Bad Mouthed at work

[jimbo999]

I used to work with someone and we didn't see eye to eye, we both moved on within company to different roles and the other person keeps bad mouthing me to anyone that will listen, i have at least half dozen other employees asking me what the problem is and that this person sais such and such. Very rude about me swearing etc. This has gone on for a year now, i thoght it would stop a lot sooner.

A new employee started recently and got told by this person on there 2nd day that i am a liar and a cheat and not to talk to me!

I spoke to my manager as it is stressing me out, she said raise a greivance. I have no direct evidance as i have not heard and this person is not rude to me but makes clear they dont like me, i think the company will take seriously but i dont want to get reputation as trouble maker or have action taken against me if it is all denied and kept quite. I said i would confront this person, i am not a shy person, but got told to put my complaint in writing and to step away and not do that.

Is it worth raiseing a greivance? will this person just get told off and i will then be subjected to rumours and bad feeling for being a trouble maker? I hoped this would stop many months ago but it seems to only be getting worse? What do i do? Do i speak to the person and say im thinking of putting in greivance as that may warn them off?

[enquirer]

Re: Bad Mouthed at work

I said i would confront this person, i am not a shy person, but got told to put my complaint in writing and to step away and not do that.

Do not confront them directly. A lot of trendy management types push this idea (particularly those trying to fiddle their HR grievance figures), but in my experience, it usually goes wrong.

Is it worth raising a greivance? will this person just get told off and i will then be subjected to rumours and bad feeling for being a trouble maker?

Yes, put a grievance in, and make sure you do it in writing. Give a full account of the whole business from the very beginning. Keep the language factual and unemotional. Explain the effect this has had on you.

As to bad feeling, don't worry about it.

Do i speak to the person and say im thinking of putting in greivance as that may warn them off?

This works occasionally, but based on what you have described, I would guess it unlikely to be successful. It might even prompt them to strike the first blow by making a complaint against you - a tactic often used by bullies.