Have you ever dealt with this situation? (work-related)

[PrincessKitty1]

I have a co-worker who is paid to work 40 hours a week but generally works about 25-28. Supposedly she works 4 ten hour shifts, but in reality she is off every Monday and she "works from home" at least one other day a week (there is nothing she could possible do at home since her job requires direct, in-person contact). Plus she calls in sick at least every couple of weeks.

She has a different boss than me. When I started my job, 4 people immediately warned me about her (including my direct supervisor). Her boss is well aware of her work habits, and says awful things about her (to me and to my supervisor!), but does not choose to do anything to change her behavior. It is frustrating to me because I work well over 40 hours a week (we are both on salary) and she could be doing some of the extra work. I have expressed this , very frankly, to her supervisor but he will briefly humor me and then nothing ever changes.

The icing on the cake was when she told me she would cover a portion of my job while I take a couple of days off (I have not taken off any time in 6 months since I just started this job, and they require 6 months of service before allowing vacation time off), then changed her mind because she decided she wanted the time off herself. What nerve! And her supervisor won't address this.

I like the job, but I'm very frustrated. My supervisor knows exactly what is going on, but her hands are tied since she does not supervise this person. The person who had my job before me had exactly the same experience with this co-worker and the co-worker's supervisor. I know nothing will change.

My biggest frustration is that it's going to be approximately impossible to ever take any time off in this job since there is basically nobody to cover for me. For the 2 days I'm taking off, I had to ask 6 people to cover portions of my work. They do not want to cover for me since I don't cover for them (due to the nature of our jobs). I can't really blame them, but there has to be SOME way to take time off (besides calling in sick, which we get dinged for on our evaluations!).

I plan to bring all this up during my evaluation, but really, my supervisor can't do anything about it.Even the department director knows about my co-worker and has suggested to her boss that he either make her get to work or get rid of her, but this has been going on for YEARS.

Any ideas, suggestions, or commiserations?

 

[Princess Mindy]

Wow! First of all I have to say that I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I too am in a similar situation where a coworker refuses to "play nice" and ends up being useless or in communicato. But I do not work as closely with her as you do with your "problem child". I know it sucks, but the only thing you can do at this point is exactly what you have been doing. You haven't been there long enough to threaten to leave over the situation. I would maybe suggest that during your evaluation you suggest that there is a need for another position to be created, perhaps something part time, that would relieve you when needed and pick up some of your co-worker's slack. It sounds to me as if her supervisor is very non-confrontational, and this would help him dodge the bullet a little bit. And if they say they don't have the money, you could point out all the money they are losing by having someone on full time wage working part time.
for you! I hope things get better soon! Here's some pixie dust too!

 

[Honu]

You have to find coverage for your duties while you are out? What do your supervisors do?

 

[tmt martins]

Control your contolables and don't let things out of your control get to you.

Tell your supervisor you need this date off and to find someone to handel your workload.

I work in a very flexable job and we have those who do nothing and nothing EVER gets done to them .You complain and they start to nickpick you.

Just cold shoulder the co-worker and return the favor of doing nothing for her.

 

[Snow Brite]

I agree that it is up to your supervisor to find someone to cover for you while you are out, if they are unable to do it themselves. Why give you vacation time if you cannot use it?

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Ugh. I had a similiar work situation - a coworker in my department was either always absent for some reason - kids sick, she's sick, has to go home to meet a service/delivery man, etc. I worked with her for nine months - she was absent for 12 weeks of that time. She would literally be gone 1-2 weeks every month. I had to change my schedule constantly to accomodate her absences, and I even had to change my Disney trip three times to find dates where she would actually be working for five days straight, so we wouldn't be too short handed.

Guess how she always gets away with it? She's very attractive. Everyone loves her and will do anything she wants. Even supervisors. Different set of rules for the good-looking - guess that's how the world works.

To the OP - guess you just have to grin and bear it. Sounds like nothing will change.

 

[Kendra17]

>I know nothing will change.

here is the solution: get another job!!!

 

[barkley]

as a (retired) supervisor i can tell you that the only way i could have addressed this (an employee not within my realm of supervision) was if another employee was able to demonstrate how the other employee's behaviours (always focus on the behaviour not the individual) negativly impacts their ability to do their job. that can be expressed during your private conferences, your evaluation (as in "when x does/does'nt do...i find that i am unable to do, or i have to do her x-i want to be clear with you that this is an appropriate and authorized use of my time under your assignment", or when you put in a vacation request-at which time you can express that you will have everything readily accessable for "whomever your supervisor deems to cover your duties in your absence"-that puts it in his/her corner, and if they pick the problem employee and she refuses to follow thru it's insubordiantion (grounds for termination) or fails to follow through it's addressable as an inability to carry out assigned work tasks.

 

[debden]

Unfortunately there are alot of jobs out there where you'll find one person 'fudging' it sort of speak and another working their buns off to get the work done.This is called the 'poop' end of the stick..I have this problem only it's my Supervisor that does nothing.She's even stated she's only there for her paycheck and that's all.I think someone needs to retire.She's been complained about constantly by other workers and her boss will just sit there and humor you and say what she thinks you want to hear.Not good.
My Supervisor puts her self down for any days off she wants wether you have it off or not and say 'well I need that day off so you have to work!' and she'll take off out of the office for over an hour and leave you alone with the phones ringing off the walls and does not care one iota.
I did get a chance to give her a taste of her own medicine yesterday.I left the office for over an hour for a meeting I had to attend and she got left alone.BOY was she pee-oh'd when I got back.She started saying I'm not doing my job well and need to be more careful and lot's of other stuff that was just said because she was very angry that SHE got stuck alone!
Too bad.I love it.
Well like another poster said the only way to get out of that situation is to find another job.It's unforunate there are lots of people out there that just don't care about their jobs or fellow workers.
Good luck
Debbie

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Thanks everybody! I like my job a lot but not being able to take time off is a deal-breaker for me (I was in a job like that for 3 years once--there was ONE person who could cover for me IF she felt like driving 40 miles each way to do it, and she would only cover for me on certain days, etc., etc. Never again!).

I do just need to find another position. I work in a large department and I know a newly created position is going to open up this summer for which I'm very qualified--the question will be whether there is going to be anybody to cover if I want to take vacation time from THAT position.

Yes, in my department you have to find somebody to cover for you! It's really inequitable because some positions have great coverage by temporary staff, while other positions (like mine) require begging numerous people to each cover small portions of the job. The supervisors do NOT cover for staff.