To tell my boss this about a new colleague

[colleaguedilemma]

So we have a new colleague at work. I used to work where they used to work so know a lot of mutual people. I never worked very closely with them but was very aware they had a reputation for being full of shit and not very good but able to talk the talk. I like them as a person.

I keep bumping into ex colleagues who have all been telling me about an incident which happened after I left my old workplace.

So new colleague in an emergency situation got Person B involved and asked Person B to do something not allowed unless permission has been gained. New colleague told person B that permission had been gained and in the time urgent situation Person B didn’t check and did what was asked. New colleague had lied to B. Someone else who witnessed it reported the situation and new colleague lied and said they’d never asked person B to do anything, they never said permission had been gained. Person B got sacked.

New colleague then left and came to my new company.

I get on with my manager quite well and feel I’d like to give them an unofficial heads up that new colleague is not to be trusted. I’m worried down the line I may be in person’s Bs shoes and new colleague will,lie/throw me under a bus. They’re ruthlessly ambitious and will trample over anyone to proceed. Manager already has some misgivings about them..

Didn't your Company do reference checks before they hired this person?.

Does your Manager know that you worked for the same Company previously?

As other people have said. Don't say anything to your Manager but watch your back and anything your colleague asks you to do just say politely, OK but I'll run it by Manager first.

I'd absolutely not get involved. As you weren't there when it happened you can't really be accused of withholding info (and it's unlikely you'll be asked or that it will even ever come to light).

V

No, no, no - do not say anything.

You are hearing this information secondhand. Even if it did happen, it's in the past. Hopefully, the person has learnt and grown from this incident, give them a chance to put it behind them and move on.....

Be kind.......

Don't contribute to spreading gossip. You don't know what happened.

Do not relay gossip.

However, remain alert to instances where new colleague may try to take advantage so that you can side step any potential damage.

Just don't believe them on anything yhey say.

To be fair, person b should have checked themselves. Not just trusted the word of someone else. That was the policy. They didn't follow it.

You are hearing this information secondhand. Even if it did happen, it's in the past. Hopefully, the person has learnt and grown from this incident, give them a chance to put it behind them and move on

But the incident isn’t like they made a mistake. They did something they knew was wrong and lied to someone to get them involved. They’ve repeatedly lied about it since to keep their nose clean. I don’t believe they have learnt from it as there were similar but less serious incidents when I worked there.

I tried to warn my boss before hiring them by saying I didn’t think they were experienced enough.

Our place obviously took references but the old place were delighted they were leaving by all accounts. It’s not really the sort of thing you could mention in a reference anyway as they were lying about it so much that managers found it hard to know for sure. My old place is very much the sort of place to sweep stuff under the carpet and person B would need to be sacked regardless of whether old colleague had told them it was ok or not so they just did that. If colleague hadn’t lied there wouldn’t have been the shit storm which followed and nobody would have found out but non employees were there and complained.

I’ve no concern with them telling me stuff and me not checking as I’m confident in my job to not do anything I shouldn’t do. But I’m worried as I work so closely with them that something may happen which I have no knowledge of and colleague could lie to try and save themselves. A blatant lie that it was all my idea, or I knew about it, etc.

No you can't do this. You were not privy to what happened, person b could have been lying and trying to blame your new colleague , uou don't know, and now the story has spread.. And ultimately they should have checked themselves.

Get a new job, the politics and rules sound tedious.

Op cross posted, but you've no idea at all if the fired colleague is the one lying. There would have been an investigation and clearly there was no evidence your new colleague was to blame. Maybe they are protesting their innocence because they are.

It could be a lot of people bullying your new colleague. Don't keep this going in their new work place.

The bottom line is you don't know..

OP how do you know it wasn't person B who lied about getting permission?

I think making sure you have email trails for absolutely everything is probably your best bet, including copying in your manager.

If your manager chooses to ask why you're doing this, then you can say that you've heard things, but don't want to gossip about them, and are just making sure that your back is covered.

You are right to keep quiet.
Just watch.
People usually show their hand quite early.

New colloeague may have been devastated by what happened, and determined to make a new start, not repeat the same mistakes?

I wouldn't mention it, but would just take extra care and watch your own back in case at some point they do try to drop you in it.

Keep all communication with this new colleague to email, this will give you a paper trail should that person behave in an unprofessional manner.

Do you know your manager and former colleagues well enough to invite them all on a night out?
Then you won't have to get involved at all.

If you'd been colleague B I think you'd be justified in saying something, but as it stands this is third-hand information, so shouldn't be passed on. You don't know for certain that you've got a full or accurate picture of what happened.

You have already warned your Manager about his lack of experience but they proceeded anyway. I think it is obvious early on what roles people play so would just be careful around him. You come across like the "in the Managers ear" type which causes its own set of problems. I wouldn't push it any further.

How closely will you be working with new colleague? I would massively distance myself if I could. And obviously never trust what they said without checking myself!
I wouldn't say anything- it's possible that you haven't got the full story. B should bear some responsibility for their own actions, too. If A is such a liability, their true colours will show soon anyway.

Firstly you should have given your manager a truthful heads up - not trustworthy rather than not experienced - because he was asking for a personal opinion at that point not a formal reference and that was your perfect moment to bring up your views.
Now you are going to have to cover your arse always with this person - everything confirmed in writing because you know you can't trust a word they say. Always be in a rush around them "sorry can't take this in at the moment - you will need to send me an email" so that there is a paper trail. In your 1-2-1's with your manager you can indicate that you are doing this because you want absolute clarity. If you say they seem to have misgivings they will appreciate this because it gives them a written trail.
And basically avoid them as much as possible.
Do not bring up the gossip - it will reflect badly. If on the other hand you are directly asked about their integrity then you can explain that you are not sure of them because of things you have heard, and that although you can't give credence to gossip you are following procedures carefully and getting everything documented.

I would give them vague concern and why.

As an employer it would allow me to exercise caution with them and any incidents that may arise. I have experienced a few times now people who walk the walk talk the talk but when they get comfy in the work place they are not good at all and sometimes not nice people. It can make managing them frustrating, hard and soul destroying.

Irs because of people like you describe op that I wish I hadn't started employing. Out of 15 employees we have experience of 4 have been worth their weight in gold 2 of which now sub let part of our business with a view of taking on the rest. Out of the other 2 one is at uni and will be great else where the other I hope it keeps working well.

The others, for various reasons not worth the time ie effort we put in at all.

The best you can do is protect yourself. Anything from them, get them to email. Maintain a paper trail. You can't really go to the manager with something you've heard, but you can use that to ensure that b can't put you in a similar position.

It’s gossip - you may believe it’s true but you can’t know for certain.

Be wary by all accounts and protect yourself, but it’s absolutely not your place to repeat such gossip !