Hi, I had a similar experience with a mentally ill girl. She wasn’t doing anything unpleasant, just showed some disrespect to private space and had a tendency to touch people. She’d see my new watch and would immediately want to touch it and would make signs that she wanted to try it on. I asked the mother of the girl, and she told me I should say “no” or "please don’t do it, I don’t like it" without hesitation. She explained that a direct and clear negative response is effective, and it’s much worse to say nothing or try to give less evident clues. Some people miss cues, and especially people with certain mental disabilities find it hard to adapt to social norms. You should learn to be rude. It’s a skill that will help you in life ;)
Since it’s happening at your job, your employer has a legal obligation to protect you against unwanted attention. You don’t need to complain to your colleagues, file a formal complaint. It’s the right thing to do. Even if you leave, there will be another girl in your place
Hey, the subject is definitely touchy. I admire your patience, but you need to think about yourself. You don’t own this guy anything, and you certainly don’t have to endure repeated assaults. I would recommend speaking with your manager about this behavior. Not in the manner that it makes you uncomfortable but say that you’ll leave the job if the man is not removed or dealt with.
Your compassion for this man despite the circumstances is very sweet, it reminds me of how I was at my first managerial job at 25. Managing people is difficult! I always tried to be nice to everyone, which was perhaps a decent thing to do, but it stressed me out immensely. I believe it's fine to be firm and explicit. You can say to Jeff politely that his physical actions are inappropriate. He definitely needs to learn not to grab women by the hand.
I’m a social worker and have to communicate with disabled people on a regular basis. We’ve taken professional training where we’ve been taught to set our boundaries with our clients. In a way, you’re helping that person when you’re telling him what to do and what not to do. And you’re doing him a disservice when you overreact or keep your thoughts to yourself because you think he won’t understand. Trust me, he will. You may need to repeat it several times to get to him, but eventually it’s possible to make people do what you want them to do regarding your professional interaction. Don’t be afraid to be impolite!
I don’t understand your colleagues who say “he doesn’t know any better”. Do they think they act heroically if they treat him like a child? You say the man is in his forties. He deserves to be treated likewise. They are basically denying him any chance to learn appropriate behavior that will help them in life. They’re acting like mothers who hover over their children long after they’re of age, thinking they help, but in reality never teaching their children any responsibility. Looks like you are the one who has to take this burden on your shoulders, while your middle-aged wives keep being ignorant...
This stuff shouldn't happen to anyone, no matter what. I'll just be upfront. You’d be better off quitting this job, in my opinion. Library work is not as interesting and relaxing as it might seem to the outsider (to visitors). I bet you already know this.
Your own mental health is at stake. If nothing else helps, offend that person once again and this time try to genuinely hurt his feelings.
I’m sorry to say this but I see no other easy way
@Ruby lj Hi, thank you! Yes, I’d probably need a special course on how to be rude:) I still freeze when people are mean or rude to me. I suppose I suffer from a mentality that tells me “be quiet, endure it and move on”. If this situation at work were a one-time thing I’d probably never do anything about it.
@Christopher I thought about a formal report, but won’t they fire him over it? I don’t know, maybe his health status gives him some privilege, I’m not sure I want to be the one who made him leave. I will feel out of place if this happens and will quit anyway. I was hoping to find another solution
Hi,
set boundaries. clearly communicate to that person what you don't like explicitly and calmly. as they wont understand till you don't explain them clearly. They may not understand sarcasm, rudeness in certain cases as they wont understand what is appropriate behaviour. In this case you can just help them by stating that you feel so so is an inappropriate behaviour and you don't like it.
You can even consider conflict resolution. You can speak to a neutral third party who can help you both by addressing these concerns. A person who can explain your concerns to another person in a better way. person who knows you both well like any of your colleagues or superiors at office or an h.r
see if either of these steps could help you.