.

4:
there is no evidence that this employee threatened you
with violence.

-"Come on, lets take this outside to be settled !"

could mean anything:

can we talk about this issue in private
can we go outside to clear the air
etc..

5:
I hope Jonathan McCoy is not your real name, because
you are slandering a work collegue and discussing
company business in a public forum.

6:
Bullying is a very serious issue and should not be
tolerated in any way.

Abusing your position of power in a company is a form
of bullying.

HelterSkelter

madramor wrote:

there is no evidence that this employee threatened you
with violence.

-"Come on, lets take this outside to be settled !"

could mean anything:

can we talk about this issue in private
can we go outside to clear the air
etc..

Oh come off it, what planet are you living on? Of course he wanted to take him outside and beat the shít outta him.

jimmidy_cricket

HelterSkelter wrote:

Oh come off it, what planet are you living on? Of course he wanted to take him outside and beat the shít outta him.

Yeah and by the sounds of it Jonathan deserves it.

Jonathan you sound like what one would only describe as a "YAW" do you smoke Malborou lights per chane? Sorry back to topic...It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder about this "Unsavoury character".. an unsavoury charachter is an ex con and its at the companys descretion wether they employ rapists, pedaphiles, drug addicts etc. but I'm pretty sure that this is only your narrow minded biggoted opinion and his only crime is to come from oooh let me see the North side? Yeah well get over yourself this bloke is probably older than you and in the job longer and feels insecure that this young pup from Dalkey or wherever your from is telling him what to do, and although his insecurites or what ever don't justify him "Inviting you outside to sort it out" as a manager you have to be the bigger person, document your "run-ins" and when you have sufficent evidence against him, bring it to the attention of your HR manager, taddle tales won't do you any favours and just cement the opinion he (and many others) have of you "Look at that w*nk*r." I'm sorry but I feel very strongly about people willy nilly labeling people as "unsavoury characters". He may well deserve the title but then again you may way deserve the w*nk*r title!!!!

Cake Fiend

Bluetonic wrote:

explaining that the reason for his later outbusrt was becasue of the 'victim' confronting him.

This is no excuse for verbal abuse and physical threats. Any sensible HR dept. would side with the OP, especially seeing as other employees have also had problems with the offender.

madramor wrote:

-"Come on, lets take this outside to be settled !"

could mean anything

If you think this wasn't meant as a physical threat, you've got blinkers on. Again, I'd expect HR to side with the OP.

Jonathan McCoy

Thanks all. This situation has now been sorted.

RicardoSmith

Jonathan McCoy wrote:

Thanks all. This situation has now been sorted.

How so?