How do you all handle saboteurs at work?

[graywarrior]

I've identified one at my job. He is calmly and nicely acting like a victim and reeking havoc. He is fragile and "confesses" to me that certain people at work do not like him.

What do you do with a guy like that?

[skygazer]

1. Good question

We've been dealing with one of those for a while now and it's tough because she turns herself into the victim in everything. She's called HR on half the store even though the incidents she reports are generally prompted by her baiting and instigation. She spreads false and malicious rumors and everyone is on pins and needles around her.

It poisons the workplace and I don't know a good way to deal with it. Two people have finally called HR on her (none of us like to - not because we feel sorry for her but because we're all reluctant to bring them into it. Not fun and a real hassle) and the hope is she'll be transferred.

It will be interesting to see if your post gets any good ideas because I could sure use some, too. Right now my tactic is simply to avoid her like the plague.

[The Flaming Red Head]

2. Listen to everything they have to say

just nod your head and don't say ANYTHING bad or good about anyone or anything let them do ALL the talking.

[graywarrior]

3. Excellent advice.

But this one does stuff without checking with others in the office. He makes outsiders really uncomfortable because he invades physical boundaries just enough, invites himself into conversations he has no business being in, and talks way over the normal time limit.

I just had to send him an email forbidding him to send out a periodical I put together but that is not ready from the printer yet. This means guily slithering around for a few hours tomorrow and more "confessions."

[evlbstrd]

4. Make sure that he understands

that you are one of the people at work who does not like him.

[trof]

5. We take their sabots away.

Sabot: A wooden shoe worn in some European countries.

Saboteur: The name derives from the early industrial age, when powered looms could be damaged by angry or disgruntled weavers throwing their wooden shoes (known in French as sabots) into the machinery.

[SOteric]

6. I would respond by agreeing that

interpersonal interactions in every workplace are often the most challenging part of a job. And then assuring the fellow that I had every confidence he'd find some way to work out his difficulties.

[HEyHEY]

7. With a beating

[Susang]

9. I always end with the beating

I start with pissing in their Wheaties. Brightens the day just that much more, dontcha think? :D

[boston bean]

8. I just try to stay away from them. Don't get to involved and

say very little.

[zone]

10. They're at the top

So we try to manage from the ground up

[targetpractice]

11. What's his relationship to you?

We had two at my last small company. One was easily identifiable, but the other was more covert. Unfortunately for all of us, they were at war with one another.

One was my boss... and he did classic things to make me look bad, such as setting up meetings and giving me the wrong time... so I'd show up 30 minutes late. Or, he'd ask me to share draft documents then he'd present them to higher ups prior to when I was supposed to.

It was horrible, but I stopped playing his game... and he was eventually exposed and fired.

[graywarrior]

12. He's a manager. He supposedly develops programs for

the people we service. I'm PR & Marketing Dir. You can't market something that you don't have. I ask him about various support groups that were in existence before, but he keeps giving me reasons why they don't exist anymore.

As a result, any newsletter or PR thing I'm putting together falls short because although we tell people we have certain programs, we really don't because he has not pulled it together to organize them. He spends most of his time "confessing" his sins. I'm shallow breathing over it. What a putz.

[PassingFair]

32. Sounds like a Dilbert cartoon, Gray!

Time to send in Ratbert!

[aclog]

13. OK if you're really wrapped up in this disregard my post please

but I think "reeking havoc" is really funny, although I gather unintentional :)

[graywarrior]

15. I'm reeking havoc in my own head.

I'm a self-saboteur.

[aclog]

19. I had a beef burrito today so you know I'll be reeking some havoc lol

[graywarrior]

20. I know. I can tell from over here in Sarasota.

[aclog]

22. you're down wind of me is your problem

not a good place to be :D

[graywarrior]

33. Indeed it is.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. I confront them

First privately, then publicly even if it is my boss.

[graywarrior]

16. He'd cry like a baby.

I have two switches. Nice and murder you with words.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. So let him

then ask him to tell you what it will take for him to get his job done so you can sell it and you both can enjoy job security and a good cry for years to come

[graywarrior]

18. Thanks. That's good.

I have a Hell's Angels mentality which I have to beat down around people who don't behave the way I want.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. I don't believe in beating around the bush unless you work for a

bureaucracy where one MUST in order to survive. I can't really tell from your posts but it sounds like the guy just isn't a good "people" person and may be in above his head. Is that the case? Or is he simply someone who covers his ass with both hands?

[graywarrior]

28. He's soupy. He fools people who are needy.

Like a nice, soft, squishy, puppydog, black widow.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. Ah , so manipulative

With a person like that, document everything for several weeks:

What was promised?
To whom?
By when?
What happened

then have a meeting with a superior and cold cock him. He'll never fuck with you again. Promise...

[bettyellen]

24. there's an amazing book you can look him up in....

called : working with difficult people.
it's like a thesaus of ashole workplace behaviour. it's usually dead on, and gives you some strategies as well as insight.
trust me, he's in there somewhere, they all are.

[bettyellen]

27. here it is, i wanted to make sure i got the name right.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735202915/102-1386327-1176131?v=glance&n=283155

[graywarrior]

37. Thanks, my friend.

[bettyellen]

41. you're welcome. that book is so dead on, it's scary..... i was reading it

to look up what was up with a higher up, who was not only not doing his job (everybody knew he wasn't), and making my life hell.
the book said her was going to blame his not doing his job all on me, and it would stick because he was such a golden boy. that was unexpected, because i was worried about not getting my own stuff, done, he was messing in my work, and screwing it up, i was afraid to get nailed for that, so i assumed it was wrong, everyone knew he didn't feel like doing what he was supposed to.
well, he did, and it did, (within an hour after i read about it.)
the book predicted what he said almost word for word. that was really creepy.
good luck sweetie!

[graywarrior]

43. Sounds like something I should read.

Thanks again.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

23. I think you already got the answer under your nose

[graywarrior]

25. You just made my night.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

30. I thought you would like it

[henslee]

Danger Will Robinson. Danger...

[The Governor]

26. Be courteous, but don't get too involved.

[graywarrior]

34. You're not him, are you?

[bettyellen]

29. in case you missed it upthread.

this will give you some insight, it's laid out like a thesaurus, so you can easily find the jerk and go straight to figuring his ass out.
good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735202915/102-1386327-1176131?v=glance&n=283155

[philosophie_en_rose]

35. My advice: Make it all about work.

Sounds like he's trying to lure you in to be his defender, his spy, or his passive aggressive way of getting back at others through gossip.

----------------------

My advice is to make everything about work.

If he starts to babble on or waste your time, say you have something to do. If he interrupts your work, complain about him. The company should care that he's eating into productivity.

And always refer him to others. "You know, have you tried talking to XXX about this?"

If he's really hurting, remind him that he doesn't have to care whether those people like him. Tell him to make his relationships with "those people" about work as well.

[bridgit]

36. keep no-less than one (1) eye on that punk...

:thumbsup:

[Left Is Write]

38. Argh. I keep reading this as "How do all you saboteurs handle work?"

[leftofthedial]

39. gather up the rest of the good guys

and take him outside and beat the hell out of him some afternoon

or not

who is his supervisor? Is there anyone accountable for his "havoc" to whom he is accountable?

[graywarrior]

40. There's only 7 of us.

We all roll our eyes when he's around.

[MrScorpio]

42. Stay away from his ass

Stink sticks like glue