Office turmoil ...

[RayinPenn]

Fred and Jake are two 'senior' consultants working in our office. Our current workload includes a couple of one time large projects- thus the need for outside help. Fred is a nice fellow I worked with him on one task and he seemed to be interested in doing a good job and getting it done timely. Jake is very intelligent, a hard worker but at times can be abrasive. A while back I've had his supervisor (my old boss) speak to him about how he speaks to the junior staff.

Fred got a monster project that required the testing and analysis of a good amount of data. Did the business follow procedures and regulations. He was working with Will from a tech group to help him get and manage the data, it has been my experience that will is fairly new to our business and can need guidance to mine 'the gold out of the ore'.

The project floundered a bit - large files, old data, inconsistent understanding of how the system worked and Jake was called in help Fred. After a while Will (we go out to lunch weekly) comes to me and says every time Jake has an opportunity (when Fred isn't around)he bad mouths his colleagues work, " bad data' looking at the wrong files, stupid...etc.". Will is very uncomfortable with Jakes unprofessional behavior. In a few weeks Fred quietly leaves and is transferred to a new project in his firm. I think he was happy to get away from Jake. I have no doubt Jake was vocal about Fred with management. A few weeks go by and Jake comments that he hates one of our friendliest contacts in the business. The business then comments about our jumping the gun on findings. Jake seems to be of the opinion everyone is stupid. -When the dust settles the project lead hints that Jake wasn't all that wonderful..

Two weeks ago I get assigned to a project with Jake and another tech resource (this guy is very experienced and a friend) Jake asks him to query a new system for data. My friend says I can do that I have no familiarity with that system. I look into that and think yeah with our deadline we will need to rely on the businesses data.. We can sample check the businesses data. Jake says my techie buddy is lazy (so not so). I go to the boss and say I am not comfortable working with this guy and explain why..she then talks to all the players except Jake..

During our chat She wants me to talk to Jake... I say it is too late for that. At this stage in my life I appreciate and expect a collegial, collaboration and team work. Stress I just don't need. It isn't a question of if Jake decides to run his mouth against a colleague but when ...

My role is kind of mixed techie/business, they know I am close to retirement but its a rare bird that can write code and ask the right questions.

[CFrance]

I don't know what the answer is, but it sounds like the boss is ducking her job by asking you to talk to Jake.

[RErmer]

Sounds like a full team meeting is needed to determine roles and responsibilities, and to clear the air. One-on-one sniping and conversations won't fix this. As a former HR pro! I've seen dysfunctional teams like this many times - and they usually don't get the job done. You need an objective facilitator. Don't know your company size - is there an HR dept. to help? If not, someone from a related dept. who is not involved in this project?

And no, I wouldn't fire anyone for posting this, assuming real names have not been used. It's a common enough and generic enough situation that it could be anyone doing the post. However, I would suggest OP cease and desist (not add more detail or info in response to any other posts).

[dbussone]

Sounds like a full team meeting is needed to determine roles and responsibilities, and to clear the air. One-on-one sniping and conversations won't fix this. As a former HR pro! I've seen dysfunctional teams like this many times - and they usually don't get the job done. You need an objective facilitator. Don't know your company size - is there an HR dept. to help? If not, someone from a related dept. who is not involved in this project?

And no, I wouldn't fire anyone for posting this, assuming real names have not been used. It's a common enough and generic enough situation that it could be anyone doing the post. However, I would suggest OP cease and desist (not add more detail or info in response to any other posts).


Very good recommendations

[Chi-Town]

Ray, your story is a reminder to a lot of us why retirement is so sweet. Glad you're close.

[RayinPenn]

The names all have been changed...my intent is to seek thoughtful advise. I am not perfect neither is Jake or anyone else. I just want to be fair and enjoy the job.

[l2ridehd]

The problem is Jake and is owned by the manager. I do not recommend a group grope, but a manager employee sit down and lay out the facts and set up some rules to be followed by Jake. Failure to do so will end up in termination. Management owns this problem, not you. If the facts are as stated, than by talking to all the employees, the manager should have come to that same conclusion. If she didn't than maybe you need to re-evaluate your understanding of the problem. If she did, than she needs to deal with it, not you.

[eweissenbach]

Ray, your story is a reminder to a lot of us why retirement is so sweet. Glad you're close.

My thought exactly! Actually transported me back in time to my life as a marketing team manager. Not a pleasant trip in this case, though mostly my experiences were positive.