My husband who works the same job at a different place thinks I should have asked for help. We have very clearly defined job duties where I work and this particular night had an overload of a certain task. I don't think I should have to force someone to do their job or beg them to do what they know needs to get done on a shift. Have we completely lost any sense of dignity? I figured that she would 'volunteer' to help out a bit and she didn't. Another coworker told me she did the same thing to her on another occasion. It was the same job task as well. Who do you think is right, me or my husband?
2007-05-23 16:28:31 · 6 answers · asked by cancankant 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I think you are right. It is not your job to tell her what to do. That is your manager's job. You should bring this up to your manager, that you felt like she wasn't doing her share of the work.
2007-05-23 19:56:59 · answer #1 · answered by jellybeanchick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tend to agree with your husband, but let me clarify. I do the same thing you do. I don't feel that I should have to beg people to do their jobs. Occasionally, I will just assign people a task because I get frustrated if they're doing nothing while I do everything. Usually though, it's easier just to do the job yourself. The problem with this is, that if you don't ask for help, those people get away with getting paid the same wage that you do, for doing half the work. (sorry for the run-on sentence) That's not right. You shouldn't let them get away with it. I'm slowly learning that lesson. When the time comes around for promotions and raises, you'll be pissed if the lazy bastard gets the same or better than you.
2007-05-23 23:35:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have told her when you noticed her slacking on the job that you expected her to pitch in and earn her wages.
In Matthew 18, Yeshua (Jesus) says that we are to go to the person who has offended us/ done something we perceive as injurious and tell the person in private what the problem is. The hope is that the person will listen and be responsive and that your relationship can be repaired. If not, document what the person said. Write it down and include the time and the date.
However Matthew 18 goes on to say that if the person will not listen, to take another person-- like your co-worker-- as a witness when you confront the person. If the slacker listens to both of you and changes her behavior, then that is good. However if the slacker is rude or unresponsive, then both of you should note what was said and the time, etc. Then you should give it to the boss to deal with.
No employer wants to waste money paying an employee who is clocked in but is not working.
You are correct that it is not your job to force someone to do their job or to beg them to do it. That is the manager's job-- and he needs facts to work with that the problem was brought to the person's attention but they were unresponsive.
Your husband is right that you should have asked for help instead of suffering in silence. If you don't actively tell her that you expect her to focus on doing her task, you become an enabler. Your silence enables her to rationalize and continue doing what she apparently thinks is fine to do to her coworkers-- and you fume in silence. It is win-lose. She wins (gets paid for doing nothing) and you lose-- respect for her and for yourself.
Reality therapy is the best solution for people who refuse to do their jobs with integrity.
Since the coworker has seen the same behavior, I think you should either a) make an appointment together to see the boss (best option at this point) or b) slip the above complaint into an sealed envelope with no name on it and put it in the manager's mailbox or in his chair when he returns to work.
Think of this as a growth opportunity for you to become more skilled at speaking the truth in love. Yeshua gave good commands about handling this kind of conflict.
This kind of confrontation is good because it helps each person delineate what the appropriate boundaries and responsibilities are. More and more in this world, a person can't assume that others have an appropriate work ethic. Teens and 20 somethings are (in general) emotionally younger than they used to be.
When I haven't followed this pattern of private conference first, then conference with a witness, then taking it up the chain of authority, I realized I should have followed His good advice.
Shalom to you,
Beseder
2007-05-24 00:00:38 · answer #3 · answered by No substitute for privacy online 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having worked in a pizza chain for 12 years, I have had to work with LOADS of lazy people who don't do their jobs, and I am sick and tired of doing THEIR work FOR them while they do nothing.
The best way to handle the situation is to complete your work and leave without doing their work for them. Of course, I'm not familiar with your job, and maybe that this work must be done, and you must do it. But if it is at all possible, YOU are responsible for YOUR work, and THEY are responsible for THEIR tasks.
I am currently butting heads with one teenaged-nitwit who'd rather stand at the counter and send instant messages on her cell phone instead of doing the work she is supposed to do. It fries my beans to see her getting away with it, but sooner or later the supervisor will wise up and get her to move her butt. One night, I had to tell her 5 separate times to fill the black olives bin. After some attitude on her part, I finally tossed the bag of black olives at her without saying another word. She finally filled the bin. Another case was filling the cheese bin. She just stood there with her cell phone! In this case, I went and got a box of cheese and filled the bin right in front of her and the supervisor standing there watching me do it. That was it for me. No more... I gave her enough chances to wise up. Now she won't get any help from me at all anymore.
When the supervisor starts finding out that things are NOT getting done, and those things are the things that SHE is responsible for, the supervisor will wise up and get on her case. (Okay, then maybe the supervisor won't... then she will live up to my nickname for them of STUPID-visors!)
Good luck, dearie... I know from whence you come!! You have company out here!
2007-05-24 00:00:40 · answer #4 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you should have to beg! I think you should say something to the co worker or this will keep happening. Maybe you could say to her nicely... there is a lot to do tonight maybe if we split it up we can get done faster. Then she will have to do something.
2007-05-23 23:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by Sunshynebeams 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to the supervisor...if you are all getting paid she should pull her weight like everyone else !
2007-05-24 00:05:48 · answer #6 · answered by kamsmom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋