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..

Is this colleague still on probation? If your manager isn’t convinced about colleague, probation could be extended.

I think I’d flag up to manager that although you’re not going to give specific details because it’s not fair as you didn’t see anything first hand, but there seems to be an awful lot of chatter about colleague that isn’t at all positive, but many sources are all saying the same thing so it might be advisable to make sure colleague is closely supervised for the foreseeable future until they have proved themselves.

They’re ruthlessly ambitious and will trample over anyone to proceed. Manager already has some misgivings about them..

I can’t stand people like this so I would definitely say something. Whether your manager takes it on board or not is up to them. And I would be watching my back around them.

If new colleague had told person B to jump off a cliff would he have done?At the end of the day person B was to blame for not following protocol. You don't know that this isn't just B's version of events so no I wouldn't say anything , and if you did and were wrong it could be defamation

I’d definitely say something. Forewarned is forearmed and your manager needs a warning in case this person tries to screw you over. Those types never change.

Watching this morning's Frasier! It's all about office gossip! I'd like to change my answer - don't say anything, it won't end well.

I think the right answer is probably to step back and leave it to your manager. However I’d definitely feel the same as you if ‘new colleague’ is as bad as you suggest. I have a former colleague who, if they turned up for interview at my now-workplace, I’d want to warn interviewers about. However that probably isn’t the reasonable response - go with whatever keeps your professional dignity intact.

If you're going to have to work with new colleague, I'd imagine at some point your manager would ask how everything is going? Can't you say something vague in a jokey way like 'alright so far but I've heard all sorts from my old colleagues about them so we'll just have to see how it goes' and then if they want more info, they will ask you.

Just cover your back every. single. time.

You can't tell your boss. As PPs have said, it's only gossip. Plus this person has gone through your company's interview process. Sharing what you've been told implies the interviewers were poor at their job. That won't go down well.

Instead, just make sure you cover your back completely with this person. Confirm any instructions/interactions by email. If possible, copy someone else in on the emails too (so your colleague can't later edit them and turn any issue into their word against your's).

I've seen it done where someone warns a person that there is the possibility of useful information if they choose to dig for it. (Person chose not to believe the information and has now been saddled with a world of pain, hey ho.)

I think the salient point here is that your manager seems to have been part of the decision to employ the person. Psychologically it's going to be hard for your manager to admit a mistake, s/he will always try to save face, and for that reason alone I wouldn't go near this - but as others have said, keep a close eye and watch your back.

Insisting that everything is by email will send a message.

In front of your boss, clearly insist that your dealings with him need to include a paper trail.

If asked you can say "I am NOT going to repeat what I was told, but I will protect myself in my dealings with him".

That should give your boss pause for thought.

OP, you have every right to protect yourself.

I also think when your boss asked, you should have told him that there was a story.

His responsibility as manager would be to check it out.

Hmm.

I would concentrate on confirming everything by email for every interaction, cc'ing your manager in.

Trouble with going to your manager is that you can't predict their reaction. They might not appreciate the information or become defensive and it may reflect badly on you.

I would stay right out of it unless your manager asks you directly about what new colleague was like at your old job. Then I would say that there was some gossip going around your old colleagues but you don't know the truth of it. That gives the manager the choice whether to dig further and how much credence to give the story.

But yes, cover your back every time, and get everything in writing.

If you are on such good terms with your manager, then I would tell him that you have had these worrying reports from several former colleagues

Think of your current colleagues
You know not to trust him - but they do not
Your manager needs a heads-up, so he is prepared and can maybe lower the risk of such situations happening

He might decide to e.g. remind all his staff by EMail that everyone should stick to procedures and that otherwise the personal consequences would be severe.

I would stay out of it, perhaps new colleague recognises previous actions were wrong and is trying to make a new start. However, I would send myself an email detailing the 'gossip' I'd heard from former colleagues and telling myself to be careful in my dealings with new colleague and make sure there's a good audit trail.

That way should anything happen, you've got a dated and private record of your misgivings and also why you didn't share them.