Reply to: Problem with New Team Member

[AnotherJohnDoe]

Hi all - I'm on a short contract in Rotterdam where I'm working as a front end developer using d3.js.

All in all it's pretty good and I enjoy it but we've recently had a new addition (permanent) to the team and he is not up to scratch in my opinion.

He has also started acting like a loose cannon and is working on things that he hasn't been tasked to do. Things that have an overlap with the work that I'm doing and as a result he's making a pig's ear out of merging conflicts in GIT and he's breaking code that was previously pretty robust.

Anyone been in this situation? I'm not sure what's politically expedient here but ultimately I need to cover my own backside.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I'd say have a quiet chat with them. Point out what you're tasked with and how what they're doing is causing problems for you

Ask him not to do that work himself as that's what the company is paying you for. If he doesn't then back off and talk to management

Unless you're in a management role then I think as a contractor it's not your position to be telling other members of staff what they can and cannot do

It's OK to ask but telling someone is stepping outside of your contractual obligations as far as I'm concerned and may cause problems

In the past I've either raised concerns with the PM on the project or the manager/director that's paying the bill if there isn't one

Chances are these people step on other people's toes so it soon becomes known higher up but it's their responsibility to deal with the issue not yours

[Smackdown]

Errr... yeah but by keeping quiet I'll end up carrying the can.

Anyway, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm going to have to be much more subtle in my finger pointing activities.

Another tactic I've seen from other contractors is to become that persons teacher. Make sure other people are in the room when you're doing it and just give them useful guidance on how to step through the problems. Make sure that you do it with the code up on the screen instead of berating them with words. Works a treat.

[Snarf]

Next time you do a pull and notice something messed up complain that something is wrong with GIT, pretend you cant figure out whats gone wrong and ask one of the other permies to see if they can work out whats up.

Let someone else discover the root of the problem.


Of course you can always :
>git blame SomeFile.js

Then ask the guy/girl if they need some help doing merges.

[pauldee]

I really think your best bet is to try to give the team member some guidance, in a helpful, non-criticising, non-partronising way.

[The Castle Cary Fairy]

The small potential impact of the bit in red is going to cause you to over-react and end up damaging your relationship with a permie.

Sometimes the winning move is to do nothing.

Errr... yeah but by keeping quiet I'll end up carrying the can.

Anyway, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm going to have to be much more subtle in my finger pointing activities.

[The Castle Cary Fairy]

You can leave messages on someone’s profile?

How?

You can leave reputation messages which appear under the settings menu.

[MrButton]

Most forums that I've used don't have facilities to leave disparaging messages on a user's profile.

You can leave messages on someone’s profile?

How?

[Smackdown]

Thanks all for the above.

In truth, the application we are putting together is a proof of concept and there are aggressive deadlines hence the lack of any unit tests.

Ultimately, what the trade off is between investing effort into writing tests vs downtime from errors is anyone's guess but they've made the call not to do TDD.

As a contractor, I am ever so slightly concerned about not getting blamed for errors that are not of my doing. I think I'm finding a way of subtly dropping the issue into conversations with other colleagues and it appears this individual's blustering approach hasn't gone unnoticed by them either.

By the way - does the ignore feature stop people from leaving rude messages?

The small potential impact of the bit in red is going to cause you to over-react and end up damaging your relationship with a permie.

Sometimes the winning move is to do nothing.

[The Castle Cary Fairy]

Have you ever used an open forum?

Think about your question for one second.

Most forums that I've used don't have facilities to leave disparaging messages on a user's profile.

[HugeWhale]

My last contract was with the Public Sector........ Bottom line is, contractors are an expensive but disposable resource.

And when you're with the public sector, you usually have a good idea when you're going to get canned for being this expensive resource.

First off, they announce that they are monitoring the travel of all personnel. In particular, first class travel is banned and all flights are scrutinised.

Second, overtime is all but scrapped. Authority of the Prime Minister, or higher, is required to work weekends.

Third, the training budget goes completely. 'No further requests for external training will be entertained this financial year'.

Fourth, there is a complete recruitment ban.

Fifth, no current contracts are extended.

Sixth, all contractors get canned.

Sometimes the new financial year will begin before you get to stages 4, 5 or 6. This notwithstanding, the public sector is often predictable.

[TOSH1]

My last contract was with the Public Sector. We had a new permie start who was straight out of Uni and this was his first job. Bought his Uni habits with him. Lunchtime drinking, Ringing in sick (at least 6 times within his 'probation period), working from home as his car wouldn't start. I was sent numerous times to resolve issues that he either couldn't or had broken. Beware, keep your mouth shut and don't get involved. Bottom line is, contractors are an expensive but disposable resource.

[northernladyuk]

Hi all - I'm on a short contract in Rotterdam where I'm working as a front end developer using d3.js.

All in all it's pretty good and I enjoy it but we've recently had a new addition (permanent) to the team and he is not up to scratch in my opinion.

He has also started acting like a loose cannon and is working on things that he hasn't been tasked to do. Things that have an overlap with the work that I'm doing and as a result he's making a pig's ear out of merging conflicts in GIT and he's breaking code that was previously pretty robust.

Anyone been in this situation? I'm not sure what's politically expedient here but ultimately I need to cover my own backside.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Inneresting.

[psychocandy]

OP - beware of getting involved with permie issues. It never ends well. Permie could be the worlds most useless person but if hes the managers mate then guess who'll be leaving?

I've got similar here. One of the permies is useless and manager knows it and hates him. Keeps asking my opinion and asking me to check things - trying my best not to get involved here.

[MrButton]

By the way - does the ignore feature stop people from leaving rude messages?

Have you ever used an open forum?

Think about your question for one second.

[simes]

...And, he's gone.

Perfect.

Thank you.