Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–18 of 18 posts

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#11

Post by znpy »

paulcole wrote: post #7
dooberdeats wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've considered this, however: -it's a contractual violation -the work is shoddy -it's immoral -this presents security issues -it would make a good hacker news story

If the work is shoddy, fire him — regardless of why it’s shoddy. If you don’t have the power to fire him, convince the people who do. If you can’t do that — on the basis of shoddy work — then it’s time to recalibrate your definition of shoddy.

actually, I just realized that there are some countries whose work laws do not allow firing on the basis of "shoddy work". but would totally allow firing for outsourcing your own job, on the basis of trust violation, trade secrets access from unauthorized people, and stuff like that.

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#12

Post by proc0 »

Ask for code reviews where they explain the code line by line and overall approach.

Ask for detailed estimates and breakdown on a problem they never heard before, and insist on an initial approach to the solutoin, then verify with what is delivered.

When you do either of these, make sure there are experienced technical people asking questions. Anyone who is technical will not mind explaining code or solutions on the spot. At the very least there should be open conversations on approach, and usually you won't be able to hold that conversation if you are not doing the job.

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#14

Post by paulcole »

znpy wrote: post #11
paulcole wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the work is shoddy, fire him — regardless of why it’s shoddy. If you don’t have the power to fire him, convince the people who do. If you can’t do that — on the basis of shoddy work — then it’s time to recalibrate your definition of shoddy.

actually, I just realized that there are some countries whose work laws do not allow firing on the basis of "shoddy work". but would totally allow firing for outsourcing your own job, on the basis of trust violation, trade secrets access from unauthorized people, and stuff like that.

Out of curiosity, list some of those countries.

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#15

Post by dooberdeats »

paulcole wrote: post #7
dooberdeats wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've considered this, however: -it's a contractual violation -the work is shoddy -it's immoral -this presents security issues -it would make a good hacker news story

If the work is shoddy, fire him — regardless of why it’s shoddy. If you don’t have the power to fire him, convince the people who do. If you can’t do that — on the basis of shoddy work — then it’s time to recalibrate your definition of shoddy.

Good advice.

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#16

Post by dooberdeats »

reasons wrote: post #9

- Apply Hanlon's razor. Maybe they're going through some stuff. - Consider how you'd like to be treated; like for real. What if it was you? - Burning bridges over something like this isn't worth it. Burning bridges over anything, is almost always a bad idea. Seek to mend.

I want to reap what I sow.

Misrepresenting someone else's work as your own is morally wrong at best.

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#17

Post by dooberdeats »

endisneigh wrote: post #5

I'm curious - what evidence is there that made you believe that they "seem" to be outsourcing their work?

Initial suspicions arose from the general tenor of how he talked about his past work -- the way someone speaks when they're making things up.

Non-native english speaking grammar and mistakes in Github comments. There are certain types of mistakes native English speakers make -- I make -- and the type non-native English speakers make. These are of the latter class.

His code has different styles project to project.

Logins to 3rd party tools through a VPN at every hour of the night and day -- the preempted warning that this might happen from him.

His tendency to take specific questions about his code and answer them with generalities, or more often having to think about the answer and get back to us later.

What I'm missing is hard forensic evidence.

Re: Ask HN: How to expose a coworker that is outsourcing his work?

#18

Post by whydoibother »

dooberdeats wrote: post #16
reasons wrote: post #9

- Apply Hanlon's razor. Maybe they're going through some stuff. - Consider how you'd like to be treated; like for real. What if it was you? - Burning bridges over something like this isn't worth it. Burning bridges over anything, is almost always a bad idea. Seek to mend.

I want to reap what I sow. Misrepresenting someone else's work as your own is morally wrong at best.

Is the company you work for 100% moral (whatever that means)? Seems like a bad reason to want to axe someone.
Post reply on HN