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The receptionist at the company i work for comes in late everyday and takes a day off almost once a week. The owner of the company is really busy and hasnt taken attention to this. When she decided to come in late or not at all i have to take over her work until she comes back. I cant do my work at her desk or her work at my desk so when she returns i have a ton of work and am very behind. Is there anything i can say to her while being professional? Im afraid this is making me look bad and i would like to say something to someone but i was told i shouldnt so that i dont make myself look bad. it bothers me even more because she makes more money than i do and i have never come in late and i get days off approved.

The receptionist at the company i work for comes in late everyday and takes a day off almost once a week. The owner of the company is really busy and hasnt taken attention to this. When she decided to come in late or not at all i have to take over her work until she comes back. I cant do my work at her desk or her work at my desk so when she returns i have a ton of work and am very behind. Is there anything i can say to her while being professional? Im afraid this is making me look bad and i would like to say something to someone but i was told i shouldnt so that i dont make myself look bad. it bothers me even more because she makes more money than i do and i have never come in late and i get days off approved. i am supposed to cover for her hour long lunch and she even comes back late from that. The HR person at the company is my mom and she feels she cant help.

i was told that part of responsibilty is to provide backup for the reception desk. she rarely comes in these days because no one says anything to her. i was told i shouldnt say anything to her no matter how nicley or professionally i put it. I am supposed to cover the reception desk when she isnt around. i would love to leave my job because i have been told i would get a pay increase over a year ago 3 times and nothing has happened with that, but im pregnant and no one will hire me when i only have 4 months till the baby is born. would it be unprofessional to tell her how much her behavior is affecting my ability to get my work done?

Answer 1

You ARE in quite a bind. Unfortunately a lot of companies large and small are trying to cut personnel and the easiest way to do this is simply to cross-train everyone in everything. They know there are slackers on the "Team" so someone somewhere is going to quit out of sheer frustration. Unfortunately for the company, it is usually the good workers that quit. But because the work market is the way it is right now, the good worker generally won't get a better paying job. So by all companies doing the same thing they keep the workforce pay lowered and the work does eventually get done.

That said, you have four months to delivery. Can you hang on for that long? Do you have insurance to cover the costs of delivery? Is it possible to ask for overtime? Good luck, take care, go home and get plenty of rest and let the work stay at work.

On the otherhand, there may be something very seriously wrong with the receptionist healthwise, but due to confidentality policies nothing can be said about it. That happened at my work several years ago. A co-worker had cancer and no one knew. Bizarre occurances got everyone buzzing about the person but no action was taken. Then one day they weren't there anymore. They died.

Answer 2

I suspect the owner has noticed, but is too busy (or doesn't like conflict) to do anything. It is a very frustrating position to be in. Does he expect you just to pick up and cover her? If not, stay at your desk and do your work. This will force him to notice no one is answering the phone and he will have to ask you to help. If he does this enough, he can't help but notice.

Also, is there an HR person you can talk to? Perhaps they can be of help?

BTW, I worked at a company for five years where a co-worker was like this. He was eventually promoted to my boss. Although he had more technical knowledge, he didn't have any work ethic. I ended up leaving the company....

Answer 3

Is this gal a friend of the owner?
If not its time to point out her lateness and her days off to the owner and say, "you do want me to get my work finished today? I do so when I am not doing her job too".
So he has a choice to hire someone responsible or give you extra money for doing 2 jobs.

Answer 4

You have to tell whoever you're handing your work in to. Or your supervisor. Tell them: "Well, I would have gotten that done earlier/on time, but I had to cover _____, because she was out/late again today.

I mean, say this just about every time you turn in something that is late because of her. Or just mention it randomly to your supervisor or even co-workers. You don't have to be rude or mean, and certainly don't talk to her about it, that's certainly not your place, you're not her boss and it will only cause conflict.

And I'm sure you're mom is trying to be helpful, but you have to speak up, you already see that this is not fixing it's self on it's own.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Who told you, you have to do her work? Go to that person and tell them what you have just said.
Aren't there any other employees that can take turns doing her work?
You might be looking for another job, just to save your sanity and when the boss asks why you're leaving, tell him/her.
Good Luck!

Answer 6

Stop picking up her slack. when she is late of stays home for a day, make sure you do all of your work before attempting any of hers. speak to her frankly about her behaviour and if htat does not have the desired effect draw her lateness and absence to your boss let him deal with it. it is not your job to do her work.

Answer 7

write this same exact letter to the boss/owner and tell her how it bothers you but when no-1 is around so she wont feel like you are showing out in front of people.