Colleague taking the piss….

[Laughingteacakes]

I work in a team alongside a colleague, we do the same job, we are on a small team in a public services workplace - don’t want to be too outing. We are able to work from home but also have an office base and we do work in the community, around the area of our office base.
This colleague has small children, she doesn’t have childcare in place consistently, she seems to be working her job around her childcare needs rather than pay for the right amount of childcare (money isn’t an issue, think expensive car, large house etc). She also travels from home to work in her work time so that she can be at home at the times she needs for her childcare, without making up the 1.5ish hours this takes her each day. The rest of the team are working really hard, extra hours, lots of stress about getting through the workload, she is breezing along with a much lighter workload and therefore managing to continue to be at home whenever she needs to for her children. It is driving me crazy, I am so pissed off that the rest of the team including myself are working so hard and she is taking the absolute piss. I know different people have different work ethics but I feel this is really out of order. It’s also causing lots of negativity in the team with people feeling so cross.
This has been going on about a year, but is getting worse. I need advice, how would you deal with this, our manager doesn’t seem to be interested as the teams work is getting done.
YABU - you should just get on with it and not get involved.
YANBU - this is a piss take and you should do something to try and get the workload more even. Thanks for any views…I’m that worked up about it I can’t think straight….😊

What she does / doesn't do, and when she works / doesn't work, isn't really any of your business.

If the rest of you are working extra (unpaid) hours to cover her shortfall, then stop doing them and you won't feel so bitter about it. The only reason you're annoyed is because she's getting away with it, it doesn't actually directly impact you. Just take on less work, like she does, and everyone will be happy. If the work doesn't get done, your line manager can deal with it then.

Has anyone noticed the op said she worked in the public sector? So presumably if work is left it will be vulnerable service users who miss out?
I’m sure most MUmsnetters would be outraged if it was their child/elderly relatives missing out.
Thank you for doing the extra work op, but please try and raise it with your manager.

I think you need to stop obsessing about someone else's life, either report or move on somehow.

Are you sure that your manager doesn't know and hasn't okayed this? I have an agreement in place with my boss that I clock off and do the school runs. It's not discussed with my colleagues because its not their business.

If you have worked in the public sector as long as I have, then you will have encountered many a piss take along your way. My attitude is if you cannot beat them, join them.

I work hard, but I honestly have never understood people who get their knickers in a twist over what their colleagues do. Sometimes I raise an eyebrow, but I understand that everyone has lives and that it doesn't impact me.

Presumably they're only holding themselves back when it comes to promotion.

I work from home and sometimes I hear people's kids in the background. Or building work. Or a dog barking. I don't think anything of it and if someone made a comment to me about a little background noise I would find it very hard to bite my tongue.

Its not your job to concern yourself with her routine.

@thefirstmrsrochester lockdown dogs aren't puppies any more and require little attention during the day. What exactly is the problem? Are you opposed to people daring to work from home if they have a dog snoring under the table?

It could be, but not everyone 'public sector' works with vulnerable people. It could be civil service, planning office, tax inspectors, food hygiene, road repairs... Anything!

I can get a BMW on lease for £300 a month. Wraparound childcare for my kids was £700 a month.

Are you sure that your manager doesn't know and hasn't okayed this? I have an agreement in place with my boss that I clock off and do the school runs. It's not discussed with my colleagues because its not their business.

I have an agreement for flexible working with my manager too. My colleagues also don't know about it because it's not their business. I do my work, they do theirs, and that's that 🤷‍♀️

It could be, but not everyone 'public sector' works with vulnerable people. It could be civil service, planning office, tax inspectors, food hygiene, road repairs... Anything!

Exactly. For some reason my first thought was probation service!

I've a colleague who had similar for a caring thing, not kids.

I worked with someone like this

She made her way to the senior leadership team and earned sooo much each month
She bragged openly about how flexible she was and how work would never get her stressed out

Just became the norm
Really effing pissed me off

100% this. We have one like this, blatant piss taker. She admitted (when drunk) that she’s cancelled her Childminder and lies that her toddler is with her (childminder) during the day. The worst thing is when the rest of the team have to pick up her difficult customer calls as she has a toddler yelling in the background.
Actually that’s not the worst thing, that’s her Uncle being the Finance Manager so nobody will do a thing about it.

I can get a BMW on lease for £300 a month. Wraparound childcare for my kids was £700 a month.

Another good point.

I worked with someone who did all pick ups drop offs
Was on work mode then every night from 9 to midnight to cover for the hour or two she missed that day
So we never really know

Some people def do take the fcking piss

I’ve had a colleague like this … her most memorable moment was not being available on her day in as the car needed an mot . Could only be done that day. She worked 2 days a week!

anyway - there is nothing you can do about the colleague. But you can moan to your boss about your workload if it’s heavy and your finishing late all the time. For it to be effective the rest of your colleagues should do the same. Also try to push back with workload if it isn’t achievable in the time you have. Public services have run on good will and claps for far too long . The alternative viewpoint is you r colleague takes no shot and is doing the amount of work she is actually paid for?

@Snoozer11 dogs, especially young dogs as the lockdown puppies will now be, should not be left all day. My point being is that hybrid working facilitates those who choose to abuse it the flexibility to do the school runs, after school care and dog walking, thus saving money on childcare, dog daycare/walking service and on fuel/travel costs. Nothing to do with a puppy snoring under a desk during a teams call.

The BBC ran an article about people whose response to overload work, unfairness etc is to respond by a form of unofficial work to rule, not going the extra mile (or yard even). Not the best response but understandable.

The OP and preferably all the other colleagues who are bearing the consequences of this behaviour should raise it with their manager. Then if it is not seemingly resolved (extra staff may be a satisfactory outcome), be prepared to use things such as grievance procedures.

Flexible working arrangements mean at different times, not less work in the same contracted hours.

I don't know why folk are giving you such a hard time. She is making a mockery of the rest of the team. If she is working full time then she is working 30 hours per month less than everyone else and still getting the same pay.
It sounds like you and your colleagues don't want to let your service users down but if your manager won't address her shortcomings, you will have to stop making up her short fall.
Never mention unless asked what people's circumstances are, otherwise posters will focus on those issues rather than the point you're trying to make.

I don't know why everyone is defending this slacker at work! She sounds awful and it sounds like a situation that would cause a lot of resentment, OP. I have no answers I'm afraid. Can you find a new job with a better culture??

Thanks Fairyliz xx

There are a few people on my team who start late/leave early to do pick ups/haven't got childcare arrangements in place over the holidays as they can't afford it ... personally I think it's a good thing our workplace are flexible for families. I might feel differently if it was impacting the wider team and work was being left.

It’s unfair and very bad management.

Are you actually picking up her work? How is she getting her work done to a presumably acceptable standard in less hours than she is contracted while you’re working over your hours and stressed out? Could it be that she somehow has less work than you, something is off?

Great example of it really depends who reads the op and the mn mood.

Usually everyone would be saying opposite. Particularly in any post where op says I'm not coping and I don't have childcare.

It's not acceptable, just report the impact on you and let management sort.

I’m in exactly the same position, so much so I’m wondering if we’re colleagues!! Can’t be any help because it pisses me off too. The rest of us are working ridiculously hard and she’s tinkering around the edges, looking busy whilst not actually getting through the caseload she should. However I’m more cross at our line manager for not managing the situation. She can see from the diaries and work plans what is happening but does nothing about it.