Ending "bullying" from a subordinate?

Post Reply New Topic

I have been a manager at a new store for a few weeks and I've already come to a conflict point. There is one person in my store that always addresses me in a condescending tone. I have been trying to ignore it and show my respect for the work that he does(he's very good at his job) hoping that it would go away once he got to know me. Unfortunately my bosses boss(who has taken a particular interest in my success) has directed me to confront the situation and not allow this problem to continue. I am looking for some pointers from others who have dealt with this type of situation before, so I can confront him on monday with a plan. Any help???

If you have the right to fire him, threaten him with his job. Nothing brings an employee into line quite like making them earn their place.

He obviously doesn't know the saying "Don't bite the hand that feeds you". Threaten to retract the hand.

Though you also run the risk of him saying "Fine, if you're going to be that way..." and walking out, therefore having to find someone else and train them to do the job he did. Your best bet for this contingency is to plan for it, have someone ready to take his place should this happen.

I've never actually been in the situation so this is only what I'd do in the situation, feel free to take it with a grain of salt if you wish. If not, i hope it helps.

You're the boss. You are jst going to have to be a hard ass and tell the subordinate it's my way or the highway.

i did a bit of group management.... one rule: you cannot be thier friend, you HAVE to be firm, stiff, by the book, and severe. Your goal now is no longer to fit in socially (still the case within the staff), your new goal is to run that departement, and those who don't follow the rules have to learn that the new boss is not thier friend anymore

I'm with Metal Man on this one, if you let this guy run over you then the rest of your crew will as well. Stop being nice to him , just be barely civil and give him all the s**t jobs you can find. Do this until he knocks off the happy horse s**t, or he or you are out the door.

I would call him in your office privately and discuss it frankly...


He has a good work ethic but his behavior is unacceptable and that
he needs to change his attitude...you need to have specific examples
of his unacceptable behavior so that he knows what he is doing wrong...you
also need to tell him that you want to keep him because he is otherwise
a good worker. Its possible he wanted the position you have...sympathize
but tell him that your boss also considers his behavior unacceptable and that
if he wants to move ahead he needs to prove that he works well with others.