How do you deal with lazy coworkers?

Question

I'm a self-starter and very independent. I like to figure things out for myself. Any suggestions on how to deal with a lazy coworker that would rather ask you to answer a question or fix a problem instead of trying to figure it out themselves?

Answer 1

Ugh! I find myself in that situation a lot. In fact, you can see it all over Answers with people who could get an answer easily by thinking a few minutes longer or using Google, but they want it handed to them.

If the coworker is disruptive with all the questions, I would suggest talking to your supervisor or human resources. Maybe they see the same thing and need some validation before taking any action that maybe they aren't qualified for the job. Otherwise, be polite and say something like, "I'll show you how to figure that out in a few minutes, I'm just a bit busy right now."

Sometimes putting them off motivates a little. If it doesn't, don't just give them the answer, help them figure it out. Then, if the same question comes back, say, "Remember how I showed you that before? Let's take some notes this time." If you can make them feel stupid without actually saying it, they'll stop bugging you.

Answer 2

Dealing With Lazy Coworkers

Answer 3

It's called sharing information. In most business you work as a team with your coworkers. Someday you may have a question or a problem that you can't answer or solve yourself. Imagine what would happen if everyone at your work knew you got someone fired for asking questions. I think you need to stop being a ***** and just help the lazy *** out. If they are truely lazy, it'll be noticed and they'll be fired accordingly.

Answer 4

This is something I figured out a
long time ago.
I am there to work for my pay.
Other people are there for the
same reason.What they do is
not important to me.
I give a full days work for a full
days pay.
If they don't, it is their problem
and the problem of the
owner/boss/whatever.
It is not my problem.

If they ask me to do their
work and it does not directly
affect my job or my responsibility
to the job, I can refuse, and I can
tell them why.

Just so you fulfill your responsibility
to the job is all you have to worry
about. Tell the co-workers that
you are tired of doing their work
and yours too, and from now on
these are the new rules. If they
get mad, tough. They don't care
if you are feeling used, so let
them feel mad...Good luck!

Answer 5

The answer to this question is quite simple, yet not understood by many managers dealing with your situation, lazy coworkers. To correct your problem and get productivity maximized, managers need to create incentives for their employees. Incentives create the motivation to get the job done timely and efficiently. Ideally, you would correlate your objectives to these incentives.

Answer 6

Remember, more bees with honey than vinegar...

Be a teacher... (give the directions on how to do the task or how to look up the answer/solution, but DO NOT do it for them)

Pat answers... "Look in _______."

Bolster their ego.... "You already know how to do it, why do you need to ask me?"

Be busy... "I'm actually taking care of this other project, so I'm not really free to help you out..."

If these don't stop the "Poor me, help me" stuff, maybe strip down a little of the "honey," then a little more, then a little more, till eventually all that's left is "vinegar"...

Pure "vinegar"... "Y'know, I'm not your mother. You were trained to do this job, just like I was, so do it. Don't ask me any more how to do the job you went through 8 weeks of training to do."

Answer 7

If they keep asking things over and over, remind them that you have helped them with that already and the only they are going to learn is to take notes. It is not beneficial to them if you help them all the time. You may as well do it yourself. What if you were to busy to help them. I would keep putting them off until they had no choice but to resolve the issue themselves. Be too busy for them. They will be upset but eventually they will get the picture. For extra money, you can become the trainer.

Answer 8

This is a problem that will encounter throughout your entire career, unless you become your own boss and select high performing individuals to work for you. That said, your best strategy against this painful disease is to concentrate in performing to the best of your ability and keeping your boss aware of your contributions as the tasker / project evolves. Next time your co-worker asks you to engage in something that is truly his, ask him direct his inquiries to his supervisor. Unless you are looking for love and affection in the workplace, he/she should get the message that the freeloading days are over.

Answer 9

I once was a superintendant for a large company and was in charge of moving men to jobs as needed ,etc. when my boss came to me and told me that I needed to quit firing all these lazy workers I felt were not doing him justice. I then told him that I was fed up with them stealing his time, material,etc.and not putting forth the effort I thought they should.
He calmly said "Son you give 110%, that is you.But if you get 50% out of another man that's all you're ever going to get-you've got to understand that not everyone is going to have a work ethic such as yours-in fact, that's a rarity in these days and times, so keep that in mind before you fire all our men!"
That simple statement had a profound effect on the way I saw others from that day on, so I'm passing it along to you as words from a man I deeply admired ,respected and loved, and one who respected others ,no matter their standing in his eyes.

Answer 10

Tell your coworkers you not have the time and let that person do it for them self.