To be annoyed at colleague for doing too much work?

[User364837]

Trying to work out if this is a me problem or ainbu for feeling annoyed with colleague and might say something to her.

We’re on a training programme. Im older and have a bit more experience than her. She is incredibly bright, incredibly productive and incredibly intense.

we’re working together on something with a more senior colleague from the team I am going to go to when we finish our training, she’s going elsewhere.

she is just so damn quick. We got some more information in and the senior colleague has set up a meeting to discuss how we’re going to proceed.

but she’s already looked at all the stuff and is asking me what I thought (I haven’t looked yet, busy with other stuff!) she’s prepared a lengthy summary document on her findings to share at the meeting.

AND she did all this last week when she was on leave.

it really annoys me and I can’t figure out if it’s just that my nose is out of joint?

but I think it is also that it makes me look rubbish and also it’s like someone giving you the answer to a maths problem before you’ve done the working out. By racing ahead it means I don’t kind of do the process myself which I need to do.

aibu to tell her to back off and slow down? (Politely) or am I just bitter she’s better and quicker than me?

thanks all, accept there is definitely an element of bitterness! She is incredibly detailed and imo overcompicates things and bombards you with too much detail and information overload.

but yes I shall hide my irritation, was good to get it off my chest here but agree on balance it is more of a me problem.

YABU.

My manager does this. Often taking work from other people so she can race ahead before they have had a chance. Working late and on holiday. I think it makes her look a little frantic. So had it been a manager I would be wondering why they cannot delegate and what else should they be doing if they need to fill the time with other peoples jobs.

as it’s someone on the same level, yabu. She just wants to get ahead. The working whilst on holiday is not a good look though, seems like unable to cope with workload in standard work hours.

Working whilst on leave seems daft and will not be good for her in the long run. She may be using Chat GPT or similar to summarise information, which makes such task much less time consuming; so maybe try that?

She should not be working while on leave unless there is an urgent deadline to be met on the day she is due back. That is something that her line manager needs to speak to her about.
If she is faster than you during working hours, that’s tough, you need to speed up.

If what she is producing is not of value (too detailed etc) then that is also a line management issue. When you meet to discuss her latest output, will her/your line manager be part of that discussion? If yes, they may pick up on this issue themselves if you make a few diplomatic comments.

Ha, yes, does her work read like it was written by a humourless yet strangely perky robot?

YABU. Let her crack on and focus on what you're good at.

For example, she has over complicated things and given too much information. Your skill is getting the key information and making it clear and simple. That I something I think comes with experience.

Im back from serveral maternity leaves and I work PT. The younger people who I work with are now very experienced and have a lot more time and it really upset me when I first got back. But you have to find a way to work together, and in some cases learn from them while they learn from you. Hard though.

Agree with others in that working whilst in leave is the only thing that's shouldn't have been done. ChatGPT (or any other AI) output should also be carefully reviewed before sending as it's not always relevant or correct - if it was used that is.
Everything else is down to you, sorry. I'd not take a blind bit of notice of someone who wanted me to work at their pace in working hours otherwise. I work how I work.

She might be looking good, but it shouldn't make you look bad unless there is an expectation that you work during leave (in which case that's a management issue). As long as you are meeting your expectations then just let others get on with their work.

Absolutely this.

Step up your own game, OP.

be bitter or be better

she sounds fab and quick and on the ball. You are obviously just worried how she makes you look. You cannot tell her off for doing a great job. Yabu and you know it. either up your game or suck it up.

I saw something over the weekend that said 'Here for the income, not the outcome' and that pretty much sums up my mid forties attitude to work. I have done the being quick, overworking, etc etc. I'm just done with it now. When I see younger colleagues doing it, I leave them to it. Good for them, it can be a life stage thing.

Yes OP, YABU.

As you say, you have more experience. Have you considered she is working hard to be perceived/feel that she is the right hire for the role?

OP, I think I’m like you at work. I do my work thoroughly to a high standard, and need time to mentally process things before reaching a decision. And look with envy at - often younger - colleagues who seem to zoom through everything with an amazing amount of energy and enthusiasm.

But when it comes down to it, all you can do is to do your job to the best of your ability, playing to your own individual strengths.

I agree your colleague working on her leave is a massive problem. It only takes a few people like this on a team to normalise the ‘always on, always available’ culture, and for workloads to increase, as some people are choosing to work silly hours. And then it becomes near impossible for anyone to do their job within their normal hours. Which is a massive equality issue as only employees with little or no responsibilities outside of work can meet the new norm.

This was me. She is likely overworking due to anxiety. Not much you can do.. she will probably burn out and have to reassess! But you could offer some gentle encouragement not to overwork for her wellbeing.

Or have the confidence to run your own race and not get sucked into the (impossible to win) competition that our capitalist society tries to make you play!

Working while on leave is counter-productive.
If I were her manager, I would roll my eyes at a long “summary” document - a summary should be short! Unless I had specifically asked her to do it. It would also depend on the quality - if it was beautifully written pulling out the key points I would be impressed. If it was in ungrammatical language, repetitive and badly structured, not so much.

That said, she’s just trying to impress during her probation.

That sounds exactly like my experience in my last few years of teaching. Young NQTs were very keen to do everything and stayed up to stupid hours to do more and more(not something you can do for 30 years). Posters will say that is a good thing and they were working hard. However,they were very good at getting people they deemed important to notice their work and never gave credit to other who have have had the idea or had started the work before them. They were very ambitious and already has a career plan. Once they had been deemed to be amazing ,they were very quick to apply and get posts that took them out of the classroom!

before I even opened this thread, I read the title

To be annoyed at colleague for doing too much work?

and translated it as

to be annoyed at colleague for showing me up.

Having read the OP's post, I think that's what it's about. It maybe the womean is over qualified and too bright for the role, in which case that will solve itself in due course but you are unreasonable to be annoyed for the reasons you've put in the OP.

I think you just need to learn to co-exist with a worker like this and be confident in your own style (slower/measured) and boundaries (no working on leave).

I have had the opposite experience with a couple of interns and younger colleagues who were downright lazy and were not prepared to put in the graft that serves you well early in your career. So, personally, I’d be a little bit grateful for this attitude.

also it’s like someone giving you the answer to a maths problem before you’ve done the working out. By racing ahead it means I don’t kind of do the process myself which I need to do.

@User364837 this part is reasonable because it is the part that affects you. An insistence on completing tasks well before the deadline is preventing you from truly benefiting from the task. I think you could explain this to your colleague and then schedule times to do your own prep and to discuss with your work colleague.

I'd also keep an eye on the taking credit for work that's not hers. Nip this in the bud if you can - I've found it easiest to call out when it's done to other people e.g. when she's presented a report thanking and complimenting her and then highlighting how crucial Bob's contribution on x was. That way managers are clear she isn't single handedly doing all this work and you aren't made to feel petty by anyone when you point that out.

STTE I think I'd be a bit annoyed, but mainly because she worked while on leave. I have colleagues who do this and it sets the unspoken expectation that we're all on, always. I refuse to do this and I think it does make me appear lazy, but I'm not sacrificing my life for a job, even one I enjoy very much.

As you invited her to work on this with you, it sounds like she is trying really really hard to impress you.

You should take confidence in your own abilities as she obviously looks up to you!

Maybe give her a bit of reassurance - let her know there’s no big rush, no need to over complicate matters, and that you don’t expect her to work when she’s on leave. This might help her relax a bit!

YANBU about working while on leave. It sets an unrealistic expectation for others. Others (usually younger without kids) in my role work extra hours on the quiet to stay afloat. I can't/won't (three small children!) so always look inadequate. But I'm working my bum off for all the hours I'm (badly) paid for!