Coworker Wants To Fight Me: 9 Strategies To Handle It

My coworker wants to fight me. I do not know why, but he’s been glaring at me and has now approached me about it.

I don’t want to fight him, but I don’t want to back down and look like a wimp. What should I do?

Key Takeaways:

• Communication is Key: Talk to coworker nicely first. See if you can fix things together.

• Ignoring as an Option: If a coworker is mean, ignore them to calm things down.

• Stand Up for Yourself: If you must, tell a coworker to stop in a strong voice. But be careful, this might cause problems later.

• Seek Help from Management: If things are really bad, talk to your boss about it. They might have to solve it officially.

• Involving HR: If none of this works, talk to HR. They can help you, the coworker, or both of you fix the problem.

• Change jobs: If all else fails, consider finding a new job to get away from the bad situation.

• See a lawyer: In really bad cases, talk to a lawyer about your rights and how to stay safe at work.

Here is our full guide on what to do if a coworker wants to beat you. There are ways to deal with this situation:

The first step is to talk to your coworker. Figure out what the problem is and see if you can resolve it.

Maybe they’re just having a rough day, and a friendly chat can fix things. By talking, you’ll understand why they’re acting the way they are.

If they have a problem with you, you can address it or avoid working too closely with them in the future.

This can be tough if they’re always around, but ignoring them might be the best way to stop. If you don’t react, they might get tired and leave you alone.

Here’s how to ignore someone:

• Don’t look at them
• Pretend you can’t hear them
• Talk to someone else

You might need to stand up for yourself if your coworker is too aggressive or hostile.

If you choose this option, ensure you are ready to deal with the consequences. If things get out of hand, you might get fired or in a lot of trouble.

Therefore, weighing your options and ensuring this is the best course of action is important.

Ask a trusted coworker to help out. They can chat with the other person and try to calm things down.

Your coworker can be a great help if he is willing to talk to the other person and try to get them to calm down.

This mediator can help you avoid a bigger fight.

If things get bad at work and you feel scared, talk to your boss.

Your boss can help you deal with a difficult coworker. They might even be able to move you to a different spot to work.

If the situation is really bad, your boss might have to fire the other person. They can also help you complain to HR.

If the situation is bad and you can’t get help from your boss, you should get help from H.R.

HR is like the referee at work. They can help by:

• Listening to what’s going on
• Finding a solution (like talking to your coworker or moving you to a different team)
• In extreme cases, firing the other person

If things are really bad, HR can also help with a lawsuit.

Can’t fix it? You might need to get out. This could mean finding a new job, quitting your current job, or moving to a different department.

If a coworker is making your life awful, this might be your best choice.

Talk to your boss. Maybe they can help you find a new job or switch departments

You don’t have to put up with a hostile work environment.

If things are awful at work and you’ve tried fixing them yourself, a lawyer can help.

A lawyer can:

• Look into what’s happening
• Sue the company (if needed)
• Get you money to settle things
• Help you talk things out (mediation)

Think of a lawyer as a strong friend who knows the law. They can help you get the best results if your workplace is really bad.

If things are REALLY bad and nothing else works, you might need a lawyer or the police. This is especially true if your coworker is scaring you.

If your coworker is threatening your safety, you should take this route.

Talk to a lawyer first though. They can tell you if this is the right thing to do. Going to court can be expensive and take a long time.

No matter what, stay calm and act professional. Don’t let your coworker upset you. Hopefully, things will improve.

Identifying the cause of your coworker wanting to fight is the first step in resolving the situation.

There could be many reasons why your coworker is acting out, but some of the most common ones are:

If this is the case, there isn’t much you can do but try to avoid him.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to be friends with your coworkers. However, you should at least be able to get along.

Your coworker might be jealous if you get praised more or do your job well.

This can make them act mean. Be kind instead. Talk about their good work, too, and don’t brag.

Be careful not to make them more jealous, things can get worse.

Your coworker might be grumpy and not know how to act.

Maybe something bad happened, like losing their job or getting dumped. If so, try to be nice about it.

Listen to them complain and let them express their feelings. Don’t try to solve their problem immediately; they might not want an answer yet.

Let them vent and then see if they want to talk about how to fix things.

Finally, it is also possible that your coworker is bullying you. This could be because you are new to the company, you are different, or he doesn’t like you.

If this is the case, you need to take action. Talk to your boss and see if he can help you mediate the situation.

If that doesn’t work, you might need help from H.R. or the police. Do not let others bully you at work.