He Caught His Co-Worker Doing This Online Side Hustle After Hours
A Reddit user shares that he couldn’t find his co-worker’s profile on LinkedIn. But, after putting his browser in Incognito mode, he found it. He realized that she blocked him on purpose to hide her other companies.
Their Boss Hasn’t Noticed
The original poster (OP) noticed that his co-worker hadn’t done much of her assigned work for weeks and hadn’t responded to work emails. However, their boss hasn’t noticed anything wrong because OP is the main point of contact and unconsciously covers for her. Thus, OP receives most of the workload.
She Was “Clever…Tricking The System”
One day, OP tried to find his co-worker on LinkedIn but was unsuccessful. So, he turned on Incognito mode on his browser and instantly found her profile; That’s when OP realized she was purposely blocking him.
OP found it interesting that she didn’t mention the company they both work for on her profile. Instead, it says she is the CEO and founder of two companies that serve the same customer type as her day job.
The two companies have full-fledged websites and social media accounts. OP called her “clever” for “tricking the system” because her businesses are entirely digital and based in another country.
OP believes she is using her work access for her companies.
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“I’ve Basically Been Unknowingly Covering For Her”
OP says he’s been unknowingly covering for her, working extremely hard to make everything at work seem normal. However, he feels terrible for “ratting out someone.”
OP feels he should report her to their manager, which could lead to her getting fired. Also, OP worries that she might take revenge on him, especially if she loses her job and substantial income.
The Masses Weigh In
The Reddit users caution OP to refrain from bringing up his co-worker’s side business to their manager. Instead, they recommend OP talk to the manager focusing on what she needs to meet her job requirements. This strategy avoids drama around her side hustles.
Other Reddit members say some companies have “conflict of interest rules.” And OP’s co-worker should have disclosed her conflict instead of hiding it, possibly using their company’s data for her own benefit. Also, some users say if it’s a “conflict of interest” and OP doesn’t report her, then he could be seen as an accomplice.
Is OP wrong for wanting to report his co-worker about her side business? Is OP’s co-worker taking advantage of her day job’s access and resources to supplement her other side hustle? Should OP feel bad that she could potentially get fired, depriving her of substantial income?
