Page 2 | Sick of guy at work making me look lazy

spanieleyes22 · 2024-10-04T13:51:25+00:00

So we have similar workloads but he always rushes and gets all his work done super fast. Manager just asked will we meet the deadline she set of everything in a task done by 5 today. Am not going to be finished. He of course is well finished. Now he is sending me pm so I want his help. I'm going as fast as I can but I can't keep up. Thing is he comes in at least an hour early every day so that's an extra 5 hours a week. Then he told me he often works on a Sunday night to get ahead. Manager has just said do I want him to help me. NO. It's annoying always to be behind. Am tempted to work over the weekend to catch up again but same will happen next week. Feeling v demoralized

Jc2001 · 04/10/2024 15:20

Bloody hell some people love to stick the knife in.

PsychoHotSauce · 04/10/2024 15:23

Freakydeak · 04/10/2024 15:00

Equally I have a colleague who comes in 2 hours early, works 2 hours late and swans about doing nothing during the day complaining they're so busy and stressed and claims overtime for the privilege. Some people know how to look busy and don't do much.

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If OP works strictly to her hours but also faffing about on MN etc in those hours, she's the problem. Can't have it both ways.

MattSmithsBowTie · 04/10/2024 15:26

I sympathise, our targets at work have crept up and up and some people who have no commitments and live with their parents just work loads of extra hours at home to hit the target then when I complain I can’t keep up I’m told ‘well x can do it’ 🙄

CharlotteBog · 04/10/2024 16:39

MattSmithsBowTie · 04/10/2024 15:26

I sympathise, our targets at work have crept up and up and some people who have no commitments and live with their parents just work loads of extra hours at home to hit the target then when I complain I can’t keep up I’m told ‘well x can do it’ 🙄

And do you then explain that you know other colleagues (no need to go into detail about their lives outside of work) are working extra hours to meet the targets? Are the other colleagues open with their managers about working the extra hours?

Skyrainlight · 04/10/2024 17:11

14:51 deadline looming that I'm not going to make, colleague offering me help that I refuse, manager offering me colleague's help that I don't want. What to do? I know, I'll post on MN and moan. That'll get the work done. 🙄

NewName24 · 04/10/2024 17:23

AIright · 04/10/2024 15:02

This.

Your manager thinks it can be done by five, this guy has it done several hours before five so his additional hour is a moot point.

Do you think that maybe you’re slower at doing this than is acceptable?

You have a deadline approaching in two hours and you’re spending your time posting on MN- I don’t think your colleague is the issue.

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Have to agree.

Presuming 2.51 is in your normal working hours.
You can't meet the deadline.
You have refused the offer of help from someone who has the time and ability to help you.
So you decide to start faffing around posting on MN

As has been said, I don't think the colleague is the issue here.......

MattSmithsBowTie · 04/10/2024 17:37

CharlotteBog · 04/10/2024 16:39

And do you then explain that you know other colleagues (no need to go into detail about their lives outside of work) are working extra hours to meet the targets? Are the other colleagues open with their managers about working the extra hours?

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Yes, it falls on deaf ears, which is probably why the retention and turnover is so high.

Original poster

spanieleyes22 · 09/10/2024 12:37

lol I was messaging in Mumsnet on my break. Am on a break now. Yes it's like what some of you said. The only response from managers is that they will ask someone to help you and then I feel bad like I'm not pulling my weight so I stuck it up. We have a teams meeting tomorrow the first in months but I think I would be wise to say nothing keep my gov shit as nobody will agree with me or back me up that the workload has grown and there's no acknowledgement of that just an expectation to do more work faster.

OP posts:

Tagyoureit · 09/10/2024 12:43

Well he's doing 5 hours during week and then a couple on Sunday, that makes a whole working day extra he's doing.

So he's not better is he? He's taking an extra day to complete his workload.

NotTram · 09/10/2024 12:43

Yes I've worked in an area like this and it sucks. They do extra hours and look great. I had to leave

goodluckbinbin · 09/10/2024 12:45

Tough one... hopefully Mr Keen will son get promoted out of your way!

Mydahliasareshit · 09/10/2024 12:50

There's an episode towards the end of The Good Life with a character called 'Snetterton' who is trying to become Jerry's boss. Watch that for some great Margo putdowns. 😄

DoIWantTo · 09/10/2024 13:14

I don’t understand why you won’t accept his help if you’ve got too much work and he’s got free time due to extra hours put in. You’re cutting off your nose to spite your face

Goldenbear · 09/10/2024 13:30

Is it a salaried position, are you expected to work beyond the contracted hours, is the work culture such that this isn't a bad thing? I think it depends where you work as to whether you can have a word with the boss. I'm not a boss but my work is such that I have to react in certain circumstances with no real regard for the working day or week. Equally, my DH is a boss and in some circumstances it is necessary for him to persuade people to work beyond contractual hours.

Autumnismyfavouritetimeofyear · 09/10/2024 13:34

I am really torn on this one. On one hand, if he want to get on in his career, crack on. On the other, is it setting up unrealistic expectations?

Does the boss know how many extra hours he is doing? If he is and he is getting overtime, they I guess the decision is yours whether you want the overtime or not, or can even do it. If he is not getting overtime, I would let him get on with it but challenge any comments about how productive he is compared to you.

If they dont know, they will have an unrealistic expectation of what can be done in the time allocated, and that needs to be addressed.

LoveSkaMusic · 09/10/2024 13:40

If your Manager has decided that the deadline is appropriate for the level of work required, then I'm sorry to say, you need to speed up and meet that deadline yourself, or take the help offered. If you take the help offered, it will look slightly worse than if you do the work yourself.

Your colleagues work ethic and long hours are no concern of yours. Just be prepared that as a result of their efforts, they may end up being your boss in the near future. It's all about perception. Your Manager will see your colleague delivering on their promises and you, less so.

Also, the time to complain about the deadline is not now. The time to talk about the deadline was when the deadline was set.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 09/10/2024 13:43

I'm very clear with my team that I do not, and would not, expect them to work outside of their working hours unless a specific business need arises.

However, if they decide to go ahead and do it on their head be it. I had a new guy who kept doing that, and working through his lunch then asking to take half days or finish at 3pm. I had to tell him no, he must take his breaks and not work extra.

Your colleague will either burn out or be promoted away from you. But you need to let your manager know he's working an extra day a week. Also, accept the help in the meantime....you might as well.

Goldenbear · 09/10/2024 13:52

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 09/10/2024 13:43

I'm very clear with my team that I do not, and would not, expect them to work outside of their working hours unless a specific business need arises.

However, if they decide to go ahead and do it on their head be it. I had a new guy who kept doing that, and working through his lunch then asking to take half days or finish at 3pm. I had to tell him no, he must take his breaks and not work extra.

Your colleague will either burn out or be promoted away from you. But you need to let your manager know he's working an extra day a week. Also, accept the help in the meantime....you might as well.

Again though, many work through the lunch and until 8 at night even though contractual hours are 9-5.30. Equally, some may have to travel at lunchtime to get to a meeting in another part of the City etc.it is no problem with give and take where I work and DH works and we would be able to maybe leave a bit earlier another day. It wholly depends what is typical for the culture the OP is working in.

Jaybail · 10/10/2024 08:48

I have always worked unpaid overtime to keep on top of my workload. New team leader told me not to do so, as it was masking the issue that the team was understaffed. How's it masking the issue when the extra hours are clearly visible on my time log?
When I worked standard hours we had a backlog. Team leader complained that the level of service was not acceptable as the customers were having to wait for responses too long. No resources for another member of staff, no overtime payments available. Back to working unpaid overtime, because the stress of the backlog is overwhelming. Told don't do it, you're masking the staffing problems. Sometimes you can't win!

Crankyracoon · 10/10/2024 08:53

You're struggling with workload and deadlines, management and colleagues have offered assistance. There is literally nothing to complain about here, this is exactly how an efficient team should work?

Freakydeak · 10/10/2024 09:28

Jaybail · 10/10/2024 08:48

I have always worked unpaid overtime to keep on top of my workload. New team leader told me not to do so, as it was masking the issue that the team was understaffed. How's it masking the issue when the extra hours are clearly visible on my time log?
When I worked standard hours we had a backlog. Team leader complained that the level of service was not acceptable as the customers were having to wait for responses too long. No resources for another member of staff, no overtime payments available. Back to working unpaid overtime, because the stress of the backlog is overwhelming. Told don't do it, you're masking the staffing problems. Sometimes you can't win!

It's masking the issue because the work is being done. If the team drops the ball it highlights the need for more resources.

Fastback · 10/10/2024 09:29

I don’t think he’s making you look lazy, he is being diligent and efficient and now offering you his help because you’re going to miss your deadline again…

Ubugly · 10/10/2024 12:21

Im confused, you said he rushes yet he's doing about 10 hours extra a week?

Jaybail · 10/10/2024 12:23

Freakydeak · 10/10/2024 09:28

It's masking the issue because the work is being done. If the team drops the ball it highlights the need for more resources.

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It doesn't, because everyone knows that the work can only get done out of hours. Management constantly thank us for working overtime to keep the queues down on one hand and apologize that there's no more funding in the budget for the additional resources that they agreed we needed on the other.
No-one believes we can cover the workload with the team we have. Dropping the ball is not an option, as it just leads to the firm loosing orders so we have to double the cold calling efforts.

DadJoke · 10/10/2024 12:32

In the short term, accept his offer of help. It will look petty otherwise.

In the longer term. You say he is working fast, but also he is doing an extra hour of (unpaid?) overtime every day. If that's the only reason he is getting more done, it is OK to mention that to your manager as long as it doesn't sound like you are bitching about your colleague. You can't get the work done in the time you have, your colleague manages because they are working extra hours for free.

If he is actually working more efficiently than you, ask him to help you improve your speed. He will be very happy if he's a decent colleague.