Timecard: When do you cover for someone?

[McLovin]

I got an email from a Director this morning asking me to confirm working on someone's issue and for how long. While I did technically work on his PC, it wasn't for the issue that he is apparently claiming to the Director and the suggested time it took was not even close.

This person is claiming to have worked with me on this issue and is now apparently wanting me to cover for him.

I disagree with this and I am not comfortable with lying to a Director. However, I know sometimes it's a common practice to help another employee out once in a while to build a good relationship.

Do I cover for him or tell the Director that I hav eno idea what he is talking about?

 

[blurredvision]

If it's a one-time thing and he's not a douchebag, cover for him. If he's trying to take advantage, then don't.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Cover your own ass.

 

[sourceninja]

I call my time what my time is. Lying is never good for your career.

 

[highland145]

What's your job worth?

 

[iRONic]

Do I cover for him or tell the Director that I hav eno idea what he is talking about?

Who's job do you value most, yours or the liar's?

 

[jaedaliu]

What's your job worth?

QFT

You shouldn't be afraid of being honest. There has to be a reason why the director is looking into this guy's time reporting.

 

[rudeguy]

never

I won't lie to cover my own ass and I will not lie to cover yours.

 

[Puppies04]

If they had any decency they would have asked you about how you felt about the issue instead of just putting you on the spot like that.

Screw them I say, they aren't worth losing your job or even getting caught lying and having that cloud over your head for however long you manage to keep working there after it comes out that you are dishonest.

 

[TheFamilyMan]

The better question to ask yourself is whether or not you and him will have enough to talk about in the unemployment line when the Director (or someone else) finds out what truly happened and cans both of you.

I can't believe you're actually consdering doing this. If you already know it's the wrong thing to do, i.e. "I disagree with this and I am not comfortable with lying to a Director"; then why are you looking for ways to circumvent your own morals?

By the way...it is *NOT* common practice to sugarcoat lying and deception by calling it 'helping someone out'. In my company and in the department I'm responsible for, personal responsibility trumps all. I find out someone has lied to or mis-represented facts on purpose, they will sure as hell be shown the door. You don't build solid relationships by lying and covering for someone. You will end up putting yourself in someone else's debt and will, more than likely, have to lie multiple times over.

 

[McLovin]

The better question to ask yourself is whether or not you and him will have enough to talk about in the unemployment line when the Director (or someone else) finds out what truly happened and cans both of you.

I can't believe you're actually consdering doing this. If you already know it's the wrong thing to do, i.e. "I disagree with this and I am not comfortable with lying to a Director"; then why are you looking for ways to circumvent your own morals?

By the way...it is *NOT* common practice to sugarcoat lying and deception by calling it 'helping someone out'. In my company and in the department I'm responsible for, personal responsibility trumps all. I find out someone has lied to or mis-represented facts on purpose, they will sure as hell be shown the door. You don't build solid relationships by lying and covering for someone. You will end up putting yourself in someone else's debt and will, more than likely, have to lie multiple times over.

I totally and emphatically agree with you and everyone else that has posted so far.

I guess just wanted an outside opinion on it because while I normally would not even think twice about being honest with the Director, I didn't know if maybe somewhere during my career I missed the unwritten rule about it.

 

[Ketchup]

Would he do the same for you? Probably not. Don't start down the path of lying. It will never serve you well in the long run. Sounds like the Director already has his suspicions anyway (that was my takeaway from your post), so you won't earn points with anyone by confirming something you know isn't true.

 

[lxskllr]

The farthest I'd go is sticking to the facts, but being as terse as possible to give the other guy an out. Perhaps he was working on the machine before you got there? It's not your job to speculate. Stick to the facts. You did X, Y, and Z. Your coworker helped with X and Z, but you can't confirm anything else.

 

[OlafSicky]

Tell him what you worked on and how long no more and no less. Let the director interpret the facts.
If the guy wanted you to lie for him the least he could have done was to call you and tell you beforehand.
I bet the director knows the answer anyways and wants to confirm. You start lying and you will be on his radar.

 

[LTC8K6]

Maybe the director is testing you?

 

[notposting]

The farthest I'd go is sticking to the facts, but being as terse as possible to give the other guy an out. Perhaps he was working on the machine before you got there? It's not your job to speculate. Stick to the facts. You did X, Y, and Z. Your coworker helped with X and Z, but you can't confirm anything else.

Something like this is about as far as I would go. Let him try to spin a story, not your job to do anything like that.

Heck, maybe he just got you mixed up with someone else who could validate his story. Who knows?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Everything I do is logged when I do it.

Have a nice day.

 

[SheHateMe]

The Director probably already knows the truth and is just waiting to see if you will lie about it or not.

 

[Ventanni]

Stick to the facts and tell the truth.

 

[TerryMathews]

They know something's up or they wouldn't be asking about it.

 

[MrDudeMan]

The farthest I'd go is sticking to the facts, but being as terse as possible to give the other guy an out. Perhaps he was working on the machine before you got there? It's not your job to speculate. Stick to the facts. You did X, Y, and Z. Your coworker helped with X and Z, but you can't confirm anything else.

This is a great answer. You aren't throwing him under the bus and you aren't implicating yourself in a scandal. It would also be the truth so you could rest assured that if he was reprimanded or fired it wouldn't be your fault.