How to Deal With Deceptive Colleagues at Work

Colleagues should work together toward common goals.

In an ideal workplace, people work together to achieve common goals. Unfortunately, certain colleagues may place their own success above that of the team, or they may try to cover up their own mistakes by placing the blame on others. Dishonest co-workers in the workplace not only lower morale but they can also sink an entire company --- as demonstrated by the Enron debacle. From the boardroom to the shipping clerk's office, dealing with deceptive colleagues should be a fundamental skill of every employee.

Things You'll Need

• Documentation of misconduct

Instructions

1. Investigate a potentially deceptive act on the part of a suspect colleague. While certain employees may be habitually dishonest, they cannot be caught unless you identify specific instances of misconduct. For instance, you may discover that a co-worker intentionally fudged the numbers of a sales report to impress upper management. Unless the act is egregious or poses an immediate hazard to the company, do not confront your colleague or march into your supervisor's office to report him. Monitor your co-worker's behavior to look for repeated offenses and build a case against him.

2. Consult discreetly with other employees about a deceptive colleague. You may discover your suspicions are ungrounded. For example, a longtime employee of the company may tell you an allegedly deceptive accountant has just undergone a messy divorce and his work has suffered due to personal issues. On the other hand, your colleagues may provide you with additional evidence to substantiate a pattern of deceptive misconduct.

3. Document all of your facts. Be sure to include dates and significant details about your colleague's misconduct. Before reporting a deceptive co-worker, make sure that your facts are consistent and that the evidence is solid. Accusing someone of misconduct may create an emotionally volatile situation; so, you should have substantial documentation to back up your case.

4. Share your findings with colleagues whom you trust. Ask them to confirm that your documentation will hold up under the scrutiny of a supervisor. Presenting a weak case to your boss will not lead to appropriate sanctions against a deceptive colleague; it will cast you in a very bad light.

5. Report your deceptive colleague to a supervisor. Present your evidence of his misconduct dispassionately. Displays of contempt or anger will make you look vindictive.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not confront a colleague directly about misconduct. At best, he will cover up his deceptive behavior in the future. Moreover, he will be angry for being accused of lying. Leave this matter to your supervisor.

References

• Business Ethics: "Enron & Ethics"
• ABC News; "Working Wounded"; Bob Rosner; January 2007