How should I approach my boss of a co-worker that misses so many days??

Question

There is a lady I work with and she always missing work at least once a week and she always blames it on her daughter is sick or she is sick and is going to the doctor or she is always leaving early or coming late because a doctor appointment for herself or her daughter. She is a single mother but she just messes too many days. My supervior is aware of how many days she misses and know that the rest of us has to cover for her and do her work. But the main head boss does not do anything about it. This has gone on for a a little over a year now. How can I tell or confront the head boss about this situation? This is rediculous she misses so many days and when she is hear she is rude, not a team player, and complains. I don't know why they put up with this. I know she has some problems at times but who doesn't this going over bored. Should I even say anything or should I just ignore this and just continue doing my job?? I'm not the only one who feels like this in the office.

All of you say to ignore the ssituation but put yourself in my shoes and you do someone work once out of the week plus your work. So all of you are saying your okay with someone that calls in at least to three times a week is okay with you and your doing their work plus your work. This has gone on for a over a year now. Yeah right I know this would bother all of you and you would have enough.

Answer 1

MYOB - Mine Your Own Business.

You have no idea what this person has going in her life, she might be having problems at home which she has discussed with her Supervisor/Manager. If you continue to press the matter, you might find yourself on the wrong end of a firing. You need to have confidence in your management team and continue to worry about yourself and yourself alone.

EDIT:
After reading your "Statement" it appears that you are being a nosy, busy-body. You don't want to hear the truth, you just want to hear what you want to hear. It appears you have already made up your mind. Like I said before, I wouldn't be surprised if you keep pushing the matter that you aren't the one looking for a job in 3 months. And don't think this situation doesn't happen everyday in every workplace... I sincerely hope nothing like this happens to you and you have to go through what this woman is going through.

Answer 2

It is not your place to say anything at this time. Let the managment sort things out. If you are doing your work and covering for her, come review time that is when you want to bring it up.
Some people just like to hear themself talk. I used to work with someone like that. She complained about the company and the job all day everyday, but she worked for the company for over ten years.
It is not a pleasant situation to be in. Eventually it gets to the point where you hate your job and want to move within the company or leave the company all together. Complaining only puts you at her level, like I mentioned before when you have your review you want to mention you and the others are pulling her weight as well as yours. It is a sensitive situation, becasue this woman may have an accomodation with human resources and management. Management is not under obligation to make you aware of this due to privacy laws.
Hang in there!

Answer 3

It's really none of your business or those who work with you. It falls on the supervisor and manager to worry about those things.

It also depends on what your companies attendance policy is and then whether the Supervisor adheres to the policy.

If your or anyone else complains all the supervisor will see is you worrying about someone else rather than getting your own job done. You've become a complainer simply because you can't stand this person abusing the system as well as her teammates at work. You will look like the bad guy in this.

He may even tell her that you and some of the others are complaining about her. Then you've got stress in the work place between all of you.

All of you could start to ignore her. When she asks what the problem is tell her. You guys are tired of picking up the load for her because she doesn't care about her job or the fact that all of you are having to do her work when she isn't there.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

Worry about your own performance and forget about what your colleagues are doing wrong. Bosses do not look kindly on this type of complaining and some may even take offense that you are overstepping your bounds as an employee.

edit: It is par for the course for the department to pick up the slack when an employee is out. Sure, you don't like it, but that's called earning a pay check. Why not use the extra work you performed as a bargaining tool during your review this year and get yourself a decent raise.

Answer 5

there is nothing that u can do about this situation. and im sure that u do not have all the facts. if in fact she is out due to a family sickness, fmla (family medical leave act) covers her job. i am a mother of a child w/ asthma and a heart condition, so i require more time off then my coworkers, but i went into the job w/ my employers knowing full well about my situation. sometimes, u should just know when to stay out of things that do no require ur input.

Answer 6

FYI...her daughter could being dieing of a terminal illness....If she has missed so many days...I'm sure that HR already knows...and she could be under the medical leave act which allows parents to leave to take care of sick loved ones...So please mind your own business and stay out of it...Karma is real...what ever a man reaps he will sow

OK , so what if you get her fired and she was working as much as she could to still keep her medical and because of getting fired she couldn't afford her daughters treatments and God forbid her daughter passes away...Do you want that on your conscience? Quit being a Hater...If you are humble you might get notice for all your hard work during your co-workers stressful time.

Answer 7

If they are aware of the situation, they will deal with it. There are a lot of legal issues involved with a person that has medical problems. You can not just "let them go" if they can prove that they are having problems...."Family medical leave act" they cannot be fired for missed days. If you go to a supervisor over this issue, believe me it will just make you look like a busy body and trouble maker. It will only cause them to see you as a problem or liability.....let it go!!!

Answer 8

You shouldn't...it's none of your business, your boss is fully aware that the person has been missing work, and it makes you look like a 5-year old tattletale.

Focus on your OWN work, and not being a busybody with other co-workers.

They will eventually sink their own ship.

If you insist, go ahead, but don't be suprised if in 6 months, you are out of a job and she still has one....employers don't like employees that are nosy.

Answer 9

I say that just focus on your Self and do the very Best at your Job and Not on her and her Job.I know this is frustrating to you and your co workers But the truth is it is hard to be a single parent and if she has no other family to help her than she is raising this child alone,at least she is putting her child 1st in her life.

Be Kinder than necessary,for
everyone you meet is fighting some Kind of Battle.

Answer 10

I understand where you are coming from. If your direct supervisor knows, and is also the lady's direct supervisor, there really isn't much you can do.
You really don't want to break the chain of command and go over your boss's head to the main head boss.
First, I would talk with your supervisor about it, perhaps they are taking action.

These days, you can't just fire someone on the spot without documenting specific circumstances where the employee in question acted in a way that violated employee conduct expectations.

They may be working on documenting so they can terminate her with no problems.

If you aren't satisfied with your supervisor's answers, you might then go to the big boss, but I don't recommend it. It may not work in your favor.