Rude and Unhelpful People

[gee4]

Who is the rudest person you have come across in your working life?  I have met many but none that matches up to a certain individual in my company.

Background
This guy works in stores/goods inwards, delivers copy paper, issues stationery and couriers documents amongst other things.  He is nothing but rude and abrupt, even when you ask for things politely.  All you get reply is, no I'm busy, that's  not my job, sorry can't help etc etc.

Incident
This morning I was asked to courier a document to a recipient within the UK.  The addressed envelope which had documents for signature, was to remain unsealed and put inside another envelope for which I printed the address label.  I went to this individual about an hour ago and politely asked if he could courier the document.  I began to explain the instructions and was interrupted by, do you think I'm stupid?  I replied no, I am just explaining what the sender wants so there is no uncertainty.  At that point seeing he wanted no further instruction from me, I left the document on his desk, said thank you and walked away.

About ten minutes ago I received a phone call from him asking where the document has to be couriered to.  I am still counting to 100.  Politely I said, well if you had just let me explain, I was trying to tell you what I wanted but you made out you understood the instructions before I got a chance to finish.  I did try and explain but you assured me you were clear on what was being asked.  He just mumbled and the conversation ended.

This happens all the time, not just with me, but it is becoming rather tedious.  Should I speak to his line manager and make a complaint?  If I was unhelpful I would be fired but this guy just seems to get away with it.  I was acting on behalf of another manager who trusted me to courier this document.  It will look bad on me if this doesn't get actioned or the document goes astray.

Short of blowing a fuse here...

[JessW]

Gee, count to 200 next time, and then make sure there is an idiots guide memo addressed to him and copied to whoevers' documents they may be with a step by step guide as to what is required.

This way, dopey can tick each action off one by one and (should the worst happen and dopey gets it wrong) you will not be blamed for his errors.

Remember, simple soles need simple instructions (and lots of kindness - oops sorry mis-spelled that, should have read boot up derrier!)

I personally think it is going around at the moment - we have a trainee here who is moving to a different part of the company after this Friday who told me to my face that if it were not for 'us' fee earners (she is not qualified yet and may never leave the building alive if enough admins hear about it!) then we admins would not have a job!

[gee4]

Jess,

When I prepare my department's stationery request and take it to him to action, (no hurry of course), he has been known to scrunch it up and bin it right in front of me.

The man is hateful!

[Katie G]

Gee,

I've found that with some of these types you have to do a little psychological warfare.  I have similar issues with our money departments when something requires extra or additional attention.  I'll usually start by assuring them that I KNOW the "proper" procedure.  "Hi Joe, Listen, I know that normally I need to do XYZ before ABC can be done, but I've been handed an odd situation here...."

Doesn't fix the inherent rudeness, but it might at least get him to stop assuming he knows it all....??

When I prepare my department's stationery request and take it to him to action, (no hurry of course), he has been known to scrunch it up and bin it right in front of me.

This, however, inexcusable and this guy needs a "talking to".  But not from you.  I'd start documenting this sort of stuff and then have a word with whoever is appropriate.  I'm sure your boss would not appreciate his directions being ignored in this manner - and he shouldn't take too kindly to such disrespenct being shown to you as his representative, eitherr.

[JessW]

Gee

Is he on the internal mail list (and does he use the email)?  If so, how about emailing requests to him copied to his immediate boss and your boss too.  That way, when he has not actioned something because he has binned it (again), you can follow up with a forwarded message to them all asking why the order has not been actioned and giving him a deadline by which you want the order made up and delivered.

Just a thought!

He is not an animal (that would be disrespectful to animals) - he is, quite obviously, incapable of being human on any level, and you have my sympathy.

Jess   

[gee4]

Believe it or believe it not, no one here replies to emails.  They all plead ignorance even with a read receipt!

[Katie G]

Believe it or believe it not, no one here replies to emails.  They all plead ignorance even with a read receipt!

If that's the case, then all you can really do is make sure you keep copies of and document everything to keep yourself protected when the day comes that he REALLY screws up something and tries to blame you.  Because with these types, it's never, EVER their fault.

Honestly, I swear in this position, sometimes I spend up to 60% of my time doing stuff solely in the name of CYA.