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Afraid coworker might snap

moonbogg

moonbogg

Lifer
So, I got this guy a job at my work a little over a year ago. He has no special skills so he doesn't make as much as most other workers. He is discontent, unhappy and resentful. He just holds it in and he is a pretty strange guy as it is. He is the real quiet type that looks like he has so much anger inside. I am really afraid that he is going to walk in and start shooting. Anything I can do for simply suspecting that he is crazy and dangerous? Or do I have to wait until I am dead along with several coworkers to do anything about it?
 
It's not the quiet people you have to worry about, it's the people prone to violent outbursts. Unless he is indicating some psychological issues other than suppressing anger, I wouldn't worry.

If he makes a specific comment or does something unusual it would warrant attention. But if he just "seems" weird, you may just be overreacting.
 
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You could try a different tactic: buy him a beer and drop some simple lines about how you hate the job or little things annoy you. If he starts unloading, you'll understand how deep his frustrations go. If he gets really furious, you'll know there's something really wrong.

Don't do the beer thing if you know he has an alcohol problem though (angry drunk, alcoholic, on meds, etc...).

Or, you could be straight-forward and just ask him how he's doing (in regards to the job)? Most people just need to know that there are others out there that care about them enough to ask. 🙂
 
pandemonium said:
You could try a different tactic: buy him a beer and drop some simple lines about how you hate the job or little things annoy you. If he starts unloading, you'll understand how deep his frustrations go. If he gets really furious, you'll know there's something really wrong.

Don't do the beer thing if you know he has an alcohol problem though (angry drunk, alcoholic, on meds, etc...).

Or, you could be straight-forward and just ask him how he's doing (in regards to the job)? Most people just need to know that there are others out there that care about them enough to ask. 🙂
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So much this. Unless he's a hell-bent psycho path, people just need attention and social interaction.

Talk to him. Ask how he's doing. Show genuine interest.

See where that goes. If it sounds serious, try to diffuse the situation. If that doesn't seem to work, talk to HR. At least when he goes on rampage, he won't shoot you.
 
Find out if your company has a workplace violence prevention program. A monitoring component is part of the prevention program where you should be able to call someone to report his behavior and they will look into it.

There must be more than what you are sharing or how you know what's up with this guy if you are able to say you know he's discontent, unhappy resentful and a strange guy..
 
Just checking here....So is he actually upset, or is that what you perceive based on how quiet he is?


Being "the quiet one" has some downsides. Back in high school, I noticed a different attitude for a few weeks after the Columbine incident.
Oh no, he doesn't talk much! He's probably going to start shooting people.
Right. Ok.
 
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pandemonium said:
You could try a different tactic: buy him a beer and drop some simple lines about how you hate the job or little things annoy you. If he starts unloading, you'll understand how deep his frustrations go. If he gets really furious, you'll know there's something really wrong.
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Terrible idea. Unless you genuinely want to be his friend, which based on your OP that doesn't seem to be the case, then this will just mislead him. Next thing you will be starting a thread how this quiet angry guy at work keeps trying to hang out with you and tell you weird stuff because he thinks you actually care, making working around him even more akward then it was.
 
SagaLore said:
Terrible idea. Unless you genuinely want to be his friend, which based on your OP that doesn't seem to be the case, then this will just mislead him. Next thing you will be starting a thread how this quiet angry guy at work keeps trying to hang out with you and tell you weird stuff because he thinks you actually care, making working around him even more akward then it was.
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this is kind of confusing. he got the guy this job so it sounds like they are friends there but then he's like all worried about this guy snapping and wondering what to do, so there it doesn't sound like they are friends.
 
techs said:
Your only option is to poison his coffee.
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or pee in his coffee if you dont have ready access to poison then send him an anonymous email telling that the whole office thinks he's a freak and cant wait for him to quit his job and his pathetic life. Take a week-long vacation and hopefully when you get back he will have killed everyone including your boss. There's your chance to move up the career ladder taking over your old boss' job.
 
Keep a sack of hand grenades at your desk. You never know which way he'll approach from. As soon as you hear shots or so much as a malfunctioning stapler start lobbing grenades over your cubicle walls. Get him before he gets you.
 
SagaLore said:
Terrible idea. Unless you genuinely want to be his friend, which based on your OP that doesn't seem to be the case, then this will just mislead him. Next thing you will be starting a thread how this quiet angry guy at work keeps trying to hang out with you and tell you weird stuff because he thinks you actually care, making working around him even more akward then it was.
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Because talking with people outside of work should be avoided at all costs?
 
He's probably tired of working with idiots. The constant barrage of stupidity is eating away his soul, and he sits there quietly trying to hear if his brains have started leaking from his ears. I recommend continuing education for you and your coworkers. Listen to more news radio, and stop watching TV.
 
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