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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To drop a colleague in it at work?

76 replies

TooBored1 · 19/06/2021 17:31

A colleague had been signed off work for at least 6 weeks due to an injury (I don't know the details of the injury) so we are picking up his work as well as coping with our own loads during a very busy time. All fine and good and just what a team does.

Now for the AIBU - I happened to walk by a business earlier today and saw them in there, working. They were definitely working, at a job very comparable to the one they are signed off from. Think signed off from supermarket X, seen working in supermarket y type thing.

Would IBU to tell our manager?

Does it make any difference that the job we do together is M-F and this other job is their regular weekend job? As I say, the two jobs are virtually identical.

Part of me is furious that the rest of the team has been busting a gut to meet deadlines and cover their work for the last 2 weeks (and another 6 plus to go) but part of me says just butt out.

OP posts:
EscapeToTheMountains · 19/06/2021 20:15

If this person's choices were negatively affecting me and other colleagues, yes, I'd speak to the manager or possibly mention it to another colleague who I had a feeling would have loose lips.

If they're not doing anything wrong, there won't be consequences. If they are, then they shouldn't be playing the system. Their colleagues shouldn't suffer in silence out of some stupid sense of loyalty or job-ownership.

PerciphonePuma · 19/06/2021 20:24

@DynamoKev

I can see it’s annoying but I can’t see what you would gain here.
Not everything in life has to be done for some kind of gain! Hmm
PerciphonePuma · 19/06/2021 20:31

@TooBored1 Tell your boss. If they're not doing anything wrong then they'll not get in any trouble will they??

"Hi Boss, just thought I'd let you know that I think X might be coming back soon as I saw him working at Y today! Looks like he might be on the mend/doing better than predicted!"

Original poster
TooBored1 · 19/06/2021 20:34

@Lotsolove

Keep your tuppence out of it. You shouldn’t have access to their medical records or the reasons they are signed off. I’d hate to work with you.
Have you seen the post where I've said I'm not going to mention it?

I could also point out that I have saved their bacon on several occasions by helping them out when they are going to miss a deadline (because they've been pissing around at work) or I've caught a mistake they've made and they've been able to put it right before any of the managers have noticed. All they do is dump shit on everyone else on the team.

OP posts:
DeflatedGinDrinker · 19/06/2021 22:38

Definately tell your manager then leave it to them.

17june2021 · 19/06/2021 22:43

I think in the supermarket example I would keep quiet as it suggests that your colleague is going through financial hardship/on the breadline etc. It’s not legally right, but morally I wouldn’t inform management.

However supermarket workers are low paid - if you’re highly compensated for your role and he’s defrauding your company then inform management

Did he see you at all? I wonder what his reaction was.

BetsyBigNose · 19/06/2021 23:10

Given the history of his poor work ethic leading to an increased workload for you and the rest of your team, I would be sorely tempted to let our Line Manager know what I've seen.

However, people usually only work 2 jobs (and therefore potentially 6 or 7 days per week) if they are really struggling financially. I'm not sure if I could live with the guilt if my actions (in telling our Line Manager) were to result in him losing his main source of income, particularly following an accident which resulted in 'life-changing injuries'.

On balance, I think you've made the right decision in staying out of it @TooBored1, there are too many unknown variables at play and if he is taking the piss, he'll be found out eventually, but it won't be bothering your conscience.

SheilaWilcox · 19/06/2021 23:45

They probably get sick pay from your place, but not from the other one.
Or, if he's not doing anything wrong, then he'll easily be able to explain his actions.

As an employee, if I'm sick, I expect a company to support me and not make me come back until I'm ready. As a manager, I'd love to do this, but end up having to treat everyone with a certain amount of suspicion because of pisstakers.
This may be industry specific though as I've worked in places where people call in sick because the sun is shining, or there's a cricket match they want to watch, or don't make it to their 2pm shift because they've over slept.
Then you end up with the kind of presenteeism mentality that is dangerous in a pandemic.

I'm not surprised it winds you up OP.

I think maybe try and make the managers aware anonymously but be prepared that nothing may happen as you don't know the ins and outs and he may not be doing anything wrong.

londonscalling · 19/06/2021 23:57

I'd have to let your manager know somehow!

Lolamambam · 20/06/2021 00:03

Can you whistleblow? Surely that’s against the company policy. I’m a wimp so would anonymously dob them in! You’re busting a gut to cover her workload!

Birminghambloke · 20/06/2021 00:28

I would mention to my line manager. Say “I’m going to pass on an observation that doesn’t make sense based on what I know. Happened to see… in … and looked like… I’ll leave it with you.” By not mentioning, you’re condoning what could be a breach of policy. If it’s not relevant to situation, line manager will filter it.

BettyBurntBuns · 20/06/2021 00:55

@SkedaddIe

It's not unusual to be signed off sick from one place and work at the other.

E.g. one job requires lifting and the other job doesn't.

And personal injury is often used to cover health conditions that have stigma such as incontinence or depression/anxiety.

Exactly
QueenBee52 · 20/06/2021 01:15

would they Grass you or anyone else up to management?

QueenBee52 · 20/06/2021 01:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

EmeraldShamrock · 20/06/2021 01:22

I'd usually say mind your own, but in this situation I'd tell my employer. I doubt company y is aware he is off sick as he wouldn't be covered by insurance afaik.

memberofthewedding · 20/06/2021 01:22

I feel ambivalent about this.

Some years ago when I was a manager a team member mentioned to me a mean trick that a co-worker had played on a fellow employee. It sounded to me like gross misconduct so I passed on the information to MY manager for further investigation. As I saw it, it was then HIS responsibility to investigate the matter and mete out any appropriate punishment. In the event the offence was deemed so serious that it was dealt with at highest management level. The employee in question was demoted and almost lost their job.

Normally I hate petty snitching in the workplace; such as reporting a co-worker who has broken a petty rule like nipping out for a smoke, coming in occasionally late and so on. We are none of us perfect and rules may be broken out of ignorance, lack of thought, or haste. I would probably favour taking the person on one side and reminding them about the rule, rather than snitching out of hand.

However covering up what may well be gross misconduct or fraud is rather different from nipping off for a sly smoke etc.

I would probably favor mentioning this to the line manager and it then becomes their responsibility to investigate. If the employee does indeed have an injury/sick note which allows the work in question they have nothing to fear from an investigation.

Snoozer11 · 20/06/2021 01:42

@SilverGoblin

Yes, why not try to tear someone else's life down, because they've put a colleagues nose out of joint, by grassing them up to management without knowing all the circumstances of the co-worker's health problem.

Tally-ho eh? Not your life potentially getting wrecked is it?

After all, people work two jobs over seven days per week for fun. It's not like they do it because they need the money or anything.

Fuck em, eh?

Hopefully, someone, someday can return the favour.

This is out of order.
QueenBee52 · 20/06/2021 03:09

@SilverGoblin

Yes, why not try to tear someone else's life down, because they've put a colleagues nose out of joint, by grassing them up to management without knowing all the circumstances of the co-worker's health problem.

Tally-ho eh? Not your life potentially getting wrecked is it?

After all, people work two jobs over seven days per week for fun. It's not like they do it because they need the money or anything.

Fuck em, eh?

Hopefully, someone, someday can return the favour.

I think we found the 'sick' colleague 🤣

tallduckandhandsome · 20/06/2021 07:25

Definitely report it op.

GU24Mum · 20/06/2021 09:09

There's a difference between storming in to HR and telling them that X is definitely doing something wrong and they must sack him ....... and saying you're sure they probably know and you aren't asking for any details but you were a bit surprised to see X working in Asda at the weekend. Up to them to look into it or not depending what they know about the circumstances.

BelleClapper · 20/06/2021 09:14

Bit out of left field but are you absolutely sure it’s him?

DH is a twin and even people that work with them both (they work together) mix them up.

MichelleScarn · 20/06/2021 09:26

@QueenBee52

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.
As do you with your word choice.
Original poster
TooBored1 · 20/06/2021 10:53

Thanks again everyone, it's been really good to read everyone's thoughts.

A couple things I perhaps need to clarify (I was trying not to be too outing in my original post)

  1. There role with my company is part time, 3 days a week (I said M-F v weekend to show they weren't working the other job on days they should have been at my company but I think it confused things.)
  1. It is definitely an injury and not mental health related.
  1. It is definitely them. They told me a while ago that they had the second job - no issues as no conflict etc.
  1. There is no difference in the physical requirements of the jobs. If you can do one, you can do the other.
  1. The company we both work for has a fabulous OH team and we are given every support needed - eg my assistant has has multiple periods off over the last 3 years, had flexi work hours, adjustments and reduced responsibilities due to long standing health issue. We just pick up the extra work as they do their best and it's not their fault.
  1. The colleague has form for this, police involvement for a similar type of fraudulent behaviour, though not related to their work with our company.
  1. They have been picked up for slacking at work/ making multiple mistakes and I would expect they know there will be some form of displiniary meeting in the offing.
  1. I know this all makes me sound like a first class bitch but I promise you they are a rubbish colleague
  1. As I said above, I'll not mention this to my boss.
OP posts:
cakewench · 20/06/2021 11:31

You should think about it a bit, OP. Don't not report them because you've been shouted down by a few AIBU posters on mumsnet. You've had to leave details out so as not to be identified, which is absolutely fine, but you know better than people here.

I would bring it to my line manager, personally.

Birminghambloke · 20/06/2021 11:35

In light of this, definitely report to line manager. They need outing. Sounds like they are really taking advantage. It is fraud. It is a disciplinary offence. If it comes out you were aware and did not say anything, you too could face disciplinary action. You are not a bitch. You are raising a serious issue.