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Original poster

CF or do I have a touch of the green eyed monster? ( probably!)

26 replies

Newnameforaday88 · 29/05/2023 09:21

My colleague and I have worked at the same level for 5 years we generally get on well and he is a popular guy. This has really riled me but I can't work out if he's cheeky or if I'm just a bit jealous that he's pulled it off?
In January he announced that he was emigrating to Australia in April. Then he discovered that his application was delayed and asked if he could come back as a temp until it was time to go. This was agreed.
Then an internal promotion came up which was suitable for us both. Temporary until October but with the strong possibility of permanent.
He went for the promotion and so did I, they admitted in the interview that the paperwork side of this job was "in a mess" and the temporary promotion was expected to get to work on this.
He got the job, started in May and then last week had a conversation with me in which he candidly admitted that:
A) he only took the job because it will look good on his CV and help with his job search in Aus.
B) He is leaving in August and has no intention of staying until the end of the temporary contract (and never did).
C) he has no intention of sorting the "mess" and only wants to do the fun bits of the job (there are some nice social occasions that come with the job) the other parts (some highly essential) he is planning to note down as "emergencies" to be completed as soon as the next person takes over in October.

What do you think? Reasonable in the circumstances or straying into CF territory?

As I'm interested in the role I'm highly likely to be offered it in October but it's now going to end up, at least for the first year, being a complete nightmare and a very heavy workload until the backlog is cleared.

OP posts:
007DoubleOSeven · 29/05/2023 09:22

CF

Iyiyiiii · 29/05/2023 09:24

Meh - he's doing what is right for him.

frazzledasarock · 29/05/2023 09:25

CF and I’d be looking for another job externally. Not clearing up the mess left behind by an incompetent lazy arsehole. If the company wanted him they can deal with the fall out. I wouldn’t be clearing it up.

2chocolateoranges · 29/05/2023 09:25

CF , personally I wouldn’t take the job, if you were the right candidate they would have offered you it first.

HeiXiong · 29/05/2023 09:26

I’d be asking for a 1 to 1 with my line manager and outlining my concerns, especially if this shitshow might be dumped on you

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 29/05/2023 09:29

Even if he is doing 'what's right for him', @Iyiyiiii - presumably by taking a job that will boost his job search prospects in Australia - why does this entitle him to do a half-arsed job then quit early and leave his co-workers in the shit?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 29/05/2023 09:29

Oh - and I forgot to say - definitely a CF!

caringcarer · 29/05/2023 09:32

I'd look for an external promotion. They knew he was temporary, but they still picked him over you. He looked after his own best interest. You need to do the same instead of staying and clearing up his mess. Value yourself OP, others won't value you if you don't.

ODFODeary · 29/05/2023 09:35

He is just looking after himself, don't apply for the position when he leaves knowing its in such a mess

TimesRwo · 29/05/2023 09:35

caringcarer · 29/05/2023 09:32

I'd look for an external promotion. They knew he was temporary, but they still picked him over you. He looked after his own best interest. You need to do the same instead of staying and clearing up his mess. Value yourself OP, others won't value you if you don't.

This.

I don’t think it’s CF territory (apart from not doing the paperwork). I was surprised your work chose him despite knowing he’ll be leaving, and I wouldn’t be happy with that if I were you.

He did what’s best for him, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You need to do what’s best for you.

Codlingmoths · 29/05/2023 09:39

He’s a total cf, not for taking the job but for doing a half assed job of it, I’d be telling people, looking externally, and increasing the amount I’d want to be paid for taking it on.

Original poster
Newnameforaday88 · 29/05/2023 09:50

caringcarer · 29/05/2023 09:32

I'd look for an external promotion. They knew he was temporary, but they still picked him over you. He looked after his own best interest. You need to do the same instead of staying and clearing up his mess. Value yourself OP, others won't value you if you don't.

I know this and it's gutting. I have a long history in the company and am a hard worker. A lot of people were shocked that he was chosen over me but he has the charm (and the role is about 20% schmoozing clients/winning people over and 80% dull graft) I am a hard worker but less of the charm so I'm guessing they valued that over the admin side of things.
If he was staying then I'd have been slightly disappointed but thought "fair enough"
But not getting the role in these circumstances was a kick in the teeth.
I know it's time to move on really but finding the right fit job wise will take time and if I'm offered the promotion then gritting my teeth and spending a year clearing up the mess will pay dividends in terms of my future career.

OP posts:
Dontlookow · 29/05/2023 09:51

SO lacking in integrity. Leaving the mess behind for his colleagues to sort. Including possibly you. Management chose him. Management clearly fools or worse. What else is there to say? He doesn’t care cos he’s swanning off to Australia but more fool management.

FloofCloud · 29/05/2023 10:00

Look external, they've clearly sidelined you for a temp who is moving abroad ... stupid of them but do the wise thing and look after yourself

LimeCheesecake · 29/05/2023 10:02

I think I’d also look elsewhere - he’s not going until August so resigning in July? You’ve got a couple of months to get feelers out for other roles.

if you are still in your current role when he resigns, I’d be really honest with your boss /in any interview, say your colleague has been open in the office he’s been ignoring the paperwork as he always intended to leave in the summer so figured he’d quit before it became an issue, ask if they have done any sort of audit of how bad things are and how little of the work he’s done for the last x months? That taking this role on now is not the same as was offered back in Y when you previously applied and you’d need an overview of how bad things are, an idea of how much additional support you’d be given to clean up the mess before deciding if you want to take it on.

even if you fully intend to take the job afterwards, set it out how bad it is and so any attempt to salvage the situation will be seen as great work by you.

Original poster
Newnameforaday88 · 29/05/2023 10:05

@LimeCheesecake brilliant advice thank you!
I will definitely be doing this.

OP posts:
LimeCheesecake · 29/05/2023 10:05

Oh and is it temp until October with strong potential of going permanent afterwards because it’s a maternity cover? Be careful they didn’t pick the person leaving anyway because as much as they are hinting it’s going to become permanent, the woman on leave may well decide to come back if not full time, then partially and could be taking the better bits of the role back.

I know so many people caught out having agreed to take on a maternity cover role because it’s strongly hinted it will become permanent and then found not - or once the woman on leave confirms she’s not returning, the role has been dramatically changed (can’t do that when there’s a chance she’ll be coming back).

tailinthejam · 29/05/2023 10:10

LimeCheesecake · 29/05/2023 10:02

I think I’d also look elsewhere - he’s not going until August so resigning in July? You’ve got a couple of months to get feelers out for other roles.

if you are still in your current role when he resigns, I’d be really honest with your boss /in any interview, say your colleague has been open in the office he’s been ignoring the paperwork as he always intended to leave in the summer so figured he’d quit before it became an issue, ask if they have done any sort of audit of how bad things are and how little of the work he’s done for the last x months? That taking this role on now is not the same as was offered back in Y when you previously applied and you’d need an overview of how bad things are, an idea of how much additional support you’d be given to clean up the mess before deciding if you want to take it on.

even if you fully intend to take the job afterwards, set it out how bad it is and so any attempt to salvage the situation will be seen as great work by you.

And how much more money they are prepared to offer you, since the position will be in a worse state than before he started.

BodyKeepingScore · 29/05/2023 10:19

Definitely a CF - but in the same position who wouldn't take on a job title that would benefit their future job search? Leaving the role in a mess and not doing what's expected of him whilst in the role is out of line though

Throwncrumbs · 29/05/2023 10:21

I would be really hoping that they offered me the promotion when he’s gone because of the delight I would get from saying ‘NO’ but that’s just me. I wonder if he is actually going to Australia, if he need a temp few months to ‘make his CV look good it doesn’t sound promising especially if there are visa issues as well. I would bide your time, wait and see because none of it looks great atm imo!

FutureIsSlim · 29/05/2023 10:30

CF, but I don’t blame him for trying it and it working. I blame the management who let him get away with it. They should be seeing through it and putting a stop to it.

Beelezebub · 29/05/2023 10:42

He’s not a CF, he’s just an arse. A total arse.

CreamTeaThievery · 29/05/2023 10:57

I think they choose him knowing he is leaving anyway rather than promote you, recruit for your role and then lose you if it didn't become permanent. What position would you have been offered at the end of the term if it didn't become permanent?

It makes sense to me that they used the disposable member of staff to plug a temporary member of staff.

They probably fully intend to then promote you when it is certain it's a permanent role and your colleague has conveniently emigrated.

As for your colleague yes very cheeky of him to not pull his weight, he sounds like a dick.

Original poster
Newnameforaday88 · 29/05/2023 11:34

Thank you @CreamTeaThievery that's also a really helpful way to look at it and certainly may be true because yes there's a lot of uncertainty around the specifics of the role in the future (although the role itself needs to be done by somebody) the role has been created out of a combination of early retirement and long term sickness. Off the record neither are coming back but obviously management can't permanently fill a vacancy until they have this in writing and as our company offers an excellent sickness package they'll be in no rush!

OP posts:
Beeinalily · 29/05/2023 11:57

I can't believe that he actually told you all that, OP! I hope the job doesn't involve keeping any sensitive information to himself, I just don't believe he could do it!