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Colleagues not pulling their weight...

2 replies

WatchingWaiting · 21/04/2010 16:43

I've worked in the public sector for just over a year now. The team I work with (8 people) have all been here 3+ years, and are so incredibly lazy. We all have very similar (practically identical) roles, and upon starting, I soon realised I was finishing my work in less than 2days, despite being paid a five day week. After about 6months, I bought the issue up in a performance review with my manager, saying I believed I could handle a heavier workload, and I would appreciate more responsibility, which I was duly given, and now reckon I have enough work to fill 4 days of my week at an average pace.

The rest of my office continue to spend all their time on the internet, sending personal emails, personal phone calls etc. My manager is either oblivious to it (works in a seperate office), or perhaps because the work is being done and deadlines are being met, doesn't really care.

The lack of productivity bothers me so much. I feel this team could be run by 4 people, HOWEVER, I know how nasty it sounds, because I'm basiaclly saying 4 people in my office should lose their jobs.

Is this something I just have to accept - its management's decision, not mine. I really don't think I want to go above my manager - she is very well respected and I think I would be stepping on a lot of toes if I implied I believed I knew a way to run things more productively - especially since I'm so 'new'.

Any tips on a way I could bring it up, nicely? Or tips on how to stop it bothering me so much!!

OP posts:
NinjaChipmunk · 21/04/2010 17:01

personally i think i would back off if the work gets done and the deadlines are being met as it may get you a bad reputation and make it difficult to get on with others. you have been given the extra responsibility you have asked for and i guess it will be you that then gets to move on/ up before the others as you have more ambition than they do.
can i ask, why does it bother you so much? is there a particular aspect? is is public money being spent on their wages that could be spent elsewhere? or something else? if you did decide to mention it and 4 people did lose their jobs how would that make you feel?
i think you may just have to be bright and ambitious and take on the workload you can do and try not to worry about the others. their loss is your gain as it were.

BelaLugosiNoir · 21/04/2010 21:38

Sorry, but NC are you saying its acceptable for people to spend a significant portion of their paid working day not working - they are being paid to perform these tasks.
If there's not enough work to keep everyone busy and the work is definitely getting completed then are there any other departments which do similar work which you/your team could help out with?
I would feel uncomfortable working in that situation - also public sector, and we never have enough admin people so it would be great to get some help!

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