How to deal with lazy colleague?

[ToeInTheWater]

Not sure if this is the best place to post, but I am really getting frustrated about this situation. I am not comfortable posting details, so I will start with the “bare bones” and hope they will be enough. I did post earlier about a very “chatty Cathy” lady and the advice I got did help manage that situation.

My job is a “shift work” position, I usually work days. Another person who works the night shift has gained a reputation for being lazy, trying to get away with the bare minimum possible to meet his job description, often leaving work for me to do when I come in. Many people have complained to me, and seem to expect me to do something about it.

However I am not comfortable with this because I am not actually in a position to supervise the person. Nor am I comfortable just passing on the complaints to our actual supervisor, because it is all hearsay.

Also, I brought up concerns about another colleague before, not for laziness but more that she seemed to be a little overwhelmed, and nothing seems to have been done, though to be fair I assume if something was said to her it would be kept private, and her work performance has improved.

I’m not even comfortable suggesting that people bring the complaints to our supervisor, because that might turn into “TITW told me to tell you…” I certainly don’t want him to think I am some kind of vindictive person who is bad-mouthing my colleagues.

So I have tried to stay out of it all, but it getting more and more difficult. Especially today as this person himself brought up a complaint he had received and spent a lot of time defending himself to me, though he did not outright accuse me of relaying the complaint.

It’s getting to the point that I have started to really have trouble keeping my mouth shut. Other than praying about what to do, any advice?

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

Not sure if this is the best place to post, but I am really getting frustrated about this situation. I am not comfortable posting details, so I will start with the “bare bones” and hope they will be enough. I did post earlier about a very “chatty Cathy” lady and the advice I got did help manage that situation.

My job is a “shift work” position, I usually work days. Another person who works the night shift has gained a reputation for being lazy, trying to get away with the bare minimum possible to meet his job description, often leaving work for me to do when I come in. Many people have complained to me, and seem to expect me to do something about it.

However I am not comfortable with this because I am not actually in a position to supervise the person. Nor am I comfortable just passing on the complaints to our actual supervisor, because it is all hearsay.

Also, I brought up concerns about another colleague before, not for laziness but more that she seemed to be a little overwhelmed, and nothing seems to have been done, though to be fair I assume if something was said to her it would be kept private, and her work performance has improved.

I’m not even comfortable suggesting that people bring the complaints to our supervisor, because that might turn into “TITW told me to tell you…” I certainly don’t want him to think I am some kind of vindictive person who is bad-mouthing my colleagues.

So I have tried to stay out of it all, but it getting more and more difficult. Especially today as this person himself brought up a complaint he had received and spent a lot of time defending himself to me, though he did not outright accuse me of relaying the complaint.

It’s getting to the point that I have started to really have trouble keeping my mouth shut. Other than praying about what to do, any advice?

I can only recall ever complaining to a foreman of mine about one guy who could not work well. He paired me with him but the guy could barely even use a shovel (Construction work) so I complained about it and the foreman told me “Well, teach him” But I have had to pick up the slack for lazy co workers a lot in my life. It may not be the advice you want to hear and it may not be helpful but what I always do is just pick up the slack and keep my mouth shut about it and I let these lazy workers hang themselves. I do not know how it is in your industry but in mine bad workers find themselves out of a job quickly. They do not last long. Maybe they are given a break for a few weeks or maybe even a month or two but my experience has always been they eventually get fired. And that guy who could not even use a shovel that I mentioned, he was no exception. I have seen some get fired in a day or two also. How long it takes varies but they always seem to get themselves fired in my experience.

 

[Rhubarb]

What’s wrong with them saying you told them to go to the supervisor? That’s the correct business-like answer to give. If the lazy person goes “Why did you tell them to rat on me?!” you simply respond “because they were complaining to me, and I’m not your supervisor.”