AIBU to report colleague?

MadMango · 2022-02-10T12:39:50+00:00

I am junior, he is senior. He earns considerably more than me, and has said things like ‘your wages wouldn’t be worth my time etc’ to my face. A while back, he took it upon himself to leave work at lunchtime. He left an assistant in charge of his workload, so no one noticed he wasn’t there. Everyone covered for him and it’s been kept quiet. He didn’t claim holiday, or take it off, unpaid. It was for a long weekend away, not a compulsory event or appointment. I had a legitimate appointment and had to attend. I had to take a half day off - and I lost half a day pay. AIBU to report him?

WomanStanleyWoman · 10/02/2022 12:44

I wouldn’t. If he’s senior to you, how do you know this wasn’t agreed privately with his manager? He doesn’t have to tell you why he’s off.

Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 12:45

I know that it wasn’t agreed

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WomanStanleyWoman · 10/02/2022 12:49

How?

SickAndTiredAgain · 10/02/2022 12:51

How do you know if wasn’t agreed that he could take it unpaid or something similar?

He does sound like a twat though, with his wage comments.

StopFeckingFaffing · 10/02/2022 12:55

I wouldn't report a single incident but log it mentally to see if it part of a bigger picture

It could be that he regularly puts in extra hours so occasional early slide is overlooked

Winday · 10/02/2022 12:55

You can't know for sure that it wasn't agreed. I'd not hassle myself with this. He sounds like a pain in the arse, but that would just make me want to avoid him at all costs, rather than get involved telling on him to his manager.

Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 12:56

Maybe ‘senior’ wasn’t the right work. We actually do the exact same job, with the same job title, but he’s been there 20 years more than me, so he earns considerably more.

I know it wasn’t taken off unpaid because our team leader (who has no authority to authorise holidays), told me and the others in our immediate team, to keep it hush hush, and not to tell management.

I guess it’s that team leader who will be in trouble, as it wasn’t in their remit to authorise paid leave.

Well, paid leave is absolutely not allowed in any case, but especially for a jolly!

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Sparklesocks · 10/02/2022 12:58

I think I’d report the comments he’d made about your pay and how it makes you feel.

maddy68 · 10/02/2022 12:59

You don't know he didn't have permission. You sound like a meddler tbh.

Mind your own business and do your job. He's allowed to delegate if he's a boss ...this has nothing to do with you

Yuckypretty · 10/02/2022 13:01

Well do you trust that management will handle it well? Do you trust that they will keep what you report confidential?

Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:01

@StopFeckingFaffing

I wouldn't report a single incident but log it mentally to see if it part of a bigger picture

It could be that he regularly puts in extra hours so occasional early slide is overlooked

This is not an industry where ‘early slide’ is EVER allowed. In our job, he has a legal obligation to be present, and when he cannot be present, we are obliged to seek a qualified alternative.

He absolutely does not put in any overtime. He does the bare minimum and there’s lots of, ‘oh I don’t understand all this new technology - you’re younger, can you just quickly do XYZ for me’…

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Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:02

@maddy68

You don't know he didn't have permission. You sound like a meddler tbh.

Mind your own business and do your job. He's allowed to delegate if he's a boss ...this has nothing to do with you

He isn’t a boss, he has no authority, and he isn’t allowed to leave early, legally.

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SickAndTiredAgain · 10/02/2022 13:04

In our job, he has a legal obligation to be present, and when he cannot be present, we are obliged to seek a qualified alternative.

That is quite a significant detail that makes it sound a lot more serious and like something I’d be more likely to report.

Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:04

@WomanStanleyWoman

How?

Because we were told it wasn’t authorised, but that we should all keep it hush hush

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Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:04

@SickAndTiredAgain

In our job, he has a legal obligation to be present, and when he cannot be present, we are obliged to seek a qualified alternative.

That is quite a significant detail that makes it sound a lot more serious and like something I’d be more likely to report.

Yes. I probably should have mentioned this but

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Crabjuice · 10/02/2022 13:05

The team leader knew about this, whether they have the authority or not so this is on them. Grassing up in this situation would get the team leader in trouble. I get that you don't like him and he sounds like an arsehole but you are going to have to try and find something to bring him down.

WomanStanleyWoman · 10/02/2022 13:09

I know it wasn’t taken off unpaid because our team leader (who has no authority to authorise holidays), told me and the others in our immediate team, to keep it hush hush, and not to tell management.

So the person you should actually report is your team leader. S/he is the one who broke protocol here.

If you’re genuinely concerned that your colleague’s absence caused an issue (e.g. lack of qualified cover), report the issue. But ask yourself if you’d do the same if it wasn’t for the fact that you don’t like him.

5foot5 · 10/02/2022 13:12

Well, paid leave is absolutely not allowed in any case, but especially for a jolly!

I would be more concerned about being in a job that didn't allow any paid leave. Is this the UK? Are you full-time permanent employees?

Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:13

@WomanStanleyWoman

I know it wasn’t taken off unpaid because our team leader (who has no authority to authorise holidays), told me and the others in our immediate team, to keep it hush hush, and not to tell management.

So the person you should actually report is your team leader. S/he is the one who broke protocol here.

If you’re genuinely concerned that your colleague’s absence caused an issue (e.g. lack of qualified cover), report the issue. But ask yourself if you’d do the same if it wasn’t for the fact that you don’t like him.

Thank you - that’s all very true. I think I’m going to talk to my team leader in confidence. We’re good friends and they're doing qualifications to enter management, but they need to understand that they can’t make decisions like that, and can’t ask employees to keep it hush hush.

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Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:14

@Crabjuice

The team leader knew about this, whether they have the authority or not so this is on them. Grassing up in this situation would get the team leader in trouble. I get that you don't like him and he sounds like an arsehole but you are going to have to try and find something to bring him down.

So true Crabjuice, thank you

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Original poster

MadMango · 10/02/2022 13:16

@5foot5

Well, paid leave is absolutely not allowed in any case, but especially for a jolly!

I would be more concerned about being in a job that didn't allow any paid leave. Is this the UK? Are you full-time permanent employees?

It’s perfectly legal - lots of industries have periods where employees cannot take holiday, and other periods where they can. This was within a period where we are contracted to not take holiday.

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Iwonder08 · 10/02/2022 13:24

You are just jealous of his wage. It is not your responsibility to make sure his holidays are appropriately recorder nor did his absence impacted your personal work that day.

maddy68 · 10/02/2022 14:01

The team leader needs sacking. How unprofessional!

custardbear · 10/02/2022 14:07

Sounds like he's been there too long and is a bit of an arsehat

The team leader would likely get in trouble as he could say oh I thought she'd approved it. I'd probably be looming for a new job to be honest if you're in the kind of post you can do elsewhere

WomanStanleyWoman · 10/02/2022 14:39

Is it possible your team leader is a bit nervous of rocking the boat with this colleague? As you say, he has a perceived seniority because he’s been there so long - whereas if your team leader is still taking management qualifications, I’m guessing s/he is quite a bit younger and newer? So whilst in charge on paper, is perhaps worried about challenging too hard.

I ask because I had a similar situation years ago. I’d been there two years and had been hired by the current team leader; my colleague had been there 20 years and very much pre-dated him. She was actually perfectly nice, but I did notice that he didn’t actively manage her in the same way he did me; almost as if he was a bit embarrassed to act like the boss with her.