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In 2004, a new colleague joined us while working with a team of systems engineers deploying ground-based radars worldwide. Right from the start, he seemed off. He always tried to outdo others’ stories and was constantly seeking attention. He gave off the vibe of someone who would smile at you while secretly plotting against you.
From the beginning, he was overly ambitious and tried to undermine me, claiming credit for my work. I hoped this behavior was just a phase, but things quickly worsened.
One day, I found out he was spreading false rumors about me to senior management. He claimed I was drinking on the job, appeared high, was combative, and was a security risk because I carried external hard drives, suggesting I might be stealing corporate data. My manager confronted me about these accusations and put me on restricted duty for two weeks while they investigated.
Angry but determined to handle things smartly, I took vacation time during the investigation. When I came back, the accusations were proven false. Instead of confronting him directly, I started documenting every deceitful action and even set up discreet surveillance around my workspace.
One day, I caught him on video sharing confidential information with a competitor without an NDA. I also recorded him setting up an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii with a vendor to help them with a sale involving our company—clear evidence of a conflict of interest. I knew I had to be careful, so I reported his behavior anonymously through the company’s ethics hotline, including all the evidence I had gathered.
The investigation took a few weeks, and he kept trying to sabotage me, unaware of the consequences coming his way. Finally, the day arrived when two HR representatives and a security guard escorted him out of the building. As he passed by my desk, he gave me a cold, knowing stare, fully aware I had reported him.
I stood up, looked him in the eye, and said, “Next time, find a different game to play.”
HR wrote me up for that comment, but at the time, it felt like a small price to pay for seeing justice served.
More info: Reddit
Coworker Spreads Rumors, Man Retaliates by Uncovering the Truth About Him
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In 2004, while working as a systems engineer deploying radars, a new colleague joined and immediately seemed off. He always tried to upstage others and had a sneaky vibe. He quickly started undermining me, taking credit for my work, and spreading false rumors to senior management about my behavior and security risk.
I was put on restricted duty for two weeks while they investigated. During that time, I took vacation and came back to find the accusations unfounded. Instead of confronting him, I documented his deceitful actions and set up discreet surveillance.
I caught him on video sharing confidential info with a competitor and arranging a bribe with a vendor. I reported this anonymously through the company’s ethics hotline. After a few weeks, HR and security escorted him out. As he passed by, I told him, “Next time, find a different game to play.”
HR wrote me up for that remark, but it felt worth it for the justice served.
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