What to do about someone I work with who is taking advantage?

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anon98328916

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Forgive me if I’ve put this under the wrong thread. What to do about someone I work with who is taking advantage? I work in administration and sales, with Christmas just around the corner it is busy with customers coming in and out of work buying gift cards. The girl I work with really made me so mad today but I guess this has been an ongoing issue with her. For example today if a customer came in she would pretend to be really busy so I would have to serve them and then shortly after I would see her on her phone texting etc. This was ongoing throughout the day, it was so bad I couldn’t get finished my own work I had planned to finish today. The finishing point for me was around lunchtime when she was away from her desk and in the kitchen…a customer came in and I was in the middle of serving them and the phone rang at the same time she didn’t bother coming to help and came up after I hung up the phone. All I get from her is “will you get the customer I’m busy”. At work we keep the Christmas decorations at the very bottom of our building just in a shed off the car park. We both were asked to bring the decorations up a few weeks ago and of course fool me had to do it because she said she was busy! She said she would come and help me when she was finished to which she didn’t! I had to bring them all up in the lift myself… I feel myself getting so mad again as I type this, she isn’t a team player and doesn’t do her part and I am really sick of being treated this way. I was on the verge of saying something to her today but I don’t want any trouble at work. How can I sort this without it causing conflict? She is really oversteeped the mark with me and I’ve had enough! I feel like leaving my job and I have other worries at the moment without her adding to them.
 
Who is your superior at work? Would it be possible to address it with them?

Another tactic could be to address this directly with the coworker, but to do it without being accusing. “Hey, there’s a lot we both have to do today. How should we divvy it up? Could we switch off on who takes phone calls (or another task?)”

This is a really busy season especially in retail. Is your colleague actually slacking off, or is she actually also really, really busy? She may genuinely think you can take care of it, since you continue to and haven’t actually said anything to her yet.
 
This isn’t about being a “team player.” That means being willing to put off tasks that benefit your *at work *to-do list instead of making decisions that benefit your working group or the enterprise as a whole.

Based on your texting example and your feeling that this co-worker is only acting busy in order to evade having to deal with a customer, it sounds more as if you’re describing a co-worker who won’t work.

I’ve always worked with guys. When someone is slacking, they just directly ask, “Again? Busy with what? When do I get to be too busy to do Job No One Likes X? I didn’t see that part in our job description.” They just draw lines and enforce them, and they’re very clear about it. If you’re slacking or self-dealing, they notice, and they say so out loud.

If people in your workplace other than this slacker are direct, then just be direct. Be nice, but say, “hey, this is not an acceptable situation, what are we going to do about this?” Sometimes, all it takes for a slacker to quit slacking is for someone to call them on their slacking. I have seen some people slack off around those who let them get away with it but who put in some effort around those who don’t.

If you are in an indirect workplace, then ask someone with some diplomatic credibility and a bit more seniority than you have how to handle the matter. There are many ways to address this kind of issue less directly, but people don’t usually mind being asked what the local customs are. Let’s hope the answers you get do not amount to “we just let slackers get away with it,” but I’m doubting that will happen.
 
I believe you should confront your co-worker directly because if you don’t, it will just continue to happen or get worse. Try to be as nice as you can about it. If that doesn’t work, I would go to your supervisor and explain to him/her the situation and also tell them that you attempted to resolve the problem yourself but to no avail.

I’ve dealt with similar co-workers over the years and I’ve always first tried to resolve the matter one-on-one without a supervisor because I don’t want to get people in trouble or fired. It usually works 95% of the time if you talk with kindness and don’t shout or bark orders at them. But the other 5% our supervisor had to get involved because some people are just lazy and only a supervisor can change their work habits.

I hope everything works out for you!
 
When she tells u to get the customer, just say sorry I can’t and walk away…with a smile of course.
 
On second thought, I wanted to add this: Let the past infractions go. Draw your boundaries and enforce them going forward. Do NOT lay a laundry list of things you’ve let her get away with at her feet. No, let the past go and deal with these issues as they come up.

When she asks you for the 3rd customer in a row if you will take the matter, you say, “No, sorry, you’re going to need to do it this time. I’m busy myself.” (If you’re not, after all, why would you mind doing it?) If she gives you the choice between doing it yourself or embarrassing the company, you do it and then you take the initiative and confront her about it at your first opportunity.

When “She said she would come and help me when she was finished to which she didn’t!”…well, how did that happen? It happened because you kept working even though she never showed up. The next time, you say, “Bonny, I brought up a load; the other half is waiting for you. I made sure to take most of the heavy ones already, so think you should be able to get it in two trips. Just use your best judgment. No, I’m sorry, I have work to do, too. Besides, you did say you’d do it.”

Oh, and keep a journal of these things, and keep it where she won’t snoop into it. You might need that, if she is both lazy and vindictive. Many manipulative people are. Not all, but enough to be a concern.
 
mommy_k said:
When she tells u to get the customer, just say sorry I can’t and walk away…with a smile of course.
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Yes. Keeping a good face for the customer and for the sake of the company is extremely important. If she puts you on the spot to let her take advantage of you or make the company look bad, then let it go and confront her when you can do it with only co-workers around.
 
It sounds like she is lazy and likes to goof off.

You’ll need to draw a line in the sand. Next time she decides to tell you to take the customer you’ll have to say politely that you are in the middle of something and she will need to take them.

Do not say anything that will annoy or offend the customer and keep it very polite.

If the behavior continues, it may be time to consult with your manager. Make sure you have documentation of the incidents so the manager will understand the frequency and timing of the things you are reporting.

Good luck!
 
When she said she was too busy to get Christmas decorations or whatnot, just tell her --take your time, I’ll wait for u to finish.

Don’t go without her, or do things you were both assigned until she’s free…if she’s stalling, let her know u will ask the supervisor for someone else to help you. I can guarantee when u say this, she will no longer be fake busy.
 
anon98328916 said:
Forgive me if I’ve put this under the wrong thread. What to do about someone I work with who is taking advantage? I work in administration and sales, with Christmas just around the corner it is busy with customers coming in and out of work buying gift cards. The girl I work with really made me so mad today but I guess this has been an ongoing issue with her. For example today if a customer came in she would pretend to be really busy so I would have to serve them and then shortly after I would see her on her phone texting etc. This was ongoing throughout the day, it was so bad I couldn’t get finished my own work I had planned to finish today. The finishing point for me was around lunchtime when she was away from her desk and in the kitchen…a customer came in and I was in the middle of serving them and the phone rang at the same time she didn’t bother coming to help and came up after I hung up the phone. All I get from her is “will you get the customer I’m busy”. At work we keep the Christmas decorations at the very bottom of our building just in a shed off the car park. We both were asked to bring the decorations up a few weeks ago and of course fool me had to do it because she said she was busy! She said she would come and help me when she was finished to which she didn’t! I had to bring them all up in the lift myself… I feel myself getting so mad again as I type this, she isn’t a team player and doesn’t do her part and I am really sick of being treated this way. I was on the verge of saying something to her today but I don’t want any trouble at work. How can I sort this without it causing conflict? She is really oversteeped the mark with me and I’ve had enough! I feel like leaving my job and I have other worries at the moment without her adding to them.
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I would let it slide if it was just a short period of time that she wasn’t realizing was bad. But anything longer and which she knows isn’t what she’s supposed to do is bad unless perhaps she’s a parent dying from cancer (which is never an impossibility).

When she eventually crosses the line, perhaps break it gently to her that you understand everything and all, but what’s the point showing up for work if she isn’t going to work?
 
SuperHappy said:
It sounds like she is lazy and likes to goof off.

You’ll need to draw a line in the sand. Next time she decides to tell you to take the customer you’ll have to say politely that you are in the middle of something and she will need to take them.

Do not say anything that will annoy or offend the customer and keep it very polite.

If the behavior continues, it may be time to consult with your manager. Make sure you have documentation of the incidents so the manager will understand the frequency and timing of the things you are reporting.

Good luck!
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The other possibility is that after you have done two in a row and the second customer leaves, you say, “OK, I’m happy to help out, but that’s been two in a row. I have work to do, too. The next one is yours.” Then pleasantly refuse to take any guff. When a customer comes in, say, “Oh, Bonnie will help you. Just a minute…Bonnie, you have a customer!”
 
Next time say " I’ve taken the last 6 customers. Your turn. You take the next 6.Smile.
Repeat as necessary.
 
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