Work Problem?

Question

Someone new started at my work 2 months back and is meant to be more senior to me but does the same job. He is very disorganised, takes at least an hours lunch hour and then proceeds to eat his sandwich at the desk for at least another 20 mins. Also smells strongly of alcohol after lunch most days but doesn't appear drunk. I wouldn't really be that bothered but he is working late every night due to not being organised and moans loudly about this in front of the boss every day, making it look bad on me that I am able to leave on time most nights at the moment. My workload is much heavier and my colleagues feel that this person is trying to create some kind of competition with me by making out to the boss and anyone else that will listen that he is really hard done by and has too much work to do when I have MUCH more to do . I'm getting really annoyed and it's very difficult as we are a very small office and I don't want to leave but I also feel I can't say anything ?

Answer 1

An anonomous letter to management works the best, worked for me and my alcoholic boss who stacks shelves at Tesco now.

Answer 2

In time this could really get you down, stressed and or evendepressed. I wouldnt go down the route of anonymous letters cos if its a small ofiice like you say, they would be able to guess its from you.

My advice is to deal with it before it gets too much.

Start writing a diary of events, like the times he comes back from the pub smelling of alcohol, the comments he has made to you or others, other peoples comments related, and anything, anything! you think may be relevant.

When you have built up what you think is enough, go and speak to someone. If you have a HR department, go any speak to someone in there. Tell them you want it kept confidential at the moment but you would just like a record kept of your compliant. Be careful here, because the HR department should falg this as a grievance and therefore should be investigated, so make it clear that you take all liability from them, perhaps state in writing, that you ant this kept confidential for the time being. When you feel strong enough, go public with it. HR will have your records so that if it backfires, you know that you have gone through the proper channels.

If you dont have a HR department, go and speak to another manager you can trust. OR just keep the diary going until you are string enough to go and speak to your own manager. He cant ignore you then and has a duty/obligation to investigate.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Forget the running to the boss behind this guys back, be up front and bring it out into the open, if you're nearby when he says this to the boss, say "if you were more organised and spent less time in the pub at lunchtimes you'd be able to get away on time".

Does it take ba!!s - yes of course it does. But if you don't feel that it's the right thing to say then you obviously don't feel strongly enough that something needs to change. If you've read the situation wrong then you'll just have to live with the consequences of your actions.

This tell-tale culture we're all being forced to accept doesn't make things better, what happened to the days when we were confident enough to say what needed saying, and responsible enough to reap what we sow?
Politcal correctness seems to have bred a generation of spineless cowards afraid to challenge anything.

Answer 4

I would have a word with my boss. Maybe not about the extra long lunch hours and alcoholic breath to start with. Keep a note of what he says and does that you feel makes you feel that he is trying to make you look bad and present it to your boss. Also, ask for the opinion of a trusted colleague, their support will help and they may be able to back you up.

Good luck

Answer 5

I am a supervisor so i understand how hard it is for you to say anything but i feel that you should.Can you write to his boss and not put your name to the letter,if this is not possible then you will have to face the music and ask for an appointment with his boss and tell him that you do not want to upset things because you are happy with the company but you are not happy with your new boss and tell him why and then ask him/her if anything can be done to make things better because you do like working there and don't really want to leave.If his boss does not look into things and follow up your complaint then you will be better off working somewhere else.Good luck

Answer 6

start asking your boss for performance results of productivity.

These are rife throughout business today so he/she should be able to get the info for you.

That way you are not pointing the finger at anyone but you are showing that you care about how effective you are being and (if the manager is even half good) will get the manager to start looking at other people's stats, including your new friend.

Think like a rat at all times ;)

Answer 7

You need to talk to your Boss and tell him what is going on.... you are not happy about it...if your Boss is a decent bloke he will listen to you as long as you don't sound bitchy about it...tell your Boss that you know you can do a better job than he can but that's not the point you are not after his job you just want him to do his fair share...tell him you are not handing in your notice but you might if this is to continue..ask him to notice what is going on

Answer 8

write to management as the other person said, but when you're in the office, try really hard to ignore him, i know it's hard but if you keep blanking him he may soon get the message. good luck mate

Answer 9

you need to address this, I know it's difficult but something should be done.

speak with that persons higher manager.

Answer 10

report him to the higher boss this is not fair to you!