How to Deal With Hostile Employees in the Workplace

Engage in minimal dialogue with the person who is behaving in a hostile manner. Refuse to argue or repeat yourself. Listen to what the employee is saying without offering your opinion. Use active listening techniques, such as nodding and paraphrasing. For example, if your employee says, "I am so sick of filling out this paperwork, copying this paperwork and filing this paperwork," you could say, "It sounds like you are tired of dealing with paperwork." After you've spent some time listening, the employee's hostile behavior might deescalate.

Document the hostile employee's behavior, even if it is covert. For example, an employee who is angry may sometimes act in a passive-aggressive manner, such as refusing to return phone calls or not acknowledging directives. This allows her to display her hostility without engaging in direct conflict. Whether the employee is overtly hostile -- yelling at colleagues, cursing or threatening -- or passive-aggressive, you should make a record of the incident.

Alert the human resources department to the problem. This not only provides you with the opportunity to get additional assistance with the problem, but offers you legal protection in the event your employee makes an illegal threat or assaults someone. Provide them with copies of your documentation, as well as any emails you exchange with the hostile employee that are relevant to her behavior.

Develop an action plan with the employee. Clearly identify specific behaviors -- such as cursing or eye-rolling -- that need to cease, and specify when you will meet again to discuss progress. If your employee becomes angry and refuses to participate in the process, don't let that stop you from making the plan. Write "refused to sign" at the bottom and place a copy in her mailbox. Keep a copy for your records and send a copy to the human resource department as well.