Work colleague taking so much time off

I hate when this happens.
Focus on work and performance and not the other person.
If I do 100 % of my work and 10 % of absent colleagues work, then I will jot it down and keep a paper trail whether it impacts my work or not, as I have evidence of it then.
They may hit back and say well it's being a team player.
If I do more than 10% of their work on top of mine, then I want compensating.
How long are you expected to take on their workload?
If you spread yourself too thin, then you will end up off sick yourself (not a bad idea) and then it will hopefully flag up how much you do. Unless another poor sod in your team picks up yours and the absent colleagues work, and burns them out.

Keep records and paper trails. Focus on how you already do more than 100% work ( as you complete your own batch and then cover for absent colleagues work) and you want to know how much you are to be paid for the extra work.
Get HR involved. Manager might just cover for her mate.

Do you work in local government for? Or the NHS?

I worked in local government for a couple of years and was so shocked at people going off sick, great sick pay leave. My sister in law like myself has a job in local government, also like myself worked in the private sector prior to this. Last year she reported a Manager for bullying, she wasn’t the first to do this. She was asked to take gardening leave whilst they investigated her ability to do her job. 4 months later they invited her to come back to work, she was more than adequate at her ability to do the job, they’d paid 4 months at full pay and the bullying manager is still there and nothing has been done. I also left due to a bullying manager, when I learned the previous two people doing my job had left for the same reason I was furious. They had tried taking her to management about it, bugger all was done. I’ve never experienced anything like it, so much money is wasted. If it was run as a business it would be bankrupt.

I had similar with a former colleague and picked up a lot of her work. I tried to be friendly and supportive and asked her if I could help/ support as she was new to the role. She complained to our line manager that I had upset and bullied her, affecting her mental health. This was clearly not true but left a very bitter taste. I ended up leaving and went into a lovely job with like-minded colleagues. I believe she is still there repeating the same cycles of behaviour on a loop.
You have my sympathy.

Stop doing her work. Just keep it simple, “I can’t fit in this work as I have to much of my own to do so it will be left for X coming back.”

Rinse and repeat. They cannot do anything to you for not doing someone else’s work. Don’t do it. Nothing will change until the managers have to deal with work mourning up and no one doing it.

I honestly wish people like this would just leave. They're not cut out for the job and are frankly a drain on everyone else. They should pick up their self-respect and move on, to something they're more suited to.
I'd never stay in a job that made me like this. I'd be too embarrassed for a start.

I feel your pain, I work in a GP practice and our head of reception is ALWAYS off. I'm the secretary so not really on reception but I started keeping a log of how much I have covered reception over the past year. I feel it's made me bitter and angry and start to hate my job which annoys me even more because I always loved my job and took so much pride in the work I done and now I just don't give a s**t. There is no actual policy in place at my work for sickness either just that you fill out a sheet it goes in a folder and it sits there never to be looked at again. She even came to me last week after taking Monday and Tuesday off to tell me the antics she got up to at the wkend. It's hard to not get annoyed. I hope there is a solution for you because there isn't one for me.

There are lazy people and sick people. It is very reasonable to complain if people are lazy and it means more work for you.

I know one of these, it's so frustrating and almost predictable when it's going to happen and everyone else is left to pick up the flack, in a small team. Whereas I try and be in work unless really ill.

Last time it happened I did what others have suggested, I did my work first each day, unless it was something of theirs that would impact other people, and only when that was done would I pick up theirs. It does cause me stress and frustration, and this time if i do feel that way I'm inclined not to bottle it up especially as I do have my own reason to be stressed, previously I've always been the grit your teeth and get on with it category

I'd play along and start taking sick days and "WFH" days myself. Go off sick when you move house. Fuck 'em!

I'd never normally suggest that but you're clearly being taken the piss out of by both your shitty colleague and you're equally shitty manager.

Definitely start applying for jobs, don't wait until you move house, do it now.

Stop picking up her work. Tell your manager you have more than enough to do with your own workload.

I have a similar colleague who somehow managed to wangle WFH 3 days a week and then gets her shopping delivered, takes the dog to the groomers and generally does all of her life stuff during work hours. She’s also regularly off sick with migraines or takes extra WFH days as her IBS is playing up. It’s frustrating as I work in a school and if her work doesn’t get done it’s detrimental to the students so the other 2 of us pick it up. Now her car is broken, but that’s not a concern to her because she’ll just WFH. She’s blind to the impact this has on the other 2 of us (time spent answering phones and dealing with queries). She also has a work mobile but has never charged it because she doesn’t get a signal in her house (but manages to ring in to the office ok) meaning that if any queries arise or phone calls come in regarding her workload, it’s picked up by us again as despite having her mobile number in her email signature, nobody can ever get hold of her. It’s incredibly frustrating but it’s either suck it up or look elsewhere.

I wonder whether all of her absence is properly recorded? Especially if she is finishing early rather than officially calling in sick? Does she get company sick pay? Sounds like she will have had far more than she is eligible for if she does

This. Stand up for yourself.

Her absences are none of your business.

The only issue you have here is your workload-discuss that but not your colleague.

Yeah stress and anxiety can cause dizziness. Did for me. Always best to eliminate others possible causes first though.

If she's best buds with your manager. Tell your manager that you don't have the time to do her work anymore and she'll have to sort cover. It's really not your problem to sort but you can stop

Is dizziness a sign of burnout? I've been worried about myself and this is happening to me

You have a management problem. They should be dealing with this.

Ask for a meeting with your manager and tell them you are unable to continue to prop up your colleague and do her work because it is affecting your own work and you are starting to feel burn out.

It is a problem for them to solve.

Then stop doing her job...as long as you continue to pick up the slack management will just assume there are no problems with the current situation.

I'd be tempted to take some sick leave, if I were you. It would then be obvious that you're the one usually doing all the work.

Not as far as the OP is concerned; she is picking up a second workload regardless. However, from OP’s perspective it certainly seems as though she is not. It is a huge management failing and needs to be brought to their attention as a first step. Perhaps you should engage in a stress risk assessment and an action plan to reduce your stress, as you can only work in relation to you. Hopefully they will join the dots.

I'd try to make it about your workload than your colleague's absences other than you having to cover their workload.

And I'd not be covering my colleague's work unless paid overtime was involved. It is not your responsibility to take on extra.

I might mention the boasting to HR about "doing the minimum" and taking time off but just don't mention the sick leave - it's a very dangerous path.

I don’t get why you’re doing her work for her.
Just stop,
Do your own,
finish on time,
don’t stress.
not your business. Not your issue to worry about.

Why are you doing her work?

That's exactly what I'd do, just don't do it, that is the only way they will notice.

Good luck

I'd list the extra work but as others say be careful not to make personal comments. I had to give a sanitised version to colleagues when a long term condition was changing suddenly and they gossiped about me, it was awful.