Work Ethics Question

[isucy86]

I have an ethical dilemma that I'm curious what others would do...

I have a coworker who has been at this company for about a year. He was hired at a position above his pay grade, but the understanding/hope was that he would grow into the role. Unfortunately, he has not grown much into the role. Now he finds himself being far overpaid for the work he is producing. The other day, his boss mentioned to me "well, I think we all know where this is headed." Meaning, he doesn't have long before he gets let go due to performance.

My question: would you tell the person in question about this? If so, how would you phrase it? I want to give him a heads up so he could be looking elsewhere, but I don't want to step out of bounds or cause him undue stress. I don't know that anyone has sat him down about his performance yet, either.

I am not in his line of reporting structure and I wouldn't say it's CERTAIN he'll get fired, but I would peg it at 70-80% likely at this point.

Since you aren't his boss. Then not your place to notify him he might be let go. I would say you would be betraying his boss' confidential conversation with you. The only exception would be if this person is a close personal friend.

If he is struggling and isn't bright enough to have sought out feedback or mentors, that is on him. Not sure how big your company is, but I would hope that his boss & companies HR staff have had prior conversations with this employee about performance. You just might not be aware of what actions have been taken.

 

[Gunnerclone]

That’s bs. You work high as balls and you know it.

“shitcanning” is exclusive to alcohol consumption to me.

 

[TrailCy]

We had a new hire (not in my group) who wasn't getting his billing done and ended up in a similar situation with management. I took him out to lunch and we talked how his job was going so far. I mentioned how important getting billing done was for MY manager, so I bet it's equally as important for YOUR manager.

So, I didn't tell him I knew he was close to getting canned, I didn't tell anyone I overheard his manager talking, but I was able to share important tasks that are part of our roles.

Can you do something similar?

 

[BryceC]

Don’t get involved. Nobody gets fired at this point and has it be a total surprise.

 

[throwittoblythe]

We had a new hire (not in my group) who wasn't getting his billing done and ended up in a similar situation with management. I took him out to lunch and we talked how his job was going so far. I mentioned how important getting billing done was for MY manager, so I bet it's equally as important for YOUR manager.

So, I didn't tell him I knew he was close to getting canned, I didn't tell anyone I overheard his manager talking, but I was able to share important tasks that are part of our roles.

Can you do something similar?

This is my strategy. Do things indirectly. Ask him how things are going, give him ideas on how to improve. I don't think he's unaware that he's struggling. But his manager needs to step up and help the guy be successful, too.

 

[cyclones500]

The other day, his boss mentioned to me "well, I think we all know where this is headed."

Circling back to this, in case it has any bearing on how you might proceed -- when he said "we all" who is the we all? i.e., are "you" one of the "we"? I'm not sure where you fit in the structure (you said it's your co-worker's boss, not your boss).

 

[ScottyP]

This is my strategy. Do things indirectly. Ask him how things are going, give him ideas on how to improve. I don't think he's unaware that he's struggling. But his manager needs to step up and help the guy be successful, too.

I would check with your boss/manager if it is okay for you to provide some coaching.

 

[enisthemenace]

Only read the first few posts. This is something I would definitely steer clear of.

I find it very sketchy that someone was knowingly hired for a job they were not qualified for in the hopes they would become qualified. That sounds horrible on many levels. Unless I misinterpreted that part of the situation.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Only read the first few posts. This is something I would definitely steer clear of.

I find it very sketchy that someone was knowingly hired for a job they were not qualified for in the hopes they would become qualified. That sounds horrible on many levels. Unless I misinterpreted that part of the situation.

By-product of a tight labor pool, plus the "hire for attitude, train for skill." This guy works hard and has a good attitude, but just doesn't have the capabilities needed to do the job he was hired for. The idea was to hire him for what he would be making after a year, expecting that he would learn quickly on the job and be able to fulfill that role. It just hasn't come to fruition.

Hindsight, the company probably over-reached on where they hired him. If he was making 20% less, this wouldn't be that big of an issue.

 

[JM4CY]

By-product of a tight labor pool, plus the "hire for attitude, train for skill." This guy works hard and has a good attitude, but just doesn't have the capabilities needed to do the job he was hired for. The idea was to hire him for what he would be making after a year, expecting that he would learn quickly on the job and be able to fulfill that role. It just hasn't come to fruition.

Hindsight, the company probably over-reached on where they hired him. If he was making 20% less, this wouldn't be that big of an issue.

Hold on, are you the guy that had to shack up with other dudes at work?

 

[PSYclone22]

Don't say anything, this is a trap. Management is trying to find a rat.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Hold on, are you the guy that had to shack up with other dudes at work?

I am!

 

[CyCrazy]

I am in sales in the landscape world. We get plenty of jackwagons through the door. We give them a month after that you are worthwhile or shown the door.

If I had the power 2 fire two guys who didnt show up to my job today. But alas I cant.

 

[Cloneon]

I have an ethical dilemma that I'm curious what others would do...

I have a coworker who has been at this company for about a year. He was hired at a position above his pay grade, but the understanding/hope was that he would grow into the role. Unfortunately, he has not grown much into the role. Now he finds himself being far overpaid for the work he is producing. The other day, his boss mentioned to me "well, I think we all know where this is headed." Meaning, he doesn't have long before he gets let go due to performance.

My question: would you tell the person in question about this? If so, how would you phrase it? I want to give him a heads up so he could be looking elsewhere, but I don't want to step out of bounds or cause him undue stress. I don't know that anyone has sat him down about his performance yet, either.

I am not in his line of reporting structure and I wouldn't say it's CERTAIN he'll get fired, but I would peg it at 70-80% likely at this point.

Interesting dilemma. I often find it's the 'managers' who do not have a full comprehension of the widget flow value of the people they hire. It is the manager's responsibility to always openly communicate their 'expectations' relative to the capability / salary. And more often than not the managers themselves had never performed the role they're overseeing. So, in summary, 9 times out of 10 it's ego, ignorance, and lack of communication which create these dilemmas.

 

[Pat]

If I ever hear of someone that was put on a PIP and kept their job, it will be the first time. I’d assume that your colleague will get something similar, and that’s the official notice that it’s time to start looking.

 

[ruflosn]

OP, stay in your lane brah.

 

[isufbcurt]

I can do an anonymous call to him if you'd like

 

[helechopper]

Not your monkey. Not your circus.

 

[drmwevr08]

I think you should at least mention to the guy that shared with you that he should make sure the dude has had clear warnings about having not passed muster. Maybe that gets him a clearer warning, or maybe verifies for you that this already happened.

 

[Gonzo]

I have an ethical dilemma that I'm curious what others would do...

I have a coworker who has been at this company for about a year. He was hired at a position above his pay grade, but the understanding/hope was that he would grow into the role. Unfortunately, he has not grown much into the role. Now he finds himself being far overpaid for the work he is producing. The other day, his boss mentioned to me "well, I think we all know where this is headed." Meaning, he doesn't have long before he gets let go due to performance.

My question: would you tell the person in question about this? If so, how would you phrase it? I want to give him a heads up so he could be looking elsewhere, but I don't want to step out of bounds or cause him undue stress. I don't know that anyone has sat him down about his performance yet, either.

I am not in his line of reporting structure and I wouldn't say it's CERTAIN he'll get fired, but I would peg it at 70-80% likely at this point.

Didn't read through all pages so this may have been mentioned, but does his boss know/think that you and him are friends? I've known guys in supervisory roles who have intentionally leaked word of one of their direct reports possibly being let go, with the hope that someone would tell the person in question to give them fair warning and ideally spur them into looking for something somewhere else.

Have no clue if this guy's boss would do something like that, but do you think there's a chance he mentioned it to you hoping that you'd tell the guy so that A) it wouldn't come as a complete shock if/when it did happen and B) it might motivate him to leave on his own?