Seeing the back and choosing not to stab
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Boss is trying to skype an under-performing colleague. He tells me to find him.
Note: I am also annoyed at all the extra work this guy is creating for me. I won't go into details here, but let's just say I won't be sad when I no longer have to collaborate with him in the same code base.
I find him on the terrace, having a smoke. I tell him to get on Skype, then go to report back to the boss. What do I type?
Option 1: "He is taking a smoke break, I told him to ping you once he's done"
Option 2: "He's coming"Option 1 was soo tempting. On top of disliking how nonchalant this guy is with his duties, Boss hates smoking. This would nicely undermine the underperformer further towards his inevitable firing.
I went with option 2.
I don't want to become that backstabby Boss's pet guy, no matter how annoyed I am with my colleagues. I can see how easy it would be to slip into that role, though.
This is just a little PSA to get you to always think about your actions towards your colleagues. Even innocent little choices of wordings can lead to the ugliness of office politics.
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I'll probably choose option 3, "He is taking a
smokebreak, I told him to ping you once he's done"That'll explain the delay and prevent your boss get mad at you by the waiting.
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@cheong said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
I'll probably choose option 3, "He is taking a break, I told him to ping you once he's done"
That'll explain the delay and prevent your boss get mad at you by the waiting.I would also consider that slightly backstabby, as we are officially not supposed to have "breaks" (other than lunch break).
See how easy it is?
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Option 4: "He's wasting company time and he said you could fuck off."
Cat amongst the pigeons.
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"He's putting out a fire at the moment; should be with you shortly."
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@cartman82 said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
we are officially not supposed to have "breaks"
Why do you work there?
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@Yamikuronue said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
@cartman82 said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
we are officially not supposed to have "breaks"
Why do you work there?
They let him code in JS. Wait, that's not a reason to stay!…
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@Yamikuronue said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
@cartman82 said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
we are officially not supposed to have "breaks"
Why do you work there?
Exactly what I think.
Breaks, especially coffee breaks for some of us, is essential to boost up / restore our productivity.
Better persuade your boss to read some modern management books.
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@cartman82 said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
Boss is trying to skype an under-performing colleague. He tells me to find him.
Note: I am also annoyed at all the extra work this guy is creating for me. I won't go into details here, but let's just say I won't be sad when I no longer have to collaborate with him in the same code base.
I find him on the terrace, having a smoke. I tell him to get on Skype, then go to report back to the boss. What do I type?
Option 1: "He is taking a smoke break, I told him to ping you once he's done"
Option 2: "He's coming"Option 1 was soo tempting. On top of disliking how nonchalant this guy is with his duties, Boss hates smoking. This would nicely undermine the underperformer further towards his inevitable firing.
I went with option 2.
Why? we were so close to get another juicy interview drama
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@cheong said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
Exactly what I think.
Breaks, especially coffee breaks for some of us, is essential to boost up / restore our productivity.
Better persuade your boss to read some modern management books.To clarify, there is one "official" lunch break, but of course you can make coffee/bathroom/other breaks in between. Also take a walk, or go out early or whatever.
The problem comes when you take a break every half an hour and then go out early, while there's a client yelling over the feature you screwed up and your colleagues have to clean up your mess.
BTW, the under-performer is almost giddy every time there's even a hint there might be a bug in my code. He obviously doesn't appreciate me, as the project leader, cleaning up after him and telling him how to do things correctly (= my way).
Nope, I won't be sad when he's gone. Office politics consumes us all in the end.
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@cartman82 So it should be fine afterall to mention he's taking a break while you told him the boss is finding him.
If he made the boss wait for too long, it's his problem.
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@coldandtired said in Seeing the back and choosing not to stab:
Option 4: "He's wasting company time and he said you could fuck off."
Is this a poll?
If it is, can I vote for #4?