Career tips : I hate this crap

My boss told me today that he might have to dump additional work on me because the department is out of resources and they need to get something done soon. Great, like I don't already have things to do.

The problem is that the annoying co-worker who sits next to me never does any work. Just laughs while chatting on IM, or leaves the office for hours on end to do who the hell knows what (he's a programmer, so he has no reason to not be at his desk).

Unfortunately, his boss rarely checks up on him, so I don't think his boss knows that he is being underutilized. Instead, his boss spends much of his time flirting with the sole female programmer, even though he already has a girlfriend and the female programmer is married.

That basturd's getting away with doing nothing, while some of us are being overworked. This F-ing sucks.

It really sucks, and sadly that is how corporate America seems to work anymore. I think there was a thread on these boards about it, the 80/20 rule. It can apply to getting work done. 20% of the workers do 80% of the work.

Only option you have is looking for a new job. Or you can be very bold and go over your bosses head. That can easily back-fire on you though so I would not recommend it.

Try this. The next time you catch that really cool moron chatting on IM, or before he leaves the office for hours, say the following. "Oh (insert name), since you appear to have some extra time, please get these things done ASAP...hand he/she a folder with some of the work you've been asked to do on top of pile of duties you are knee deep in. Seriously, then make sure he returns the work to you so you can check it.

What is wrong with asking for help when you are drowning in piles of work? We tend to allow people to get away with murder and sit wondering why it happens, does that make sense? I don't think it matters if your her supervisor or manager, if the department is out of resources, someone is not carrying their share of the load.

I completely understand how you feel, and I have worked with many people like the co-worker you describe, it's
ridiculous! Or, you could just ask your boss if you could ask this person to help out. I'm sorry you have been unfortunate enough to be stuck with such a loser co-worker!

tb:)

"What is wrong with asking for help when you are drowning in piles of work?"

Uh maybe he doesnt have the authority to tell a COWORKER what to do ??? If the boss has no problem with the guy then mind your own business - for all you know the guy is on call all nite or works weekends at home - you dont know do you ? And the boss DOES know what the guy is doing trust me - but it isn't your place to hand over your work no matter how unfair you think it is. Ask YOUR boss if the other person can help but then you might be seen as a slacker too

Well you're right about me not being bold enough to ask someone at my same level to help with work. If someone at my level tried that with me, I would wonder who the heck he/she thinks he/she is.

I don't know who would want to waste time at work so that they could catch up at home. Anyways, I know his position. He is never on call. And given that we are in a cube environment and I sit next to him, I am privy to his phone conversations. I know what he does in the evenings and on the weekends, and it's not work. His boss is totally clueless.

Yeah its unfortunate that anyone has to deal with slackers and I have always been fortunate to have a terrific team of people that I worked with that if one of us needed filing help or data entry help, anything - we were more than comfortable asking for it. Best thing to do if you both work for the same person is to ask the boss if he can delegate some of your work to the other guy - but then again it might seem like you are complaining or cant handle your job and might backfire. Good luck

Oftentimes, I've seen that slackers have a friend in a high place and that's why they get away with it (and are often promoted), so be careful what you say.

he doesnt have to say anything against the other guy - just that he needs a bit of help and that so and so looks like he could be helfpul

HEY, what's with the hostility? Asking for help can be done without getting yourself fired, or alienating a co-worker, it's better than falling on your face because you've been given more work than one person could handle.
I wasn't faulting IT, it's totally unfair that he is doing all the work when his co-worker isn't doing anything.
You don't know either uwishtoo, do you? If you consult with your superior and he/she agrees that your co-worker can help out, why is that NOT done?

If IT's boss DOES know as you state that he does, he is one lousy boss. Your also contradicting yourself all over the place! Should he ask or not? Do you think the boss knows what a good worker IT is? Sorry IT, didn't mean to
make it sound like you were afraid to ask. I've worked with people like your co-worker, I asked, and I got help!

tb:)

Who is the "hostile" comment aimed at and the "contradiction" - I didnt say anything even remotely hostile - I merely pointed out that yes he should ask but then someone else said to be careful cause the guy could have a friend in high places and again I merely said that if that might be the case that there was a good way to ask without coming out and saying the guy was a slacker - wasnt hostile or contradicting myself, not once on either count. Eveyrone else is making the assumption that the boss knows the guy isnt dong anything - I never claimed to know one way or the other

Career Tips

I hate this crap