Skiver at work making my blood boil

[Jomcxx]

I work for busy NHS team of admin and secretarial staff. There's never a shortage of work and we all work really hard. Except one member of the team who is late for work (more often than not) and disappears "to the toilet" with her phone for long periods (on average 20 mins) several times a day.
This has been going on for the last 4 months since our line manager went in maternity leave. We don't have an official replacement manager, and more senior banded colleague on the team turns a blind eye to it because she and the person doing this are quite pally and socialise together.
When not in thr toilets or running late for work, the person sits scrolling on her phone all day... The senior is aware of this too, but seems rely to address it, so the person is getting away with it and has done for months.
Timekeeping has been brought up in recent meetings but the person doesn't seen to take the polite hints. What can be done when these problems are being ignored? It's causing resentment from the rest of the team.

Have you considered doing the same and seeing how long it takes to be flagged up? Just a thought. I do empathise with you though as I previously worked somewhere with a very similar issue. I felt undervalued and unheard and eventually applied for a job elsewhere and found a far nicer work environment. I know it’s not always that simple though.

more senior banded colleague on the team turns a blind eye to it because she and the person doing this are quite pally and socialise together.

the senior colleague is the one to be really pissed off with

We have a one of these in a very small team and it is so obvious they do nothing a lot of the time. Manager turns a blind eye completely. It's embarrassing really. Said person works 2.5 days a week and has lots so appointments which all seem to fall on working days even the car needing to have it's MOT so needing to leave early etc. I've no idea how they get away with it especially working for a charity where donations are paying their wages.

Raise it with HR.

I wouldn't recommend the OP to do that because she could get into trouble.

OP could you contact your manager's manager?

I worked in a call center where we had a 15 minute break which was supposed to cover all eventualities - drink tea/coffee/smoke/toilet. Then I noticed that those who smoked also took another unofficial break later in the shift. That meant that the non smokers were subsidising them and it really got up my nose. The manager said nothing because he sloped off for a smoke as well. So I began taking a short unofficial break myself. Sometimes I just walked around the building for 5 minutes and others I went into the kitchen for a drink. Im sure the manager realised what I was doing but no one ever challenged me.

Whay should people het an extra break just because they were drug addicts?

I agree with you sorry, it was meant in a tongue in cheek way (the first bit).

OK sorry about that. Perhaps next time, consider putting in a laughing emoji to help those of us who are challenged with such things (I’m autistic and take things literally, so read between the lines etc)

That’s a really fair point and good suggestion. I’m autistic too so I totally see what you mean ❤️
hope you have a lovely evening ahead 🥰

Raise it to higher managers above. Liaise with your unison rep/ HR for advice too

I think it depends a bit on how it impacts you, as in, do you have to work harder because of her? If the rest of the team have to do extra to cover the fact someone isn't doing an actual fte worth of work, then definitely raise it (if not, i would let it go). Surely there must be some kind of unofficial manager? Who approves leave and expenses? Is anyone having 121s with you? To be honest, whilst the individual is taking the piss, the people to be mad at are the management here, because what if you had some serious issues you needed to discuss about mental health, stress, some kind of major work related issue - there definitely needs to be somebody in post that you can raise issues with, have 121s with and who can act in a senior role. I'm mad as a taxpayer because presumably it's our taxes going towards her wages and no manager is dealing with it.

Speak to her and put in a complaint about her and the manager and get others to do the same . Slackers make everyone's job harder and it shouldn't be tolerated

If my manager had challenged me for taking an "extra" break I would have pointed out that I was taking my behaviour cue from him and the other smokers. If its acceptable for them to skive off and take an extra break then he can hardly castigate someone else for doing so. When new people start in a work place they take their example from more experienced workers and managers. If you want people to follow the rules then you set a professional example.

I feel your pain. I had a similar situation in the NHS. I raised it in every supervision for 2 years and nothing got done so I left. She's still there getting away with it from what I hear. They lost a really good worker because they tolerated a very shitty, unreliable one and I told them so in my exit interview. Sorry - I have no advice as I went through all the proper channels and tried to trust the process but nothing changed

I think your team need to start making a thing of it. “oh she’s off to the loo with her phone again. See you in 20 mins Barb. Don’t mind us… we’ll be busy doing the work as usual.”
”Late again? Let’s see how long you get away with it when Kate’s back…”
Let her know everyone’s over it.

You can't control other people. You can raise it with HR and your manager's manager, but ultimately you can't force change.

It sounds like time to look for a sideways role change? You could look for a secondment if you want to return when your permanent manager is back.

I work for NHS as well lots of people in my work place like that. Unfortunately they friends with management. If you rise the problem all is ignored, only one way is job change.

It's quite shocking to hear people saying 'nothing will change'.

It's disgraceful.