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I have been working at a job for a little over three months now. My co-workers feel as if they don't have to do that much of work and take more breaks than they do work. Everytime another co-worker or myself brings the situation to the boss nothing ever gets done about it. What do you think I should do in a situation like this? Should I find another place to work?
It sounds like you are working under very stressful conditions and feeling taken advantage of by your co-workers. Obviously, the easiest approach is to quit your job and look for another one. The real issue here is that you are being inundated with your co-workers’ responsibilities while they slough off! This is unfair and needs to be resolved. What about considering taking some other steps prior to resigning? Here’s how you might approach this problem:
- Keep a log for one or two weeks. Write down when your co-workers are taking breaks, for how long and what happens during those times. Do you need to answer the phone more or complete assignments which are their responsibility? If so, include those facts in the log. You may want to suggest that your co-worker - who has similar concerns - keep a log as well.
- Approach your co-workers with the log. State the facts –that you are having to take on their workload during the extra breaks because those responsibilities will not wait until they return. Make a request - that they take only the time allotted to them for breaks. Read more about assertiveness here: www.hoyweb.com/faq/assert2.htm
- What if they do not comply with your request? Stop doing their work. Let their phone calls go to voice mail. When someone asks a question that only they can answer- tell them to contact the co-worker in the lounge. When your boss is demanding a file or job be completed – tell him/her that the person responsible for it is taking a break.
- When all else fails: take the log(s) to show to your supervisor as proof about the long/extra breaks. Ask your supervisor to talk with your co-workers again. If he/she refuses, then, you have no recourse but, to write a letter attaching the log and apprising your supervisor’s boss of the situation.
More importantly, pray about this situation. Ask the Lord to give you the courage and the words you need when you speak to your co-workers and supervisor(s). Ask for prayer from other Christians.
One of the biggest challenges will be how to forgive these co-workers who have been taking advantage of you. The only person you can control is you. You can pray, make requests and try to deal with the situation fairly but, these workers may still not comply even when ordered to change.
Leave the situation in the Lord’s hands once you have done the above. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.”
