Manager discovers that the new hire is an employee from his previous company whom he fired for lying on his resume: 'The higher-ups are aware of the situation and don't seem too concerned about it.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 4, 2025 8:00 PM EST

Well, this is awkward.

We've all had a former coworker that we hope we never see again. I'm not talking about a guy who chews his gum too loudly or is a little too into the office Christmas party. I'm talking about the coworker who was incompetent in every conceivable way, and you knew from the jump that it was only a matter of time before he got fired. Maybe he isn't a bad person per se, but they made your job so much harder just by his being there and being useless. You might hang out with this guy at Jungle Jim's Burger Shack on the weekend, but you would never rely on him to complete a vital task ever again. He is the reason people with less than 1 year of experience across multiple jobs get a bad rap. 

The good thing about guys like this is that they're never around a workplace for long. When they get found out, they usually get fired, and you never have to see them again. But what if he gets fired, you quit your job, and you both get hired at a new company where you are once again responsible for his antics? 

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  • Man in a white dress shirt and blue necktie
    via Envy Creative

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The manager in this story has been put in an awkward position, having to manage the guy he fired at his previous company. He's understandably concerned that this will be a legal issue if he has to fire him again, but the bigwigs don't seem particularly worried about it. 

  • I start a new job in 2 weeks and one of my direct reports is someone I've previously fired at my soon to be previous job.

    Context: I'm a senior level manager and am starting at a new company in 2 weeks. The company I'm going to hired an employee I had fired several months prior. That employee fluffed his resume and lied about his credentials to get the position.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • He was quickly fired, but in the short time he was employed, he hired another individual under him, who is also a former employee of mine that I had to also fire early last year(they were friends before)
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • Business change of job unemployment resigned concept
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Concern #1: is this an HR issue? Do I need to make this known to anyone in HR in order to avoid any potential legal issue if/when I have to fire this person again?
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • Business law concept lawyer business lawyers are consulting lawyers for women entrepreneurs to file a copyright lawsuit
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Concern #2: I was put through the gauntlet during the hiring phase due to to the fiasco the previous guy put them through. I had 5 rounds of interviews and in each one of them they made it very clear they did not want this guy around much longer but did not have grounds to fire him... Yet, because it would have been retaliation had they fired both of the guys at the same time.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • To me the slate is clean. I will not be holding the faults of his past against him. But I just want to make sure that should I need to fire this person, with proper cause obviously, my past won't open the company up to any sort of legal issues.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • ***Edit: after reading some comments *** • I know he will be my direct report because I have a friend who works at this company who referred me. I only got through on her vote if confidence. They were going to blacklist my current company due to issues these two individuals have caused.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • • all of the executive management knows my past with both of these individuals. They know I had previously fired both of them and the reasoning for the firings. My thoughts are | need to go to HR day one to lay out the situation.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • BrainWaveCC * Wait until you start. * Go visit HR and let them know what happened in the past (be brief like you were here). * Indicate that you don't expect to have any problem, and you are absolutely not coming in with an eye to taking any adverse action. against the employee, but you want them to be aware in advance for transparency's sake. Then leave it at that. Make no other comment to anyone else related to this.
    via u/BrainWaveCC
  • OP Pizza_Shark_ This has been my thinking. The higher ups are well aware of the situation and don't seem too concerned about it. But I've dealt with many HR issues in the past and know this can lead to murky waters if am not that and do not have the supporting documentation, should it come up another termination.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • wanetree I wouldn't go to HR without giving your boss a heads up. Don't surprise your new Boss with an HR issue on your first day.
    via u/wanetree
  • OP Pizza_Shark_ All of executives are aware of our history. They actually got bright eyed when they found out I had terminated him prior.
    via u/Pizza_Shark_
  • punkwalrus This sort of happened where I DIDN'T hire a guy because his references and a background check all pointed to "work-related injuries" with every former employer. Huge red flag. New job later, he shows up as a new hire at my new job. Uh... Didn't anyone do a background check on this guy? About 30 days in, he starts "planting the seeds" by complaining about how the chair hurts his back, he's getting carpal tunnel symptoms, and the lighting gives him migraines so he's standing on dangerou
    via u/punkwalrus
  • BrainWaveCC That's a fair point. Let your manager know, and then let HR know.
    via u/BrainWaveCC
  • MP5SD7 Are the reasons you fired him before, still valid today? If he lied to you, odds are good he lied to the new company about his skillset. Its a great conversation for HR after your official start date...
    via u/MP5SD7
  • tenro5 I may be in the minority here, I dont know, but I'd disclose rather than have the stpry come up through the lens of someone else's experience and my perspective becomes the second perspective.
    via u/tenro5
  • Tzukiyomi I agree. This is the essential information they need and protects you.
    via u/Tzukiyomi
  • Organic Feedback1039 I think it'd be a bad idea not to mention it to someone. HR and whomever you report to would be a good start. They can help you navigate this.
    via u/Organic_Feedback1039
  • bivaterl And document document document.
    via u/bivaterl
  • reading_rockhound When you write, "they made it very clear they did not want this guy around," it also makes it very clear the slate is not, indeed, clean. Get good Advice from both HR and legal counsel. Both in week one.
    via u/reading_rockhound

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boss concerned employee fired manager higher ups new hire coworkers legal new job lying human resources workplace resume Reddit company
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