The computer network administrator has been working long hours to reconfigure computers during an agency reorganization, causing high stress. After a late night, an angry employee verbally attacked her about a computer crash. As the HR manager, I would investigate, document the incident, and potentially separate the employees by moving one to a new department. I would also have conversations with both individuals. To manage stress, the network administrator could practice relaxation techniques, re-evaluate negative thoughts, and prioritize self-care like sleep and fun activities.
The computer network administrator has been working long hours to reconfigure computers during an agency reorganization, causing high stress. After a late night, an angry employee verbally attacked her about a computer crash. As the HR manager, I would investigate, document the incident, and potentially separate the employees by moving one to a new department. I would also have conversations with both individuals. To manage stress, the network administrator could practice relaxation techniques, re-evaluate negative thoughts, and prioritize self-care like sleep and fun activities.
The computer network administrator has been working long hours to reconfigure computers during an agency reorganization, causing high stress. After a late night, an angry employee verbally attacked her about a computer crash. As the HR manager, I would investigate, document the incident, and potentially separate the employees by moving one to a new department. I would also have conversations with both individuals. To manage stress, the network administrator could practice relaxation techniques, re-evaluate negative thoughts, and prioritize self-care like sleep and fun activities.
The computer network administrator has been working long hours to reconfigure computers during an agency reorganization, causing high stress. After a late night, an angry employee verbally attacked her about a computer crash. As the HR manager, I would investigate, document the incident, and potentially separate the employees by moving one to a new department. I would also have conversations with both individuals. To manage stress, the network administrator could practice relaxation techniques, re-evaluate negative thoughts, and prioritize self-care like sleep and fun activities.
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Case Study :
In the last few months, your agency has undergone a re-organization. One of the computer network administrator in your agency have been working very hard to reconfigure everyone’s computers. She has been putting in a lot of hours at night so she causes as little disruption as possible. She is starting to feel extremely stressed. Her attitude has been bad and she don’t particularly like coming to work. She tells herself that this will end soon, after the new system is put in place. One morning, after a particularly long night, she come in to work and sit down to read her email messages. There is a message from a very angry employee whose computer has crashed and she needs her help immediately. She walk around to her space and the woman starts to verbal attack her. She screams, “YOU ARE SO STUPID! ONLY STUPID PEOPLE WOULD MESS UP A COMPUTER THE WAY YOU DID. WHY DON’T YOU GET A JOB THAT YOU CAN HANDLE? DON’T YOU FEEL ASHAMED FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME? So she feels disappointed with the behavior of co-worker and ended up discussing the issue with the HR department.
a) What are your thoughts about the co-worker who abused the computer network administrator verbally?
Verbal harassment can be an ongoing battle of destruction that threatens one's health and career. It consists of demeaning remarks, offensive gestures and unreasonable criticism. It can involve insults, slurs, unwanted "jokes'' and hurtful comments. Verbal harassment can be difficult to recognize and is often a gray area since it is a nonphysical form of violence. However, from the case, it can be understood that the Computer Network Administrator has been abused verbally by her co-worker. Although the Computer Network Administrator is a hard-working person, due to the excessive load of work, she was passing a stressful time. However, as her colleague might not comprehend her effort, the colleague showed rude behaviour to the Computer Network Administrator. It is not fair in organizational behaviour. Now, this incident should be brought to the attention of HR without making any delay.
b) Based on these thoughts, how do you think you will respond to this situation as a HR Manager?
Generally, if an employee is uncomfortable with a direct confrontation with the abuser, they should reach out to their HR manager and convey their grievances. The HR should, ideally, set up a meeting where the two parties can discuss the issue on a neutral ground. Therefore, as HR, I understand that we are limited, especially in such an environment. But, that's no excuse to not try to help an employee who feels they are being subjected to verbal abuse and/or a hostile environment. situation. If an employee came to me, there would be an investigation and a follow- up. Unfortunately, co-workers who witness verbal abuse might not give information for fear or retaliation so, I've had situations where I didn't have a lot of support. But I always would document and follow up with the employee. In the least, I would try to separate the employee, maybe move them into another department and closely monitor the person who was being verbally abusive. There would be a conversation with that person as well.
c) What are the some (3) ways you can do to handle the stress that the employee feeling at work lately?
Basically, there are many ways to handle stress. The following are the 3 ways to manage stress as an employee:
1. Learn relaxation techniques
Purposefully slowing down and being conscious of one's surroundings can keep him/her relaxed throughout the week. Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness all work to calm one's anxiety.
1. Re-evaluate negative thoughts
When one has experienced worry and chronic stress for an extended period of time, his/her mind may tend to jump to conclusions and read into every situation with a negative lens. For example, if one's boss doesn’t say hi to he/she first thing in the morning, he/she might react thinking “they’re mad at me.” Instead of making automatic judgements, try distancing oneself from the negative thoughts and simply observe.
2. Take care of oneself
Setting aside time for self-care is a must if one regularly finds his/herself feeling overwhelmed by work. This means prioritizing sleep, setting aside time for fun, and making sure he/she is eating throughout the day.
