Slacker Coworker.. Help!?

Question

Ok here is my situation. I have been working at my current job for about a year. I have a colleague that calls in sick on average about 5 times a month. In addition to calling in sick he also has jury duty, dr appts, dentist appointment, his kids are sick, his dog is sick, his sitter is sick. Come on! I tried to be sensitive at first. Maybe he has some fatal disease etc. But his excuses vary. I reached my breaking point when he schedules a dr appointment 58 miles away from our office for 11 am ( we live in a large metropolitan area with lots of drs) Comes in at 1:30 pm and then takes a lunch at 2:30 p.m. AND then leaves around 6 and tells me he is coming in late the next day because he had to work late. HELLO you came in at 1:30 p.m. (and yes this is a 9 to 5 job). He is just the utter slacker and noone seems to care. Any advice thoughts? Why is he employed? Who tolerates the BS?

Answer 1

Does his "slacking" affect your workload? If so I would talk to him directly about it. If not then don't worry about it. People like that take care of themselves. What I mean is when performance review time, raise time, or lay-off time comes around these are the people who suffer, and only then will they either improve their performance or move on. Just be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking if he gets away with it so can I. Continue to do the best job you can do, you will suceed and advance, he will not.

Answer 2

Think about it. Five sick days a month on average? The boss knows this is happening and the boss is tolerating it. Why is not important, the only important thing is that he/she is allowing it.

That says a lot. If you get too vocal, you are the one who will be punished. Fair? Of cource not, but that's what happens, been there, done that. Perhaps this guy is a close personal friend or a relative of someone who has clout.

In any case, that really is none of your business. What is your business is extra work that you have to do to make up for the slacker. If that gets to be a problem, you can go to the boss.

Do not go with an attitude, you will loose. There may be extenuating circumstances that are none of your business. Tell the boss that you are having to do a lot of extra work because of this fellow worker and you would like that to decrease.

If the boss says no, I would ask what special circumstances are in place that he can take five sick days a month. You do not deserve details if it is personal, but you do deserve some kind of explaination.

I once had a medical situation where I had to drive 7 hours, each way, for a hospital visit every other weekend for six months. There were no facilities closer for what was needed and it was a life threatening condition. My boss let me vary my work times a little to accomidate that.

A co-worker literally yelled a nasty comment to my boss in public about the "special treatment" that I was getting because of my schedule. It was totally inappropriate and very very embarrasing to me. My health problem was personal and I should only share it if I chose to, which I did not.

My work was getting done, no one was put out by the schedule. The co-workers just didn't like anyone getting something that they didn't get. They were a bunch of self centered prima donnas. That isn't just sour grapes, the company eventually outsourced the department just to get rid of them.

I know that I wouldn't change to a doctor that I didn't trust just because the doctor was closer to me. One of my doctors schedules appointment from one to two months in advance unless it is an emergency. I take whatever appointments I can get with him.

When that happens, I work through lunch or eat while working. Keep in mind that diabetics, as an example, can NOT skip a meal. I also work late and/or come in early to make the time up. It sounds like your co-worker could put out a bit more effort, but if you push that aspect of it there is too much chance you will be punished.

Only how it affects you directly is open for discussion, his getting special privleges is not.

Answer 3

I am sorry that you have to deal with a co-worker who is a "slacker." Unfortunately, if you have been working at your current job for a year, and all of these things have been going on for that period of time, or longer; there is not much you can do.

If your supervisors have not taken care of this problem, for whatever reason; you have to do your best to ignore it and just take care of your own job and responsibilities.
If this colleagues "slacking" is affecting your job performance, you need to be addressing that problem with your immediate supervisor.

There are always going to be people that you work with that are not going to be working in a manner that is acceptable to your standards. Unfortunately, unless the supervisors are concerned about this behaviour being a problem, there is not too much you can do. There may be extenuating circumstances with this colleague that you do not know about, and that is really none of your business.

I don't know what you meant by your comment that "Maybe he has some fatal disease etc." Have you heard rumors to that effect??? Is this really a known fact? Not that it is any of anyone's business, if this is true. If there is something going on in that mans' life that means that he has to have time off that you think is unfair, you need to back off of this whole thing. If he honestly has a health problem, possibly he is only working the time that he is due to that problem and this has all been worked out with the supervisors.

Please, please concentrate on your own job, that is the most important thing for you to be doing. Have a good day.

Answer 4

hummm well it sounds like this employee has his boss wrapped around his finger or under his thumb hummm makes you wonder doesn't it) cause no boss would put up with that for long....unless they aren't aware of the situation. But I really know what you are talking about because recently an employee at my work was promoted to a full time position that I really wanted, since she got the job she has whined her way into switching shifts with other employees constantly so that she can get every weekend off, been late fro work many times and always says that it was company business that kept her from coming in on time(everyone knows shes full of it but none wants to lose their job by speaking up) and she re-arranges schedules so that she can make sure she gets all the shifts that are doing special outings or events. Oh well some may say its sour grapes but it really isn't ..its just that everyone Else's lives are compromised because she thinks that he life is so much more important.

Answer 5

You might be considered a more experienced employee and you are there to pick up the "slack" for another worker. Your boss might not be telling you this, but it might be a secret expectation on you. So many bosses these days don't care that this is going on as long as THEY don't look bad. Believe me, you will be the target if things get out of control; you will most likely be blamed since this has been likely covered up. Believe it or not you might be labeled the slacker and everything you have done right will be trashed. Depends on your boss and your employer. I have to say in my experience this scenario is not all that crazy or unusual.

Answer 6

that is advisable to physique of innovations administration declaring you spotted which you spotted some client provider themes on the teller abode windows. Then, you need to represent that 'Window Closed' signs and indications be used (if no longer at the instant used), or that some replacements be obtainable. that is possibly the administration might ask why.. you may then point out which you spotted a teller gave the impression to be engaged on a job on the teller window, yet a client mistakenly theory she develop into obtainable to help yet she develop into no longer. This brings the project to the managers' interest, and assorted times they might nicely be greater huge conscious of the activity of the tellers. whilst this might nicely be a sprint overbearing on the beginning up, it may help come to a determination or deliver to mild the topics with the below-appearing teller. additionally notice that the teller activity is time-venerated.. it would be very unusual for 2 of three tellers displaying important activity over yet another in the process the comparable shift. (they generally DO shop notice of how many transactions are dealt with for each teller..) ultimate of success with the predicament!

Answer 7

Yes, this guy is annoying, but you are just as annoying by worrying about what's going on with him far to much!!!! Worry about what you are doing, if you don't like it so much look for another job, but I think you'll find every job has one or two of those slackers and they always seem to stick around. Stop focusing on him and move on.

Answer 8

OMG, what a slacker. If you are his boss, then I would fire him. If not and he is just a coworker, then I would leave it up to your management and just do your job with out paying attention to him. It sounds like he may have some kind of effect to how you preform on the job, and you don't want your job to be jeopardy either.

Answer 9

Unless it is your job to keep track of this guy, let it go. If it is causing YOU more work or problems, tell your supervisor.

Answer 10

talk to your supervisor and let him know what is occuring.