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About Pankaj Bhargava
Expertise
Questions related to choice of career, inter-personal issues at the workplace, performance management issues, structure issues, compensation structuring issues, culture building issues, linking HR with org. strategy

Experience
17 years in HR and Org. Development, designing & facilitating interventions, leading an HR team of an Indian multinational

Publications
HR magazine of TISS (an HR institute of repute - Tata Institute of Social Sciences)

Education/Credentials
B. Tech (Chemical Engineering) from IIT Mumbai (one of the most reputed engineering school in India) and PGDM (MBA) from IIM Kolkata (one of the most reputed management institutes in India).

Awards and Honors
Was awarded the Gold Medal for excellence in HR by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce at IIM

You are here: Experts > Jobs/Careers > Human Resources > Human Resources > Difficult Co-workers

Human Resources - Difficult Co-workers

Expert: Pankaj Bhargava - 10/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I work in a legal setting in the document production area to handle in-house print/scan jobs. We do have a company that handles jobs that may require larger productions. Jim has been with the company for many years and he has built a personal relationship with many of the bosses. Jim's reputation is well known and he has been called to the carpet before about gossiping, and the inability to use the technology provided; and the constant complications with every assignment. As a matter of fact, he feels that he does not have to follow the rules and regulations like the other employees. My direct supervisor tells me that they have went to upper management and his bosses, but I should just report to him (my supervisor) and learn not to let this person effect me negatively.

I have been apart of this company for five years and I worked in a capacity where I dealt with all types of personalities, but this person is above reproach. The former employee's position that I am presently in was fired and the difficult co-worker was once the administrator, left the company and came back under the business sector. He seems to harp on what the former person used to do. When I try to gain understanding or ask questions, he says "figure it out."

Jim even told me that he had a reputation for being difficult, and he said that he was just a perfectionist. I have done several other jobs for many other associates and I have not ran into the vast amount of confusion that I have had with Jim on such assignments.

I am looking inward and taking the time to reflect on my behavior, so that I may deal with this issue more tactfully. My supervisor has let me know that the former employee that was fired experienced many of the same issues with this same individual. Jim has a bullies' mentality.

I recognize that I cannot change his behavior, but I must change my own and not become sucked into this game.

I recognize that I feel demeaned and degraded by this person's attitude and tactless personality. What I want to know is do you have any advice as to how I can deal with Jim?

The problem is that he is unable to do the most simplistic task at hand and it impedes other assignments.

ANSWER: Dear Mary
First of all let me acknowledge you for recognizing that you will need to look at what you can change rather than focusing on how to change Jim.

Before I share any thoughts on what you need to do, I would like to understand the following aspects:
a. Who does Jim report to?
b. What is the work related interaction that you need to do with him? Is he your internal customer?
c. From the way you are describing, the issue seems to be an old one with him. Is that so? If it is, what from your perception has hindered in his being given feedback or being removed from his job?
d. What would happen if you stop interacting with him (i.e. ignore him) as your supervisor has recommended? (i.e. how would it impact you, your work or the company?)

Once you revert on these, we can discuss the next steps of dealing with the issue at hand. I look forward to your response.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response. Jim reports to two individuals. First, he reports to the managing partner of the firm, of which he has a long standing history with. The managing partner and Jim are somewhat intertwined by family connections and after hour after work drinks. Second, Chase who is directly over Jim's department#. My supervisor did end up calling a meeting and the past and present behavior was acknowledged and blown over.

Since I am in an in-house service for the firm, I service the entire firm with document production.

Jim does have a past with creating problems and this individual has been patted on the hand and called to the carpet before. The result tends to be a short time of backing off, but he resumes the behavior because he seems to feel that he is irreplaceable. Jim works at forming relationships with the people in control. He has been there for over 10-15 years, from my understanding.

After the immediate meeting, it appears that there has been a few days of peace, but I feel that I have been put into a difficult predicament. Out of all my twenty years of working at a total of three employers since I was sixteen, I have never been belittled or talked down to. I have always worked hard at maintaining positive work relations, because I believe that you never know who can be of help to you.

I have been determined not to speak negatively about Jim because I want to make sure that I remain professional. That is why I refrained from getting into verbal spats with Jim. I am just finishing college and I made the job switch with hopes of attaining new experience and propelling forward in a career. This position did not come with a raise, but I felt that it was more valuable for me to gain experience than monetary gain. I state this because I truly want it to be known that I truly desire to succeed in this area.

I have received a lot of support from my former and present supervisor, along with the administrator, who is also a former coworker, neighbor and family friend of Jim's. Surprisingly, my history with the administrator and my working with the administrator to help out whenever we were shorthanded, allowed him not to immediately side with Jim. Especially because of Jim's past incidences.

I am a team player, but Jim wants to be a dictator when he is only my co-worker. I have always been willing to work in whatever capacity to showcase my skills and with the hopes of succeeding in my chosen field. Now I feel like this has tarnished my reputation, because I had to bring this to the forefront.

There was a past incident of which I am sure that Jim does not recollect. Mind you, we work in a small to medium professional office setting. During an office appreciation function I was asked to help out with getting the luncheon set up by my then supervisor. Jim and one of his buddies #Jim hired this friend) pointed at their noses, and said you are a brown noser. I ignored it and went on with what I was doing because I was not going to be quick to anger. Jim then says -- hey I am not referring to the color of your nose, but to you kissing up -- I have long had comments made by Jim and his friend making comments before about me wanting to be "employee of the month". We do not have such titles at work and I realize their intentions were malicious, but I wanted to focus on being positive and not being sensitive. I do not use my race as an excuse. My parents raised me to be a hard worker, and I know that living in the South requires me to be on my p's and q's. I realized that staying in my former position was comfortable, but it was not going help me to gain more experience or excel. This job is more physically demanding to some extent; requires attention to detail; and a willingness to accept constructive criticism.

Especially in today's job market, I have to be sure not to misstep. I am now concerned about Jim retaliating. What should I do to cover myself is the real question?

I apologize for the extended version, but I value my reputation. However, not at the cost of someone else's reputation. I just don't know what else to do.

Answer
Dear Mary
It is indeed a tough situation. As I understand, you do not want to consider other job options at this stage since you are studying plus you find a lot of value addition to your learning here. Also, given Jim's connections, you do not want to antagonize him or get on the wrong side of him. Yet you want to ensure that you are not targeted by him. You have also mentioned that you are an in-house resource to the entire organization. Given all this here are some possible approaches.

a. Ignore Jim to the extent possible. Stay put till you complete your education and then seek another job opportunity. This will allow you to get your required experience but still keep you inconvenienced till you get another job. It is still a sub-optimal solution but one that you may need to follow if you do not want to give feedback about Jim and/ or confront him about his behavior.

b. Seek written feedback from across the organization on how they experience your work. Include Jim in the feedback process (almost like a 360 degree feedback). This will serve two purposes. One it will give you an idea about how the rest of the organization sees your work as contrasted with how Jim experiences you professionally. It will keep this at the professional level and yet give you the opportunity to dialogue with Jim or about Jim if there is a difference in feedback. I do not know if this is doable in your situation or company but doing this will channelize Jim's thoughts also in a positive way. Plus it will tell you how valued you are here and help you take decisions accordingly.

These are the two possibilities that come to my mind right now. I would appreciate your views on these options so that we can discuss this further to take it to its logical conclusion. Do revert with your thoughts and any clarifications that you may have. I will be happy to take this discussion further. All the best.

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