Working with liars (company, bill, federal, good)

[Seaharbour]

people learn to lie out of fear, its stems from childhood and carries on through life, usually.

[Jersey Devil]

Working with woman has been eye opening to me. Lying is life to them. NONE (sorry your delicate sensibilities are riled but I DO mean N-O-N-E) of them can make it to work on time for a solid month. They all think 8:00 really means 8:05 or even 8:30. Back stabbing is standard fare. I think jealousy motivates all of them. This jealousy can be so mundane or minute it literally boggles any sane mind. My wife has always said she'd rather work with men. I never knew until I completed my medical education after changing careers at the age of 45. I was blessed to work as an engineer for many years up until we sold ourselves down river by exporting our manufacturing capabilities.

Given the choice, I would have NEVER left engineering. But the world is different now and almost all work pretty much all sucks... thanks to the hapless indoctrinated "next" generation who bought into the wal-martization of America hook, line and sinker.

[cathy J.]

Originally Posted by kat0409

I have an employee, she's really good, hard worker, does everything she's told. The only problem is she's a pathological liar. Not about her work, but about her personal life. She talks about parties she went to, people she had over, friends that came to visit...only to find out later none of this ever happened. She'll lie about the smallest things; for instance, one time she said she went to this donut shop and they were out of glazed so she had to get a different kind. Turns out she never went to the donut shop. It's so weird...but like I said...a terrific employee.

Kinda curious..how exactly did you find out she was lying about all this stuff?

Reason I ask we somewhat had a similar situation where I work at though in another department. We had a supervisor who kept saying that he had this great employee but..he was a liar. Still don't exactly know why he felt the way he did but we did know the supervisor had issues with his employee's personal life.

[katie45]

My current boss lies like a rug!

She is very good at kissing up to the right people to ensure she "looks" like the perfect manager...but those of us who work for her know her real character. We would come across as negative employees if we complained to anyone since she is a pro at setting the stage for her performances.

She will verbally lie to us about promtions and/or raises that never come to fruition - - in an attempt to get us to bust our behinds. Or, she will give verbal instructions and when the work is completed, claim that she gave different instructions. To avoid that problem, we now write her an e-mail outlining her instructions - to ensure we are correct in our understanding of the assignment(s).

I have heard it said that 'what goes around, comes around'....but with retirement not that far off for me, I could care less anymore if she gets caught or not. I have more important priorities now.

[Seaharbour]

Write down all her tricky secrets and tricks and then slip it under his or hers boss's door when no one is watching! LOL! I think she deserves it for lying and making everyone lives miserable!

How are you Katie?! Hope your year is starting off well!

[kaykay]

Originally Posted by kat0409

I have an employee, she's really good, hard worker, does everything she's told. The only problem is she's a pathological liar. Not about her work, but about her personal life. She talks about parties she went to, people she had over, friends that came to visit...only to find out later none of this ever happened. She'll lie about the smallest things; for instance, one time she said she went to this donut shop and they were out of glazed so she had to get a different kind. Turns out she never went to the donut shop. It's so weird...but like I said...a terrific employee.

Years ago I used to work with a lady like this too. I never understood it because it was, as you said, about things that didn't matter at all or make her look better in any way whatsoever.

[movingtohouston]

Originally Posted by katie45

My current boss lies like a rug!

She is very good at kissing up to the right people to ensure she "looks" like the perfect manager...but those of us who work for her know her real character. We would come across as negative employees if we complained to anyone since she is a pro at setting the stage for her performances.

She will verbally lie to us about promtions and/or raises that never come to fruition - - in an attempt to get us to bust our behinds. Or, she will give verbal instructions and when the work is completed, claim that she gave different instructions. To avoid that problem, we now write her an e-mail outlining her instructions - to ensure we are correct in our understanding of the assignment(s).

I have heard it said that 'what goes around, comes around'....but with retirement not that far off for me, I could care less anymore if she gets caught or not. I have more important priorities now.

That sounds like my last boss. Before I finally got fed up and quit, I was documenting everything. She lied to her employees, the higher ups and the customers. Everything was to make her look good. She took credit for everything. I heard from former co workers that she was fired a month after I left. What goes around comes around I say.

[katie45]

Originally Posted by Seaharbour

Write down all her tricky secrets and tricks and then slip it under his or hers boss's door when no one is watching! LOL! I think she deserves it for lying and making everyone lives miserable!

I love it....great idea!!

How are you Katie?! Hope your year is starting off well!

Doing great so far in 08!! And wishing the same for you!

[CHATTY CATHY]

Any-one that lies in one area of their life (personal) is a liar, period.
Any one who looks the other way is an enabler of a very antisocial and basically trouble making behavior.
For those managers who claim their "liar" employee is an excellent employee is asking for trouble unless they keep this employee under a microscope on the job.
How can that be an excellent employee. One you have to watch all the time and double check on every story ?

And if they work with children or are responsible for the health of others all the more dangerous to keep them around.
IMO it is irresponsible to keep them around and unfair to the honest staff members.
Why play "the emperors new clothes" ?
Call them on it every time no matter what the subject if they bring the " lie " to work.

[billybobwv]

Originally Posted by CHATTY CATHY

Any-one that lies in one area of their life (personal) is a liar, period.
Any one who looks the other way is an enabler of a very antisocial and basically trouble making behavior.
For those managers who claim their "liar" employee is an excellent employee is asking for trouble unless they keep this employee under a microscope on the job.
How can that be an excellent employee. One you have to watch all the time and double check on every story ?

And if they work with children or are responsible for the health of others all the more dangerous to keep them around.
IMO it is irresponsible to keep them around and unfair to the honest staff members.
Why play "the emperors new clothes" ?
Call them on it every time no matter what the subject if they bring the " lie " to work.

I see your point but how exactly can one double check every story to see whether or not that person is lying with the privacy act and the other laws in place? I don't like lying myself but even I have to admit its much easier to get away with it now than say 10, 20 years ago. Example tell your boss "..I am taking the day off to visit Aunt Sue in the hospital" . How could your boss see if you are lying or not? Call the hospital and see if "Aunt Sue" is really there? Good luck !!

Another example say you have a co-worker who rarely if ever took time off from work and then all of a sudden he is away out of town every weekend. You ask him whats up and he says some line about "visiting family" or whatever but you have doubts that he is going out of town in the first place. Ask for a hotel phone number? He can give you one, but hotels rare ( if they even do anymore ) give out personal info on their guest to total strangers. Same with airlines.

You have an employee who says he has a second job but you don't think he does. Sure you can call up that second job but don't expect for them to give
a non-employee inofrmation such as so and so's work records or even what times they work there.

In today's world its actually much harder to "check up" on one's story to see if they are lying or not.