How do you tell a coworker who is also a friend of yours to get off the internet?

Question

and start doing her job. We do the same job and when she doesn't help, it just ends up the I have to do that much more. I'm getting tired of feeling like I'm doing everything and every time I look she's on the internet.

This has been going on for at least 2 months now. I keep thinking that someone will say something to her because she is even on it when the boss walks by, like she doesn't even care to hide it.

What should I do?

Answer 1

Give her the chance first. If she is a friend, you should be able to go to her plainly and say something like "Look, I need your help with this work. You spend a lot of time online when we are supposed to be getting this stuff done, and I am having to pull both our loads to get it done. I need your help, so, would you please help me with this stuff instead of staying online all the time?"

If she refuses to stop, or gets huffy about it, let her know that " Hey, just remember, I came to you first..." and leave it at that as you go to have a chat with the boss. If nothing else works, apportion your work and her work out. Inform your boss what is on your list, and what is on her list. When her list stuff stops being done on time, the boss will cut it out quickly enough. One thing is for sure, if you continue to do her work, she will not stop the behavior she is doing right now. And why should she? Her stuff is getting done. By YOU!

In addition, your office may not have a true internet policy prohibiting the use of company computers for personal internet time. It may be there for productivity, and the boss doesn't even notice what the net is open to as they walk by. That happens sometimes, with certain bosses. The boss may not even be aware as to what is going on. If all else fails, a full-blown forward confrontation may be in order. Sometimes it takes a blow-up to jog someone's attention that what they are doing is wrong, rude, unfair, or whatever.

Hope this helps...

Answer 2

If she's really your friend, you should be able to be honest with her, without ruining your friendship or jeopardizing either of your jobs. Just casually bring it up next time you go out to lunch together, and say something like, "I heard some people talking at work about how the boss is cracking down on personal Internet usage." Don't directly accuse her- just let her know that you have her best interests at heart. If that approach doesn't work, then you should throw her under the bus, so to speak, and tell your boss that her Internet use is affecting your total productivity. But you can expect to lose a friend after that.

Answer 3

You could say "Aren't you afraid of losing your job for surfing the internet so much during work hours?" Whatever her response I would leave it alone after this.If management doesn't seem to mind what she is doing, I wouldn't concern myself with it unless it made more work for me. If that is the case I would speak to management and let them know that you would like for this co-worker to carry his share of the work.

Answer 4

Sounds like she doesn't like her job. Tell your boss you're carrying more than your own weight. Her getting fired may be the best thing for her.

Answer 5

Well as long as you keep doing her part of the work as well as your own, she will continue to be on the net. Just do your own work.

Answer 6

Wait a second... aren't you using the internet to post this question and check for answers?

Answer 7

Say, "I just love working with you, but if you don't spend more time on your job and off the internet, ONE of us won't be working here much longer. hint hint....."

Answer 8

NOTHING. She has a boss, you are not it.

Try to ignore her.