Lazy coworker? What do I do? My office isn't fair.?

Question

I bust my butt at my job and am always busy and working hard. In the rare moments where my work is done for awhile, I go and help my coworkers with some of their stuff, which is what we're instructed to do. I have a female coworker who sits around and plays card games for hours after lunch everyday. What angers me is that there were two positions open, and she got one with no prior experience in our industry while she'd only been hired a month before me. I have a bachelor's degree and am older than her but also had no prior experience in the industry, but she got one of the good open positions and I got shot down by my boss because she said she wanted someone with more experience in the other position. So she hired this other girl who had 4 years experience into the position that my lazy coworker got with no prior experience. I've secretly taken pictures of this lazy coworker and jotted down the dates and times she's plays games at work. What should I do??? Should I tell my boss?

To answer some of your points:
1)She sits in a corner cubicle diagnal from me away from everyone else's view and my boss stays busy all day so doesn't notice her playing games.
2)Why was I on yahoo answers? Because I go home for lunch, my apartment is only 5 minutes away.

Unfortunately, she is the niece of my boss's assistant....
AND
the only reason I know she's always playing cards and have time to take pictures and note the times is because I'm constantly getting up from my desk and running back and forth to the printer, scanner, copy machine, & fax machine. My boyfriend had a tiny pen-size camera laying around that he never used, which is what I use to take pictures of her.

Answer 1

No one likes a snitch. These things ALWAYS work themselves out. Karma is an incredible force in the workplace. Here's how I've handled it, and how I've told my employees to handle it:

Don't every cover for the lazy one. Don't point fingers (it makes you look like you can't handle yourself, in a way), but don't do their work either.

If you are on a team with that person, assign them menial things. Make sure you do a great job, and sneak more credit onto your shoulders than the lazy bums. It's easier than it sounds.

Take charge. Tell her to knock it off and get to work. If you create an environment where her co-workers are all noticing her slacking, she won't feel very welcome.

If none of that works, I would suggest to the boss to keep an eye on her. I wouldn't go so far as to provide proof though...the boss will have to get their own proof anyway, in order to make sure thier is no appearence of bias and not get sued for terminating her. Good luck!

Answer 2

If you have time to take pictures of your co-worked and track when she is playing cards, your boss may think that you have more free time then she does.

Instead, talk to your boss, tell him you want to get a head and feel that you are qualified. Ask him what he sees as a path for you to follow to accomplish your goals. Then set up regular status meeting with him to show him the progress you are making and to get more feed back

Next time there is an opportunity, he will know what you are doing and what you are capable of.

If you wanted that other job, talk with your boss about cross training and acting as a back up. This way if someone quits, you already know the job and are the natural person to fill the position.

Answer 3

Tell your boss. You were genius by taking pictures, because sometimes telling on others at work only gets you in trouble. If this is a large company with a company human resource department, this can help prevent you from taking backlash from telling. You are in a frustrating position because I can tell you wont tolerate being taken advantage of especially when you think she wasnt hired fairly to begin with. I suggest telling, but don't expect much. Don't get your hopes up but give it a try and see if your boss has any ethics at all.

Answer 4

Something that could be the issue is that she's secretly related to someone within the company. Now here's something to debate before saying anything to anyone else- how are you going to look to your superiors for being a "tattle tale." Its a double-edged sword. Also consider your own behavior. Did you ask this question after work on your own time, or on the company's time? Beware of being a hypocrite.

Answer 5

sounds like she amy be sleeping with someone or has dirt on management. i would go to the highest mgmt person in your company show them your credentials and plainly ask why. by law they have to give you a good reason. if all else fails, goto the labor board and file a complaint. but lazy useless workers are everywhere. they usually eventually get themselves fired.

Answer 6

Life my dear, is not fair. I once had a supervisor that sexually harassed me. They gave him 3 days off without pay, then a transfer with a promotion to superintendent.
But, his life ended up with much tragedy...you reap what you sow. Do your very best. Act like your job is your business.

Answer 7

Yes, tell your boss. Sounds like you have a lazy boss too. Good boss should have noticed this too.

Answer 8

You could tell your boss or HR I suppose. Consider yourself lucky, my lazy co-worker is always blowing off work WITH my boss... so I am stuck.

Answer 9

Being a tattletale or whiner won't make your boss think any better of you. Keep your nose out of it. Trust me. Just do your job and keep quiet.

Answer 10

I don't think it is time yet to tell your boss.... Keep documenting everything.. The time will come, and you'll be glad you waited for the right time.