Colleague lied on CV

[goteam]

Would you say something if a colleague lied on their CV? I was promoted last year and had in my own time completed a qualification required for the promotion. Our HR department are crap. They never chased me up for the certificate. I mentioned at the time to a colleague that HR didn't chase me up. A few months ago she applied for a promotion and put this qualification down. She told me she hadn't done it but knew they wouldn't check. The lack of expertise is showing and staff she line manages are really struggling with her basically being a bit crap. I want to say something to HR but it is done now and they can't retract the job and I'm also worried they will close ranks to hide their incompetence. What would you do?

Too late now I think if you knew at the time.

dont be a snitch.

If she's not suitable and it's showing then surely there will be things implemented by higher management? I've seen plenty of staff start, with qualifications, but been shit at the job. They didn't last long.

Start emailing your own certificate to HR. Personally I'd add a comment about being surprised that no-one chased you up for it and asking them to confirm it's still required for everyone in that role and see if you get a bite from HR.

They can retract the job offer and she could be sacked.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/aug/18/health.healthandwellbeing

No good will come of snitching on her.

I had a colleague who stitched on someone in very similar circumstances. Nothing happened to the person who had lied but the snitcher's cards were marked. She ended up resigning after a few months.

@goteam i would do what @HundredMilesAnHour posted. X

I would leave it. Her manager will become aware of her failings in due time

@sewerrat I didn't think she would get it and was away from work at the time. She told me afterwards that she put the qualification on her CV. Also, I guess if you can do the job it doesn't matter so much. She really can't though and it is affecting others

@nebulae that's my worry.

@HappyJoyousFree unfortunately it's the sort of workplace where they don't performance manage staff

In my industry, it very much matters and anyone found to be lying on their c.v. would be dismissed. All qualifications are independently verified (they usually check directly with the awarding body as people can fake certificates). It's not just about doing the job, it's about integrity. If someone lies about a qualification, what else might they lie about?

However, I appreciate that lots of industries operate to different standards.

@HundredMilesAnHour good idea, I'll do that

Let her fall down on her own. Don't be the person colleagues know they can't trust.

@HundredMilesAnHour this is a charity and without outing myself it's like an industry standard qualification that allows you membership of a body (think Institute of Marketing). It is just the 'Manager' role requires this and the 'officer' role a grade down doesn't so people do it to move forward in their careers. Others have done it and have actually applied for and didn't get promotions, although there may be other reasons they weren't successful. As I say I was away from work (parental leave) while the interviews etc all happened but the fall out is happening now and I know and others know she lied to get the job knowing HR won't check.

@GoodChat they do trust me. That's why staff she manages have told me they are struggling. I would hope lying on your CV isn't something loads of people do.

They trust you because they know you won't dob them in. If you do this, they'll be more wary of you.

Encourage them to go through official channels as you can't do anything for them based on hearsay (even though you know the issue).

@GoodChat I'm not sure what you mean about not dobbing them in. Most people don't pull crap like this at work as we are professional. One person has done something unethical. There are no official channels for this. It wouldn't usually be allowed to happen hence asking for advice.

I did. In my case a qualification that needs revalidated every 4 years. Colleague went on the course and then went sick but didn't tell employer. He was listed on HR systems as having attended and no-one chased him up when he didn't send in the certificate. He was having huge problems at work and there was a risk to service users too. I couldn't in all consciousnes allow this to slide so I spoke to HR telling them that I'd heard he did not complete the course, did he redo it and/or send in his certificate?

He did not lose his job (although he could have for misconduct), no-one ever knew it was me that spoke to HR, he was offered support for the obvious issues and after some sick leave he successfully completed the course and it back to work and back to his previous levels of performance.

Unless it came from HR, it was highly unlikely I would be revealed as the source . I was told, inadvertently, by a tutor on the course. HR just asked all of us to resend certification for a routine check so it looked fairly incidental anyway (there was another issue with another staff member falsifying documentation so an endemic problem within the organisation).

I agree with Hundred that raising concern about your own certification may be a subtle way to trigger a greater check of qualifications.

I work within a professional framework and register type profession. Could you report her to the register that the qualification gives them access to. That's more likely to remain anonymous, plus may be picked up and reported by someone outside work.

I would tell 2 more people on the DL and then send an anonymous email to HR. If this colleague came to ask questions I'd say "sorry but I told a couple more people". I'm a bit of a bitch though. People like this make my life more difficult so I'd report but make sure it doesn't come back to me (use a VPN to create and send the email).

@sewerrat What a strange response. It's not you, is it, or have you done something similar?

This is a great idea. So many people have to work under supervisors who are not fit for the job. It is not a good working environment to be in. In the end, everyone suffers because of this one person's selfishness, including the business.

I hate cheats and liars. By all means talk yourself up in an interview, but lying about a qualification is wrong and denies someone who has that qualification the chance of doing that job.

I also can't stand anyone that uses the word snitch. There's a saying, stitches for snitches use by Chav types.

If you feel your position would be compromised by openly reporting her then send an anonymous email stating Miss/Mrs is failing at her job and doesn't have the suitable qualification of X certificate and will not be able to produce it when asked.

This is a great idea!