Advice needed: How to deal with harasser at work?

[worktroubles]

I started this job late last year, and was naturally very friendly with all my coworkers including this particular male colleague (call him X). We use a popular instant messaging system for communicating at work, for which I was advised to create a new work account for and add all colleagues to facilitate contact. I did, and used a generic password that we all use for our computer logins.

About a month into my employment, a female colleague of mine cautioned me that X has basically made attempts to hit on all the women at work, including very inappropriate attempts, and doesn't take no for an answer. During that time X had been chatting with me over workplace messaging system and I have kept contact to a polite minimum. Then one day X, over IM, creates this fictional story that all our IM communication and internet activity is monitored. I was obviously shocked, and he then gave me his phone number and asked for mine to talk about it outside of work. I, then, recognised that this was an attempt to get my number and refused to give it to him. A week or so later, he sent me an IM saying he owes me an apology as this was all made up. I then completely ceased all non-work related contact with him and stopped responding to his IM messages. He responded by trying to create conversation with me, but only when none of our co-workers were around. I became very uncomfortable and snapped at him several times for refusing to leave me alone. I contemplated reporting him for harassment, but didn't think any of what happened constituted workplace harassment so didn't. He, eventually, got the message and stopped IM'ing or talking to me. I was relieved.

However, yesterday, I happened to be checking my work IM's privacy settings and somehow landed on my blocked contacts. Under which, I found another account of his (with his first name and last name) that I had never added or blocked. This obviously means that he got access to my IM or computer account, which isn't hard as I've only used generic passwords for both. I have no idea why he would do that or what he gained from it, and I find it very creepy.

Sorry this is very long, but I thought context might give you an idea as to what action I can now take, if I should take any, and what rights I would have in this situation. Thank you very much in advance.

Write it all down with dates.
Tell your manager.
Tell human resources
Make it clear the outcome you want which is that this behaviour stops. Give them the written log. Make sure this is factual e.g on x date he asked for me my personal phone number. On y date he said he had pretended we couldn't message in work system just to get my number et
Log and report any further incidents

Good luck

Unfortunately, during that conversation he asked me to delete my chat history and I very stupidly did. Also, the IM updated itself recently and erased all chat history again. I only have a screen shot from when he said he made it all up. He has made no inappropriate contact since. I'm wondering if I should report that account under my blocked contacts which I've never added or blocked. But, I have no physical evidence.

Doesn't matter. You dint need physical evidence. It is not your job to prove he did this. Write it all down. Report to your manager and human resources. Tell them you want the behavious to stop. How they deal with it is up to them. It's not a criminal court you don't need to prove anything.

Thank you Heels. I'm hoping someone with experience of reporting harassment at work can come along and let me know what would happen.

Bump?

Depends what your relationship with your manager is like, but I think that you need to tell manager or HR that he tried to solicit your number from you with a lie, and may have accessed your system. Also throw in that you've been very professional/vigilant to protect yourself and him as other women claim he "tries it on" and whilst you've no evidence that he does, you could see how a misunderstanding could easily occur.
suggest that perhaps everyone needs a reminder (team meeting?) about boundaries, professional behaviour at work, and that hacking accounts is a breach of company policy and trust in the team.
Doing it that way takes you out of the "victim" mode and helps you help them make it clear to him without singling him (or you) out that he's being watched- and that he's not on.

Hello work

It maybe worth asking your IT Department if all instant messages are stored and if "they are subject to disclosure under the freedom of communication act"

Emails are all stored for several years, so I expect that instant messages are too

Your company should have a documented communication policy

I would start here before talking to any other managers at work

I would be very careful what you write on email/messenger & keep all comms professional

Some companies put the ownership of the security of your PC, laptop phone into your hands, which means you should lock all of these & dont let anyone else have access.

I hope this helps & good luck