Reporting a bully - WWYD

[Bickie]

I am wondering what is the right thing to do. I share managing a team with another manager - a very alpha male! We are currently both interviewing for a more senior role, and one of our team came to me today to say while I had been away - the other manager had been 'absolutely vile' to her on 3 separate occasions. He also made other women in the organisation cry. She was not officially complaining - just looking for sympathy. As he is not my line report - but an equal - would you escalate it to our boss - or HR. Or let it lie as it wasn't official. He is known to be bullish and is under a lot of stress himself because of this internal process. So while I absolutely detest bullying of junior staff, and if he was my line report I would have a quiet word with him, I would not like to make it look like I was trying to influence the promotion process. Thoughts???

I would keep quiet. It's not your argument. It's hers against him. If she feels that strongly she would need to make an official complaint.

Your report needs to complain to HR herself. I suspect that as well as looking for sympathy from you, she was hoping that you would somehow assume responsibility for the problem. If she is adamant she does not want to take things further, there is little you can do. I would approach her, say you have been thinking about what she told you, are concerned that she understands she could take this to HR, but then you have to leave it with her. What do you think HR can do about it if she is not willing to make it official?