To think if I complain about a colleague being obstructive and swearing at me.....

[QweenCnut]

I should be informed of the outcome?

This morning I was trying to help someone at work complete a task which they had got seriously wrong two days before. I had had to deal with the customer complaint and needed to prevent it happening again.

I suggested to him (on the phone) an alternative method of reaching the correct figures and also said I could send someone to help him. He refused to accept any offers of help, denied/lied about his previous mistake and yelled "Don't give me that shit". Another colleague heard my end of the conversation. I hung up.

I explained what had happened to my boss who later told me that "If it happens again, let me know". I asked what the outcome was of my complaint, and again he replied "If it happens again, let me know".

This is not the first time I have had to complain about this colleague and the way he speaks to me, but my boss seems incapable of resolving the issue.

AIBU to expect him to put something in place to prevent this happening again and to explain what those measures are? Small company, no HR.

I'm not an HR expert, but I think the best thing to do is keep a log of every incident and keep going back to your boss and complaining. If nothing gets done, then could you go to your boss's boss? Or your colleague's boss? You should certainly refuse to deal with him.

Is the colleague on the same level as you?
YANU to expect some action to be taken but you can not expect the boss necessarily to tell you a warning etc has been issued or if there have been other complaints.

You should put this and anything further in a formal email to your boss and keep any reply.

You won't know of any outcome as that would be breaking colleagues right to confidentiality. Just as he probably won't have been told it was you who complained.

Do as you have been asked, let your boss know if it happens again. That at least hints that there is something in motion like verbal warning > written warning 1 > final written warning etc. This would be in accordance with normal employment law.

zeezeek I have kept a log and complained to my boss's boss, but he just refers me back. My colleague's inability to do his job properly reflects on me.
leftangle Colleague earns less than me but I don't consider him my junior.