[Rose3]

This situation came to mind today, altho it happened in the past to a co-worker. She told me one day that our female boss had flattened my co-worker's tire on her vehicle. I found this hard to believe but didn't say so.
Then a couple of weeks later I heard our boss speaking on the phone to someone and she herself said that she had flattened our co-worker's tire.
What would have been appropriate things to say or do (either by my co-worker or by me)? I can't imagine how horrible it must have felt to have this done by one's boss, and yet I still find myself wondering if it was really true? And yet I heard our boss say that she had done this.

[Nicks_Nose]

This depends on the context. Was this a practical joke? I have seen some pranks done at work that have been laughed at in the past and yet when told to others who may not agree with such humor, may retell the story with a tone of disgust. Meanwhile, the person whose tires were flattened may have laughed the situation off as a payback for another prank pulled some other time.

My point is that if you or the person telling you the story were not present during such an incident, it is hard to pass judgment on the situation. Nor does the incident have anything to do with either of you. I would let it pass and move on.

[Rose3]

No, the co-worker did not find it funny.
But she was faced with a flat tire at the end of the work evening, so having to
deal with "how to get home?' at night - not funny.

Hi ((((Rose)))) ugh. I am sorry you heard any of it I empathize with you...certainly puts you in an uncomfortable position.

What comes to mind for me is what kind of supervisor, person in a place of authority, would do such a stupid and childish thing?

If there is an hr, risk management, division at your place of employment, whatever the reason, I am quite sure they would not take this type of behavior lightly.

That said, unfortunately, I dont think there is much you can do short of encouraging your co-worker to speak with hr. Especially if it is still troublesome or is creating work stress.

It is your co-worker's responsibility to report the action to hr if it is an issue. HRs responsibility is to take it from there.

Best wishes to you.

[Rose3]

Thanks.
Thing is that this place of employment does not have hr, nor any other departments in it - because it is a small location - a business where the owner is the boss, so this owner behaves as she wishes. Maybe if this co-worker wanted to - then she would have to look into the community for assistance.

[Nicks_Nose]

If it is a major concern, you might try a labour board or legal aid could direct you.

[Perna]

I would maybe commiserate with your coworker and look for another job; I would not work for such a person. I don't know the whole circumstances ("why" did the boss flatten the tire, what was the argument or situation?) but if the boss would do that to one person I'd be thinking they might do it to me. I would not want to work around that sort of situation.