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

#1

Post by dooberdeats » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:23 AM UTC

We have a recent remote hire that seems to be outsourcing his work. We'd like to either prove or disprove this.

We believe he's given others control of his Github and other account logins. It does seem like he's taking precautions with a VPN.

How would you go about exposing this? Ideally in a brilliant and clever way.

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

#2

Post by slater » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:23 AM UTC

Don't.

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

#3

Post by dooberdeats » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:26 AM UTC

slater wrote: post #2

Don't.

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

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

#4

Post by slater » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:29 AM UTC

dooberdeats wrote: post #3

slater wrote: post #2

Don't.

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

that last part invalidates all the previous parts.

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

#5

Post by endisneigh » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:43 AM UTC

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

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

#6

Post by version_five » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:51 AM UTC

slater wrote: post #2

Don't.

Agreed. Unless there is a crime or a safety issue, mind your own business.

(Edit - one interpretation of your post is this person is compromising your corporate security in some way. If this is the case, you should probably, and without trying to be clever about it, discuss your concern with the person and if not satisfied with whoever is responsible for security in your company)

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

#7

Post by paulcole » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 3:57 AM UTC

dooberdeats wrote: post #3

slater wrote: post #2

Don't.

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.

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

#8

Post by heavyset_go » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 4:20 AM UTC

Are you sure they don't just have different Git emails set across their machines or projects?

> How would you go about exposing this? Ideally in a brilliant and clever way.

I wouldn't. If it causes problems, let your employer address them.

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

#9

Post by reasons » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 4:26 AM UTC

- 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.

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

#10

Post by HALtheWise » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 4:34 AM UTC

One reason you might not want someone outsourcing their work is because they (presumably) won't be able to explain or improve it. Consider testing that? For example, get them on a video call to answer questions about a code review, or do collaborative design work related to their project. You can apply similar practices to what an interviewer would, asking progressively more detailed questions to find out if they really did the work, although you obviously want to present yourself as an interested coworker rather than an interviewer.

At some point, getting your manager and/or their manager involved will be inevitable, and this is exactly the sort of problem that managers and HR exist to deal with. (assuming you're not their manager yourself).