Ask HN: How to deal with an abusive co-worker?

[throwaway1980s]

Throwaway for obvious reasons.

In the last five months, a new engineer, we'll call them Jerry, joined the startup I work at in a critical position. We started out on great terms. However, recently incredibly high demands and time constraints were imposed, and combined with failure for the company to meet revenue goals, have created a very stressful place to work.

As part of my job, I have to make requests of Jerry. Randomly, the reply would be incredibly rude, and extremely unprofessional. Everything from swearing me out, to insisting that I only communicate with him indirectly via our boss, to Jerry threatening an immediate resignation if I persisted in making the request, despite it being a normal request.

Few days later, I would be given a curt apology, reassurance that this wouldn't happen again, and Jerry would ask me to forget all about the incident. Jerry would then treat me as if nothing had happened at all, and would back to being polite and professional. Later, the process would repeat itself.

I work with about 5 to 10 other engineers. It is only Jerry that treats me this way, and so far, it has only been towards me.

I am currently doing a significant amount of leadership work in this company, and as the company is simply too small, and Jerry's position too critical, to be able to avoid working with him. With the stresses of the job already so great, the additional of straight personal attacks to all of this has made my work output suffer and frankly makes me hate coming to work.

I've met and worked with all kinds of engineers, from the quiet to abrasive, but never have I worked with anyone who has ever treated like this, and I have no idea on how to handle this situation.

I'm currently on vacation, and have been debating with if I want to stay with the company at all because of this situation.

My boss already knows how Jerry acts and hasn't done anything. Please HN, help me decide what I should do about Jerry.

[frostmatthew]

> My boss already knows how Jerry acts and hasn't done anything.

If your boss knows how Jerry treats you (and that you're uncomfortable/unhappy about it) and he's unwilling to do anything about it you might want to consider talking to your boss's boss. If neither is concerned with how Jerry treats his co-workers it might be time to update the resume.

[throwaway1980s]

  If neither is concerned with how Jerry treats his co-workers it might be time to update the resume.

Both are aware, and I've already spoken with them about it.

The response was, from my boss, that nothing can be done as if he leaves, it would set the, now struggling, company back months at least, and from my boss's boss (company is small, so they are both C level), that the problem will go away with the reduction of stress once there is eventually someone hired to help with Jerry's responsibilities.

I do not disagree with my boss, Jerry's position is critical and he's already doing the work meant for three. However, we've been hiring for that position for 8 months now, and we've had a net loss of employees there of 2. I also don't feel that an additional employee or more would solve the problem, as the position will always require some level of stress on Jerry.

You're right in that I should prepare for a job change, and I've already started, I'm just hoping there's something I can do or try, since it used to be an amazing company to work for, and with the exception of this major issue, otherwise still is.

[orionblastar]

First you have my condolences and sympathy. Many times I have been in that same position, coworker is a jerk, bully, harassing me, being abusive and violating company policy.

I really don't know what the right solution to that is, because every case I had they kept the abusive employee but fired me.

I was nice, professional, and asked the abusive employee to please stop that behavior as it had made me feel bad, and asked management to look into it when he or many others refused to treat me like a human being.

In 2001 the stress from that hostile environment was so much, I got stressed out and developed a mental illness and then went on short-term disability and as soon as I returned I was fired.

Ever since I could not hold a job, because if an employee noticed I was mentally ill, they would abuse me, and if I complained about it I would be fired.

Sadly most managers feel that the employee who is picked on should be fired just because they are complaining about other employees. In fact in some cases the abusive behavior is rewarded by promoting the abusive employee or giving them a pay raise and telling them in front of the other employees what a great job they are doing.

Sometimes this abusive behavior is done on purpose to get rid of a coworker they don't like, so they 'skirt' the rules and policies and do whatever it takes to make you quit or be fired. It is called office politics for a reason.

[dfraser992]

I second the idea that this is all deliberate in order to get rid of you; that was the first thing I thought of. It sounds like you've tried to handle the situation the right way and your boundaries keep getting stepped on. I myself have gotten snippy due to stress, but I certainly felt guilty and made an effort to double check my behavior. Either Jerry is immature or this is all deliberate. If the chain of command has been informed, yet do nothing, and you're easier to replace... then it sounds like they want you gone.

In any case, staying there out of some sense of loyalty is noble, but the world doesn't care about such things. Life is too short to work with people who treat you badly, no matter what the situation. Your stress is only going to keep increasing. Finding another job is a PITA, but as long as you go about it consciously, it shouldn't be too bad. I myself got forced out / forced to quit - my stress levels were deliberately ratcheted up, my emotions took over and I made bad decisions. That is how people get manipulated - keep putting them under stress till they make short sighted emotionally based decisions.

[lyndonh]

You have been put into a very difficult situation (by other people). As you say, if things come to a head you will be the one forced to leave. Stress is not an excuse; OK maybe the odd outburst but not what you describe. Clearly, you are stuck in a cycle and I doubt the apology is sincere.

I like to think I am thick skinned, open minded and easy to get along with. No one is perfect though. I've never complained to a boss about eccentric or awkward coworkers. However, no company could ever pay me enough to be sworn at or threatened.

I was going to suggest to you that you switch to all communications via email as you mentioned but given that you have to work closely with him it's not really viable.

That leaves you 3 choices: 1. switch to another role where you don't have to deal with his shit. 2. get another job. 3. stand up to him, give it back to him 3x what he gives you. I'm guessing option 1 is unlikely in a startup, option 3 is only going to get your colleagues annoyed with you.

Anyway, polish that resume and next time he blows up tell him to get lost. If your managers are too weak to deal with the situation then you're better off out of there. A good manager would realise that Jerry is having a corrosive affect and for everything that he brings to the company, there is a cost.

[NAFV_P]

Sympathies, my dear hacker.

> Few days later, I would be given a curt apology, reassurance that this wouldn't happen again, and Jerry would ask me to forget all about the incident. Jerry would then treat me as if nothing had happened at all, and would back to being polite and professional. Later, the process would repeat itself.

This indicates he is aware of his poor behaviour, but it seems he hasn't given any reasons. You haven't stated whether you have talked to Jerry directly about this, if you haven't I suggest this would be a first step. Whether or not this is successful, analyse what his response was. It will give you a deeper idea of what kind of sociopath you are dealing with.

HNer grumps said below to weigh the risks. This is a very difficult problem that I have dealt with myself, so I would say from my experience to tread carefully. Before doing something, you need to second guess how other people will react, and prepare accordingly.

You mentioned that he makes over the top requests, such as indirect communication via your boss. One idea I would suggest is to bow down to all his requests, no matter how silly (unless it is dangerous or illegal). It sounds like your job is very fast paced and results are demanded on time. Eventually his behaviour will have an effect on the system, especially if he holds a critical position, and it will be noticed.

Shitty behaviour in the workplace seems to be a growing problem (I've seen several articles regarding this trend in the last year or so). Would anybody know of any forums or websites that deal with this? Has anyone come up with a hack to solve this problem?

[throwaway1980s]

> You haven't stated whether you have talked to Jerry directly about this, if you haven't I suggest this would be a first step.

The only time we've discussed these things is during the post-mortem/apology phase, and it has always been the same reason, stress. I could inquire about it after during a time when Jerry is more professional, I have not tried that.

> One idea I would suggest is to bow down to all his requests, no matter how silly

I have considered this, but since I have learned attempts to resolve this on my own are at best futile or at worst provoke further attacks, I now immediately raise this to my boss's attention, who spends time to calm him down, and at the same time repeals the demands.

I honestly think right now, my best course of action is to prepare for interviews and spend some time lining up something to switch over to. If it happens again between then and now, that will just accelerate my plans.

[nRike]

> a new engineer, we'll call them Jerry, joined the startup I work at in a critical position.

No matter if he's the CEO, he should not be an asshole with their team.

> recently incredibly high demands and time constraints were imposed, and combined with failure for the company to meet revenue goals, have created a very stressful place to work.

So stress comes from not being able to make money. If you are just doing what your boss says, Jerry should not make it personal.

> My boss already knows how Jerry acts and hasn't done anything.

He's responsible of solve this issues, if he's doing nothing, you should leave ASAP.

Please, drop me a line at my personal email (look at my profile), I'd love to help you find a new job.

[penguinlinux]

You are not in high school anymore, you don't need to accept the bullying of this guy. Tell him to act like adult, and tell your boss that he needs to follow proper HR practices and control this guy. Your sanity and peace of mind depends on a healthy work environment. If your boss can't control this guy tell him that you will seek legal advice on how to deal with this situation.

You boss will hear this and make sure things get under control. the last thing he needs is a lawsuit

[throwaway1980s]

I'm not sure anything illegal has occurred here? Or that I would have a case?

[jardaroh]

This is simple, you can turn in your letter of resignation. While you do that, explain that the situation has just gotten out of hand. Thing is, a company can't just fire someone unless they have a reason to, if they feel they are losing employees they get that reason. It is a gamble though, so stay cool and think it through.

[grumps]

This will require you to weigh the risks. While I like the approach, you'll have to trust your gut. You're gut is going to have to say that MGMT will believe the cost of replacing Jerry < the cost of replacing you irregardless of most personal relationships. Especially if the loss of Jerry could negatively impact revenue more then the loss of you as an employee. There's also a moral factor if you're gone and above is cold hearted logic.

[michaeldwp]

Well, I don't know the full situation, but I'd like to echo part of what NAFV_P said, with a focus on the talk:

If it were me, I'd probably try grabbing a coffee/tea/beer with him outside of the office, if possible (or, if you have your own private office, then that'd work too), and just talking with him about the situation, peer to peer, and try and understand what's causing this behaviour.

Just try to be tactful about it. Even broaching the subject may be a bit awkward, but if you can figure out a way to discuss this with him in an amicable way, it may be worthwhile.

It kind of sounds as though he's in a very stressful position. Maybe it's just the stress?

It could be something simple. Maybe it's something you're doing or not doing that irks him somehow. It's also possible that it could be something completely outside of you and the company, and he's just taking it out on you inadvertently.

Consider empathizing with him and try to figure out what's going on. Odds are there's actually a reason. Once you figure out what the root of the problem is, you're more likely to be able to figure out how to make things better.

If it's something you can do to help, you can try and resolve the issue. If not, just try to come to an understanding that there's no hard feelings; that you'd like to at least remain cordial, and even friendly, if possible...

In my humble opinion, getting HR or your/his boss involved as mentioned below/above may work on the surface, but you'd likely just be forcing him to suppress whatever it is that's upsetting him... not sure how well that'd go in the long run. At this stage, I'd go for the "talk with him" route. But maybe that's just me.

If you talk with him and it doesn't help the situation, then at least you truly tried getting to the root of the matter.

I dunno, just a thought for your consideration. I hope this helps somehow.

Disclaimer: I've never been in this situation before... this is just my two cents on the matter.

[throwaway1980s]

> If it were me, I'd probably try grabbing a coffee/tea/beer with him outside of the office

That's exactly what I have done before. I mean, I work with Jerry every day, and we would regularly go out for a beer after work to talk.

In asking about it, the response with "stress, and let's keep it behind us."

Maybe it is stress, maybe it's not, and maybe I am doing something that provokes Jerry unknowingly, but in any of these cases, does it give him the right to respond like that? If I am doing something to provoke him, and he's put in a situation that allows for speaking freely, away from other coworkers, and he still can't tell me what it is, is there any way for me to stop doing it?

[onedev]

Please just leave. If at the very least to send a message.

There are hundreds of places looking for developers. You can find a job if it really comes down to it! Update that resume and get going, this is your life :)

[argntnspc]

Are you able to speak with him via email or chat instead of talking in person?

Maybe he's jealous, maybe he just doesn't like your face, whatever it is. Who cares, if you have to ask something of him in person just bring your smartphone and record the conversation and tell him beforehand this way if he does, you can give it to upper management so they can make a decision.