Complaint about a colleague

[evedawn]

Hello all. On a lunch break and wanna pose a question to all: I've recently started a new job and am enjoying it. the following happened today: My colleague askedme tohelp him track down some urgent info. Not a prob as I don't mindd helping and a SMALL part of my job involves this sorta thing(tie my manager said it's to be done "as and when" I can) anyway this involved going over to another office and I said whilst I was there I would follow up on a stationary order (something that IS part of my job) the colleague who asked me to help him got very shirty and said that that stationary requisition is to wait until I have fond what he asked me first! Said he was taking an "executive decision" agrees the stationary is a minor but what gets me is I do notike the way he spoke to me ( in front of others too) and what he asked , although urgent, is not strictly speaking what I need to prioritise! This sounds minor but it has really annoyed me( am not showing it though as I'm professional!) my q is: do I let it pass? Or do I tell my manager when she comes back and we have our mo thly one to one? It feels like yelling tales but at thr same time I do not want him to think he can order me about. HD foes have lots of experience - which is valued for sure but... He I'd not my boss and I resent him telling me what to do. So do I Leave it ? Or mention it to manager? Or mention it to him (colleague who gave me "the order" ) and say I don't like being spoken to that way? It's by and large a friendly place ( incl hi
) and I don't want to cause waves but ding wanna be taken advantage of!

[evedawn]

Scuze typos am on my iPhone and the print is small !

[mccfluff]

personally myself i'd leave it, your new don;t know him and he may not have realised how he came across. if it happens again though bring it up with your manager

[squarebear]

You must learn to prioritise.

If my job was to look after stationery and a colleague asked that I help with a mission critical job, of course I would help him. Paperclips and post-it notes can wait.

Your colleague was probably stressed at doing such an important job and you should have helped him first.

[carmalee]

I kbnow what I'd do and that is have a quiet word with the person you have the gripe with. Just ask if you misunderstood his tone (as it has upset you) or did he really mean to order you around the way he did. Stress you are anxious to fit in and want to stop any potential resentment from building up.

[ummmm]

I did wonder that.

Personally I would let it go. If what your colleague has asked you to do is more important than stationary...then it's more important than stationary.

I think you will sound very petty if you complain about it.

[milly143]

I would let it slide. You are new to the office and it's probably not worth starting something because you didn't like the way you were spoken to. If your boss has any issues with why you missed some work then mention it then but for now I wouldn't bother causing a fuss. If the other guy continues to be rude then maybe but if this is the first experience you have had of this then let it drop.

[evedawn]

Ta mcfluff - I just don't like to be taken advantage of and maybe ( if I am hnest) it's my pride that's hurt cos he spoke down to me in front of others.

[evedawn]

Oops typos. Gottago back as lunch finished ta all

[yogi-bear]

Hi Evedawn,

You can do any one of three options:

1. Tell him face to face that you dont like to be talked to in that manner, and for him not to do it again.

2. Mention it to your boss when she comes back, so she's aware of it, or when you have your one - to - one.

3. Dont act on anything just yet, and see whether he does it again. If he does, then tell your manager.

Best of luck :0) x

P.S If you're on a lunch break and about to eat something, DONT go onto Mrs_Overall's spots and zits thread.........you wont be eating anything then .......LOL

[daffy654]

Is this man a senior colleague?
If it were me I would do the task he asked me for help with and when returning to him with whatever it is, politely ask him to not speak down to me again, whether in front of others or alone.

[yogi-bear]

Oh i forgot Option No 4.....Give him a slap with a wet fish.......it's what i'd do :0)

[evedawn]

Thanks all for advice and opinions. For the info of Square bear and Ummm .I KNOW that stationary is NOT as important as chasing missing paperwork. I would've chased the missing paperwork FIRST and then AFTER THAT done the stationary - to me it made sense as both these things needed to be done in another office about half a mile away from where I normally am...so do both whilst there made sense - to me.

Anyway I think (after ruminating all day ...) that it's more how he spoke to me and that he "ordered" me to do it. and "ordered" me to leave my own task... He seemed to swell with self importance. He is a senior member of staff in that he has been in the dept for ages and I DO think he knows his stuff, (ALOT!!!) .....but I don't report to him in any way....

Although it still really bugs me I am going to leave it.. BUt I am so gobby by nature ...and I will try use this as a lesson in self restraint. Thanks all.

[lucca]

It's stationEry, not stationAry!