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co-worker issue

momhappy

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 3, 2013
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I have a part-time job that I mostly do from home. There is a fairly new guy at work that handles some of the computer/technical stuff. To make a long story short, I do about 95% of each task and this guy is responsible for the other 5%. The thing is, he is routinely screwing up the other 5% - to the point where it is affecting my income (not a lot, but a small amount). Since he is fairly new, I have cut him some slack, but the careless mistakes continue and I finally mentioned something to my boss. It's not like I threw him under the bus, but I let my boss know that things have not been running as smoothly as perhaps they could be. Well, yesterday and today, I have dealt with yet another bunch of mistakes and I'm sooooooooo irritated. What would you do? Address it with him? Go right to your boss? I don't want to get the guy fired (or maybe I do if he can't do his job properly), but something has got to change.
 
If it happens to me, I would personally inform my colleagues of his mistakes, based on objective evidence, and to inform him that I shall not bring the issues to our boss' attention if improvements can be observed within a specified time period, otherwise I shall.

DK :))
 
I would learn his 5% of the job, make him obsolete, and ask for a raise. :naughty:
 
monarch64|1395326389|3637907 said:
I would learn his 5% of the job, make him obsolete, and ask for a raise. :naughty:

for the win!
 
momhappy|1395320184|3637857 said:
I have a part-time job that I mostly do from home. There is a fairly new guy at work that handles some of the computer/technical stuff. To make a long story short, I do about 95% of each task and this guy is responsible for the other 5%. The thing is, he is routinely screwing up the other 5% - to the point where it is affecting my income (not a lot, but a small amount). Since he is fairly new, I have cut him some slack, but the careless mistakes continue and I finally mentioned something to my boss. It's not like I threw him under the bus, but I let my boss know that things have not been running as smoothly as perhaps they could be. Well, yesterday and today, I have dealt with yet another bunch of mistakes and I'm sooooooooo irritated. What would you do? Address it with him? Go right to your boss? I don't want to get the guy fired (or maybe I do if he can't do his job properly), but something has got to change.

So you haven't already discussed these errors with him? This surprises me. If a project is mostly mine, I take point on ensuring quality, and this is especially true if a new worker is involved. And I would have already spoken/emailed with the new worker each time a mistake is made, explaining the correct procedure and likely even repeating the reason why the procedure you have described is the correct way to go. I would keep track of these errors/corrections. Only after a new worker makes the same mistake several times, and/or shows clear signs of not following your feedback - keeping in mind a reasonable learning curve for a new employee to inculcate in-house priorities and procedures - would I go to his/your superior.
 
movie zombie|1395327637|3637916 said:
monarch64|1395326389|3637907 said:
I would learn his 5% of the job, make him obsolete, and ask for a raise. :naughty:

for the win!

I'm actually serious! I've been in similar positions. The last job I had working for someone else, I started out as a part-timer. The position I wanted was held by someone who was rather...incapable. I watched and learned until I had a good grasp on some tasks that were particular to the company, and I offered to take over or assist with projects this person couldn't seem to finish correctly or on time. That person was terminated and I was promoted to their position. That person was full of excuses, had a poor work ethic, didn't understand how to work as part of a team, and really took their job for granted.

If this guy is just phoning it in, lazy, and not putting forth the effort as well as causing you to lose money you'd have otherwise made, it's time for you to grow a pair and edge him out. He doesn't deserve to be there.
 
marymm|1395328632|3637928 said:
momhappy|1395320184|3637857 said:
I have a part-time job that I mostly do from home. There is a fairly new guy at work that handles some of the computer/technical stuff. To make a long story short, I do about 95% of each task and this guy is responsible for the other 5%. The thing is, he is routinely screwing up the other 5% - to the point where it is affecting my income (not a lot, but a small amount). Since he is fairly new, I have cut him some slack, but the careless mistakes continue and I finally mentioned something to my boss. It's not like I threw him under the bus, but I let my boss know that things have not been running as smoothly as perhaps they could be. Well, yesterday and today, I have dealt with yet another bunch of mistakes and I'm sooooooooo irritated. What would you do? Address it with him? Go right to your boss? I don't want to get the guy fired (or maybe I do if he can't do his job properly), but something has got to change.

So you haven't already discussed these errors with him? This surprises me. If a project is mostly mine, I take point on ensuring quality, and this is especially true if a new worker is involved. And I would have already spoken/emailed with the new worker each time a mistake is made, explaining the correct procedure and likely even repeating the reason why the procedure you have described is the correct way to go. I would keep track of these errors/corrections. Only after a new worker makes the same mistake several times, and/or shows clear signs of not following your feedback - keeping in mind a reasonable learning curve for a new employee to inculcate in-house priorities and procedures - would I go to his/your superior.

Yes, as the errors have been made, I've pointed them out to him. Clearly, that's not helping. We typically don't see each other in person - almost 100% of our communication is done by email. Perhaps it calls for a face-to-face meeting with him?
 
monarch64|1395328770|3637929 said:
movie zombie|1395327637|3637916 said:
monarch64|1395326389|3637907 said:
I would learn his 5% of the job, make him obsolete, and ask for a raise. :naughty:

for the win!

I'm actually serious! I've been in similar positions. The last job I had working for someone else, I started out as a part-timer. The position I wanted was held by someone who was rather...incapable. I watched and learned until I had a good grasp on some tasks that were particular to the company, and I offered to take over or assist with projects this person couldn't seem to finish correctly or on time. That person was terminated and I was promoted to their position. That person was full of excuses, had a poor work ethic, didn't understand how to work as part of a team, and really took their job for granted.

If this guy is just phoning it in, lazy, and not putting forth the effort as well as causing you to lose money you'd have otherwise made, it's time for you to grow a pair and edge him out. He doesn't deserve to be there.

and I was serious, too! it is brilliant and you've already showed it works!

i do agree with marymm, though, given "ownership" of the work project.....and how she would handle it works for me as well. then take over that 5%!
 
monarch64|1395328770|3637929 said:
movie zombie|1395327637|3637916 said:
monarch64|1395326389|3637907 said:
I would learn his 5% of the job, make him obsolete, and ask for a raise. :naughty:

for the win!

I'm actually serious! I've been in similar positions. The last job I had working for someone else, I started out as a part-timer. The position I wanted was held by someone who was rather...incapable. I watched and learned until I had a good grasp on some tasks that were particular to the company, and I offered to take over or assist with projects this person couldn't seem to finish correctly or on time. That person was terminated and I was promoted to their position. That person was full of excuses, had a poor work ethic, didn't understand how to work as part of a team, and really took their job for granted.

If this guy is just phoning it in, lazy, and not putting forth the effort as well as causing you to lose money you'd have otherwise made, it's time for you to grow a pair and edge him out. He doesn't deserve to be there.

Great minds think alike :D I have already thought about doing this. I could fairly easily learn his job and wouldn't need him at all. Even my boss hinted to me that maybe we don't need to rely on the co-worker for things that I may have the ability to do myself (with minimal training). I get the feeling that my boss is not really crazy about the the guy either….
 
I'd follow Moni's advice, or talk to both the co-worker and the boss in a written format.
 
Start cc'ing the boss on emails addressing the mistakes.
 
baby monster|1395331729|3637967 said:
Start cc'ing the boss on emails addressing the mistakes.

definitely should....especially since it seems the boss is ready for the 5% to become 0% for the other worker.
 
momhappy|1395320184|3637857 said:
I have a part-time job that I mostly do from home. There is a fairly new guy at work that handles some of the computer/technical stuff. To make a long story short, I do about 95% of each task and this guy is responsible for the other 5%. The thing is, he is routinely screwing up the other 5% - to the point where it is affecting my income (not a lot, but a small amount). Since he is fairly new, I have cut him some slack, but the careless mistakes continue and I finally mentioned something to my boss. It's not like I threw him under the bus, but I let my boss know that things have not been running as smoothly as perhaps they could be. Well, yesterday and today, I have dealt with yet another bunch of mistakes and I'm sooooooooo irritated. What would you do? Address it with him? Go right to your boss? I don't want to get the guy fired (or maybe I do if he can't do his job properly), but something has got to change.
Id say something directly to him, and either cc or bcc your boss.
 
Ugh, I really dislike getting cc'd/bc'd on those kinds of e-mails when I've not asked for that; my In box gets plenty of e-mails without gratuitous ones & I consider it a snarky/passive-aggressive tactic when someone under my supervision does it as a surprise, to both me and their colleague, so it doesn't enhance the sender's professional stature in my eyes.

Does your office have a HR department/person? If not, I would have a face-to-face conversation with him to explore what's going on, before escalating matters. I understand your exasperation, but it may be that he's not an incompetent bonehead & some orientation/training re the particulars of his job in your outfit would be to everyone's benefit.
 
I've managed people for years and my advice on this one is talk to your colleague first, at least once or twice, in a true spirit of helpfulness. Try to help him achieve positive results. IMO that is taking initiative and being a good team player. This is appreciated in most organizations.

If you can't help him effect change, then speak to your boss privately. At that point, it becomes a performance issue that your boss needs to address with your colleague. Let your boss know you are available to help out if/as needed.

A good boss should be able to bring it up with him in a way that is not threatening, and also doesn't make you the bad guy.

Your boss is responsible for both your results, so should have an incentive to care about resolving this. Your job is try to help the work unit be successful and productive.

Hope this helps. :)

Anne
 
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