Rat out a co-worker?

From my past 15 years of experience as an IT manager, I have learned many things. The most important of all these lessons has been to seek to understand before making any judgement, because your perception may be very off base.

Example: I am assuming (based on little evidence other than what you wrote) that your perception is that your co-worker is talking to an unknown client? What if he were talking to his best friend (I know, not likely) and explaining to him about how guilty he felt, or what if it was the person that he went out with that night. Silly as it may sound, we owe every person an opportunity of benefit of doubt, before making/passing judgement. If I were your manager and you came to me with this, the very first question I would ask you would be: "did you talk to him about it?" "What was his reply?" If then I felt that this was inappropriate behavior, then I would have a talk with the co-worker.

In a nut-shell if you feel strongly about the inappropriatness of someones action to a client, then you owe them the respect of asking them what is up, before reporting to a manager. Cause one day someone may overhear you talking with someone and have their own perception of the conversation and do the same to you. May not be a pretty picture.

My two cents worth. Have faith in people, not all are bad on purpose!

Pc_Man48322

Since your coworker has informed you that what he talks about with customers is none of your business, it's time to move up a step. Only you can guage the environment in your workplace however. If your sure that the manager will frown on this typeof behavior and actively do something about it, by all means bring it to their attention. In talking to customers on the phone your coworker is representing the company, but he is also indirectly representing YOU.

One response has already cautioned; be fully conversant with all the facts before acting. I would only echo those words. Once you complain to your manager, you effectively force your manager?s hand (a good manager is going to be, at the very least, duty bound to follow up on your complaint and speak to the individual concerned). The person on the other end of the phone may have been encouraging this line of conversation. If shown to be true, you too could be made to look silly.

A different way of approaching the same problem however is to focus on yourself rather than on him. If YOU find the content of conversations that you overhear inappropriate or offensive, then you have every right to ask him to stop. One tactic, whilst deplorable in many respects, is very effective. Place a dictaphone on your desk next time one of these conversations takes place. When the conversation is complete, play it back to yourself and be sure of what you are uncomfortable with and why. Speak to the individual privately and explain why YOU find the conversation offensive and play the tape back to him (you might be surprised as he may not fully understand how offensive he sounds until he hears it played back). If the behaviour does not cease, you then have a clear example of the type of behaviour you find offensive to provide to your manager. It is no longer a case of ?he said, she said?.?.

Another small caution: Remember you have to work with this individual afterwards. A bull commands a lot of respect but few want to get in the ring with him.

It's a difficult position to take when you have a sense of loyalty not only to customers but to co-workers as well.. but this is obviously not appropriate behaviour/conversation.

Perhaps you could suggest to your manager that it's time for that 'little talk' to remind everyone what are appropriate topics that can be discussed with customers, and what's not !

I truly believe that some people are quite oblivious of their presentation and how other's perceive them. Really, some people thinkeveryone is interested in anything and everything they do .. just a little self centered :o)

Your co-worker is most likely young, immature, badly in need of some advice/direction .. I think you would be doing him a favour if you told his boss directly. The key here is to make sure your boss educates this guy.

Good luck .. hope it works out for the best

I hate using the phrase "it depends", but what the rules are dictates your options. There are some environments where just the drunken and carousing behavior is enough to get one fired. Talking to someone on the phone about it would just be stupidity on top of stupidity. However, for other places, that may be considered normal (I wouldn't work in such a place, but that is beside the point).

Given the more "typical" work environment, I would say the speaker was way out of line. I would, as you said, bring the point of offense with the individual one time. After that it would be the supervisor. After that it would go on paper as a formal complaint.

If it gets to that point -- be prepared for war. It is very likely that it will come down to your job versus his job. Even if that was not your intent, he is likely to view it that way. Expect him to be picky about everything you do and expect him to file complaints about first time offenses and possibly imaginary ones. Don't slough off the complaints, if they come. You will have to push back hard.

Unless YOU are responsible for this person (does he report directly to you?) I'd like to offer this quote from one of my favorite books, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: "You might try minding your own business" Unless the customers are complaining or it's affecting his performance, what he does on his own time is just that - HIS OWN TIME!.

Ralph

Here's what ended up happening - the customer called me to complain about the conversation. I took the complaint and my concerns to the individual in question, and explained why his conversation was inappropriate and offensive to the customer. (I agree that what happens on his own time is his business, but what happens here is mine as a lead technician). When I received another complaint a few days later, I again talked to him, and told him that another complaint would force me to talk to the manager. This did not stop him, and the conversations continued to be against company standards. I brought my concerns and the written complaints of the customers to the manager, who began listening to the tech's calls. He heard the conversations, and told the tech that another infraction would result in termination. The tech told him to "loosen up a bit", and he was terminated. I felt that I did everything that I could to deal directly with him rather than "rat him out", but he was a lost cause. I have appreciated everyone's feedback....thank you.

Why not report his behavior anonymously? This way you can feel that you did your part. I personaly agree with some of the posts above that state you should not say anything, its not you, its not your problem. But as a loyal employee you may feel it neccessary to report him. So do it anonymously. Let your superiours decide what to do, if they do nothing, well then your conscience is clear