Earlier today I was involved in a rather nasty incident at work. I work with a bloke called ...well, we'll call him 'Bob.'
'Bob' is quite a revolting bloke. His manners are revolting, he constantly expresses his distaste for soldiers from Robertson Barracks, he smokes alot of pot (even during working hours - keep in mind he also operates the Forklift), and he has, let's say, a 'tightly wrapped' anger problem. His attitude toward women isn't exactly pleasant, either.
Today at work I was compiling an order for one of our clients. After mucking around with it for about 15 minutes I eventually cracked the shits, threw the paperwork and said 'Fuck it.' This is because the person responsible for the order was sitting on his ass fuck-assing about.
'Bob' seen me crack the shits and started mouthing off. As a result I approached him and told him to stop mouthing off at me. This seemed to fuel his anger and he then approached me and shoved me against an industrial beam inside the warehouse. He attempted to take a swing. It connected and, in retaliation, I knocked him clean on his ass. Not proud of this, but I won't be hit.
I went over to grab his hand and help him up. He then shrugged it off and walked into the office shoving me once again as he walked. I then confronted him again saying 'Push me again.' He then lunged across the room and attempted, for a second time, to take a swing. I grabbed his arms and placed them behind his back, and forced him to the ground in an attempt to calm the situation and prevent further assault on both ends.
A work mate of mine then approached me asking me to step outside. We had a chat and agreed that I would leave and go home for the day to allow things to calm down.
About 20 minutes later I received a call from my supervisor asking me to come back to work and have a chat. I explained to him what had happened and he attempted to prove that this was my fault with a complete disregard for the assault made toward by 'Bob'.
He then continued to say 'You are still on probation and I could easily sack you right here, right now.' I then explained to him that I could have 'Bob' up on assault charges, plus Work Safe in regard to 'Bob's' pot-related smoking at work. I cannot recall a day when he hasn't come into work stoned off his face. He has also come to work on several occasions either severely hungover or drunk.
I stood my ground and said I would not work with someone who is so careless that he is willing to put his own life, as well as the lives of others in danger at work by arriving and working under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. My supervisor seemed to just push this aside and continue on. I received an official warning for my actions (which is fair enough - I shouldn't have retaliated) but it seems as though I am taking the brunt for 'Bob's' actions, and not him.
So basically I've had a shit of a day. I will return to work on Monday and hopefully things have calmed down. However, him pushing aside the fact that his employee is smoking pot at work is really bothering.
Any advice on what I should do? Should I report them both, or just grin and bear it and hope that nothing bad comes of this. I won't have him up on assault charges, but I will be having a chat with him once everything has calmed down.
