Work Drama! How To Stop It?

[NotesMaeve]

So we have a trash-talker at my job: A six feet tall, 130 lb. engineer. He's a good worker and the quality of his stuff is not up for debate. It's great work. However, when he is NOT immersed in his work, he's talking. (Me too! ) The topic is less good though, as it revolves around trash-talking about and to one of our construction leadmen. He's GOING to end up hurt. The construction guy has an all right temper, and I really like the engineer, but this is going too far.

I have talked to both guys and temporarily diffused the situation. This afternoon? The engineer starts right back up.

The construction guy will KILL the engineer if he gets a hold of him. I know I can't outright manipulate the will of others, but how can I keep things more peaceful in the office?

[Angela]

Are you exaggerating? I ask because if you think physical violence is imminent in your workplace, it's your obligation to inform management. It's not your job to mediate conflict that might any moment result in pain or death.

Don't you think that the people who have been bystanders who have seen impending violent behavior in their office, like the guy who comes in and shoots 15 people, wish to high heaven that they had said something? Please don't find yourself in the same position of regret and remorse

[alexinspire]

I think the best way to resolve the conflict is:

1. You got to see the seriousness first.

2. If it's something you can handle, try harder on showing them that there are NO BENEFITS doing that at work. Show them they lose good colleagues, good working environment and even might lose their job and future. When people get emotional, they usually can't notice that they are costing their bright future.

2. If it's something you totally can't control and it's way too serious, inform the management like Angela suggested! We care for these people. If they are going to do something seriously bad, we stop it before they hurt themselves.

That's my comment. Cheers!

[NotesMaeve]

I'm pretty serious. I've talked with my boss about it. When I say kill him, I mean a large, burly guy would throttle the engineer, who weighs all of 120. I'd rather he not get throttled. I like both parties and at this point, we have a new engineering head for the field guys to deal with. It's the buiding tension driving me nuts.

I think I've taken some tension off the situation, but beyond keeping the guys separated, not sure what to do. I do my best to keep them away from one another's projects when it comes to my stuff.

[Matthew Shea]

Sometimes people are thick headed enough that they have to learn things the hard way.

But in the interest of avoiding violence, does your boss=the engineer's boss? If so and you're concerned that the boss isn't taking it seriously, you might have to go up the chain a bit. That may or may not be a good idea, though, depending on how your boss reacts to you going over his head.

If he works for a different boss, talk to that guy. Or possibly talk to the construction guy's boss to try to ensure that the construction guy won't over react when the engineer's being a jerk.

HR is an option, too. Without naming names, you might call them and inquire what the procedure is for situations like this, then decide if you want to take that route. That option avoids any chain-of-command political issues.

Don't feel guilty if these guys end up duking it out, though. You can't control other people, as much as we'd all love to sometimes, and if it comes to blows, then it's only their fault, not yours.

[NotesMaeve]

Shall whine to CEO. Outstanding idea.

Although, the idea of them strangling each other would liven up the afternoon.

[Amandaaa]

(6 feet tall, and only 130???
is it just me, or does that seem abnormally skinny for a guy?!)



(and yeah, i know, i'm focusing on the details, not the question.)