The dilemma

Your colleague Maya finds you between meetings. She looks tired. '{{NAME}}, I need someone to back me up,' she says. 'Do we confront George directly, or do we go straight to the manager?' She lost her afternoon train waiting for IT to sort the presentation delay. She's asking you to decide the approach.

Your options

1. Confront George face to face. Give him the chance to hear it before anyone escalates.
2. Go straight to the manager. This is a pattern, not a one-time thing.
3. Suggest the prank option first. We have to own what we will and won't accept, not outsource it.