Help, How to deal with horrible work colleague

I work for a council in a gardening department there’s 2of us in my place which sounds good apart from the person I work with is horrible. He plays mind games all the time one day he won’t talk to me the next he’s your best friend. He knows what he’s doing as he is never personal in the things he says but is horrible in over ways like over the past 2 months 2 sets of my work keys have gone missing I new we’re I had put them and as there’s only us in work it’s obvious it was him but because I have no evidence nothing can be done. There loads more spiteful things he does and my bosses knows exactly what he is like but as he has been there for years won’t do nothing. I can’t cope with this and am finding my self thinking about how horrible he is even when I’m at home, it’s pointless me arguing with him as he’s won’t care and will just go straight to my bose and say I’m being horrible to him he’s like that he will phone my bose if I have 5 minutes extra brake. How do you deal with people like this I can’t just get a job some were els because of my disability and I like the job I do.  

  • Take legal advice, CAB, report him within the council to their legal team and tell them you are taking legal advice along the lines of disability discrimination (or whatever citizens advice suggests).  Most departments start looking up and deal with things when they think they might end up in a very public tribunal and lose money.  When it finally comes to it explain to whomever is dealing with it, explain your side.  If nothing else works, then take it to tribunal.  Also an email to the local paper and your local MP could be useful too if you want to pile some pressure on.

    Not to sound vindictive, but people who do this sort of thing need to be taught a lesson.  It's happened to me in the past and I took a course of action which resulted in the person being fired from the company.

  • Your employer has a duty of care towards you - write everything down about this guy's behaviour - make it factual and include how it is affecting you. They then MUST act to protect you from this mental abuse.

  • Your employer has a duty of care towards you - write everything down about this guy's behaviour - make it factual and include how it is affecting you. Send it to your manager. They then MUST act to protect you from this mental abuse.

  • That really sounds horrible. Just because someone has always been a certain way does give them permission to continue behaving in that way. Everyone should be treated with respect at work.

    You might be able to get some advice from ACAS via their website (www.acas.org.uk) or you can call them on 0300 123 1100. Your local Citizens Advice might be able to help and you can also speak with your employers HR department if you need to too.

    It seems like your in a tough situation but there is help available.

  • The problem is it’s only us 2 in my department so every time I have said anything in the past he just makes things worse with his sneaky games. He’s been there a long time and there just waiting for him to retire in 8 years. He’s been like this all his life apparently I shouldn’t say it but I’ve been told he drove his wife to suicided with his mind games. It took me years to find a job I can cope with but this bloke this driving me mad there. 

  • I’m sorry to hear this. It sounds like your colleagues behaviour needs to be addressed so things can get better. Are you member of a trade union? If so, you could ask a Union Steward/Representative to attend a meeting between you and your manager? If not, do you know any other trusted colleague who could attend instead? It may help to try an see if there is a way forward.