How to Deal with a Dodgy Supervisor at a Work Place?

vchar on 27/03/2018 - 11:35
Last edited 27/03/2018 - 19:46 by 1 other user

Hi folks,

Let me know if this is not a right place to ask such a question and admin please delete it if inappropriate.

I'm currently working an extra job at a factory as a casual with many other part-time and full-time staffs. We all have a supervisor who keeps borrowing our money and never pays us back. He borrows money from each of us from around 500AUD to several thousand with a promise of paying us in a day or a week but it has never happened.

Recently, he is on holiday trip and before he begun his journey, he asks everyone some more money again but none of us offers him this time. After he left work for his trip, yesterday we come together and we start to realise that he has owed some of us for years and some for months or weeks. We've also learnt that he also owes staff working at other sites of the factory.

Not enough, yesterday he called everyone at least 10 times plus some SMSes, while we were working, to ask for money by transferring to him while he is abroad, sick. We are kind of anxious to deal with him when he resumes his work.

We are kind of sick and we are now trying to find a solution. We think of either

  1. Reporting him to the company to take him off
  2. Or resigning from work

We also consider to take some legal actions but we aren't sure if we can do anything.

If anyone has some practical solutions, please kindly share with us.

Note: we are in a team of roughly 10 people and he verbally borrows us, no document of the case.

lol one more fun, he just called a guy working with me to ask for the money the guy promised to lend him. The guy refused to lend him more as he becomes aware of the situation. The supervisor said to the guy on a loud speaker that "you should hold your promise as you are being a man" while he has never paid his debt owing to us.

Regards,

Thanks for your great sharing, folks.

To make it clearer, none of us is stupid and wants to waste our hard earnings on such a dodgy guy but there are three reasons involved which led to our financial offers to him.
1. we genuinely want to help him as at least he is being our supervisor or workmate. we have never met someone such a dodgy person.
2. he has made things hard until he is able to take financial advantage of us. most of us haven't been aware of this until lending him the money.
3. none of us discusses this with the other as we don't want to harass him which leads to the mass.

Basically, he abusively uses his position to gain financial advantage from his subordinates.

Again, helping someone is not a stupidity although we are experiencing this unfortunate incident. we wouldn't mind helping another but we will do it wisely, cautiously and carefully. We believe there are people genuinely need help. AND I hope and wish anyone who thinks financially helping someone is a stupidity will never experience any difficulties in their lives which forces them to ask for financial help from anyone, God bless you, dude.

A little more, we have considered the loan amount as a loss and we don’t expect a payment from him but we don’t want to let him go easily. We also want to stop this from happening again that’s why I’m here to ask and get great ideas from every genius. Your great contribution is very helpful and will help many staff out there. Once again, thanks

Education & Work

Comments

      • ProBoDoBo on 28/03/2018 - 16:55

        I think involvement of court and all that will be too much of a hassle but having a contract would still be enough to make him pay me back on time due to larger consequences. I reckon I would not be giving it foolishly but after thorough inspection of the situation. Thanks.

        • FW190 on 28/03/2018 - 20:47

          due to larger consequences.

          bikies? :)

          but back to your question, there is this age old saying that a contract is "not worth the paper it is written on", go figure.

    • trapper on 29/03/2018 - 14:17

      Write it down, but also -> take collateral.

      He gets the $500 and you get some expensive item (worth well over $500) until he pays it back.

  • Donaldhump on 27/03/2018 - 23:54
    +2

    Dam, I owe two of my staff 12 bucks for kfc and maccas and I feel guilty

  • McFly on 28/03/2018 - 00:32
    +2

    … he verbally borrows us, no document of the case.

    … he called everyone at least 10 times plus some SMSes

    Good enough documentation there…

  • Gershom on 28/03/2018 - 00:32
    +1

    "A fool and his money are soon parted."

    • DannyBoy on 28/03/2018 - 01:35

      Short and basic. Very much like the person who typed it.

      • Gershom on 28/03/2018 - 09:27
        +6

        That's quite a talent you have there, being able to tell a person's height from a sentence they wrote.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 13:47

          A tall person types from a higher psepective and makes subyle typos.

          Shorter people type better withot any spelling erors.

        • Gershom on 29/03/2018 - 07:29

          @tshow: You must be very tall with your subyle typos and higher psepective.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2018 - 18:39

          @Gershom:
          I just sit further from the desk.

          If you know what I mean.

        • Gershom on 30/03/2018 - 06:04
          +1

          @tshow: Not far enough though, you can apparently still reach the keys.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2018 - 15:18

          @Gershom:
          Mate, this is OzBargain, not CongoBargain.

  • frozenkuku on 28/03/2018 - 03:02

    buy the company? bully him back

    • vchar on 28/03/2018 - 09:53

      lol at least you need some tens million to acquire the company lol.

      • frozenkuku on 04/04/2018 - 01:44

        not hard :), but is this company worth to do so or not is another question

  • GC1 on 28/03/2018 - 06:41
    +5

    Hi OP,

    I feel bad for you and your team mates.

    As others have suggested, gather all of the evidence (dates, amounts, person he has borrowed from) and write that down.

    As a group, take the evidence to your Immediate Manager - that is, your Supervisor's Manager

    As that the Supervisor be stripped of any responsibility (if they have any) affecting allocation of shifts or overtime etc.

    On the face of it, it seems like a collection of personal matters - I am not sure if the company has any responsibility. However, you will want to make sure that the Supervisor can't use their position to make anybody's life hard or prevent anybody from overtime or extra shifts (if that is desirable) because of the personal matter.

    You may also ask the Company to direct the Supervisor to not call/SMS, request or speak about borrowing money to any of you again. You could also ask the company if they are willing to work with the Supervisor on a repayment schedule.

    Good luck.

  • TailsK on 28/03/2018 - 07:29

    To make it clearer, none of us is stupid

    I disagree. This is one of the stupidest things I've ever read. Do you even know what you were lending him money for? If you don't know what the money is for, all you're doing is increasing his debts, which doesn't help anyone in the long run. And why would you not document any of this, especially after the first "loan"?

    Clearly you go to HR or his manager. Why would resigning even be an option?

  • full0085 on 28/03/2018 - 08:41

    Does anyone have a record of transferring money to his bank account on a bank statement or was it all dealt with in cash? If its the former at least you would have some evidence of the money being paid.

    • vchar on 28/03/2018 - 09:55

      cash on hand mate, no records

  • cookie2 on 28/03/2018 - 09:13
    -2

    not sure if anyone has suggested it but I would recomend joining your union prior to speaking with HR. if lots of people in your workplace can quietly join a union, the speak to your union and set up a hr meeting where you have a union representative. If you can set up a meeting as a group of people you will feel more confident in communicating the full scale of the issue AND the union representation will protect you (more so anyway). I'm just not sure about management and if the workplace even has a strong hr/management structure because I dont think the behaviour wouldve been able to continue as long if it did.anyway my suggestion is JOIN A UNION and focus on ensuring you are all protected in your workplace. goodluck. :)

    • Gershom on 28/03/2018 - 09:41
      +1

      JOIN A UNION

      Yeh, they're great for people who can't think for themselves.

    • whooah1979 on 28/03/2018 - 10:39

      JOIN A UNION

      Nice plug there.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 13:51
      +1

      JOIN A UNION

      Milk the business then join the Centrelink lines.

      It doesn't matter how a business runs or if it can keep running. Your rights need protection, whatever the cost.

  • DiscoJango on 28/03/2018 - 09:36

    Mo money mo problems

  • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 10:09

    You need to look at his underlying reasons for borrowing money. It is usually drugs, gambling, unrealistic lifestyle or sex (prostitute/affairs).
    You are highly unlikely to see any of the money.
    It sounds like it's pretty close to criminal fraud; (taking money with no intention of repaying).

  • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 11:15
    +2

    Why has no one suggested tracy grimshaw. This would get you a featured segment on a current affair

  • ozzpete on 28/03/2018 - 11:38

    As an interesting twist, since he is probably a bad gambler…
    Have him offered by HR to flip a coin for his job. Heads he stays, tails he goes.
    If he is that bad with gambling problem, he will most likely agree.
    Film it for youtube, would be cool to watch, and maybe get some $$ back from youtube revenue etc.

    • montorola on 28/03/2018 - 13:45
      +4

      PLOT TWIST - He borrowed money from everyone in HR also.

      • OzzyOzbourne on 29/03/2018 - 14:23

        Human Remains are the one's taking his money!

  • c0balt on 28/03/2018 - 12:27
    -1

    Every single person that lent him money is a fool and there’s a saying about what happens to fools and their money.

    I don’t doubt that OP and their workmates had good intentions, thinking they were doing a good thing by helping - but in reality they actually did a very bad thing by enabling the scumbag supervisor to keep defrauding those around them and contributing to human misery over the course of years!

    Complete lack of personal responsibility shown by everyone.

    • Melba on 28/03/2018 - 12:59
      +2

      Probably feared loss of their jobs and were bullied into the situation over many months. At least they know better now and are putting a stop to it.

      • c0balt on 28/03/2018 - 13:12

        The OP wrote themselves "we genuinely want to help him as at least he is being our supervisor or workmate", and there's also the selection they wrote in bold.

        It sounds like good intentions enabling bad people to do bad things rather than extortion on behalf of the supervisor.

        They aren't kids, 'bullying' someone into giving you money is extortion and this really doesn't sound like a case of the supervisor extorting money, but people very willingly handing it over.

  • locknuts on 28/03/2018 - 13:10
    +1

    A similar situation happened in my workplace. Management came down hard on the guy borrowing money until it was all paid back.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 14:12

    smh

  • Blugok on 28/03/2018 - 14:13
    +1

    You need to step up, report the supervisor to Management, get this dude fired, and get yourself promoted to be the new supervisor.

    Then……. you can start borrowing money from all your workmates.

  • xuqi on 28/03/2018 - 14:24

    The guys is a drug addict, degenerate gambler or both. Either way report him to management collectively.

    P.S. I doubt he's overseas or on holiday. Most likely chasing his losses or looking for his next fix…

  • Mosher on 28/03/2018 - 15:19

    If he's gone to bali for his trip sms him asking for an address to send the money to an then send him a package full of drugs and then ring up the police in bali with an anonyous tip and the guy gets free room and food for the next 10+ years

  • Munki on 28/03/2018 - 16:02
    +3

    I love these weekly drama forum posts. It just makes my week!

    • montorola on 28/03/2018 - 17:18
      +1

      Same, plus it makes me feel better about my life lol

      • OzzyOzbourne on 29/03/2018 - 14:25
        +2

        Yeah especially when some poor bugger is struggling to decide whether to take their AMG to the car wash or not!

  • sd4f on 28/03/2018 - 16:09

    Actually recently an email circulated in a global company i work for, someone in another country had been spending their work time in online gambling and was being a nuisance by borrowing money from co workers.

    Employment was terminated. Email was sent as a warning to everyone.

    Escalating the issue is the obvious place to go, but it's a decision all of you should make. While this guy is on holiday, i would get the people owed money and decide; does he pay up and you guys leave it alone and not lend him money anymore, or do you escalate. Maybe should try to figure that out with HR and try to come to some accommodation. Only reason to not escalate is if they terminate, that's probably the end of that money.

  • h4zey on 28/03/2018 - 16:26

    get bikies to collect the money

    • ozzpete on 28/03/2018 - 16:51

      The supervisor might already owe the bikies money for the drugs and/or gambling habit. Get supervisor, before the bikies get him.

      • OzzyOzbourne on 29/03/2018 - 14:26

        Supervisor is a bikie, it's protection money!

  • ProBoDoBo on 28/03/2018 - 16:59

    How about visiting his home and informing his family about what's going on?

    Maybe he'll come under pressure then?

    A guy once borrowed from me and I had to be nice to him until he returned me back the money. Took some while but I didn't threaten him or anything because that mightve forced him to run away or stop picking up calls etc. Use emotional blackmail maybe.

  • infinite on 28/03/2018 - 17:13
    +3

    This has to be a troll post from OP, surely? Who loans money to someone at their workplace?

    • cashews on 28/03/2018 - 21:45
      -2

      There are people stupid enough to loan money like this.

      • infinite on 28/03/2018 - 22:08
        -1

        A fool and their money, I guess?

      • OzzyOzbourne on 29/03/2018 - 14:27
        +1

        You were negged, presumably because no one is stupid enough to do this!

  • belongsinforums on 29/03/2018 - 00:02

    Thanks OP for making ozbargain great (again)

  • belongsinforums on 29/03/2018 - 00:04
    +2

    reminds me of an incident when I was a wee lad. an older guy asked me if he could borrow $2 at school. i lent it to him on the condition that he would return it. a year later i was still asking him everytime i saw him if he was going to return it. at that point, he said "it's just $2!”. I think he did end up returning it another year later :D

  • Gronk on 29/03/2018 - 10:42
    -1

    Basically, he abusively uses his position to gain financial advantage from his subordinates.

    By the sounds of it his subordinates are enabling that behaviour by conntinuing to lend him money. If saying no makes you feel uncomfortable then that's your problem and nobody elses.

  • MessyG on 29/03/2018 - 12:23
    +2

    I think you should set up a meeting with management as a group. You've all got texts asking for money it sounds like. Don't do it alone, sometimes people chicken out of these things. If you go as a group, management should (hopefully) take you seriously. At the end of the day this behaviour can't continue, and it sounds like this guy needs help - intervening may actually help him in the long run.

    For what it's worth con artists are usually very good at what they do, and often isolate people with their cons so I'm not surprised none of you knew about each other. Don't feel stupid about it, it happens to nice people. In the future when anyone asks you for money, I suggest telling them you don't have any even if it means losing a bit of face to protect yourself.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2018 - 12:31

    You could report the matter to police. In victoria it is called "obtaining financial advance by deception". Not hard to prove either as long as the others are willing to speak up and/or have documents pertaining same (including but not limited to bank statements, withdraws, witnesses, etc).

  • Laziofogna on 29/03/2018 - 14:56
    -1

    I don't know why you guys keep lending him money. I smell troll or dr Bum

  • centrelink on 29/03/2018 - 17:25

    have a recorded session with the supervisor. Ask him when he is going to pay and ask how much.

    And voila you got proof of money owning

  • Neptunesblood on 29/03/2018 - 18:22

    Lame ass Bikie commments.

  • DiscoJango on 29/03/2018 - 21:36
    +1

    try reverse psychology on your supervisor: every employee bombard him with texts and phone calls begging for money. when he kicks up a fuss ask if he is a man or not

  • Elnato on 29/03/2018 - 21:51

    Well, first off kiss your lent money goodbye cause he's spent all of it,
    Secondly, document all the times he tried to ask for money and who he has taken money from,
    Thirdly, report it to a higher up in writing officially on behalf of all involved and hope he either gets his act together or gets fired for being a leech.

    Useless people like this don't deserve your kindness/sympathy and money, they'll just take advantage and use anyone they can

  • sntc on 29/03/2018 - 22:43

    I don't know how much illegal it is to record conversation without the other party knowledge, but you could all call him one person a day or two about when he will be paying back the total amount (exact figure) he owes to strengthen your case while making a complaint or lodging a case.

    • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2018 - 13:09

      It depends which State you are in. For example it is legal in Qld as long as both parties are present, (not a 'tap').
      In NSW it is illegal unless the person being recorded knows that they are.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2018 - 08:04

    Make him disappear and take over his job.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/03/2018 - 09:53
    +1

    There is no shame in being taken by this, but:

    Recognise now this not some down and out fool. Suppress your sympathy for this person. This is someone who deliberately targeted you all in such a manner to maximise profit and minimise criminal liability with no regard to actually paying any of you back. This is a habitual liar. They really do exist out there. Many of them seem 100% normal. Some of them cannot even explain being late for work without an over elaborate unbelievable story.

    Also prepare yourself for not getting what you want out of confrontation. I don't mean the money (that is gone). I mean that the habitual liars I have seen brought to conclusion don't seem to be able or willing to process their lies as unethical acts. It is quite bizarre.

    My advice, get the info to higher ups and wash your hands of it asap. It's one thing to take your money but if you waste more time and effort thinking about it, this scum has cost you even more.

  • jace88 on 30/03/2018 - 14:27
    +1

    From reading the thread, it sounds like you all lent him money as a friend and not necessarily because he was your supervisor (or putting pressure on you with his professional position).

    If so, I don't really understand how this is a work issue other than it's probably worth letting HR know about him harassing everyone to get you to lend him more. It's definitely a private matter so hopefully you have some kind of proof that you lent him the money otherwise it's your word against his…

    • MessyG on 30/03/2018 - 16:00

      Even if there was no overt or explicit pressure - there is indirect pressure simply because of the power imbalance. HR absolutely needs to know about it and if they are any good, would want to. If this guy has a gambling or some other problem, the people around him will run out of sympathy and he'll move onto getting money elsewhere, like his place of work.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/03/2018 - 22:04

    In 2008, the psychiatrist Stephen Greenspan published 'The Annals of Gullibility', a summary of his decades of research into how to avoid being gullible. Two days later, he discovered his financial advisor Bernie Madoff was a fraud, who had caused Greenspan to lose a third of his retirement savings.

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