2 Work Issues ~ Need Opinions

[TerriP]

Issue #1

You are asked by your boss to take on some of the work of a co-worker. You *do* have the ability to take on more work and are willing to do so, but.... Co-worker says they are too busy and can not do everything that is asked of them. You happen to sit less than two feet from this person and you know that they are not too busy. They spend a great deal of time on personal things and do not use their work time efficiently at all. Do you agree to take some work from them (permanently) without a word, or do you speak up?

Issue #2

(this one I know the anwer to, but I want you to tell me what you think so I can show my DH! ) Somehow (through lazy management, actually) your co-worker manages to take more vacation days than they earn. They earn 10 days but took 16 last year and have scheduled 19 this year. We are not talking unpaid days off, but paid vacation days. (their supervisor is not "in to details" as she likes to say and doesn't keep track...mine is just the opposite and keeps very good track of my time off). I say MMOB, take my 10 days and shut up. DH says bring it up with my supervisor and ask why she is allowed more time off. Whatcha think?

 

[caitycaity]

Do you agree to take some work from them (permanently) without a word, or do you speak up?

you agree to take some work from them and not speak up. speaking up just makes you look like a whiner and i bet everyone already knows that your co-worker is not that busy. where i work anyways, you know who the efficient workers are. plus, by taking on the extra work you make yourself more necessary and i'm sure it will be noticed by your boss.

Somehow (through lazy management, actually) your co-worker manages to take more vacation days than they earn. They earn 10 days but took 16 last year and have scheduled 19 this year. We are not talking unpaid days off, but paid vacation days. (their supervisor is not "in to details" as she likes to say and doesn't keep track...mine is just the opposite and keeps very good track of my time off). I say MMOB, take my 10 days and shut up. DH says bring it up with my supervisor and ask why she is allowed more time off. Whatcha think?

take your 10 days and shut up. you may not know the full situation. and even if you do, complaining about it will only make you look bad.

JMHO.

 

[Maleficent13]

What caity said.

 

[Nickunited]

I think in both cases you should not worry about your co worker. Odds are she does not care about what you do! Worry about yourself and making youself more valuable to the company and stuff. Sooner or later they will see that you do more work and reward you in ways they wont reward her - then she will open her mouth and you will not look bad - she will!

Issue 1 - Take on the more work - it can only benefit you. Hard work does not go overlooked at all.

Issue 2 - dont bring it up - there could be a personal reason - or maybe they are just getting one over management and in that case - Props to them! You can either take your time or try taking an extra day or two yourself and see what happens. They might not care as long as you dont abuse it!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Boy, I once had a coworker who was both very slack, and who decided to make it her business to 'whine' if I happened to make it back a few minutes late from lunch!!!!

Having been there, I would say that it is possible that you can actually bring this up. But, that really depends on your situation, the supervisors involved, etc...

Is this situation something that really bothers you? Or, would you choose to simply do the work, and hope for a payoff on down the line. (Which could be a gamble????)

If you do bring it up, you should do this with GREAT discression!

I documented everything, ie: my work output as compared to her work output. (Like you, we worked together...) Also, I knew that with our Supervisor, I would come off as a 'whiner'. She was not into the details and into handling these personal issues. But, to me, my co-worker was making my life miserable... After work one day, when most everybody had left (so noboby would know), and the supervisor was out on leave, I took my documentation to the next supervisor in charge... (Who was obviously becoming aware of this situation) I layed this stuff on her desk, and I said, "I didn't say anything....". (In other words, this is confidential, and I am not 'whining'.)

Guess what, the other employ was fired shortly after!

 

[ericamanda01]

#1 I would take on the extra work and show that I can do it. It will end up making your co-worker look like they can't handle the work and that's no good.

#2 I would say just what your DH suggested. There are rules for a reason and everyone needs to follow them. By simply asking why she is alloted more sick time isn't going to far. If asked in the right way it can look like your just curious.

 

[septbride2002]

My companies motto is:

We have a responsibility to our clients
We have a responsibility to ourselves
We have a responsibility to the Franchise.

Your co-worker is stealing money from the company. Plain and simple. I probably wouldn't take it to a manager, but I would take it Human Resources. At my company they stress it is our responsibility to address these issues.

~Amanda

 

[Microcell]

#1 I would take on the extra work and show that I can do it. It will end up making your co-worker look like they can't handle the work and that's no good.

#2 I would say just what your DH suggested. There are rules for a reason and everyone needs to follow them. By simply asking why she is alloted more sick time isn't going to far. If asked in the right way it can look like your just curious.

See I agree with that. I would say to supervisor something about were the days increased, because you could fit a Disney trip if you were able to have 16 days a year. When she asks why you would think such a thing, casually mention that so and so has taken that much or don't name them and say you were under the impression others took off that much time.

 

[Microcell]

My companies motto is:

We have a responsibility to our clients
We have a responsibility to ourselves
We have a responsibility to the Franchise.

Your co-worker is stealing money from the company. Plain and simple. I probably wouldn't take it to a manager, but I would take it Human Resources. At my company they stress it is our responsibility to address these issues.

~Amanda

Can I work at your company? That is a good motto!

 

[sweet angel]

Wow...did I write this? I had a similar situation in the past...I originally was doing more of co-workers work, but due to increased workload, requested that she take some back. I didn't mention all the personal calls and games of solitaire that were played.

Same coworker also took more vacation time than allowed, but charged it against accrued sick days. My boss is way too nice.

She was let go recently because she worked 4 days per week and my boss needed her to work 5 and she refused. She applied to unemployment and was denied.

Karma works.

 

[Maleficent13]

#2 I would say just what your DH suggested. There are rules for a reason and everyone needs to follow them. By simply asking why she is alloted more sick time isn't going to far. If asked in the right way it can look like your just curious.

As a supervisor, I respectfully disagree with this statement. When one of my employees comes to me and wants to know why so-and-so got this, or why so-and-so did that, I respond to them that it is not their job to look after so-and-so, it is mine. No matter how "innocently" my employee phrases it, I know it's not idle curiosity, it's a desire to either a) get the other worker in trouble, b) spread gossip or c) garner supposed perks for themselves.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have to agree with Mal on the vacation issue..

That is the concern of the bosses and the other employee. It is beyond the concern of the OP.

However, the OP is being asked to increase her workload. This IS her concern.

To everyone who states, do the extra work without question... Hope it looks good for you in the future. That is a nice thought. But, not always the reality. Most women know, like with housework, that once you automaticly take responsibility for something for a while, you are saddled with it forever, and usually it is a 'Thankless Task'. You wouldn't want to be the person that everybody wants to start dumping work on.... You know, the old "No good deed goes unpunished".

Perhaps the OP should look for a good increase in salary or benefits for the increased work-load????

 

[sweet angel]

I have to agree with Mal on the vacation issue..

That is the concern of the bosses and the other employee. It is beyond the concern of the OP.

However, the OP is being asked to increase her workload. This IS her concern.

To everyone who states, do the extra work without question... Hope it looks good for you in the future. That is a nice thought. But, not always the reality. Most women know, like with housework, that once you automaticly take responsibility for something for a while, you are saddled with it forever, and usually it is a 'Thankless Task'. You wouldn't want to be the person that everybody wants to start dumping work on.... You know, the old "No good deed goes unpunished".

Perhaps the OP should look for a good increase in salary or benefits for the increased work-load????

AMEN!

 

[TerriP]

WOW, I didn't expect so many replies. Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts. And THANK YOU for agreeing with ME about the vacation issue. =) I honestly believe that's none of my business. I've always been of the mindset that I don't care when anyone else does at work until/unless it interferes with my ability to do my job.

Having said that, I'm still not sure what I'll do about the workload issue. Part of me says "yes, do the work. It shows your ability to do more, your willingness to do more, and that you are a team player." But I don't know if that is how it will be interpreted here. And I, of course, have no control over that. I don't want anyone to think of me as a "sucker" or "doormat" for taking on work that someone else doesn't want to do. Not to mention a lot of what I'll have to do is NOT fun...like making all her copies for her. It's not like they are giving me challenging work here. It almost looks like they let her pick what to give me and she wants to give me all the stuff she just doesn't want to do.

Maybe that could be a solution here! Maybe I could say "yes" to taking on more work, but I want some say in what it is. I'll take a project from her or specific programs, but NOT just the individual tasks that she doesn't want to do. Does that sound like a fair compromise? Or am I over-stepping?

 

[Microcell]

As a supervisor, I respectfully disagree with this statement. When one of my employees comes to me and wants to know why so-and-so got this, or why so-and-so did that, I respond to them that it is not their job to look after so-and-so, it is mine. No matter how "innocently" my employee phrases it, I know it's not idle curiosity, it's a desire to either a) get the other worker in trouble, b) spread gossip or c) garner supposed perks for themselves.

Seriously, what if the days off had increased and the memo didn't make it to OP? I work very part time and sometimes things don't get to me because I am not there to be told about the change or to get the memo. One time, I kid you not, I had no review and I saw on my paycheck that my pay had increased 50 cents an hour. I took it to my boss because I didn't want them to take money back three months later if it was a mistake. She told me that the docs I worked for thought I deserved a raise and she forgot to tell me.