Useless Co-Worker Question

[Tazz]

So, I have a somewhat useless co-worker. She was hired a little over a year ago, and her report writing skills have not improved at all.

It's at the point where I now have had the responsibility shoved onto me to review her reports before they go to our boss for the final review. SO I basically get the pleasure of doing all of my work and a quarter of her's.

Today, I learned that she has not done half of a project that was due last Friday. This is a regular client whose loss would definitely affect us as a company. So, after she does a quarter of it tomorrow, she still has to write the entire report, which may very well take a week.

Part of the problem, is that she spends A LOT of time on the internet, chatting and IMing all day. I can't say that I don't email at work, but she is way too easily distracted to be taking these breaks from her actual work.

My questions is, am I in the wrong to mention these things to my bosses? Would I be greatly out of line?

[JohnCharles]

Not at all.

However, I think that you should bring it up to her and let her know what you are planning.

Should she respond with better work ethic, you can let it go.

But, if it may negatively effect your reputation at work, you should do what you need to do to protect yourself.

[Tenbatsuzen]

So, I have a somewhat useless co-worker. She was hired a little over a year ago, and her report writing skills have not improved at all.

It's at the point where I now have had the responsibility shoved onto me to review her reports before they go to our boss for the final review. SO I basically get the pleasure of doing all of my work and a quarter of her's.

Today, I learned that she has not done half of a project that was due last Friday. This is a regular client whose loss would definitely affect us as a company. So, after she does a quarter of it tomorrow, she still has to write the entire report, which may very well take a week.

Part of the problem, is that she spends A LOT of time on the internet, chatting and IMing all day. I can't say that I don't email at work, but she is way too easily distracted to be taking these breaks from her actual work.

My questions is, am I in the wrong to mention these things to my bosses? Would I be greatly out of line?

Not really, but don't present it in an overly hostile fashion. Workplace diplomacy is not one of my strong suits, but I'm sure there's a way that you can present this to your boss w/o looking like an ass and still help her get better.

Sometimes bad employees need a kick in the ass to get their shit together.

Sometimes they don't get the message.

[MC Pee Pants]

Mention it to her first you God damn rat.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Not at all.

However, I think that you should bring it up to her and let her know what you are planning.

Should she respond with better work ethic, you can let it go.

But, if it may negatively effect your reputation at work, you should do what you need to do to protect yourself.

No no no... he is not her manager, he should not be dictating to her how to do her job. That's a recipe for a HR problem.

He should go to their mutual manager and have a private conversation about it.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Mention it to her first you God damn rat.

this isn't the fucking mafia. It'll create a hostile work environment, and give her ammo to fuck with Jon.

[IamFogHat]

Not really, but don't present it in an overly hostile fashion. Workplace diplomacy is not one of my strong suits, but I'm sure there's a way that you can present this to your boss w/o looking like an ass and still help her get better.

Sometimes bad employees need a kick in the ass to get their shit together.

Sometimes they don't get the message.

Hey, you're still here. Nice.

[jauble]

So, I have a somewhat useless co-worker. She was hired a little over a year ago, and her report writing skills have not improved at all.

It's at the point where I now have had the responsibility shoved onto me to review her reports before they go to our boss for the final review. SO I basically get the pleasure of doing all of my work and a quarter of her's.

Today, I learned that she has not done half of a project that was due last Friday. This is a regular client whose loss would definitely affect us as a company. So, after she does a quarter of it tomorrow, she still has to write the entire report, which may very well take a week.

Part of the problem, is that she spends A LOT of time on the internet, chatting and IMing all day. I can't say that I don't email at work, but she is way too easily distracted to be taking these breaks from her actual work.

My questions is, am I in the wrong to mention these things to my bosses? Would I be greatly out of line?


It all depends on the way you approach it. You can mention but don't complain that you are finding that her priorities may not be in line. Suggest it as a training opportunity if they press you. Make sure you do not come off as against the coworker, but trying to please your client and therefor making the company better off.

[jauble]

Also at least the coworker didn't bring h1n1 into your office.

[MC Pee Pants]

this isn't the fucking mafia. It'll create a hostile work environment, and give her ammo to fuck with Jon.

I wouldn't know. Im not some robot sitting in a cubical getting shit all over by my co-workers.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Hey, you're still here. Nice.

I came back under a shroud of darkness last weekend. See thread "Well..." in the lounge.

[Tenbatsuzen]

I wouldn't know. Im not some robot sitting in a cubical getting shit all over by my co-workers.

Sorry, this robot is getting handed the biggest paycheck he's ever seen, allowing him to buy a house for his wife and unborn child.

Like it or not workplace politics exist.

[Tazz]

Well, it's not like the bosses don't see that she has not improved in her work. They also know that she is very slow and has no sense of priority. I don't want to complain about her chats and IMing, I don't even need to mention that because someone above me sees that too. I just want them to know that the rest of us also notice that she is lowering our reputation with our clients. This report lateness is not the first time this has happened.

[jauble]

Sorry, this robot is getting handed the biggest paycheck he's ever seen, allowing him to buy a house for his wife and unborn child.

Like it or not workplace politics exist.

This is why instead of nasty work emails he types reports that consist of nothing but "all work and letting this ass get by make Matty a dull boy"

[jauble]

Well, it's not like the bosses don't see that she has not improved in her work. They also know that she is very slow and has no sense of priority. I don't want to complain about her chats and IMing, I don't even need to mention that because someone above me sees that too. I just want them to know that the rest of us also notice that she is lowering our reputation with our clients. This report lateness is not the first time this has happened.

Training opportunity is the magic word. Guess what you'll get to sit in it as well. Mention it broadly if you are nervous about it.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Also at least the coworker didn't bring h1n1 into your office.

No, just AIDS.


http://tcmmoviemorlocks.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/something2.jpg

[Tenbatsuzen]

This is why instead of nasty work emails he types reports that consist of nothing but "all work and letting this ass get by make Matty a dull boy"

You'd be surprised, I was getting a lot of work done during my sabbatical. I lurk at work, but stopped posting because of the issues that were cropping up.

[angrymissy]

Is she a bitch as well? If she is a bitch, just tell the boss. If she's not a bitch, tell her that you're going to have to tell the boss if it doesn't stop. Tell her some shit like they're monitoring her internet and you'll have to say something or you'll get in trouble.

[Tazz]

I think they do see it as a training opportunity. I have been in charge of training her since Day 1 in August 2001. I was lead, but literally the other five people in the office have been trying as well. One of my bosses sits with her after every report to go over the multitude of errors in each one. I guess the rest of us are getting annoyed with the lack of improvement. The business is slow as it is, as it is related to real estate, and we cannot afford to lose big clients. Although it means a little more work for me, I could handle her work load if need be. She doesn't get the most difficult projects anyway.

[Tazz]

Is she a bitch as well? If she is a bitch, just tell the boss. If she's not a bitch, tell her that you're going to have to tell the boss if it doesn't stop. Tell her some shit like they're monitoring her internet and you'll have to say something or you'll get in trouble.

We are friendly, but it's not the internet stuff that is bothering me. It's the complete lack of ability to improve in one's work quality given multiple chances and training sessions.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Do you spend time thinking to yourself, "dontlookathertitsdontlookathertitsdontlookathertit s" if you have to have a conversation with her?

[Tazz]

Do you spend time thinking to yourself, "dontlookathertitsdontlookathertitsdontlookathertit s" if you have to have a conversation with her?

Ugh, no. No I don't. Enough said.

[topless_mike]

i dont know. her chatting is obviously dragging her, you, and the whole team down.
tough scenario. i would mention to a mutual manager that you are having a hard time getting reports from her on time, and its affecting your job. i wouldnt even mention the interwebz activity. your IT can easily gather this.

[SatCam]

If she constantly does a shitty job at work and doesnt give a damn, her ass needs to be canned. It's one thing if she's always missing deadlines, but if she sucks enough to make constant errors and not improve, she's not cut out for the job and honestly I would've gotten rid of her by now.

[~Katja~]

if bosses and managers above you already know about her limited abilities and stolen time from the company then I don't see why you should have to mention anything.
It won't change anything. But maybe mention to a supervisor who is expecting the report by Friday that it very likely will not be completed and you worry about the dead line, especially if you have a responsibility in it as well. If you are not responsible for the report at all and can't be held accountable I would just sit back and watch her fail yet again.

If you have an IT department and you have friends there, maybe tell her that your friend mentioned they are implementing a new internet monitoring program which also tracks keystrokes, maybe that will scare her out of chatting away and into doing her work instead.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Do you spend time thinking to yourself, "dontlookathertitsdontlookathertitsdontlookathertit s" if you have to have a conversation with her?

when you do look, ymb.

[SP1!]

I think they do see it as a training opportunity. I have been in charge of training her since Day 1 in August 2001. I was lead, but literally the other five people in the office have been trying as well. One of my bosses sits with her after every report to go over the multitude of errors in each one. I guess the rest of us are getting annoyed with the lack of improvement. The business is slow as it is, as it is related to real estate, and we cannot afford to lose big clients. Although it means a little more work for me, I could handle her work load if need be. She doesn't get the most difficult projects anyway.

Whoa whoa whoa...... 2001????

8 fucking years, they let this go on for 8 fucking years? Its way past time to just get her in trouble, it may be time to get some rope, a nice tarp, and find a nice river to dump her in.

[~Katja~]

Whoa whoa whoa...... 2001????

8 fucking years, they let this go on for 8 fucking years? Its way past time to just get her in trouble, it may be time to get some rope, a nice tarp, and find a nice river to dump her in.

So, I have a somewhat useless co-worker. She was hired a little over a year ago, and her report writing skills have not improved at all.



nah, just a typo in a later post

[SP1!]

nah, just a typo in a later post

Oh well then catastrophe averted, I guess I can put the tarp back in the shed


Still I understand the dilemma, you dont really want to rat on her because they may cut off all fun internet access but shes a slacker.

Bottom line, if you are friendly with her then tell her there is some talk of her work not being up to par, if you arent good friends with her then just feed her to the bosses and wipe your hands of the situation.

[~Katja~]

Oh well then catastrophe averted, I guess I can put the tarp back in the shed


Still I understand the dilemma, you dont really want to rat on her because they may cut off all fun internet access but shes a slacker.

Bottom line, if you are friendly with her then tell her there is some talk of her work not being up to par, if you arent good friends with her then just feed her to the bosses and wipe your hands of the situation.
burn that tarp for good, dude! Rage and anger never helps ya in life!
There are always ways to deal with situations without resorting to hate and anger. Even most of you angry guys have great brains, use them and come up with a great solution that will benefit you in the long run!