What would/did you do if you found out your co-worker had a side job?

Question

Yesterday, I found out my co-worker has a side job. Today, he ate lunch at his desk and then disappeared for 3 hours to work his side job. We are a 2 person team in the IT department and our boss manages us remotely from corporate headquarters. Corporate headquarters is in a different city, so our IT department at this location is quite small..total of 11 people. What's more, the only manager in our department at our location also has a side job. I have no problems with my co-worker going to pick up his kids if they're sick or taking care of family issues. However, it really is irritating me that he's making $ when I have to take care of things while he's gone. What would you do?

Answer 1

If it doesn't affect your workload then this is a case of poor supervision and bad management. If his being gone makes your life difficult, I'd document a case where this occurred, and report it to your supervisor explaining that the other guy wasn't there when you needed him to be.

It should come up that he is gone a lot during work hours. You don't need to mention that he has a side job, but after that the company should start monitoring his whereabouts and if it is a chronic problem they should fire him.


Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Either join them by disappearing for three hours also (get a second job)
OR
find a way to communicate to your remote manager that you are being totally overworked. State that you feel that the team needs to have a conference call team meeting. During the meeting have documentation reflecting the larger amount of work that you have had to complete, the longer hours, etc (anything that you have been responsible for that you should not have been). Do not point fingers - just make your case of how overworked you are and ask your manager has the workload increased, why are you receiving so many more calls/projects etc?
Your remote managers' response will let you know whether he is aware of your co-workers' side job. (It is possible that that your remote manager may know - since the other manger in your office also has a side job) If your remote manager does not know about this he will ask your co-worker if he has the same concerns. Watch and listen to your co-workers' response but do not accuse him of anything. In addition, if your remote manager does not know about the side job, your co-worker will alter his 'disappearing time' because he will have to come up with another game plan because he does not know when/if your manager will follow-up with the team more frequently.
Thus, if your remote manager is not concerned it is time for you to get another job or a side job also!!
Best Wishes!!

Answer 3

Document everything in a hidden book. Over the next few days and weeks record when he is gone, how much of his work you end up doing, etc.

A one time emergency is one thing. But if you are doing all the work while your co-worker is off making money with another employer when he should be helping you - that is totally different. It can't be tolerated and must be reported! This is scamming your employer, your clients and you!

Was this a one time incident?

Is this happening every day? Every week?

You say that you are monitored from a remote location. Is the co-worker making the time up after hours when you are not there? Are you absolutely certain that this person is not doing their share?

Document it.

Answer 4

First, stop doing the extra work to make up for his absences. Let him accumulate a large enough backlog that will get corporate's attention. If he asks for your help, tell him you don't have time.

And let customers start complaining. You may be very service-oriented, but it's not you who's letting down the customers. If they call you to complain, forward them to the boss or to corporate in the boss's absence.

If you can do it anonymously, notify corporate that there may be a problem, but don't put yourself in a position in which you feel you'd want to lie.

The fact that they get away with this indicates that management at your company isn't doing a good job of overseeing operations. It might be good to start a job search.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I would just keep going on with my normal routine but I would make sure that I'm not doing his work. I would mention something to him about his absence. Something along the lines of "Its tough for me to get so many things done around here while your done during the day... " or "Being the only other person in IT I can't get both our work done when your done during the day..." talk it over with your co-worker before being a whistle blower. Are you 100% positive he is working a side job? Make sure all your facts are straight before you talk to anyone.

Answer 6

Mind your own business, as a matter of fact, why aren't you doing a side job? A guy's gotta do what a guys gotta do. He sounds really ambitious, whereas you appear to be a whiner! Better get with the program. If you snooze, you lose! Perhaps you could delegate your portion of overload onto someone else! Evidently, your job doesn't seem to pay quite enough, what's keeping you?

Answer 7

That's a tough call. But I would have to say your going to have to go above their heads to the corporate office. As mentioned it one thing picking up kids or taking care of some personal transactions. But their effecting you & screwing the company.

But keep in mind they might find out who Narced on them. If nothing is done to them they might come after you & make your work life miserable.

Answer 8

1)first of all don't do their jobs , stick to your own only. eventually they get backed up and in trouble!
2) make a call to corporate head quarters.
3) take a vacation for like a week... that should slow things up.... it would be good for you too!
4) if no one shows care or concern wait till April 1st and crazy glue the seat of the chair they use....he/she can't do side jobs with a chair glued to their butt

Answer 9

Mind your own business and do your job. These things have a way of exposing themselves without much help so avoid the temptation to tattle, that rarely works out well. Do your job and your job only,,,eventually it will come to light that the other 2 are cheating.

Answer 10

Get a side job!

Ha, Just kidding. This is a hard one. If you want to keep your job, maybe you shouldn't say anything because it looks like you would get fired (since everyone else has a side job).