What should you do in the following situation?
As an administrative assistant, you have been training Mrs. W., who is not directly under your supervision. She has not appeared to be particularly competent during the month she has been in her position. You are explaining application procedures to a client when Mrs. W. interrupts to ask you a question. You tell her you are busy with a client and will come to her office when you are through. In a low voice, she begins to call you names and say bad things about the department. There are several clients in the office in addition to the one you are working with. The supervisor doesn't appear to be around.
A. Ignore her and continue to assist the client. B. Get on the phone and request assistance from a department administrator. C. Say, \Now Mrs. W., I said I d be with you as soon as I could. Now please let me finish.\ D. Ask another employee to help the client while you escort Mrs. W. to a room away from the public area.
Inappropriate activity in the workplace can be many forms. Verbal abuse of co-workers is considered inappropriate behavior. The impact of disruptive behavior can be quite damaging. Decreases in productivity, performance, employee commitment, and company reputation will affect the bottom line, as will increases in turnover costs.
Also, toxic behavior can spread like a virus. People who work around disruptive people may begin to behave differently and believe that the organization has a high tolerance for such misbehavior. Workplace bullying is also sometimes found in the workplace. Separating the person from the employees and the customers is the safest route.
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