AIBU to be annoyed with new colleague

[ThatCosyKoala]

Hello, I posted in AIBU as I’m not sure if it’s just me or my new colleague who joined our company about 2 weeks ago.

I’m one of the oldest by experience in my workplace, we all get paid the same no matter if there are new starters or 10+ years in the company. I usually train the new comers by showing them all of the duties we perform and how to perform them.

So about 2 weeks ago a new starter came with a lot of experience from previous company. There was little to explain to him as I could see he knew majority of the duties that need to be performed.

We always have one person opening the business at 9am and then a second one comes at 10pm. I always do the early shifts and an hour is enough to prepare everything for when the second person comes.

In the past week our new colleague has been scheduled to start at 10am, however every time I come at 9 he is already there doing what I am supposed to do. The first time I saw him I told him “ hey you are very early why dont you grab a coffee and come back later” he wanted to stay and help and I said “ there isnt much to do and I can do it in the time frime so dont worry” he ignored what I said and continued to work.

The day after I arrived to work 15mins before 9am and I was actually shocked to see he was there already working and I asked him why are you here so early he said I don’t mind to come early and I said you dont get paid for coming in an hour early and there is no need as I am scheduled at 9am. Again he ignored me.

Later in the same day I was organising some stock and he came took it out of my hands and started waking away to put it away I said to him “its ok I’m doing it” he said “ no I will do it” I havent seen him doing this with another employee.

So my question is am I being unreasonable to feel annoyed with him, or he is being very helpful trying to impress us?

Also I forgot to add sometimes he talks in his language to himself and my colleagues have picked on it and he also touched a customer in a friendly manner knowing we aren’t allowed to do that unless customer is having some sort of medical emergency.

I don't think YABU - he's not reading the room by taking things off you you don't want to be taken off you

Think you'll politely and firmly need to spell out your responsibilities versus his. Does sound like he doesn't have enough to do though

Also I forgot to add sometimes he talks in his language to himself and my colleagues have picked on it
Why? How does that impact them you?

So about 2 weeks ago a new starter came with a lot of experience from previous company. There was little to explain to him as I could see he knew majority of the duties that need to be performed

Here's the problem ☝️ no matter what you think they know, new hires need a proper induction and overview of their responsibilities, expected behaviors such as customer contact, and start and end times to support them in achieving what's expected of them.

"I always do the early shifts"

Maybe you should split them amongst staff so it's fairer. Just because you've been there the longest doesn't mean you get first dibs.

"Also I forgot to add sometimes he talks in his language to himself and my colleagues have picked on it and he also touched a customer in a friendly manner knowing we aren’t allowed to do that unless customer is having some sort of medical emergency."

That's getting petty. He's allowed to talk to himself in his first language. It's only if there are safeguarding issues that you need to police his behaviour.

You need to be more assertive, if he persists, take it to the manager. He's trying to manage you out.

I think you’re right. I shouldn’t have let him take things off me but he insisted and took it off me and I always avoid confrontation so said nothing.

I will give you an example:

A senior colleague told him he was doing something wrong and told him how it needs to be done he said “ aaah ok” and murmured something in his language and shook his head.

He sounds pretty bumptious. I'd be cross.

Hello I was contracted to do early shifts on a part time contract because there was nobody who wanted to do early shift voluntarily. As I am part time the other team members have to do the rest of the early shifts. They rotate them weekly however some of them find it inconvenient because they live far away and have to wake up really early for the early shift some are cheeky and call sick when its their time to work early of say they misread the rota and come later instead. My manager is also new and is off sick for months now so people are being cheeky.

Yes I agree with you. Usually its the supervisor responsibly to welcome new starters and brief them and them my responsibility to show them how its done but our supervisor lives a bit far and although he is scheduled to start early he always comes late because of his commute so I ended up doing everything.

I would be annoyed because if something is done wrong at that first hour it will be you that gets the blame because you are the one that is recorded as working.

It might just be a cultural difference. Where is he from? Are you female?

I will give you an example where more senior colleague was telling me what he was doing was not right and how to do it instead. He replied with “ aaah ok” and then murmured something in his language and shook his head in disagreement. Another example a colleague was passing by him and he said something in his language looking at my colleague. My colleague turned around and said “ sorry I didn’t hear you” and he laughed.

We are both white European, yes I am a woman.

Yes this is one of the things I would be questioned if something is wrong also its very odd for someone to turn up at someone else's shift and start to work.

Does he leave at the right time or does he want to leave early? Why do you think he is coming in early? Do you know where he lives? do you think he might be looking at things he's not meant to be looking at, eg files belonging to other people?

Someone has to do early shifts.
The people who do those shifts are sometimes cheeky and don't turn up.
Meanwhile you're getting irritated by a bloke who does turn up.

Maybe he's insomniac
Maybe he prefers an emptier bus on his commute
Maybe he's in a shared house and has to get in the shower at 6:15.

Why isn't he on permanent early shift?

Have you asked him why he is so early? Perhaps he has a valid reason.
Otherwise, what are you worried about - that he is trying to take over your role?
Reading between the lines, is he being snobbish about this job and finding it all too easy? Perhaps he is just keen and bored, or perhaps there is some ulterior motive . But if the pay doesn’t increase with experience then he has nothing to gain surely?

10am is a pretty late start. Maybe he is used to coming to work at 9am.and once he is there wants to make himself useful.

It sounds to me like he is just trying to help but doesn't realise that his help is not welcome. As a pp said his manager should have done some sort of induction to explain to him how things work and to.make sure that he knows what he is supposed to be doing. Tell him you prefer doing these things yourself or talk to your manager but stop being petty and judgmental about his behaviour. For now I'd assume best intentions.

Also, if he is talking to himself ny definition it isn't meant for anyone else to understand so what difference does it make which language he does it in? Why do you need to know what he is saying? And why on earth are you and your colleagues gossiping/bitching about this?

It sounds like this problem might be solved, if the new guy likes the earlier start - perhaps he can take over the early shift on the days you don't work. It might be that his own transport arrangements mean that it is easier to be there at 9am.

I wonder if the muttering to himself in his native language is because he finds it easier to remember a new instruction when translated into his mother tongue.

Then that is for the senior to sort out. Not you. Surely he'll get a performance review?

Who allocates shifts? Can they be on early, if not why?

As regards language you cannot complain unless it affects your work or a client.
Touching someone- correct. If they persist report to your (not their if different) line manager or supervisor.

How do you know he is shaking his head in disagreement? Maybe, as he is muttering to himself and shaking his head, he is telling himself off for making a mistake.

It does sound like you and your other colleagues are bitching about him. Be careful it doesn't become seen as bullying.

He always leaves on time yes because you have to sign out at the right time if you sign out earlier you won’t be paid for the remaining time.

I’m not sure if he is looking at any files because everything is password protected for managers/supervisors and other devices don't hold much information. He said he walks to work so I assume lives close by.

I’m irritated because he turns up for my shift and doing my job. He does get early shifts.