Current Events > How would you discuss or argue this with a coworker?

(+) Yeah! (+)

We have a company policy where you cant use someone elses computer for access without them allowing you.

I have this elderly coworker who needed to print something and had the default printer set on the wrong one. He allowed me to help but then got worked up when he saw me going into his Devices > Printers settings and said, Get off my computer youre messing it up. I had a couple seconds left to click manage the printer and set as default but he started literally trying to push me off and grabbed my hand. I said, its just the setting for which printer is set...which I could see was set to the wrong one. He panicked thinking I was doing someone fishy, even though he was standing next to me watching the entire time. I paused and was like, What the fuck is wrong with you? Then let go of the mouse and stepped away, sort of escalated just from the physical presence.

Hes telling me now that he could report this incident as a violation of company policy to get me disciplined. I have no doubt the policy is you cant use someones computer without their consent, but if it started with me helping and he freaked out for a few seconds while Im like, Are you serious, its the printer. Did I violate company policy those few seconds for trying to set default printer.

Im embarrassed for it even being an issue in the first place. It wasnt like I was getting in his email or anything but it caught me off guard that he was literally believing I was destroying his computer and asked me to stop (which I didnt end up change anything because of him physically pushing my hand away).

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You don't

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Report him for the physical confrontation, beat him to the punch

I dont really know. If he cant accept the reality that he had his PC hooked up to the wrong printer and you were trying to switch it to the right one, especially when he was standing there watching you do it, it sounds like hes having a psychotic break or something.

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Lifes too short. The minute they started telling you off, you should have just left and let it be their problem

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He allowed you so nothing's wrong

I wouldn't help him ever again though

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AlisLandale posted...

Lifes too short. The minute they started telling you off, you should have just left and let it be their problem

Well, I would have but I didnt even realize he was freaking out in dismay standing next to me until he physically grabbed my hand. It all happened in just a few seconds. I mean, it was going to take me just a few seconds but I had to go look at which printer he was trying to print to, walked back to the computer, and went to go through the settings. Go to devices and hes like stop youre messing it up, and knowing I wasnt, didnt think he literally was like, Get away from my computer! Because thats a completely absurd first reaction to have and then immediate had a physical confrontation.

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Dude made aggressive contact over something stupid as hell, then threatened to report you? Take it to your manager or whoever right away and tell them what happened

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Dude probably has porn on there lol.

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Conker posted...

What the fuck is wrong with you?

he's a boomer

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1NfamousACE_2 posted...

You don't

This. Just drop it.

And never help him again without some boundaries established first.
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And, I just found out there was an incident reported so now I am going to actually have to explain this shit and fight it. The biggest problem is that I was pissed after the physical confrontation and called the guy a fucking idiot, which was the wrong thing to do and Im understanding I shouldnt have said that part. I should have just walked away after and not tried to listen to him argue with me.

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Are you IT?
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Squall28 posted...

Dude probably has porn on there lol.

This, he's hiding something. I used to do helpdesk before moving up, and the only time people got anxious when you're on their computer is if they're afraid you'll stumble across something they don't want you to see.

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These are VMd machines where we dont have access to much outside company systems that require logins for everything. It was actually a shared computer but he was logged in. So I believe he was honestly thinking I was going to cause damage to his company info.

Which is just absolutely absurd considering we work with about five people that constantly talk with each other all day and help each other. Its just a really odd circumstance, which is why it caught me off guard that he was serious in the first place over me stopping messing up his computer.

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Id report him for the physical contact. Id also considering contacting IT to have them check his computer for shady or illegal material.

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Conker posted...

These are VMd machines where we dont have access to much outside company systems that require logins for everything. It was actually a shared computer but he was logged in. So I believe he was honestly thinking I was going to cause damage to his company info.

Which is just absolutely absurd considering we work with about five people that constantly talk with each other all day and help each other. Its just a really odd circumstance, which is why it caught me off guard that he was serious in the first place over me stopping messing up his computer.

citrix? vmware?

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If you report him for touching your hand you'll be the laughingstock of the office tbqh

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Well, when they call you in for an inquiry, just explain that he asked for help, granted you permission to use his computer, then freaked out and grabbed you and started acting erratically. If they ask why you responded like you did, just say you were startled and didn't expect him to touch you like he did.

Also, never help him with anything again.

ChuckSDeuces posted...

If you report him for touching your hand you'll be the laughingstock of the office tbqh

Eh, Im the new blood anyways and everyone calls me an idiot, dumbass, and other insults on the daily.

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Open a can of whup ass on him after work.

treewojima posted...

Well, when they call you in for an inquiry, just explain that he asked for help, granted you permission to use his computer, then freaked out and grabbed you and started acting erratically. If they ask why you responded like you did, just say you were startled and didn't expect him to touch you like he did.

Also, never help him with anything again.

Thanks, Ill keep this in mind.

He tried to talk with me about it and compared it to if I tried to have advances on my wife and she said no that if I continued Id be in the wrong and she has every right to physically fight me off. JFC, this dude is a straight up fucking dumbass.

I guess he was just blowing smoke saying there was a report, my supervisor said he had not been notified of anything, unless this guy is going straight to HR.

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If you want to go down that particular road, make a mark on your wrist/hand to show them. That's if you want to do that. Sometimes you have to play dirty especially if they do it first.

The truth is the best option though.

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Southernfatman posted...

If you want to go down that particular road, make a mark on your wrist/hand to show them. That's if you want to do that. Sometimes you have to play dirty especially if they do it first.

The truth is the best option though.

Its all on video, so if they looked theyd see him grabbing me and pushing.

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Surprised you didn't just laugh it off and say "report what, that you asked for assistance and I was helping you?"

You won't get in trouble for this other than getting coached on inappropriate language. You know not to help this person ever again though.

Conker posted...

Eh, Im the new blood anyways and everyone calls me an idiot, dumbass, and other insults on the daily.

That doesnt sound like a healthy working environment.

And if you seriously face any disciplinary action over this, Id look for a new job.

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What kind of fucked up place do you work? Are you in a rural area with no better options?

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rule one of working with company property: you never touch it unless it's safe.
It wasn't safe after he assaulted you

But considering your post about being insulted daily, get the fuck out of there

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Conker posted...

Eh, Im the new blood anyways and everyone calls me an idiot, dumbass, and other insults on the daily.

Wtf

Conker posted...

Eh, Im the new blood anyways and everyone calls me an idiot, dumbass, and other insults on the daily.

what the hell kind of shitty place are you working

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stahlbaum posted...

Surprised you didn't just laugh it off and say "report what, that you asked for assistance and I was helping you?"

You won't get in trouble for this other than getting coached on inappropriate language. You know not to help this person ever again though.

I would just laugh it off, but years ago I got let go at a job over something not drastically different like this because an assistant manager reported me. The company didnt even ask me about it or care to know the full story, they just let me go due to being an at work state.

I got let go because my assistant manager tried to tell me I was in the wrong after a customer threatened to beat my ass and I told the guy to laugh off the roids. I said I was taking the rest of the day off, clocked out, and went home. I got let go because he said I walked out after insulting a customer, which technically is what it looked like, but we had a conversation about it...but from an HR perspective, thats all they saw was his report and me clocking out and leaving.

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I still think you should roundhouse his ass in the parking lot.

Conker posted...

I would just laugh it off, but years ago I got let go at a job over something not drastically different like this because an assistant manager reported me. The company didnt even ask me about it or care to know the full story, they just let me go due to being an at work state.

I got let go because my assistant manager tried to tell me I was in the wrong after a customer threatened to beat my ass and I told the guy to laugh off the roids. I said I was taking the rest of the day off, clocked out, and went home. I got let go because he said I walked out after insulting a customer, which technically is what it looked like, but we had a conversation about it...but from an HR perspective, thats all they saw was his report and me clocking out and leaving.

These situations are drastically different.

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Yeah back when I was working retail I learned that it's best to keep your mouth shut when it comes to customers. Some places the manager would take up for you and straight up throw them out. Others they would literally give them free shit and blame the situation on the worker

Anyway this sounds like one of those dumbass old people that don't know shit about computers and don't want to learn. They're the worst people to try and teach

MC_BatCommander posted...

what the hell kind of shitty place are you working

Well, its for a large corporation that I make good money and am in the process of closing on building a house thats supposed to be complete in July, so I cant leave my job at this time but planned to in the next few months after closing.

To offer perspective the supervisors dont enforce customers to wear masks in a state with a mask mandate, they dont even keep people at a 6 feet distance, think its all blown out of proportion, and not to make it political but to offer perspective are big Trump supporters...like even tried to explain what he truly meant about UV and disinfectant injection.

Were union based and an ole boys company though, and I only took the position as more of a transition to where we were building.

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The old man needs a receipt in the form of a fist for putting his hands on you.

EnragedSlith posted...

These situations are drastically different.

How so? The prior company allowed us to go home if we wanted to use time-off. I got let go because I left work and a supervisor said that I walked out in a report rather than entering in time-off for me. Twisting it, but obviously I didnt know I was gonna get dicked by that manager.

This guy can exaggerate in a report that I was using his computer without his consent, and from a company perspective hes technically right since I was on his computer for a few seconds after he asked while trying to go to the settings. There is no audio proof he gave me consent. Then after attempting to physically stop me (his own violation), I insulted him.

To the company it could look like I violated policy. Both instances based on spun perspectives from the other person wanting to get me in trouble.

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Sounds like your old supervisor needs his ass whupped to.

I'd try to get something on the record. This seems like it might cause trouble down the road if you don't.

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Anteaterking is right, you need to put the kibosh on this shit and tell your coworker to keep his mouth shut unless he wants your foot up his arse.

KLouD_KoNNeCteD posted...

Sounds like your old supervisor needs his ass whupped to.

Yeah, but I did tell some big muscle guy to lay off the roids. Not firing type of stuff in my opinion, but I worked for corporate Verizon Wireless at the time and they will bounce you for any little customer complaint even if youre a top salesperson or customer service rep.

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KLouD_KoNNeCteD posted...

Anteaterking is right, you need to put the kibosh on this shit and tell your coworker to keep his mouth shut unless he wants your foot up his arse.

When I was making this topic he came over to try and educate me in front of a group with a couple other people when he gave that ridiculous analogy. I said Im fully aware of the situation and did not violate company policy trying to properly change the printer settings simply because he had a misperception of what I was doing and physically responded when simply asking me to not change anything and reporting a violation would be sufficient if I was doing something wrong. At the time he was trying to call me out in a group I said Id buy everyone lunch if they allowed me to show this guy what I was doing and how it was going to solve his problem rather than cause a problem. He backed down from our confrontation, declining the offer, and said I can explain it to management.

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Conker posted...

How so? The prior company allowed us to go home if we wanted to use time-off. I got let go because I left work and a supervisor said that I walked out in a report rather than entering in time-off for me. Twisting it, but obviously I didnt know I was gonna get dicked by that manager.

This guy can exaggerate in a report that I was using his computer without his consent, and from a company perspective hes technically right since I was on his computer for a few seconds after he asked while trying to go to the settings. There is no audio proof he gave me consent. Then after attempting to physically stop me (his own violation), I insulted him.

To the company it could look like I violated policy. Both instances based on spun perspectives from the other person wanting to get me in trouble.

Because one is an instance of you fucking up in front of a customer and storming off and this is an instance of a disagreement in the workplace. Yes, he can lie and say you violated company policy, but if theyre really that hot for your blood then you need to get the fuck out of there anyway.

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Tell him snitches get stitches and that you'll be waiting for him in the parking lot after work.

Conker posted...

At the time I said Id buy everyone lunch if they allowed me to show this guy what I was doing and how it was not going to solve his problem rather than cause a problem.

???

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Anteaterking posted...

???

I meant show him how it would solve his problem rather than cause a problem. I was hoping maybe hed give in with the peer pressure rewarding everyone else, but instead he just backed down.

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Conker posted...

I meant show him how it would solve his problem rather than cause a problem. I was hoping maybe hed give in with the peer pressure rewarding everyone else, but instead he just backed down.

Oh... I thought you were trying to lure him off company property with the promise of free food and then uppercut his lips off his face.

Conker posted...

I meant show him how it would solve his problem rather than cause a problem. I was hoping maybe hed give in with the peer pressure rewarding everyone else, but instead he just backed down.

Hmm it just seemed weird to me that you're offering to buy a bunch of bystanders lunch.

Conker posted...

and said I can explain it to management.

But yeah you should just do this.

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So you just went into the settings and started doing stuff without telling him what you were going to do? Shit, I'd freak out too

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EnragedSlith posted...

Because one is an instance of you fucking up in front of a customer and storming off and this is an instance of a disagreement in the workplace. Yes, he can lie and say you violated company policy, but if theyre really that hot for your blood then you need to get the fuck out of there anyway.

From a technical standpoint, the manager should have called the cops and reported the customer for workplace harassment as I was assaulted. After being let go I checked out the company info and could have caused equal trouble for that manager had I stated how he incorrectly did not address the customer threatening me with workplace violence which we had a company department for. If someone robs the store and you swear at them, youre likely not getting in trouble for swearing at a customer because they were robbing the place in an incident report. Unfortunately, I didnt even find out the report was filed until I came in a few days later and was let go and the report only involved me (nothing even stating the customer threatened me or anything involving me using time-off that we were allowed).

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