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OT - Coworker Laziness

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Because of my mad organizational skills (and OCD!), my boss asked me to keep the team organized, including all team documentation and pertinent information. This information is on a shared drive, available to everyone. I'm always willing to help out in any way I can, but some days...

Part of my job is to keep track of all the comings/goings of the team. Who is leaving; who is joining us... Therefore, I maintain, publish, and HAND OUT - a list of all team members. Our team consists of 3 smaller 'power' teams. Name, phone number, room number, and cubicle/office number. One person's last day was Friday. Another guy is moving to that cube to be amongst his 'power' teammates. He emails me to ask for the number assigned to his future cube.
The cube number that is in the phone list.
The phone list that is POSTED IN HIS CURRENT CUBE ABOVE HIS PHONE.
The cube number that is posted on the outer cube wall.
The cube he walks by at LEAST 2 times a day.
The cube that is 32 freaking FEET from this lazy arsehole's current cube.

Yes, that's right 32 feet. I know because I MEASURED IT. (One foot tiles - easy enough to count.)

Lazyass emails me AND copies the boss, asking for the cube number. The boss replied before I had a chance...

"The cube number is in the phone list that Aniki created, which is published on the Team drive and which she handed out to everyone. If you lost your copy and/or need Aniki to resend you the link, please let her know."

Have I mentioned that I wuv my boss?

Comments

Simpleton21's picture

LMAO, I can totally relate to this blog, I am an office manager for a bunch of lazy arse people like this that would have you tie their shoes if they could get away with it.

I love your bosses response.  At least you have a boss that backs you up!  My boss is the opposite.  He accomodates all other people at the cost of his employees.  He is also the lazy arse that can't be bothered to save or pull up information I have sent him 15 different times 15 different ways.  Much easier to call me and demand I produce the information at the snap of a finger.  Ugh, this is why I am looking for a new job Sad

Aniki-Moderator's picture

This is why more and more people wear slip-ons or velcro... Wink

Judging by that response I think my boss was a little miffed about it. I haven't heard a peep from Lazy, who has walked by my desk 7 times already,moving his shite into the new cube. I bet he knows that damn number now!

Simpleton21's picture

LOL, I do wear slip-ons myself Wink

It is a damn power trip for people like that. We have a bunch of big egos in my industry.  It is so annoying!  

Usually if I am dealing with someone like that and I have previously sent the information I respond in smart @$$ style by forwarding the previous e-mail that shows they were already sent the information and sometimes I'll go ahead and highlight what they failed to read, "please see below highlighted information in previously forwarded e-mail" LOL!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I have several pairs of Converse shorelines (slip-ons), but I draw the line at velcro! lol

On occasion, when I'm feeling particularly fiesty, I will also forward the previous email with the innocent suggestion that they've misplaced it... Diablo

Winterglow's picture

"Much easier to call me and demand I produce the information at the snap of a finger"

I worked with one of those for a few years. When I explained something to her, I'd insist she took notes. If she asked me to explain any of it again, I'd do it (well, it may not have been perfectly clear the first time) but that was IT. If she asked again, I'd say "Check your notes." She once tried saying "why? It's easier to just ask you." I stared her down and said slowly and carefully "no, it isn't." And from then onwards any time she asked a question that had already been clarified she'd get the answer "check your notes" from me. Even years after she left the company, if anyone asked me to explain something I'd gone over twice, there would be a chorus of "check your notes" from behind me :) 

Simpleton21's picture

I wish I could tell my boss to take notes and then check them.  I don't think he would take to kindly to that.  Instead I say stuff like, "would you like me to forward the e-mail I already sent with that information again"....which usually results in him saying, "no just tell me".  Ugh, I'm so over this place but I don't have a degree and I make really good money and have good benefits.  Dealing with him is starting to make the money not worth it though!

Winterglow's picture

"Do you mean you've lost the email that I sent you ...(pause for effect) ... three times already?" (it doesn't matter if you've only sent it once, you'll have sown the seeds of doubt in his mind and he'll be realizing how incompetent he must look if he's lost the same email three times...)

"(sigh) OK, I'll send it to you again and this time I'll flag it 'Important'." And walk away.

 

Simpleton21's picture

Winterglow, I like this approach, however nothing seems to shame my boss or make him feel incompetent, even things that really should!  

Aniki-Moderator's picture

My boss has asked me to locate and resend her emails, but that's because she receives HUNDREDS a day and I track/file everything and actually remember the date the email was sent/received. It's one of my idiot savant talents...

Simpleton21's picture

I'm totally okay with resending an e-mail when someone asks.  I just get irritated when I have to interpret the e-mail for them b/c they are to lazy to READ!!!!! I save all e-mails basically.  It is amazing how outlook has this cool feature that even allows you to search within the e-mails very quickly! *ok*

Cover1W's picture

Just had to do that with someone yesterday. She had cc'd her boss too. I just reiterated what I said, and added again, once you've reviewed the information and if you have questions, let me know.

I don't hand hold, but if you truly try, I will be there for you. 

She's also the one who calls you as soon as you send an email to her...instead of reading the email first. Drives me nuts. 

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I work with someone who sends me an email, then immediately walks over to my desk to see if I've read it. ~eyeroll~

Simpleton21's picture

LOL, controlling much?!?! OMG, I can't stand overbearing co-workers!  I had a co-worker text me twice yesterday to go find another co-worker to make sure she read the text she sent her....good grief.....calm your tits!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Love it!!!

I've found that men are notorious for NOT reading things thoroughly. Even when it's damn simple. Such as:

  1. The boss needs your emergency contact information.
  2. Please complete the attached form ONLINE. 
  3. EMAIL the completed form to ANIKI.

Every single man on the team came over to me and said, "Aniki, what do I do with this form?" The form that they had printed out and completed manually. Yep. Every.Single.One. ~eyeroll~

still learning's picture

"Every single man on the team came over to me and said, "Aniki, what do I do with this form?" 

:)) 

Simpleton21's picture

LOL, this so true!  I sent out an ethics and compliance training e-mail corporate asked me to distribute.  It had clear instructions, pertinent information highlighted and embedded links  Of course the only ones asking questions and needing help were men.  JUST READ!!!!!!!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Worse; they are mostly programmers.

If they were engineers, I'd be tempted to tell them they are joined to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis...

Winterglow's picture

You have my sympathy. I worked for 20 years for a software editor and nearly all of the programmers were engineers (and those that were not were mathematicians ...).

Simpleton21's picture

I work in DoD contracting....government workers, retired millitary, IT workers and engineers, none of them can read or follow simple instructions.  It is exhausting!

advice.only2's picture

Oh I totally understand this!! I am currently an OM and I can't tell you how many times I get asked to provide a phone number...if only we had a tool on our computer that allowed us to pull up a person's phone number and e-mail address...oh wait yes we do, but I guess I am the only person capable of using said tool!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

That there is ALIEN technology!!!!!!!!!

Or else you're a spy for the Russians...

 

advice.only2's picture

Lol nope just a tool we have, thankfully soon I will be leaving this field and moving into something much different and I can't wait!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

We use Microsoft Outlook, so the search targets are many. If you can't find someone, you're not trying!

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

I'm mostly just currently dealing with random stacks of things being thrust on me with a "you're the one for the job." Then I look at how much I could make at another place and think: "I need a new job." 

I hate lazy coworkers.. .They cause issues... Our biggest issue though is that we have half the office out with the flu... I've been sanitizing like it's cool.

Simpleton21's picture

You are so right.  Lazy coworkers do cause issues.  They spend all their time gossiping and worrying about what everyone else is doing rather than actually attempting to do their job.  If they spent as much time and energy doing their jobs as they did creating drama and turmoil it would be amazing what they might be able to accomplish! LOL

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

It would be amazing!!! I wouldn't be so overwhelmed because maybe I could actually get some help! I honestly don't understand why my boss keeps some people around. There's a person who's hardly at work, on vacation all the time, yet they come back and suddenly get good projects while the rest of us make up for what they didn't accomplish....

Shok

Simpleton21's picture

This must be a universal problem.  I swear the same thing happens here.  All the hardworkers are basically punished and given more work to make up for the slackers that get away with murder and do nothing!  Drives me crazy!!!!    

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I swear, it's like people are so afraid of some BS lawsuit, that they retain EVERYONE. Including those who don't do jack. ~eyeroll~

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

It must be! It's been especially bad at this job though. Dude accross the hall has been taking literally weeks off at a time or comes in late most days. But NOPE! No consequences and I have to work twice as hard!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I'd like to have a job with the same amount of pay where I work for 2 days and have a 5 day weekend...

Siemprematahari's picture

Aniki you are living my life at the office. OMG the lazy sh!t that goes on here and God forbid someone should think outside the box!  I've had administrators email me for something that they could have directly emailed that person for. It's utterly ridiculous the f@ckery that goes on.

I'm glad your boss is awesome and has your back Biggrin

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Siempre, there are those who think that "thinking outside the box" is wrong. Sigh... Let's go have a 2-martini lunch.

tog redux's picture

As a manager, I don't tolerate people asking me questions they can figure out themselves - at least not for long.  I learned early on to let them know where they can find that information rather than give it to them myself. 

People learn.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Some people do, tog. Not all. We can only hope that those people are not tolerated for long.

tog redux's picture

They do if they are on my team, or they get pushed out. So your manager is doing the right thing. 

Monkeysee's picture

I once had a colleague (giant man baby) come to my desk & ask me to get him a box of tissues. Which were in a cupboard, accessible to everyone, two feet beside my desk. It took him more time to ask me for the tissues than it would have if he’d just gone to the cupboard himself.

I politely told him where they were & told him to help himself anytime. Giant man baby never asked me for supplies again Wink

Simpleton21's picture

I used to have a boss that would come to my desk, put papers on the fax machine next to my desk, and then tell me to fax it to whoever it was addressed to on the cover letter....really?!? Like you said it took him longer to ask me to do it for him than it would have taken to actually do it himself!  Ugh!  

Monkeysee's picture

People are awesome aren’t they? I had a different colleague argue with me over supplies once. She insisted it was my job to pick up what she wanted & take them to her. I refused. I said, I’ll always have what you need in stock but I don’t deliver to anyone. My priorities are xxxxxx, not supply deliveries.

She, too, spent more time arguing with me than it would’ve taken her to get what she needed. And in the end still ended up having to pick them up herself lol. 

Simpleton21's picture

I recently got a new co-worker that thinks she is my boss just because she is a manager.  She steps all over my toes.  I even asked my direct boss if I was supposed to be answering to her instead now and he said NO...yet he still lets her walk all over me...it is so annoying!  When she started she decided we needed 10 new computer monitors for "new hires" that weren't even hired yet.  I thought for sure my boss would say not to the unneccessary extra $1000 to spend on these monitors.  Nope, it was allowed.  Now I've had 10 monitors in storage for over 6 months b/c the new woman likes to spend money and feel important...yet I can't get approval for our annual company picnic! Ugh!

Aniki-Moderator's picture

That is bloody annoying. I've had manbabies ask me for bandaids. "Manbaby, the bandaids are in the medical kit hanging outside the boss's office. You can't miss it!"

I sure as hell am not walking over to the boss's office, getting medical kit down, taking it back to my (or mambaby's desk), opening the damn box (because manbaby would likely sprain his finger), and helping manbaby select an effing bandaid.

How do these men function without women??

 

Siemprematahari's picture

Aniki he probably wants the bandaid with Batman on it.....oh no wait maybe Superman. It has to be the right one, it will work better Wink

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Too damn bad. Those are MY bandaids! Manbaby gets the Disney Princess bandaid or he can suck it up and use packing tape.

iamlosingit's picture

I work for a shipping/receiving company for medical supplies. My title is Dock Master.

Building department sent a group email asking if inspection could "rush" inspecting a certain part because they were out and needed this to build more product.  "Person A" in charge of delivering the parts to this department immediately replied to all that we didn't have any in the building.  None. No parts anywhere.  Inspection department then emails ME asking me to hurry up and receive the parts so they can inspect them.  I forwarded the SAME message he received back to him with the response "see below, we DON'T have any".   Not even three minutes after I send the email someone else from Inspection (who was ALSO included in the email)  is standing in my office doorway asking me where the parts are. These people are in the SAME department which consists of one small room.   

And my husband wonders why I drink...

Simpleton21's picture

LMAO!  Well it is refreshing to hear other's stories like this.  At least we are not alone!  

thinkthrice's picture

My boss and Mrs. Headlights actually CONSPIRED to get rid of our admin as she was TOO good.  They made the excuse that she "didn't have enough work to do."  Umm, she was super organized and had this office HUMMING.   As soon as they got rid of her and shipped her off to another dept., Mrs. Headlights was "promoted" to desktop support (for which she is dangerously unqualified) and also tasked with doing some of the admin work that our former admin did.  Mrs. Headlights is SCREWING UP EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHES from computer work (she wanders around in a daze and magically has the boss do her work for her) to admin work (screwed up the office christmas party plans TWICE in a ROW) , "forgot" to order office supplies, deleted thousands of dollars of assets out of the inventory system because she couldn't be bothered to find them.   The boss continues to cover for her and shift her work onto the few workers remaining.  Only a matter of time before my office mate, young dude, gets pissed.  Of course her headlights ARE a distraction to the male workers here so she gets away with practically everything.

 

thinkthrice's picture

the boss is EXTREMELY flirty.  Seeing that Mrs. Headlights only has that going for her (if she didn't have the gargantuan melons, men would NOT give her the time of day) before she came "under" the boss (pardon my pun) they would very openly flirt in front of everyone, linking pinkies and cutesey name calling.

Then, after the promotion, she actually had to report to the boss.  the boss became aware that she was hopelessly inept and started telling her to pick up the pace.  She reared up on her hind legs and told him to stuff it.  She said "I liked him a LOT better when he WASN'T my boss" (yes she actually said that).  

He immediately backed down as the non-confrontational chicken that he is.  They have semi "made up" and the boss felt it necessary to exaggerate Mrs. Headlight's  prowess on the inventory (I almost gagged when he said this) in front of the old COMPETENT admin that came around for a visit one day.  i Should mention that the boss tried to flirt with ME when I was first hired but i shut that down instantly.   I'm one of those people who takes my job EXTREMELY seriously and knowing the bad rep that women in "men's jobs" get, I'm constantly on my toes...not my back.

P.S. in real life the boss is a "StepDaddyBigBucks" not having children of his own and glomming on to a GUBM.   Mrs. Headlights is a helicoptering GUBM who still takes her 22 yr old daughter to doctor's appts.

Simpleton21's picture

Wow, that is just sad!  Our new hire sounds like Mrs. Headlights except she doesn't have the headlights to distract.  Just an annoying laugh and apparently the ability to stroke the male ego and suck up better than anyone else.  Since she started she took my projects that I was doing just fine on, messed them up completely, and then handed them off to a consultant b/c she was "too busy"....she does NOTHING!  I don't get it!