7 Things To Do When A Coworker Complains About You

What to do when a coworker complains about you can be challenging to determine. If you have a good relationship with the person, you may want to try to work it out.

However, if the complaint is valid, it may be best to speak with your supervisor.

What To Do When A Coworker Complains About You?

Moreover, if the complaint is about something that you cannot change, such as your work habits, it may be best to ignore it.

Ultimately, handling a complaint from a coworker is up to you. Let’s break these actions down with details:

1. Identify Where You Went Wrong:

The first step in dealing with a complaint from a coworker is to identify where you went wrong.

If you can identify the source of the problem, it will be easier to address it.

Of course, you did something wrong that your coworker complained to your boss.

Some ways to identify the source of the problem are to:

– Think about what you did that may have upset your coworker

– Ask your coworker directly what the problem is

– Talk to other people who witnessed the event in question

However, it is not necessary that you did something wrong. Your coworker might have misinterpreted your actions or maybe overreacting.

Or they might be jealous or have a problem with you that has nothing to do with anything you did.

In any case, it is essential to identify the source of the complaint to address it adequately.

2. Talk To Your Coworker:

If you have a good relationship with your coworker, you may want to talk to them about the complaint.

Remember that you should not try to talk to your coworker if they have already talked to your boss about the complaint.

This could make the situation worse.

If you decide to talk to your coworker, there are a few things to keep in mind:

– Try to stay calm and avoid getting defensive

– Listen to what your coworker has to say

– Avoid interrupting them

– Try to see their point of view

– Thank them for bringing the complaint to your attention

After listening to what your coworker has to say, you can try to explain your side of the story. 

If you think that there is a misunderstanding, try to explain it.

However, if you believe that the complaint is valid, you should apologize.

Even if you did not do anything wrong, it is important to apologize for the situation.

This will show your coworker that you are willing to work on the problem.

But if your coworker is being unreasonable, you may want to end the conversation.

You can say something like:

“I’m sorry that you feel that way. I’ll try to do better in the future.”

Else, if they hurt your image, then take a stand for yourself by saying:

“If you have any issues in the future, please come to me directly so we can address them.”

3. Talk To Your Boss:

If you cannot resolve the issue with your coworker, you may need to talk to your boss.

This is especially true if the complaint is about something you cannot change. It can be something like :

-You are not working fast enough

– You are not following the company’s rules

– You are not dressing appropriately

If you decide to talk to your boss, there are a few things to keep in mind:

– Make an appointment to speak with your boss in private

– Bring up the issue at the beginning of the meeting

– Explain the situation calmly and avoid getting defensive

– Listen to what your boss has to say

– Avoid interrupting them

– Try to see their point of view

– Thank them for their time

After explaining the situation to your boss, you should listen to their advice.

They may have some suggestions on how to handle the situation. You should also be prepared to make some changes if necessary.

For example, if you are not working fast enough, your boss may ask you to work on that.

If you are not following the company’s rules, your boss may ask you to start following them.

Tell them that you are willing to change and thank them for their help.

4. Take Action:

Once you have talked to your coworker or boss, it is time to take action.

It would help if you also tried to avoid the situation that led to the complaint in the first place.

For example, if your performance or discipline was declining. It would help if you tried to improve in those areas.

For example, if you were dressing inappropriately. You should make sure to dress appropriately from now on.

It would be best to try to be more aware of how your actions might affect others.

For example, if you know that your coworker is sensitive to noise. It would help if you tried to avoid making noise when they are around.

If you take action and make the necessary changes, the situation should improve.

You may need to talk to your boss again if it does not.

5. Avoidance:

It may be best to avoid the person who made the complaint in some cases.

This is especially true if the person is unreasonable or if you have tried to talk to them, but they will not listen.

If you decide to avoid the person, there are a few things to keep in mind:

– Try not to interact with the person as much as possible

– Avoid talking to them directly

– Do not work with them on projects

– Do not eat lunch with them

– Do not socialize with them outside of work

– Avoid being in the same room as them if possible

If you decide to avoid the person, it is essential to be polite.

It would help if you did not say anything that might worsen the situation. For example, you should not tell them that you are avoiding them.

You should also avoid talking about them to other people.

Doing so could make the situation worse and create more problems at work.

6. Documentation:

If the situation does not improve, you may need to start documenting the problem.

This is especially true if you have talked to your boss, but the person has not stopped making complaints.

Documentation can be helpful because it can show a pattern of behavior. 

It can also help your boss to understand the severity of the situation. 

If someone ruins your image in front of others, you need to prove it to HR or your boss.

Thus, to document the situation, you should keep a record of:

– The date and time of the incident

– What was said or done

– Who was present

– Any witnesses to the incident

– Your response to the incident

It would help if you tried to be as objective as possible when documenting the situation.

You should also keep your documentation in a safe place.

This is because it could be evidence for future disciplinary action.

So here are a few tips on dealing with a coworker who complains about you.

Why Can A Coworker Complain About You?

There are a few reasons why a coworker may complain about you.

They are essential to understand to try to avoid the situation in the future.

1. Performance-Related Issue:

One of the most common reasons a coworker may complain about you is your performance.

This can include things like:

– Slacking off at work

– Not meeting deadlines

– Making mistakes

– Not following instructions

If your performance has been declining, it is essential to improve. This is because it can impact your job and your career.

It can also affect the morale of your team.

2. Disciplinary Issues:

Another common reason a coworker may complain about you is your discipline.

This can include things like:

– Coming to work late

– Leaving early

– Taking long lunches

– Dressing inappropriately

– Using your phone at work

If they ask you to change your behavior, it is essential to make the necessary changes.

This is because you could get disciplinary action or even be fired if you do not.

3. Personality Clashes:

Another reason a coworker may complain about you is a personality clash.

This can happen when two people do not get along. It can also occur when someone does not like the way you act.

For example, if you are always talking about yourself. It can annoy people.

If you have a personality clash with a coworker, it is essential to resolve the issue.

This is because it can make going to work every day very difficult. It can also impact your job performance. 

4. Jealousy:

A coworker may also complain about you because they are jealous of you.

This can happen if you get a promotion or a raise. It can also occur if you are always getting compliments from your boss.

If you think that someone is jealous of you, avoid them, and clear the air with your boss.

Also, do not let the jealousy of a coworker impact your work.

No matter the reason, a complaint about you can be complicated.

It is essential to try to resolve the issue as soon as possible. If you do not, it could impact your job.

What Not To Do When A Coworker Complains About You

There are a few things that you should not do when a coworker complains about you.

1. Do Not Get Mad:

The first thing that you should not do is get mad. When someone complains about you, it can be very frustrating.

You may want to lash out at the person. However, this is not a good idea.

Getting mad will only make the situation worse. It could also lead to disciplinary action. 

2. Do Not Ignore The Complaint:

Another thing that you should not do is to ignore the complaint. This may seem like the best thing to do. However, it is not.

Dismissing the complaint will only make the person who made the complaint mad. It could also lead to more complaints about you.

Also, they may have hurt your image. And if you remain quiet, people can believe it. It is essential to face the complaint head-on.

So here are a few tips on dealing with a coworker who complains about you.

Conclusion:

When a coworker complains about you, start by trying to resolve the issue. If that does not work, talk to your boss or HR.

You may also need to document the situation if it does not improve. Do not let a complaint about you impact your job.

Last Updated on 9 months by Shahzaib Arshad