To make a complaint about coworker to our manager?

[NeedingAGoodNap]

I’ve been working with a particular coworker for a few years now. I really like her socially but find her behaviour and lack of work ethic frustrating and exhausting.

Over the years she has frequently asked me to cover for her, attend meetings or complete work because she was working from home with one of her young kids so couldn’t get it done. Recently she refused to take on some work because she needed to pack for an upcoming holiday! (She still had over a week left at work).

I’ve always helped but that help is often not returned when needed, instead she will take credit for my work. She also takes an insanely long time to complete tasks, over estimates their difficulty and comes up with all the excuses under the sun for not completing work on time.

Her performance is impacting my own career growth as I get stuck with the grunt work as tasks just need to get done.

I am exhausted.

I understand it’s hard to be a working mother. I have a child of a similar age and am a single mum so I really get it! But I don’t feel her behaviour is appropriate.

Is there a way I can bring this up with our manager? I don’t want to throw her under the bus but I just can’t keep working like this. I was going to request a team change but not sure if that’s feasible

This sounds frustrating for you, is not doing her workload for her an option and seeing if this changes her lack of work ethic?

Well that is a performance issue, so you’d be right to raise it. I wouldn’t file a ‘complaint’ per se but mention in your 1:1 a concern you have. This may go formal so be prepared to make a statement but a conversation is a starter. She may already be on a performance plan you’re not privy to so it could be a straw that breaks the camels back.

It's a beast you've helped create over the years I'm afraid.

I'd start by taking a huge step back and see if that works first.

I would definitely bring this up. Many of us, like yourself are working mums and make sure we have appropriate childcare whilst at work. Her child and home life should not be impacting on her working day and if it is then line management definitely need to know. I would ask for a chat with your manager and explain the impact it’s having on you.

Does she work from home every day? If I was her line manager I’d want to know if she was watching her young children and packing suitcases when she is supposed to be working.

Its a good suggestion and I have tried this. Unfortunately her work then just gets assigned to me anyway and we both get questioned about why it wasn’t done. I end up being the one working nights and weekends to get it done

You need to discuss your workload with your line manager, how it is allocated and how you don’t have capacity to take on others.

Can you make a record of how much you get done. This will demonstrate that you do more than 50% and are working efficiently in your working hours.

Can you start looking for another job? Or a sideways move within your organisation?

It's so infuriating constantly picking up the slack. I don't think you'd be unreasonable to request a meeting with your manager to discuss workload and responsibilities. A bit of clarity might shine more of a light on who is doing (or not doing) what.....

Just stop doing her work

when it’s handed to you be honest, sorry I have x y and z to do which would you like me to stop doing in order to do friends name work?

keep doing that, make it clear her not completing stuff is impacting on you

then in your appraisal make it clear again how her not doing her work is impacting on everyone and you are sure the manager is taking is forward with her

You need to raise the extra time you’re putting in with your manager - I’d be asking whether they want you to take the time back, or pay you for it. And then I’d explain that the reason you’re working so much over your hours is that you’re picking up tasks for your colleague and request that the work is allocated elsewhere. Your manager can’t do anything about if she doesn’t realise you’re working additional hours to get things done.

Surely if you step back and work then isn’t done you explain that you didn’t have time to do additional tasks on top of your own allocated work. You don’t need to complain about your co-worker, you do need to protect your own boundaries.