Work colleague taking so much time off

[FishOnTheTrain]

my work colleague is ALWAYS unwell. She leaves early at least twice a week due to not feeling well. She told me in the last 2 years she has gotten away with doing barely any work (honestly, she doesn’t and it ends up landing on my plate!)

Over the Xmas break, she had 2 weeks off, followed by a week off after that because she was off sick, and then her parents Bungalow flooded so she’s been off for the last two weeks helping helping them too. There are 6 siblings, so not like it’s all on her to sort. But that’s none of my business. We found out yesterday that she’ll be working from home for the next 4 weeks, which is fine, but she’s not been online once since then or responded to my messages.

AIBU to feel really annoyed? I have to constantly pick up all of the work for her and also she is earning a hell of a lot more money than me (she drunkenly told me at after work drinks one day). I’ve had to work late to pick up her work load. She’s been at the company less time. I will need to go to HR but unsure how to approach in a professional way.

She’s clearly not working. Stop doing her work. Report to your manager. Start looking for a new job. I really feel for you because these piss takers get all the care and their colleagues are just left to sink.

I think it's reasonable to speak about the excess work load but I wouldn't mention your colleague that's between them and their manager.

I have a few colleagues who casually disappear without warning about illnesses quite often, to the degree they are unreliable and unresponsive to all comms. I noticed that in the public service they come and go as they please, where in private they would say least take a sabbatical or reduce their hours and tell people. Everyone should prioritise their health, but it pisses me off when people I depend on for deliverables don't even send an email that they are off.

There are 2 issues here:

1. whether your work colleague is really as sick as she makes out

2. whether your workload, allowing for your colleagues absence, is too high,

3. You have no idea. You cannot and should not make ANY judgement over this because unless your colleague has chosen to share her medical details with you, you just don't know!

4. You are allowed to be struggling to do 2 people's work. Even supposing your colleague is much sicker than she is letting on, and it's a complete miracle that she is ever managing to come to work at all, it's fine that you can't just do all her left over work within a reasonable timeframe. After all, it wouldn't be two roles if their was really only enough work for one person!

You are fine to talk about the problems of your workload to your manager, and they need to work out a way to manage the work while your colleague is off.

Yanbu, I have a colleague like that and it drives everyone up the wall. We constantly have to work extra shifts and longer hours to cover him because it's not the type of job that can just be left. It has a massive impact on everyone but they won't get rid of him probably because it would be really difficult to find a replacement. He's becoming very unpopular.

Is it feasible to quantify the extra work? Eg additional hours, or if the work is ticketed being able to demonstrate that your tasks go up an extra 75% on weeks she is off and 50% on weeks she is wfh?

This is what I would do.
Ensure that your own work is getting done and only if I have time, I'd might consider doing something very quick of theirs (to show I'm not a complete shit head and I will be a team player) but anything larger should be done by them as that is their job.

As @Guest100 says - if it's left undone, then they will start to notice and care. I'd also make sure that they are aware that you have your own workload to look after so it's not going to be always possible to cover for this colleague and how are they planning on putting in place a more permanent solution to the issue?

Thanks all.

I get I should not be passing judgement on how sick she is and what her leave is for. But it’s really really hard when I see her out for dinner with her husband and friends the week she’s told me she’s got the flu and not coming to work.

or goes home with a bad stomach, tells me she’s been sick in the work toilets - and then proceeds to post pics of her takeaway she’s sharing with friends that night.

she actually openly tells me she doesn’t want to do the work. I don’t think she realises I’m doing her work for her. She’s also best buddies with the manager, they’ve known each other for years so I guess I don’t have a leg to stand on.

I agree with other posters about keeping it unemotional, however justified your annoyance.
Would it be possible to give clear specifics about the increase in duties being thrust upon you, and mention a possible "acting allowance"? A friend of mine was offered this when her HoD needed back surgery and she took on extra responsibilities, for a clearly defined period. It was a useful "dry run" for promotion.
The tricky part is going to be getting HR to face up to the reality of the situation.
Time was (don't know if this still applies) when teachers with really poor attendance records could be required to have a "special medical", possibly resulting in being declared insufficiently robust for teaching duties. (I was the supply teacher called in so often that most of the children thought I was a regular staff member; he managed two whole weeks once, and when I stepped into the breach yet again, one of the children greeted me politely, asking if I was feeling better!)

Why don’t you have a leg to stand on?

you’re having a conversation about how you can no longer manage the additional workload.
get Hr involved if you need.

don’t make it personal about the other person. This is about your work load increasing to an unmanageable amount as you’re doing 2 roles

you want to know what should be prioritised as you can’t do it all

‘You could talk to HR or your manager about your workload but I would leave the other colleague out of it other than pointing out that your workload is unmanageable when she’s off.
If they then can’t improve things I just wouldn’t do the extra. Don’t work late, don’t work through lunch etc unless you want to on your own projects. If there are complaints then say because x team member is off the workload is too much to get done.’

this is excellent advice! When you go to HR just focus on how the workload is unmanageable for you and stick to what is in your work objectives, and what is clearly not your work. as crappy as it is don’t bring your friends performance into it - it won’t do you much good as they can’t talk about another member of staffs performance with you. If your company has decent policies and procedures then this should flag the amount of sick leave she’s taken and HR will deal with it.

Discuss with your manager or HR what the bounds of your job are, what you're being expected to take on and how this is affecting you. Is there a compromise such as a promotion or pay rise to reflect this or can your workload be safeguarded.

Don't get into her and her business, pay and health. I had a complaint because I was taking more time off and was coming in late. Turned out to be cancer which took months to diagnose. People aren't always swinging the lead.

Concentrate on your own workload, but don't go down a rabbit hole of whether or she is taking the Mick.

Be overt about stopping picking up the slack or it may appear as though you are in breach of a contractual clause such as 'other duties as required'. I don't think this is intended to mean 'doing someone else's job indefinitely ' but you have a valid point and I would be clear about what you want.

So many people who wfh seem to blatantly and openly take the piss (and boast about it). It gives hardworking people who wfh a bad name

I would have to say something or send your manager an email asking for help because colleague isn’t getting all her work done it’s landing on your desk. Also when she’s off it’s being left to you. Don’t mention the taking the piss stuff yet but next she says anything about not working call her out and say I know because muggings here is getting all your work. I really cannot stand lazy colleagues and she is playing her friend manager like a fiddle. So every time she’s not finished something that is left to you make a note and hopefully you will get a new better job. 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.

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

Good luck

Why are you doing her work?

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

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