I (27F) have worked at this job for nearly two months. Coworker (23M) will be referred to as "Kenny".
I was really excited about this job, it's unconventional and provides a lot of freedom in scheduling. Some days, I come to work and don't even talk to anyone. It's awesome.
Since my second week of work, I have been wary of Kenny, who works in a different department. In his department, there are supplies that we need and we just go in and get what we need. I went in to get something, but didn't know where it was kept, so I asked Kenny for the items.
Kenny gave me the wrong items, with a smug smile. It was clear that he knowingly gave me the wrong items. I confirmed with a manager they were wrong, and told her that Kenny had given them to me, she looked confused.
I decided that I would ignore him, and avoid him, and have done so successfully outside of a handful of occasions where I had to approach someone to ask a question or him coming into our department to chat with a friend. Everything I know about Kenny, is from overhearing him excessively talking about himself.
Up until last week, he was just an annoying dick.
I was the last person left in my department. I'm not actually sure who else was left in the building. I was walking from one department back to my own. I noticed Kenny leaving his department and thought nothing of it, until I get to my desk and see him coming into the room.
I asked him who he was looking for, and I told him they were in the area I came from. Kenny then walked right up to me, looked me up and down, and made a comment about my clothing. Kenny said something like; "Shorts and boots? What a fashion statement."
I was kind of in shock, and just said, "Thanks, my shoes are comfortable," then turned my back to him and went back to work. Kenny left the room.
I told my boyfriend (29M) who urged me to tell my manager the next day.
It's a small company. Family owned. It appears that everyone is friends with Kenny, in work, outside of work. I decided I wouldn't say anything, and would continue to avoid him.
This week has been fine, I've continued to ignore him, if anything, I've adjusted my body language to be more confident. Instead of looking away or looking down, I just look straight ahead and pretend he isn't there. Take the hint.
Yesterday, I walked back into my department. Saw him leave his as I walk by, and ignore him. I loop through my department to grab something from my desk and come out the other end. Kenny is standing outside of the door I had entered through, looking down at his phone. I walk into my manager's office and shut the door behind me to print something out. Seconds later, Kenny peeks into the room. I stare at the screen as he points out I'm not my manager, I just say, "Nope, I don't know where she is."
Kenny leaves.
And I think about it and realize he followed me from his department, through the building, stopped outside of the door to my department (another coworker was visible inside), then followed me again to my manager's office.
Throughout the day, I hear chatter here and there from other coworkers and draw the conclusion that I might be the only girl in the building today. I texted my manager and it was confirmed, I'd be the only girl in a building full of men.
My manager texts back and says; "Does someone make you uncomfortable there?"
I tell her all of the above. I'm given permission not to go to work today, but I had to go in to get my paycheck. I worked a full shift with no problems.
How do I proceed? How do I sit down on Monday and talk to my manager about this?
I feel like his behavior is a big deal. You know, being a dick once a month is fine, I can handle that. What I can't handle is being ogled, then be made fun of, and to then be followed and pressured to interact when no one is around to witness the interaction?
TL;DR coworker went from annoying to mildly threatening and now I have to talk to my manager about it. It's a small business, everyone is friends with this guy, how do I have a constructive conversation about the situation?