AIBU to raise this complaint - HELP!

[Peppapiglovesbacon]

Posting here for traffic as I have a meeting this morning and need advice asap.

I had a work dispute with a male colleague that has recently moved from one dept to ours because he is currently under investigation in his dept for a separate incident - long story won't go into that.

He's come onto our dept and doesn't want to be here so makes things incredibly difficult by being purposely slow, not doing as he's asked, talking for hours on end and disappearing to the toilet for half an hour at a time.

I came into my shift last week to find that said colleague had left the area looking like a bomb had hit it, not done any of the work he was asked so it was all left up to me and I was told by another colleague he had spent all evening chatting and in the canteen. When the colleague came onto shift that day I joked saying what an earth had he been up to on the last shift as it looked like a bomb had gone off. He asked what I meant and I said about the area being a mess, work not being done etc and how I had rushed to get it all up together as well as doing my own job. The colleague went beserk and said I was unprofessional and if I had a problem with his work I should go and the manager not speak to him directly. Another colleague heard the exchange and said that I had not spoken out of turn or aggressively.

I've since found out through the week he has gone through all the colleagues in the building and asked them - what they thought of me, had they hadn't any run ins with me previously, told them that I had been horrible and unprofessional to him and basically slagged me off. I can see people whispering about me and I've been told that other colleagues have joined in with the slagging session and they all crowd round this colleague and have a slagging off session about me.

I was furious and immediately asked to speak to the HR manager to arrange a meeting to make a complaint about the way this colleague has been going round "interviewing" everyone about me and also fabricating what actually happened to make me look awful. The meeting is this morning. I've mentioned it to people that I'm taking it further and I've been met with responses that I should just leave it, it will cause an atmosphere in the dept, it will make me look like a troublemaker as this colleague is already in trouble in the other dept and so on. This colleague is popular.

Now I'm doubting myself and think I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. WWYD? AIBU to make the complaint to HR?

I think that you are right to make a complaint. It sounds as if this colleague is a complete stirrer. He's already causing an atmosphere due to his immature and underhand behaviour. If you don't tackle it now it could escalate.

Good luck.

Thankyou cariadlet I'm nervous as I've never made a complaint at work before

Make the complaint
He is digging his own grave unfortunately

He is in trouble as a result of his own actions which he clearly hasn't learnt from. Complain. Does him no good to feel invulnerable. Popular doesn't mean shit, you still have to follow the rules.

He sounds like a cunt to work with.

Stick to the facts, don't make it personal and make it clear that you were just concerned about him when you asked him what happened.

Of course you should report it your being bullied. All these 'interviews' was him trying to turn people against you and bitch about you!

Ignore the people who are telling you to leave it, when people are popular the minions would rather their be peace but won't give a shit about how it makes you feel.

Not unlike a situation I am in but wont say anymore as I dont trust most of the people I have the misfortune to work with. Stick to your guns. Ignore what others say to you. Write down what you need to say. I would also write down what happens or is said to you by anyone from now on.

I only have the say so of other colleagues who are getting irritated by him keep disappearing and talking. He's always late - sometimes up to 20 mins which annoys people who are waiting for him to take over their shift.

I think you were right to speak directly to your colleague about the impact of his behaviour on you , however please recognise that as another colleague overheard this then he may have been embarrassed/ lost face. He has now escalated by gossiping about you with other colleagues - trying to get them on side-however you have also escalated by saying to other people that you are taking it further.
It will do no good to try to apportion blame in this situation. Think carefully about what outcome you want from the HR meeting and state this to them- I do not think it is unreasonable to expect to come into a workplace which is ready for you to do your job and not gave to clear up after another colleague unless there is a good reason for this- very busy shift perhaps. It may be possible to speak to your colleague privately or to do this formally through mediation. I have found a good script for a difficult conversation is
State the problem
Say why it is important
Say how it makes you feel
Invite the other person to discuss
So in your case it might go something like
Colleague, I noticed when I came in that the office area was untidy and some of the work hadn't been done, this is an issue because that means I have to clear up before I can begin my work. IT makes me feel undervalued. Could we discuss how you can ensure the workplace is kept tidy?
Sorry for long reply- have just seen a lot of work relationships breakdown where an honest, private talk might get have sorted them. Good luck in the HR interview- stay calm.

YADNBU, as PPs have said, keep it factual and professional. I've never been in this situation, but maybe it would be wise to make a quick note of everything that's happened?
If I was in your position, I'd want to have a clear head and be able to physically write out what is purely anger/emotion vs. indisputable fact. Your coworker sounds like tough work but I imagine it'd be valuable to have everything as accurate as possible.