Would a woman be judged differently for doing so little at work?

[Edconstel]

Just a thought…

I (F) recently rumbled a colleague (M) for his non-existent role in an additional job we’ve been “sharing” since last year. I’ve always known my part of the work was greater - probably 75/25 but I’ve actually not minded because I’m very driven and organised and he’s not.

It’s transpired he’d not done much of the small amount of work he was meant to do and also made some serious omissions and mistakes.

But he gets to keep this extra little job because… brace yourself… “he really enjoys it!”

Give me strength!!

I made the point that I work part time, have just returned from mat leave, have children to drop off / pick up every day and STILL got everything done. He works full time and doesn’t have those responsibilities.

I absolutely know that not all men are lazy and incompetent, that’s not my point here. It’s just this guy. But I do wonder if I’d have got away with doing so little, so badly.

Should I push for equity going forwards or should I flip it, do what he’s done and see if I get away with it?!

They would have talked about how you’re just back off maternity leave, sadly when I was young and childfree I used to judge the job sharing mums at the office I was in for their lack of a handover (as in one would say oh she never told me meaning we all had to figure out what the other had done) and any errors. Now I’m older and have kids I think predominantly they were amazing!!

Definitely keep up the good work op for progression opportunities!

My husband keeps telling me to do as shit a job as other people do. But if it is not in you to be like that it is just not in you. I would hate to work with someone like that.

What do you mean, he gets to keep on doing it?

Why would he want to keep on doing it, especially as he's not actually doing it?

I would try doing what he does. See what happens.

That's insane but they probably can't share any mitigating circumstances with you, if there are any.

Yes - women get away with it as much, if not more (or less if you see what I mean!)

One of the worst colleagues I had used to work from home but in reality spent most of the time with their child, not answering calls or doing any work.

It was tolerated because she was a single mother and couldn’t find reliable childcare - I think the Manager was scared of having an accusation of sex discrimination.

There are perks to the job - you get to go away on 3 trips a year so have time out of work, but I honestly think he just likes having a little extra title. It’s really bizarre!

Totally get it. It’s not a man / woman thing is it. It’s just laziness / sloppiness / unreliability or whatever you want to call it. It’s infuriating though! No workplace or home would function if everyone acted the same

Complete opposite in my industry - women pulling back / moving to ‘easier’ roles on the same pay. Men couldn’t get away with this. Higher expectations of men to do extra curricular stuff like take clients out too.

Companies are desperate to keep women to meet diversity targets and whatnot. I know of at least two female support staff who WFH full time with babies/toddlers at home instead of in child care.

I don’t care, works for me, I plan to pull back massively if I have a baby.

I had a job share partner like this, it was so frustrating

This is very bad management.

I would say the manager is lazy chickenshit to not nip it in the bid and manage her lack of performance. It is demoralising for the rest of the team who are pulling their weight and more to see this being tolerated. It devalues their efforts.