Coworker will not tell truth sometimes...

[silicon]

My coworker damaged some equipment that we work with and then lied to my face about it. I knew it was a lie because I saw the surveillance video showing the incident. My question is this: Since my boss is inclined to let the matter slide how should I react whenever information is exchanged? Should I assume that what ever is said no matter what?

 

[Moonbeam]

"Should I assume that what ever is said no matter what?", is not a sentence that makes sense to me.

 

[MongGrel]

Ironic, isn't it

 

[silicon]

"Should I assume that what ever is said no matter what?", is not a sentence that makes sense to me.

sorry to clarify..should I assume that any comment for this coworker is first a lie and then to be proven truthful.

 

[silicon]

Ironic, isn't it

How so?

 

[soulcougher73]

call him out as a liar and show video proof to all coworkers to shame him. Only way some people can learn.

 

[JEDIYoda]

My coworker damaged some equipment that we work with and then lied to my face about it. I knew it was a lie because I saw the surveillance video showing the incident. My question is this: Since my boss is inclined to let the matter slide how should I react whenever information is exchanged? Should I assume that what ever is said no matter what?

Do the Christian thing and forgive your co-worker. We all are human! Not everyone is an Atheist.

 

[Caravaggio]

Do the Christian thing and forgive your co-worker. We all are human! Not everyone is an Atheist.

Was that you damaging the equipment Yoda? We have some poor quality images on video. Could be you?
Now fess-up and come to this Sunday's confession. We are collecting for a new Iron Dome missile shield for our church of the Wholly Confused.
You can bring your dog, but not your snakes, please.

 

[Moonbeam]

sorry to clarify..should I assume that any comment for this coworker is first a lie and then to be proven truthful.

If your boss is aware of the truth and doesn't seem to want to hold this person accountable that will be where things stand. As for you, I am going to assume that you not only would not lie your way out of something like that but also that you find it ethically troubling. The first thing that comes to my mind is that if he will deny responsibility, would he not also shift it elsewhere, perhaps to you, in some new situation. Whether you would want or should convey that concern to your boss is difficult for me to say. It is also not very nice to have to work with somebody you do not think you can trust. I sympathize with your situation.

 

[disappoint]

My coworker damaged some equipment that we work with...

Does the equipment belong to you or your boss?

If it belongs to your boss, he is aware of it, and it is still useable or will be replaced by your boss then you should just let it go.

If you're responsible for replacing it on your dime or you feel unsafe working with damaged equipment then you should insist on it being repaired or replaced and insist you didn't damage it so the company should replace/repair it. Your boss is already aware of your statement that your co-worker damaged it and you didn't.

 

[silicon]

Does the equipment belong to you or your boss?

If it belongs to your boss, he is aware of it, and it is still useable or will be replaced by your boss then you should just let it go.

If you're responsible for replacing it on your dime or you feel unsafe working with damaged equipment then you should insist on it being repaired or replaced and insist you didn't damage it so the company should replace/repair it. Your boss is already aware of your statement that your co-worker damaged it and you didn't.

the equipment is property of the company we both work for. Its not my responsibility to pay for it nor him. The problem I ma having is my coworker damaged this equipment during an evening shift and never said a single word to anyone. It was left and the damage was discovered by another person in this case myself. I can understand causing damage as we are only human and accidents do happen but instead he chose to lie to my face by denying that it was caused by him. As I mentioned I was the surveillance video showing the entire incident. My boss stuck his head in the sand and chose to look the other way. So I am left wondering, if there are future incidents will he come clean or choose to lie his way out. I am not left with a good feeling in the matter.

 

[Greenman]

the equipment is property of the company we both work for. Its not my responsibility to pay for it nor him. The problem I ma having is my coworker damaged this equipment during an evening shift and never said a single word to anyone. It was left and the damage was discovered by another person in this case myself. I can understand causing damage as we are only human and accidents do happen but instead he chose to lie to my face by denying that it was caused by him. As I mentioned I was the surveillance video showing the entire incident. My boss stuck his head in the sand and chose to look the other way. So I am left wondering, if there are future incidents will he come clean or choose to lie his way out. I am not left with a good feeling in the matter.

He'll lie.

Your boss may be ignoring it, but he knows his employee lied to him, he knows he can't be trusted. It will matter at some point.

 

[disappoint]

the equipment is property of the company we both work for. Its not my responsibility to pay for it nor him. The problem I ma having is my coworker damaged this equipment during an evening shift and never said a single word to anyone. It was left and the damage was discovered by another person in this case myself. I can understand causing damage as we are only human and accidents do happen but instead he chose to lie to my face by denying that it was caused by him. As I mentioned I was the surveillance video showing the entire incident. My boss stuck his head in the sand and chose to look the other way. So I am left wondering, if there are future incidents will he come clean or choose to lie his way out. I am not left with a good feeling in the matter.

So express to your boss your mistrust in your co-worker but then understand after that you may have to leave it at that.

 

[silicon]

So express to your boss your mistrust in your co-worker but then understand after that you may have to leave it at that.

already done at the time of the incident....just now it makes me uneasy to work/interface with this person not knowing if his next sentence will be the truth or some altered version of it.

 

[disappoint]

already done at the time of the incident....just now it makes me uneasy to work/interface with this person not knowing if his next sentence will be the truth or some altered version of it.

Well think of it this way: Now that you know he is untrustworthy, you can be better prepared to defend yourself against this.

Better to know your co-worker is untrustworthy than to work with someone you trust that isn't trustworthy unbeknownst to you.

 

[CA19100]

sorry to clarify..should I assume that any comment for this coworker is first a lie and then to be proven truthful.

Absolutely. This person is a proven liar, and you should treat everything he says with suspicion.

You'll have to work with him if your boss won't do what's necessary, but start keeping a log of what he does (including this incident), and document everything. Keep a copy of the video if you can. And keep all of this on paper or personal devices, not at work.

At some point, this person is going to throw you under the bus to cover his ass. The truth will be your defense.

 

[OverVolt]

How did he "break" the equipment, because stuff breaks all the time due to no ones fault. Can't just blame the person standing nearest to some 20 year old POS that shoulda been replaced 10 years ago.

 

[Craig234]

Does your boss know he broke it and lied about it?

If not, I think you probably owe it to your boss to inform them (it's a judgement call if you think that's needed).

I think you have a legitimate issue to confront the employee about that it's not ok to lie to you. Two ways to approach that, one directly, the other through the boss.

If so, why is the boss defending lying? Do they just think it's not important, do they think they addressed it themselves with the person?

If it's a less than legitimate reason - the person is a friend - you could become at risk. If that's the case, you're not obligated - unless to HIS boss.

 

[RandomWords]

already done at the time of the incident....just now it makes me uneasy to work/interface with this person not knowing if his next sentence will be the truth or some altered version of it.

Movie quote time! I just couldn't help but think this in this situation...

"Me? I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid."

 

[MongGrel]

Basically it sounds to me like your boss can't be trusted to back you up, more or less.

After that it's up to you I guess.

Bad bosses happen, live with it or find another boss, or something along those lines to be blunt, welcome to the real world.

 

[AstroGuardian]

You may not be aware of the relations between your boss and your coworker.
That said, you may be in risk of being framed about this incident or another one.
Make a copy of the video material and keep it. Let other trustworthy coworkers know about this incident so that they may inform you about suspicious stuff regarding the incident or future incidents. Some bosses are evil retards that frame people for no reason. In this case as far as you are informed the boss and the coworkers may be cousins ffs.

About whether you should tell it to your coworker it may backfire. You should assume that the boss may have been talking to your coworker about the incident and may have told on you. You should give any kind of hint to your coworker that you know the truth but not too much. Let him hesitate and be insecure. He may make a mistake and admit himself.

 

[02ranger]

sorry to clarify..should I assume that any comment for this coworker is first a lie and then to be proven truthful.

I pretty much assume this for everybody, at least about anything that matters. Everybody is dishonest and out for themselves until they prove otherwise. I do have people that I trust, some of them I trust and believe everything that they say, but we did not start out with that level of trust. It has to be earned...........

 

[alkemyst]

call him out as a liar and show video proof to all coworkers to shame him. Only way some people can learn.

He would be stupid to go against his boss' wishes on this.

 

[alcoholbob]

Was that you damaging the equipment Yoda? We have some poor quality images on video. Could be you?
Now fess-up and come to this Sunday's confession. We are collecting for a new Iron Dome missile shield for our church of the Wholly Confused.
You can bring your dog, but not your snakes, please.

Jews are not supposed to enter church sanctuarys he will need to get his rabbis permission.

 

[ronitbajaj]

Explain your coworker that You've seen them and you fire them from job.