I work at an engineering consulting firm where we have 3 entry level engineers (1-2 yr exp), 3 Managers (15+ yrs exp), and 3 Mid level engineers (4-8 yrs exp, includes me). Mid level engineers team has an employee X (7 yrs total, 2 yrs with current company exp) who is little trouble to the entire team.
Here are few observations that makes me question and post this here-
1) Management is asking every employee personally to be in the office before 9.30am except the employee X. Entry level and mid level staff is reminded again and again if they are late to work. However, Employee X shows up to work everyday at 10.30am and nobody from management asks questions about that.
2) Supervisors observe who worked for 8 hrs in a day and if those 8 hours are billable to clients. If someone falls short, they are expected to make up for it before the end of week. However employee X works for 6 hrs which includes 1 hr of lunch time everyday.
3) Only Employee X gets the laptop and flexibility to work from home whenever required whereas all others are given in office work stations. Anyone else asking for laptop and flexibility to work from home is straight up denied saying company's post COVID policy wants people to be in the office.
Now about the actual work-
4) For every new project, company puts Emplyee X on it to work. Based on last 10-15 projects, all projects went over budget and over schedule. Then, We are asked to finish employee X's work in short time. Team has been frustrated with rework efforts and time pressure all the time. So overall, all junior staff is expected to correct the mistakes and fix the work and make the submission.
5) Employee X is incompetent with any task given compared to entry level staff. Employee X does not understand basic engineering calculations, codes. If entry level staff takes 15 mins to do one task, Employee X takes 8-10 hrs to do the same task killing the project budget. Employee X does not have any state license (Trainee or professional) whereas everyone else is licensed either as Trainee or Professional Engineer.
6) Employee X gets paid the highest amongst all mid level engineers by whopping $20k and one week of extra PTO.
7) Employee X owns a non-competing business outside work and works on promoting business, marketing and selling products on social media during the company's work time. When HR asked questions about that, response was- 'all that work is done by automated programs and I dont actually do it'
By seeing this for 2 years now, I want to get your opinion on whether Employee X is getting special treatment in the office or not. Feel free to correct- elaborate – explain.