Work Ethics Question

coolerifyoudid

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Feb 8, 2013
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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?
Was thinking the same thing. Or possibly that the manager isn't very confrontational and wants someone else to indirectly do his dirty work.

I've heard about some ugly wrongful termination lawsuits over the years from some HR directors. I know it's the right thing to do and the OP feels compelled to say something, but the fact that a manager is talking about another employee to someone that's not in a managerial role can definitely get brought up in one of these cases. Tread carefully.
 

AllInForISU

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Nov 24, 2012
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If they get fired, will they get a severance package?

Either way I’d leave it alone, but if they do get severance, this might be a manager trying to save the company some money hoping someone will encourage this person to quit.
 

Gonzo

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Mar 10, 2009
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Behind you
Was thinking the same thing. Or possibly that the manager isn't very confrontational and wants someone else to indirectly do his dirty work.

I've heard about some ugly wrongful termination lawsuits over the years from some HR directors. I know it's the right thing to do and the OP feels compelled to say something, but the fact that a manager is talking about another employee to someone that's not in a managerial role can definitely get brought up in one of these cases. Tread carefully.
Agree. I wouldn't say anything.
 
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TrailCy

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Mar 3, 2021
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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.
It's called the Peter Principle. You keep rising in ranks until you're not good at your job. Not unusual or uncommon. In fact, good employers will encourage good performers into these roles to groom them for future management.
 

cyclone13

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Apr 7, 2009
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I always like to hear and seek feedback. After a month in a new job, I would ask for feedback whether there are things that I could do differently. Then 3 months and 6 months and 1 year. After that this is an annual event because I want to know how things are going with me and it also gives my boss a chance to step back and affirm his/her expectations. Good bosses always welcome the opportunity (The ones refuse to discuss expectations always turn out to be horrible ones because they would conveniently blame you if something goes wrong)

I have end of year meeting where we discuss where we are and the goals for next year.

Not sure whether this employee ever done that.
 
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NWICY

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Sep 2, 2012
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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?

Did he turn it around?
 

DeereClone

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Nov 16, 2009
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I wouldn’t say anything unless your co-worker is a close friend. I’ve probably worked in close contact with 120 co-workers in my career and there is about 4 that I would actually tell if I were in your shoes.
 

CyArob

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Apr 22, 2011
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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.
Your company doesn't have a PIP?
 

enisthemenace

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Dec 5, 2009
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It's called the Peter Principle. You keep rising in ranks until you're not good at your job. Not unusual or uncommon. In fact, good employers will encourage good performers into these roles to groom them for future management.
Yeah…I know what that is, but I’m not sure that comes into play during the hiring process.
 

bozclone

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I wouldn’t say anything. It might be different if he was your best friend. If you know he isn’t cutting it, he should also know that he isn’t cutting it. As an employee, I think it is pretty easy to evaluate your own performance and how you are viewed in that job. He may not agree with his perceived performance, but I would think he is aware. Too many bad things can come from your involvement and it may only give him a small jump on looking for a new job.
 

IcSyU

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Nov 27, 2007
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I don't buy into the "if he doesn't know its his own fault" thing. I have a report on a PIP right now who was repeatedly given corrections for their work and was told "we expect better" and "I'm disappointed" and "this needs to improve" at review stages of projects and was SHOCKED when they were put on a PIP in their most recent review. That's probably not a good reflection on me as their manager but I'm not sure how to be any more clear than I was.

I do agree with the people that suggested above that a PIP is just the first step in showing someone the door. MOST managers I have worked with would basically say "you've gotten to this point because you wouldn't take training or improvements before so I'm over it" and the PIP is basically just letting you know you have X days before the company let's you go to find a landing spot.
 

brianhos

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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.

He already knows, no one ever should go on a PIP without knowing it is coming. There is 6 months of work to do before a PIP. I wouldn't say anything, just be supportive.
 
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throwittoblythe

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Thanks for the sound advice, everyone. I'm in agreement with the majority. I'm not going to outright tell him he's getting close to the chopping block. But we do talk semi-regularly, so I may ask how things are going and provide some coaching on how he can improve. I know his manager is planning to create a development plan (PIP by another name) for him with some milestones/deadlines.
 
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carvers4math

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Mar 15, 2012
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Was this guy hired during a time when Covid restrictions could have been an impediment to learning the job?

Two of my sons started jobs during Covid when they were trying to do all training remotely online. Kind of difficult in engineering fields not to actually see mechanisms. One had a mentor he hated that would answer a question by telling him to read some enormous document online.
 

throwittoblythe

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Was this guy hired during a time when Covid restrictions could have been an impediment to learning the job?

Two of my sons started jobs during Covid when they were trying to do all training remotely online. Kind of difficult in engineering fields not to actually see mechanisms. One had a mentor he hated that would answer a question by telling him to read some enormous document online.
Yes and no. He joined in 2021. But we are a remote company, anyway. So, everything is done via virtual meetings. We get people out to see our work when we can, but that depends on if we have the work and if it's close by.
 

Donqluione

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In similar times, ie economic downturn with RIF's occurring/pending, a friend who was in management came to the defense of another manager's employee who the friend felt was being unfairly targeted. I warned the friend that was extremely unwise, would be seen as not being a "team player" and was likely to lead to personal repercussions, but it was too late, the friend had already interceded but unsuccessfully since the targeted employee was soon thereafter gone. Not long afterwards, the friend was assigned a "special project" that was doomed to failure since it was totally outside of the friend's area of expertise and customary field of operations. Surprise, it "didn't meet standards" and received an unsatisfactory rating, and the friend was included in the next round of RIF's.

Best to stay in your lane, if your associate is not found to be performing satisfactorily and in this case it sounds like that's actually the case, any personal involvement carries considerable risk of personal expense. If that person's manager hopes you'll say something to cause the associate's exit, that manager isn't doing their job and if anything goes wrong that manager may very well be willing to point to you and the cause. Lose-lose, for you and your associate.

By pointing a recruiter in their direction, you've already done a very good thing, trying to point them to a safe exit. Beyond that, if he starts talking about plans for a significant purchase or life event, major purchase or addition to family or whatever, you could strongly advise how that seems like a very unwise thing to do given the current economic climate or whatever excuse might play well.
 

Gink

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Apr 23, 2007
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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.
He probably is not going to get fired for poor performance, that would reflect poorly on the people who hired him. He most likely will get promoted to management.
 
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