S: The Truth

[baggio248]

I feel bad. Apparently a co-worker of mine who is a really cool guy and was like a mentor to me is quitting. Apparently my boss got a hold of his list of references, and he listed me as a reference and as a supervisor, which I am not. My manager just asked me for the truth if he asked me to be his reference. He never did ask me. So in a way I screwed him, but I couldn't lie about that. Just sucks that I'm put in this position.

[ufcrusher]

So you told him to falsely list you as a supervisor and a reference? Because somewhere in your post when you said that he never asked you and you arent his supervisor I got the impression that he did this to himself.

Yes it sucks that telling the truth in this case is going to hurt someone you like. But that person created the issue, not you. Chances are if you had agreed or lied to cover for him, both of you would be "quitting".

What you really need to question is how did this information come to light? Either he posted it on a job board and your boss found it. (Dumb....imagine that your boss looking at a resume for a person who is qualified to work with you) He wrote the references on a company computer,accessed it on the company computer or used some company equipment to make copies/fax/scan etc. (Dumb....you never know what tracking software is in place.) Or it could simply be that he applied to a position where your boss knows people, saw his last employer and called up a source he knew and trusted. (Once again, dumb move)

There really arent many other ways that your boss could have uncovered this. Sorry that you feel bad about it, but learn from his mistake.

[brainsmile]

live and learn

[baggio248]

So you told him to falsely list you as a supervisor and a reference? Because somewhere in your post when you said that he never asked you and you arent his supervisor I got the impression that he did this to himself.

I didn't tell him to list me as a supervisor. I didn't even know he was putting me down as a reference. He did list all this as himself.

I'm wondering if maybe someone called around here (i'm in a satellite office) looking for me as a reference, or if maybe they called the HR office.

[GracieBayb]

i know you can't help feeling bad baggio, but you really shouldn't

a real friend wouldn't have put you in that situation or would have checked with you first... and then it would be something you'd have to consider and accept or deny

[guiseppewv]

I didn't tell him to list me as a supervisor. I didn't even know he was putting me down as a reference. He did list all this as himself.

I'm wondering if maybe someone called around here (i'm in a satellite office) looking for me as a reference, or if maybe they called the HR office.

I don't think UF was saying that you did it. It was more of a rhetorical question. You didn't do this to your friend, your friend did this to themselves, not that it will make you feel any better.

[ufcrusher]

I don't think UF was saying that you did it. It was more of a rhetorical question. You didn't do this to your friend, your friend did this to themselves, not that it will make you feel any better.

I thought that was evident by my answering the question myself...but yes, it was rhetorical and meant to show there is no way you are a fault.

[guiseppewv]

I thought that was evident by my answering the question myself...but yes, it was rhetorical and meant to show there is now way you are a fault.

I think it was evident to most of us but baggio is the one in the middle of this tough situation and maybe after reading your post quickly he didn't realize that your question was rhetorical. At least from the first 2 lines in his post I think that he didn't realize it.

[Hypnotist]

Your friend made misrepresentations involving you without your knowledge and consent. Sad that he made that choice knowing full well it could place you in a compromising position some day. Sorry he disappointed you. We all have experiences like this and they can hurt.

Solution... Kick his A$$, tell him that you've both learned a valuble lesson, then go have a beer together and move on.