u/RealDoraTheExplorer_

I am not The OOP, OOP is u/Nubmuffin

AITA for ratting out my assistant/colleague and getting her fired to save my own job?

Originally posted to r/AmItheAsshole

TRIGGER WARNING: >!Workplace sabotage!<

Original Post  July 7, 2023

I know how it sounds, but please read before you judge.

I've (30M) worked at my current employer for 3 years. Last year (March 2020) I received a promotion to Project Manager. In the beginning everything went well, but in the last month I've been getting more and more negative feedback. I did not understand what was going on or why people were becoming so negative about me. I was losing clients and several colleagues were really upset with me.

I was at a loss. I started talking to my manager and my department head about following courses, getting monthly feedback to perform better . I just wanted to live up to the promotion I received. I felt like I was failing.

Then a friend/colleague (27F) of mine came to me angry and demanded that I apologise for what I said. I was really confused and asked her why she was so upset with me. She explained she received an e-mail where I was basically blaming her for the issues that I was dealing with. This was an e-mail a client forwarded her. I was at a loss and explained I never send out an e-mail like that and if she could show me.

She did and it had my name, my send address and everything seemed like it was from me, but I never send it. Then it clicked with me. My assistant (39F) has access to my e-mail and has the ability to send as me. She's also the ONLY one that has these rights.

I was flabbergasted and so much started to make sense.

She was next in line for my job and did not receive the promotion, I did.I checked all her sent mail on her pc (while she was out for lunch) and saw dozens of e-mails send as if it was me.

An e-mail, still open on her screen, showed my e-mail address and a written message to clients with missinformation, passive aggressiveness and straight up lies.These were send out under MY NAME.

I made screenshots and send them to myself, then went to my manager and the head of the department. They....were....pissed.

She was fired that same day. I was relieved and all my colleagues were informed. I thought I was completely in the right here, but some people at work are complaining that I violated company policy for snooping on her PC and violating her privacy.

My boss and direct colleagues have my back, but the people that knew her (she has worked there since 2011 and I've only been here since 2018) say I went to far. Apparently she's a single mother with 2 kids and needed this job.

I also need this job and she was more than willing to sacrifice me for her benefit, I don't see how I could be in the wrong for defending myself. Maybe I'm just to close to the situation to see it? Did I go to far by going on her PC?

TL:DR AITA for snooping on my assistants PC and with it breaking a privacy policy of the company, to prove she was sabotaging me and getting her fired while saving my own job?

VERDICT: NOT THE ASSHOLE

RELEVANT COMMENTS

TheBestPeter

>NTA. She was trying to screw over your career through lies and deceptions and you caught her and she received the correct punishment for her actions.

shawslate

>> Also, it wasn’t her PC, it was the company’s computer, so specifically not a PC (personal computer) >> >> Many companies have the authority for a manager, Supervisor or superior of some form to access the company equipment if needed. You accessed her work accounts; which ended up being your OWN account. She was angering clients, and your coworkers. Everyone who was mad at you should have been mad at her.

~

[deleted]

> You didn’t “get” her fired; she did this to herself. Someone would have figured it out eventually. She chose to risk her job and endanger the business with her deceitful behavior. Losing her position is a natural consequence of her choices. NTA > > I hope you are able to continue to repair your reputation from the damage she caused.

Update: They just let me know they are holding a meeting to clarify what exactly happened. They were catching on to the people that weren't happy about her being fired and they want to quell any issues before they start taking root. I'll update again once the meeting is over (it's in 1H and 20 minutes from now)

Final update July 8, 2021 (Next Day/Same Post)

(edit: grammar) Update 2: Meeting took about an 1,5 hour and after that I was in and out of talks with colleagues and other people. It was properly explained what she was doing and has done to me and the company. The attitude towards me noticeably changed in a positive direction, with a lot of people apologizing to me and explaining they've known her for years, were friends and could not imagine she actually did something like this.

Honestly, I'm happy it ended up this way. HR and my boss really had my back here and pre-emptively handled to avoid any linger negativity. Nothing but praise for them.

I've requested some time off, which was approved and I'll be home for a week starting next week. Per my request/advice they are also going to revise (or at least look at) the company policy regarding access to other people's e-mails and other security issues I've noticed.

It'll probably be the last update for now, I might make an update post if anything significant happens.

Thank you all again.

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