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I feel like my colleagues aren't pulling their weight

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Question - (12 February 2015) 2 Answers - (Newest, 12 February 2015)
A female Norway age 36-40, anonymous writes:

More than anything I need to rant right now, and hear if this is something others have found good ways to deal with. I recently started in a new job, but Im already feeling like several of my co-workers don't do their share, yet expect me to do extra work. I haven't said anything yet as I am fairly new there, and I would like tips on how to proceed so I don't end up being bitter.

The work for the different stations is clearly written on a note that is by each station. One station is responsible for making sure the other station has all the equipment it needs, so when I was sitting there I had to fill up pens, paper, etc for both stations. Then I was moved to the other station, and another girl came to be at the first one. She doesn't fill up anything. I asked her directly if she could fill up the printer as it was empty, but she just said she thought we were out of paper.... Which we're not, but she couldn't be bothered to do the job, so I had to go do it instead. Just little things like this can become very annoying, right? I told her we had loads of paper in the back room, as I KNEW it was there, but she just said "no, I think we're out", and then didn't do anything about it! It's her job, and even if we were out of paper it would have been her job to go look for it and make sure we get more ASAP. But she didn't do anything at all.

Today I was left picking up all the phone calls for her desk, because she left it without telling me. I was swamped with work, and people complain that the phone isn't answered. And then there were two OTHER co-workers who were just hanging around, apparently taking a break, and they showed no interest in taking the phone at all, even though it was ringing non-stop (I was busy taking care of customers, and they were standing RIGHT NEXT TO ME doing nothing). Customers could clearly see them, couldn't they have gone somewhere else for their break? Because it just made them look lazy to stand there doing nothing when there were customers waiting and the phone was ringing.

It just gets so frustrating. Any good advice?

View related questions: a break, co-worker

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A reader, anonymous, writes (12 February 2015):

You're the new girl. You're the one who has something to prove. Before you were hired, that business was running.

Nowadays, people are often expected do the jobs they were hired to do; and may be assigned anything/everything beyond their job-descriptions. Maybe your co-workers were there doing extra stuff before you came along. Now they feel they shouldn't always have to.

I supervise a large department. It is a very conservative corporate office, so things tend to be a little formal; but we tend to be very relaxed when productivity is high. Before you came to fill that position, those people probably worked extra hours and took up the slack until they hired someone extra to do it. For fiscal reasons, many businesses run on fewer employees and skeleton-crews. They/we demand a lot of people. So sometimes we have to lighten-up on them. This is likely the case; and you're merely an outsider looking in. When you've walked in their shoes awhile, and learn how things work; you'll have a better understanding of what you see and are experiencing.

You do have the option to leave, if things are not to your liking. I think you need the job; so perhaps you might try to get adjusted to the way things are.

You're spending a lot of time doing the supervisor's job. The worst thing you could do as a new employee is to be critical of your co-workers, or complain. You don't need any enemies. Everyone knows the new girl can't run the whole business by herself!

You don't know anyone that well. You don't know what they've been through, or why they may be leaving a lot on your shoulders to do. Once you know the office routine and start to fit-in, people will warm up to you. They'll be helpful and cooperative. If you sit around with a snotty-attitude and eye-balling everyone else around you; you may not realize how closely people are watching you. Come-off snippy or snarky; and you will be treated accordingly. You stand-out, because you're new!

As a supervisor myself, I might help by letting you know that the supervisor may just be evaluating your ability to work with people; and how you perform when no one is standing over you to micromanage your every more. We don't say a word, we just watch and take notes. Then we make decisions who stays and who goes when it's time to trim the fat. Those people were there before you, and they've already proven to their managers and supervisors why they should stay. If there are no strict rules where you work; perhaps you'd prefer a more formal and conservative business-atmosphere. Maybe that place isn't for you.

If the phones go unanswered; clients will complain and business will slow-down. Then the person responsible to keep things running efficiently will be called to task. It's not your responsibility to worry about that. It's your responsibility to do your assigned tasks.

If you go beyond the call, it reflects well on you as a conscientious, reliable, and responsible employee. If you get an attitude and start complaining? Just remember this; you are drawing negative-attention to yourself, and basically telling your boss(es) they aren't doing their jobs to YOUR satisfaction. The only ones qualified to do that, is THEIR bosses. So, if you have to do something you don't think you should have to do, clear it through your supervisor. Then he/she will see that the task is done by whomever he/she believes should be responsible. If it is posted for all to see; and it doesn't get done; then the boss will make it clear for everyone what they're being paid to do.

Do what you're hired to do, show how well you can do it, and you will shine as a better employee than the rest. I'd hire you in a skinny-minute for your conscientious-attitude; but if you don't work well with the people hired before you got there; I'd have to decide whether to keep you when your new-hire probationary period is up. All that matters is that you do your job efficiently. Work hard and show a positive attitude.

Trust me, the boss is watching! When productivity is lagging, and the others aren't doing what they're paid to do. The hammer comes down!

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A female reader, CindyCares Italy +, writes (12 February 2015):

CindyCares agony auntI understand your frustration, what you describe IS annoying, and yet I would advise you to be patient for the time being and not to make too many waves . As you said, you are new on the job- who knows, you may have to / want to stay there a good while, and might come to realize that often in workplaces it's better to get along than to be right. You may be ( in fact , you are ) right about looking ptofessional and showing good work ethics- but if in your first weeks at work you make a reputation for yourself as the office stickler, or ball-breaker,or " Little Miss Perfect "- yeah that could in practice reduce your actual workload, nevertheless would not make your life at the office any easier or more pleasant in general,au contraire-they'd see to that, you can bet. I suppose you are in the same rank and position as these sloppy people, so they would resent you for officially taking them to task .

This does not mean of course that you have to let yourself be taken advantage of. Just- even if probably it goes against your nature- make sure you do well and efficiently YOUR job- and that's it. Do NOT pick up their slack, do not cover up for them. The unmanned phone rings ? let it ring, it's not you who left your job station abruptly . If you do their job for them , you are positively encouraging them to do less and less and unload on you more and more duties since they know they can count on you to do THEIR work.

So if I were you I'd stick to my duties and perform them well, but ... nothing more. If your colleagues keep screwing up and doing a shoddy work, at least there's the chance that some client , or some higher up, will notice and complain with the management !

In the meantime, obviously, you can remark on what you notice it is going wrong, but try not to make it sound like a personal criticism ." Guys, have you thought of taking your break somewhere else ? It would look more professional AND you surely would be more comfortable ". And to the paper girl, deadpan " are you positive that we are out of paper? ..Gee, then I guess you'd better go order it/ ask for it right away ! ,since part of your job is making sure that this never happens and you could get in trouble for that ".

The general idea would be to be assertive, but not confrontational. Easier said than done, I know, - but not impossible, if you remember that people can only impose on you if you LET them.

Obviously, if it gets SO bad that everybody is just lolling around while the new girl ( you ) must be running around like a madwoman for anything to be accomplished- then I guess you just wouls have to complaon officiallt with the boss and have him / her come down and crack his whip. But , I think or at least hope that this will not be necessary. Good luck !

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