Dealing with a lazy co-worker 3

[EngineerDave]

We've all had them and hell I even used to be one, but that was when my project work effected me and my time schedule (development related).

Now I'm in a workplace in which there are 4 people doing the same job as me. One is the manager and as predicted this guy unfortunately now is forced to have alot of meetings, etc. But he has always been an incredibly hard worker and is bright and sets a great example. Pretty much the best boss you could work for, seriously. Gives you the resources to get stuff done, etc.

Another coworker is a colleague of mine from grad school. He is a great worker as well and is the calm energy there. Whenever there is a crisis, he is calm and quick to fix things or his part of it. He also covers the early hours on most days which I'm forever grateful to him for, since with my family life it's tough for me to go in extremely early every day.

Finally there is the lazy coworker in question. He is a chronic procrastinator, stealthy at dumping shared work off on me and a high strung nervous mess. He takes alot of vacation time (with little foreplanning, which is ok with the boss) but also has taken a few sick days etc.

He rarely takes initiative, but tries to salvage his lazy reputation by going in at odd hours and on weekends to make up for the fact that he reads Cnn.com during the day, studies his books (because we have some licensing exams specific to our field that he has a test on soon). Or even worse a married coworker who has a rough marriage will sit in his office for an hour a day and he'll flirt with her.

The work he doesn't do, gets directly dumped into my lap or my coworkers.

My boss seems aware of it, but his only weak spot is that he doesn't do much about it. I think he doesn't have the heart to fire this guy and the guy does the passable amount of work to get by.


I talked to someone who used to work with him in the past and he confirmed much of what I have seen since I returned to this group 1 year ago. The other guy in the group who is a great coworker rarely talks to this guy and I guess it is due to hard feelings about how lazy this guy was, but it hasn't been expressly stated.

I want a Machievellan solution since I've tried a bit of direct confrontation with him that only solicited an angry response. I constantly mention to him about how many hours I'm working and how busy it is. He says he's been there late many times before as well (just not since I've been there as much). Actually he will stay late when I do, but I think that's just to make it look like he's doing something and putting in the same hours. When I'm not there on a certain day but have stopped in around normal quitting time, he was nowhere to be found.


The other thing that grates me, is I think he must know this, but makes no effort to change, constantly says how he's tired and also makes more money than both of us because he has a teaching gig tied to this as well.

I know I sound insensitive, but I don't want to constantly work tons of extra hours to make up for his laziness.

Despite all the guys shortcomings I do consider him as a friend, which makes it all the more difficult. But a horrible coworker.

 

[vpl]

Dave

Why do you HAVE to come in this weekend? Only your co-worker requested it, not your boss. If the project's behind because he hasn't been working, that's not your problem.

Learning to say "no" is difficult, but it's a valuable skill even for new employees.

I'd suggest going to him (or to your boss) and say, "I have plans for this weekend and won't be able to help you (co-worker)."

Patricia Lougheed

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of the Eng-Tips Forums.

 

[EngineerDave]

Thanks vpl,

Your comments reminded me of a great weakness of mine and that is for the 10+ years I've been in the workforce, I never really mastered the skill of assertiveness.

My lazy coworker's reputation is well known. It shouldn't be too hard to say no to him.

I do like to work hard though. For some reason he will loaf during the week, but then try to make things up by coming in at weird hours (explains the 3 AM text message I got from him today and on the weekends). He was even there on New Years Eve, which he could have avoided by working harder during the week.

 

[waskillywabbit]

"I've become his friend."

From your comments and description of your co-worker and his previous history of documented laziness at the office by others, it seems to be a very one sided friendship. You've become more than his friend, you are his current convenient resident doormat. Don't think twice about kicking him to the curb.


Brian

 

[Tomfh]

My wife is very cunning in dealing with these kind of situations. She has managed to get a number of objectionable co-workers to quit/get fired, normally without the person realizing it.

That's really nasty.

 

[KENAT]

Maybe my turn of phrase was off, perhaps objectionable wasn't a strong enough term. See my May 7th post for more detail.

Or perhaps you and Civil Person are just better people than my wife or I manage to be.

As to the OP I had a situation a few months ago where I got asked to work the weekend because someone elses design didn't work and they wouldn't come in over the weekend to work on it. I said no.

 

[EngineerDave]

This coworker is interesting. The boss finally got him back so to speak as we had a colleague quit and my boss placed the lazy coworker in her former role. A role which requires constant focus, little ability to procrastinate etc.

I've seen some positive changes in him.