To ask how this would be handled in your workplace?

[WhoWants2Know]

Ok, I know it's not the first time I've asked a question like this on Mumsnet. I think my radar for what is normal or acceptable in the workplace is completely skewed at this point in my life. But here is a recent situation:

Employee A started working with the organisation recently. Employee B has been around a while and has a habit of teasing coworkers. For whatever reason, B was curious about A's age. A wasn't forthcoming. B looked for an opportunity, went to A's things and looked at their driver's license. (This was observed by another coworker. B said they were retrieving something at A's request.) Then B revealed to A what they knew and how they had found out, at the same time revealing A's age to a coworker.

A was upset but didn't know how to respond. Coworker responses were very mixed between exasperation and outrage, saying it was a breach of privacy and confidentiality.

Which would it be in your workplace? A prank gone wrong or misconduct?

Misconduct 💯

It is apparently being dealt with officially. No idea what that will look like in practice

Hopefully it looks like s swift kick up the bum for him, so he realises his "jokes" aren't actually funny! He should be put on a formal written warning and if he doesn't improve he should be sacked.

Definitely misconduct. He sounds like a total dick, acting like a 10 year old. Is A a woman btw?

Is A relatively new?

If so, this could be an opportunity to nail B once and for all.

If she (I'm assuming A is female, btw, apologies if I'm wrong) is prepared to really challenge HR / senior leadership that this is really 100% NOT OKAY (which it isn't), then it might be the nudge they need to crack down on B's 'antics' (which sound utterly insufferable, I'm surprised you've all tolerated it for this long).

Dammit, posted too soon.

Effectively, what I mean is that if you are an established team, you might all have got a bit 'woods for the trees' about B's nonsense, but if A is able and willing to push back sufficiently, it might the kick in the arse you all need.

Yeah a step too far

I’ve worked in similar setup tbh occasionally wearing but on the whole brightened the day up and enjoyable place to work

but as usual there’s always someone who pushes it too far

Definitely misconduct. That’s not what a prank is. A prank is tricking someone as a joke. It isn’t what teasing is either. He went through her private things, looked at one of her personal documents without her permission, then told other people what he’d read. There’s nothing jokey about that.
If this person has got away with this kind of behaviour before, and gets away with it again, the management are allowing him to mistreat colleagues and someone should raise a grievance.

Do you work in the public sector? Locally

Misconduct and a written warning at the very least if reported.

’bants’ is only ‘bants’ when everyone is in on the joke, otherwise it’s bullying, and in this case misconduct

And rifling through someone’s personal things is never bants! Plus he lied, and said she asked him to get something for her. Which isn’t very likely is it?! “Tarquin, please can you get my <whatever> from my desk drawer/handbag?” I don’t think so.

Totally unacceptable. Definitely not right to do that.
Bullying & Harassment.

Just a new employee reading up on all those mandatory in workplace policies.

Haven't RTFT, but this is most definitely misconduct as they've gone in to someone's belongings and looked at their private information without consent. I'd be fuming and going straight to HR or my manager.

Not appropriate adult behaviour. Somebody needs to report this person.

100% misconduct. And since we're hot on privacy they would be fired

B would’ve been disciplined long before this incident if he worked for my company.

His behaviours are unacceptable and the constant teasing and pushing boundaries could be tantamount to bullying.

Let alone going through a coworkers personal belongings. Which could also be viewed as a possible attempt at theft.

I would be fucking LIVID if someone at work had rifled through my handbag! Even more so if it was a man. Especially as I may have personal ‘female’ related items in there.

So many things wrong with this office environment you’ve described. Other colleagues shouldn’t be at a point where they’re just accustomed to this behaviour. It’s should’ve been nipped in the bud long ago.

Sod that - YOU speak to a manager.

Likes to tease or is actually a bit of a bully..
This def needs to be looked at and zB needs to learn how to behave in a workplace.
I've never worked in a professional environment where people 'pull pranks'

I would report anonymously on As behalf to save them any repercussions from nasty B

Absolutely out of order, of course they can't go through some ones things to check their age. My drivers licence is in my purse in a zipped pocket in my hand bag, this is a total invasion of privacy. What a Dxxx.

Misconduct

Misconduct

Investigation
Decision on whether it falls under misconduct or bullying/harassment.
Written Warning

Well it's misconduct if B went through As things.

However, never really have understood why people have such a hang up about age. My DM used to have a real problem with people knowing her age. I really don't get it. Who cares 🤷

So ... B was unreasonable and yes, it's misconduct

A is also unreasonable for being so annoying.

We would be told you should not leave your personal belongings lying around or bring them to work if you want them to be safe. My work place has signs up to that effect.
HR would do nothing. Management would just laugh at you.