Everyone gets irritated with coworkers' behavior from time to time, but if you're working with someone who is completely incompetent, threatens the safety of you and other coworkers, or is seriously undermining the spirit of working in the office, maybe it's time to take action. Read this article to deal with this rather complicated situation.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Deciding to Take Action
Step 1. Make sure that you have a valid reason to request the person's dismissal
Merely not liking him personally is not a strong enough reason to make him lose his job. Keep in mind that even if you and he don't work well together, it's possible that his family's life depends on it. Take a little time to consider whether you really want to be responsible for his firing. Your reasoning is strong enough if a coworker:
- Interfere with your ability to work.
- Interfere with other people's ability to work.
- Stealing company time by being late, lazy, and uncooperative.
- Creating a hostile and unproductive work environment.
- Harass you or another co-worker sexually, physically or verbally.
Step 2. Ask for support
Your reasons will appear stronger if they are supported by other coworkers. Ask if anyone else feels the same way you do about the coworker.
- Try to seek support diplomatically. Avoid spreading rumors or trying to convince others to start hating the coworker. However, start by asking something like, "So, what do you think of the new employee?" or "it's really interesting to hear Joni talk to his client on the phone" or "do you know what time Joni gets to the office?"
- If you can find one or more coworkers who agree with your complaint, ask them if they would like to file a formal complaint with you.
Step 3. Pay attention to the person
Pay attention to the behavior of coworkers in the office so that you have solid evidence when writing a letter of complaint, and keep a record of what happened. Watch for outrageous behavior, and take notes.
- Record the date, time, and a detailed description of his unlawful behavior so that your reasons appear more compelling, and that your manager has solid evidence to fire him. This is easier to do if you work at the same time as him, in the same area.
- Try to distinguish between serious misbehavior and impacting the work environment with minor infractions. Not cleaning the coffee table is not as big a problem as coming to the office drunk.
Part 2 of 3: Filing a Formal Complaint
Step 1. Schedule a meeting with your manager or boss
Consider carefully when determining the most appropriate person to discuss this issue. Make plans to meet in person if possible.
- Bring your notes to the meeting, as well as any other co-workers who also wish to make a complaint.
- Request that your complaint be kept confidential. That way, you can avoid getting hostile with the coworker.
- Don't file a complaint via email, which is easier to ignore and less formal than an in-person meeting. The email also leaves written evidence of your complaint, which you should avoid.
Step 2. Plan what you want to say
Think carefully about what you want to say and practice saying it in a calm voice. If you are frustrated with the person, your boss may think that this is a personal exaggeration, rather than a serious complaint that you are making for the good of the company.
- Describe some of the person's strengths: "I really like Joni. He's funny, and I think he's a good person, and I hope he will change. But I'm worried about him."
- Don't immediately ask your boss to fire him. If your manager asks, "what do you think I should do?", clearly state what steps you want, but not your decision.
Step 3. Let your manager sort this out
Once you file a formal complaint, you are no longer responsible for paying attention to the person or trying to get him fired. Return to focusing on your life both in and out of the office, and try to stay away from the coworker if he or she is bothering you.
Part 3 of 3: Using the Indirect Method
Step 1. Create a situation that makes it difficult to continue working
Before blatantly sabotaging, try to get the incompetent coworker to ruin his own work.
- If he is constantly late for work, invite him out on weekday evenings. Separately, schedule a meeting the next day with your boss, and say that your co-workers will be there. Come to the office refreshed and energized, on the other hand, pretend to be confused when your co-worker is not attending the meeting.
- If your coworker is having trouble cursing a customer, ask an older, religious man to invite his church friends to visit while your co-worker is at work. Let them complain to your manager.
Step 2. Consider other creative options
Sometimes you just want to get rid of someone. It's time to channel your creativity to achieve it. Be careful if you try to manipulate anything while trying to get someone else fired, or you might get fired yourself.
- Order adult products to your coworker's address, but don't include the room number, so the delivery person has to look everywhere for it. The more inappropriate the product you ordered, the better.
- Use your coworker's computer to send obscene but convincing emails to your boss.
- Replace his computer screen with pornographic videos when he's not there. Ask your boss to meet at your coworker's desk in the morning, before he knows it.
Step 3. Help him
While you might expect the coworker to be fired immediately, anything that made him resign is still good for you. Maybe by offering him a new job that interests him, or constantly complaining about your job, and convincing him to resign. If that's the case, you can help everyone.
