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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doing colleagues work

18 replies

csandsickofit · 10/07/2023 15:05

Sorry if this is long but I am at the end of my tether and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions welcome!
I am part of a large team, 20 odd of us. We all do the same job, we get tasks allocated and they have a specific time frame they have to be done by, but can be done early. In fact that is encouraged.
I keep on top of my work, I don't spend hours chatting or looking at my phone so my work is always at a manageable level. Others not so much.
Just recently what has been happening is that all of us who keep our work down are being given extra work to do. The work of the people who sit on their phones (in one case chatting to a colleague on the phone for 1.5 HOURS). I have complained about this time and time again, and it's a case of 'yeah we'll have a word' but nothing bloody changes.
Apart from leaving (which it is getting to the point I am looking for other jobs) any other suggestions? Would I be unreasonable to say 'nope, not happening'?

OP posts:
DreamItDoIt · 10/07/2023 15:07

Do your own work slower, keep part if it back by so you can say 'no sorry still have work to do' or question kpi's if you have them

Hadalifeonce · 10/07/2023 15:07

Maybe try stretching your work to fill your day, therefore you will have no spare capacity to do someone else's work.

OhComeOnFFS · 10/07/2023 15:10

Your manager is terrible.

Is there any way you can show who's done which piece of work, so that it's obvious who's hardly doing anything?

Landndialamrhf · 10/07/2023 15:11

go to management and ask for a raise or a promotion since you’re obviously over achieving in this role and getting through significantly more work than others.
if that doesn’t work just do your own work slower and say you haven’t got capacity to take more on.
take more breaks or Hold back some work either unfinished or unsubmitted

though I would say they can’t just fire people. So if they’re going through disciplinary measures with those people you wouldn’t necessarily know. assuming it’s a handful of people, obviously if it’s the whole team its unlikely they’re going to do anything about it.

Caroparo52 · 10/07/2023 15:33

I would be furious too op.
But its not you personally who is looser here its the company who have are stuck with someone who is clearly taking the piss.
Adopt a more modest pace of work turnover and sit back to watch it unfold as it surely must. Karma is a beautiful thing.
Don't be a snitch . If you don't want to leave this job then don't.

Just maybe said piss taker is having a rough time hence 90 minute calls and it will pass. Can they not multitask?

Original poster
csandsickofit · 10/07/2023 15:59

OhComeOnFFS · 10/07/2023 15:10

Your manager is terrible.

Is there any way you can show who's done which piece of work, so that it's obvious who's hardly doing anything?

They are (5 all pretty much the same apart from one)

We all have our own spreadsheets so it is very obvious who isn't doing their work but it simply isn't be addressed with them. I am more than happy to help people out who are struggling, but a lot of my colleagues are taking the pods and being allowed to get away with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
csandsickofit · 10/07/2023 16:04

Landndialamrhf · 10/07/2023 15:11

go to management and ask for a raise or a promotion since you’re obviously over achieving in this role and getting through significantly more work than others.
if that doesn’t work just do your own work slower and say you haven’t got capacity to take more on.
take more breaks or Hold back some work either unfinished or unsubmitted

though I would say they can’t just fire people. So if they’re going through disciplinary measures with those people you wouldn’t necessarily know. assuming it’s a handful of people, obviously if it’s the whole team its unlikely they’re going to do anything about it.

I'm not anything special- believe me, just that I actually do my work instead of wasting hours doing other stuff. I could work slower but it's not really in my nature, and I hate having hundreds of tasks waiting to be done. CS so no hope of a raise or promotion.

Thanks for the replies, I was beginning to wonder if I was being unreasonable and making too much of it. Perhaps if I give my notice In when I get another job I can spell it out. But I doubt if anything will change. But at least I won't care.

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 10/07/2023 16:13

Customer Services? Computer Scientist? Company Secretary? Civil Service?

Why does everyone on Mumsnet think the rest of the world will understand their work jargon? YABU.

DaisyUpsy · 10/07/2023 16:32

I've had a similar issue recently. I now work slower. I won't do what they do and slack off completely as I have a conscience, but I'm not putting in my usual effort when it's not appreciated by management and others put in a lot less but we all get paid the same. I still get my work done just more slowly.

rookiemere · 10/07/2023 16:35

Are you working unpaid overtime or being forced to work at an uncomfortable pace ?
If the answer is no I'd just keep on doing what you're doing. If you enjoy the job then try not to focus on what others are doing or not doing, annoying as it must be.

ImSidneyFuckingPrescott · 10/07/2023 16:37

If you're all just allocated tasks focus on your own taking it at your own pace. If you're asked to help out either you have you're own work still left so say no. Or if you've finished your work surely you would rather be allocated more than sit with nothing to do?

Do you want to be like your lazy colleagues or would you prefer to work at a decent pace and have something to do all day.

I will say if you're civil service, knowing what it's like possibly some of your colleagues have anxitey/mh issues/ something else and managers feel like their hands are tied.

Curtains70 · 10/07/2023 16:42

Have you finished your work and then have nothing to do so are given extra? That doesn't seem too unreasonable 🤷‍♀️

BranchGold · 10/07/2023 16:49

It’s one of those situations where you have options other than sitting and seething, so it’s up to you.

you do additional work, are kept busy all day and go home feeling a warm glow about how diligent and hard working you are.

Or you manage your current allocated work to fill the full day, and feel satisfied that you’re being compensated for the correct level of work. (News flash, if you’re civil service then you’re already vastly underpaid.)

Choosing to be unhappy about it but wanting to carry on as you are is a bit futile.

bonfirebash · 10/07/2023 16:56

Stop doing extra work, and drag your own out
I was fuming over similar - I would do 250 tasks and someone else would do 10
So now I do the exact amount I am meant to, and stop. Occasionally a few more

Then everyone is "whyyyy I don't understand whyyyy the work isn't getting done now"
My manager knows and is just "it's a big mystery"

LlynTegid · 10/07/2023 17:22

Hope you find a new job soon, and when you do, let your employer know why you are leaving.

Are the slower/lazy ones those who have some hold on the manager (knows something) or favoured perhaps on their appearance?

Original poster
csandsickofit · 11/07/2023 11:53

bonfirebash · 10/07/2023 16:56

Stop doing extra work, and drag your own out
I was fuming over similar - I would do 250 tasks and someone else would do 10
So now I do the exact amount I am meant to, and stop. Occasionally a few more

Then everyone is "whyyyy I don't understand whyyyy the work isn't getting done now"
My manager knows and is just "it's a big mystery"

This is it! The only reason I'm miffed is that others are not working, they are chatting and god knows what else (WFH hybrid so could be doing almost anything) and yet I am expected to pick up the work they couldn't be arsed to do. Civil servants so badly underpaid, and yes, many do have MH problems, ironically me included. But thanks for all your comments, it has helped, now I need to find my inner 'don't give a fuck' and start showing it. They wouldn't ever fire me, we're really understaffed and the process would take years! And I don't think 'refusing to do other colleagues work' would be sufficient grounds!

OP posts:
WhateverHappenedToMe · 11/07/2023 12:01

I had this happen to me (one of four pooling work). Eventually I spoke to Welfare regarding my stress levels and was advised "As a coping strategy, next time your colleagues have been chatting too long, take put a book and start reading".

I did, and and my boss challenged me. I explained I was using a coping strategy devised by Welfare to deal with the stress of colleagues chatting about non-work stuff for over ten minutes while I was doing their work. My boss told my colleagues to get back to work.

The second time, my boss saw me getting my book out and immediately spoke to my colleagues.

It didn't happen a third time.

kraftyKitten · 11/07/2023 12:16

OhComeOnFFS · 10/07/2023 15:10

Your manager is terrible.

Is there any way you can show who's done which piece of work, so that it's obvious who's hardly doing anything?

I bet the shirkers are well in with management

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