My coworker laziness & me picking up his slack.

[R_P_A_S]

I been a socialist for pretty much nearly 3 years. Obviously like all of you I now view the world completely different, and my place of work. There has been an increase of appreciation for my fellow co-workers and skepticism towards my managers and supervisors.

But how does one, as a conscious worker deal with fellow co-workers who make my work, our work more difficult and unfair, when they are continuously tardy, neglect or pawn off their duties to others, are hostile and hard to communicate with?

I find my self in uncomfortable position when our boss tries to find out information about my co-worker from me. For example they ask me if he took more breaks than allowed, or if he took a one hour lunch as opposed of our allowed 30 min lunch. The truth is the guy shows up at least a couple hours late every other day, and He does take 2 hours lunches. None of this I report to my boss, because ONE is not my responsibility , and TWO I get paid to do my job not rat on others or worry about others.

Lately I have been covering for him a lot, and I'm getting praised left and right for my good job. I tried to talk to him about his decline in productivity or interest but he's very hostile and doesn't talk to you, just nods... he has always been like this. No one knows why. Is like he's always angry.

Every week my bosses are coming to me for information on our disgruntled coworker, and every day i grow more uncomfortable and tired of not only covering for someone who is an asshole towards me, but doing his work and getting paid the same damn wage.

What would you guys do?

[iraqnevercalledmenigger]

You have tried to do the first thing I would. Which is talk to the guy. I mean how long can you continue to cover for him without getting yourself in trouble?

We can't blame the poor fellow for being alienated and disinterested in his exploitation, but we all still have to earn our bread and butter. We can't put up with incompetent co-workers to our own detriment. I admire how you haven't ratted him out though. This is the perfect situation for a union rep or shop steward to sort things out.

Short of that, are there any other co-workers you can rely on to maybe engage the non-productive worker about his slacking off?

[which doctor]

start slackin' off yourself!

I had a similar issue when I used to work in a restaurant, an environment where people have to work as a team and job descriptions frequently overlap. A lot of people slacked off and I found myself doing a lot of the work they were supposed to. I began to resent these slackers, but soon realized why they were slacking off, work sucks! The nature of the workplace fostered hostility between the workers, while the managers sat in their office all day counting money. Toward the end I stopped doing everyone elses work and I eventually quit.

There's really not much advice to give you.

[Pogue]

Talk to your union about it. Never talk to management about it.

[Charles Xavier]

Heres the simple truth, unless it is made to be your responsibility tell them, that you are not their ears and eyes. If this person on the other hand is making your work more difficult than simply tell him to not be a lazy slouch. Thats the only advice I can give, don't be a rat when you don't have to, and you don't have to cover for him if he's being a jerk.

[capitalistwhore]

:cursing: Management! What a joke!

You probably don't have a union. Most of us don't. So if you do, I agree with H-L-V-S. I live in Florida, so the word "union" is an expletive. I've seen the anti-union literature pouring out of certain companies. My favorite was a pamplet on how to prevent unions given to my old HR. Its *top secret* and what a laugh!

You're right - you are not being paid to watch other employees, cover for them, and burden the stress. You are not even being properly paid for the work you are suppose to do!

Try to organize with your other co-workers. Maybe there are solutions that will work for everyone on accountability issues and work load that your manager hasn't had enough sense to implement.

[Merces]

another lazy employee. if he's holding you back jsut tell em the truth and fire his ass.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

My suggestion is just to slack off yourself more. Your coworker sounds like a tad bit of a dick, but at the very least he takes the heat off all yall. So long as you do a bit more work than he, he'll always be seen as the "alleged slacker." Also consider organizing some sort of social thing with coworkers, and then invite him along. He might warm up outside of work.

[Killfacer]

another lazy employee. if he's holding you back jsut tell em the truth and fire his ass.

You're the bloke Bobkindles wanted to ban. You aren't socialist, you should be restricted.

[rednordman]

Don't want to go against the grain of what some of you have said, but never slack off. OK, not in your situation anyhow (there are situations when it is tolerated, but not for this post). Sounds to me like you are doing a decent job and are good worker. Dont let someone who has a bad attitude ruin that. If you want to do the best job you can and be most productive, good for you. After all, the last thing we will need in a revolution situation is people who do not care for it and just think for themselves and do bugger all. Revolution or not however, i think people should always do the best they can.
If it gets to a point where you are being taken advantage of, go to the union, and never managment (as H-L-V-S stated), unless they are the soundest management in the world (probably does not exist). Infact, mabey you could talk to other co-workers about this and get their opinions. Other than that, i agree will all the posts and think that you are doing the correct thing keeping out of it. Also respect for realising that the managment where trying to extract information. Its an old trick.

[brigadista]

i agree with some of the other comments on your dilemma . are any of your co workers friends with him? Is there anyone who could give him the tip that the boss is watching him?

Whatever you do dont get trapped into talking to the managers- they love to divide and rule- don't let them use as a stick to beat your co worker. Good luck with it

[nuisance]

Take direct action in the form of work-to-rule.

[R_P_A_S]

Hey guys! I appreciate the feedback, thanks. Here's an update... so a week after this thread the guy just quit. No 2 week noticed or anything. He just called the manager and told him he was done. and now I'm doing performing his duties. I'm going to wait 30 days, do the job to the best of my ability and ask for a well deserve raise.

To answer most of your questions he had no friends and work. we tried to take him with us when we went to lunch but he never wanted to go. I remember once I invited him to go down the street with me and 3 girls from work to shop for a scarf and he just made a disgust face and shook his head "no" OK? right? His last week there one of the girls accidently bumped into him in the kitchen and she excused him self and he just walked away. One of the girls who works there told me that once day she asked him why he doesn't talk to any of us and that his respond was, "what for? everyone in this town are fake" and that he only worked her part time and no need to make friends with people who don't make up his life. pretty crazy guy dont you think? I wish him the best.

[al8]

There are so many things that can make you mad being exploited and marginalized. I am actually quite surprised why so few go on a rampage under this system.

[grok]

There was little point in trying to reach this guy thru his deep and abiding alienation, right? You all tried your best. It would have been somewhat different if you had a union in that shop (no way I got the least sense that you have a union. Even a company one. This is in the U.S., right?) But worst of all: the north american working-class lacks Party and Program -- and thus has little sense of class-consciousness or direction. And so there's absolutely no way in Hell such people are going to be reached, this side of the Revolution, AFAIC -- which IMO will be an awful, bloody mess because of such as all this.

There are millions of these aimless, passive-aggressive 'pre-postal'-type guys out there, without much hope of dick all. And that is part of the tragedy of our times. No wonder the bourgeoisie are nervous as well.
:(