re: (not) taking one for the team by anonymous questioner

October 29, 2006 10:24 AM

voting has closed for this question

dear internet,
what do you do in the following situation: you're in an ultra-busy, office of hardworkers, most of whom are very busy and committed to doing a good job, and who enjoy what they do. you're also 7 people doing the work of 14.
except for one person, who doesn't pull his weight, is a little dopey, has (purposely?) let down his colleagues by not carrying/following things through without telling people and constantly making errors so that no one wants to work with him anymore.
how do you deal with said person?

results 36 votes

say something to him (15 votes)
 42%
say something to the boss (20 votes)
 56%
go on suffering and taking on crap he didn't do or fucked up (1 vote)
 3%
other? (0 votes)
 0%
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comments

  • vexed says:

    This situation really sucks, and I feel for you.
    I'd base my response on the type of boss you've got. If the boss knows about your dipshit colleague and does nothing, he/she may continue to pass the buck when you mention it to him/her, saying something lame like "go talk to your colleague first".
    To avoid this eventuality, I would talk to the colleague first, but I'd frame the thing supportively, saying something like "I can't help but notice that you really seem overwhelmed. I need this project to turn out well. What can I do to help support your work on it?". This way you've made the overature, you're identifying that things are not cool as they are, and you've stepped up to take the high road. All important things in case the dude falls on his face again, because it will be better material supporting your team -based initiative if you do bring things to management later.

    Oct 29, 2006 01:32 PM
  • laner says:

    we (us military) have a policy that no supervisor is going to do anything if you havent tried to sort it out at the lowest level first... ie talking to the person. well, thats the theory anyway, though i havent seen it all that much in practice. i usually try to resolve it with them first so they have warning, then when i go to the boss and they are like "what did you do to fix this" you can tell them you have tried talking to the person and it didnt do squat. makes you look like less of a whiner...

    Oct 30, 2006 07:54 AM
  • anonymous questioner says:

    actually, the boss is more than aware and has reportedly threatened said colleague with a pay cut if he doesn't shape up. that didn't stop him from f king up something today and me having to spend an hour sorting it out tho. sigh.

    Oct 30, 2006 08:00 AM
  • Yuri says:

    well, if the boss is aware and involved, then its showtime. Tell the boss, tell him everyti,e, and if thats too many, tell hm a daily/weekly update.
    I wish my boss would give a toss...

    Oct 30, 2006 09:32 AM
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