Problem with "co-worker". Advice welcome.

[Eddie Bronze]

This is not a new problem but now one that I've reached a point with that I can't deal with anymore. Last summer the boss went away to Europe for a couple weeks and the entire time, the other guy I was working with just dogged it. I stressed out over it the entire time and when the boss came back I told him to never leave me alone with the guy again.

He quit in the fall but like a cat with nine lives the little ******* came back and he's working with us again this summer. When the boss is there, all is fine in terms of him staying busy, because the boss keeps on him and makes sure he's always got something to do. But now the boss is gone again for a few days and the very first day he's gone, this jerk spends more time talking on his cell phone than working. I'm giving him tons of stuff to do to keep him busy all day (I run the crew when the boss is gone), but he's not making any effort whatsoever.

The last house we did, the boss gave him a bonus. Now you would think, when the boss is gone you would try harder to get more done and maybe get another one. But the opposite happens. There is one other guy working with us, so he and I went back to work after second break today and the slacker just sat down there talking on his phone. I had to go down and literally yell at him to get him to go back to work. Now I'm all stressed out about it again.

I've been tempted to fire him every time the boss is gone, but don't really feel like in a position to do so. For me, I really like my job, I really get along well with the boss and the other guy I work with. My boss treats me really well, has introduced me to a lot of his friends which meant a lot to someone who moved to Calgary and really knew no one. He gives me a significant bonus on almost every cheque and pays me more than fairly. Easily the best job I've ever had.

But because of this one guy I'm actually considering either quitting or going to him and giving him the ulitmatum of "him or me." I can't take babysitting, that's not my job, but that's what I feel like I have to do every time the boss leaves and I do not deal well with stress at all. I really don't know what to do right now.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Why don't you tell your boss the truth? Or you can plant a hidden camera like you see on TV.

[Eddie Bronze]

I've told him. The boss knows what he's like. I can't believe he hasn't fired him yet.

[Reaper]

Rent a woodchipper. Take an extra long lunch with the guy one day. Say he went home sick. Problem solved.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

I've told him. The boss knows what he's like. I can't believe he hasn't fired him yet.

He probably just can't let him go since the market is so tight and he does work when the boss is around.

Can you go out with the boss and ask him how he wants it handled? I'm sure he doesn't like the slacking, but perhaps he has a reason to put up with it.

[greerb]

Don't sweat it do your job the best you can and let the other guy do whatever. I'm in the opposite situation as you I love my job I work hard at it, but I want out of the town I am living in to move to Calgary. Take it from me switching jobs is very stressfull.

[EVERLAST]

if you havent already approached this person with the problem your having with him you need to.

Without being arguementative approach him and call him on his behaviour. Be specific and request him to make an effort. Not for you but for your boss. if he doesnt get it ....then go rent a wood chipper

[ken0042]

By the sounds of things you work in construction. I'm white collar, but on the construction sites that my company manages we have to write up every incident; be it an injury or a near miss. Is it possible to stage a near miss that "could have been avoided had buddy not been slacking"?

Document it. Show the boss he is a safety hazzard.

Not sure if mine's a good idea or not; just throwing it out there.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

He probably just can't let him go since the market is so tight and he does work when the boss is around.

Can you go out with the boss and ask him how he wants it handled? I'm sure he doesn't like the slacking, but perhaps he has a reason to put up with it.

I know for sure that is part of the problem. We are doing huge houses and really need four guys to get them done in any kind of decent time frame. The boss always has slacker cutting for him. He never puts him with me because he knows I generally don't like the guy. It's not just his work habits, he's generally a prick to be around. He constantly tears down Calgary and is always looking at things in a negative perspective. I'm the exact opposite, always staying positive and I love this city.

My boss has his brother running a seperate crew for him. His brother only has two guys and one of them is going back to school in September so I'm crossing my fingers he can't find another worker and has to send slacker back with him. Either that or the next time he leaves me with him, I'll be canning his ass. You can only be yelled at and told to do your job so many times before a line is drawn.

[shoestring]

I will never understand people that slack off when the boss is gone. I am just the opposite, maybe because I have ran my own business or maybe I want the boss to leave more often so I can run the show. Lot's of folks don't equate there hardwork with the success of the company or even of themselves.
And the Labour Market really doesn't help because he could probably get another job in a flash.
Your in the framing business aren't you Eddie? That is particularly notorius for personnel turnover isn't it?
Lot's of ads in the help wanted section lately. Maybe your boss was having a tough time finding employees and hired this guy to fill in for his vacation but I am sure if you threaten to leave he would fire the other guy.
So I would tell this, jerk ,first thing in the morning, that you don't want to work with a slacker and he is fired if he doesn't want to contribute to the effort. Give him the worst jobs available,...
Then ignore him,haha !

Then come and pick me up I'm not doing much till Nov.
I am pretty good with a pen and paper lol.

[Jayems]

I worked with people like this. You have to throw several obvious hints.. i usually start like its a big joke.. "haha.. as if you'd ever do something with out being asked"

But sooner or later, it wears on the guy and he starts to figure it out. Most people really hate it when they're unliked or feel like they're thought less of by their peers.

People i work with i love, im lucky that way, and if they slack off i can tell them, and they tell me etc. I had a guy like that last year, but i told him to his face. Pick it up im tired of doing your work and picking up your slack. Nothing changed, but at least i gave him the chance before i felt obligated (when really, i got sick of it) to tell the boss man who promptly canned his ass.

The guy could be completely oblivious (doubtful, but you never know).

.

[Eddie Bronze]

lol @ shoe, thanks for the laugh man!

Originally Posted by shoestring

Your in the framing business aren't you Eddie? That is particularly notorious for personnel turnover isn't it?

I am a framer, shoe, you're right. I've been working for this guy for two years now and I can't even begin to re-count how many guys we've been through. A lot of guys out there with not much direction in their lives. I know what we do is far from glorious, but I know a lot of guys who dedicated themselves to it and have big homes, beautiful wives and kids and live more than comfortably.

Originally Posted by Jayems

The guy could be completely oblivious (doubtful, but you never know).

There is no doubt in my mind that he is pulling this **** on purpose and a big part of it is that he knows I'm not a confrontational type of person. I get worked up way too easy over this and as a result, might be more concerned about having assualt charges against me than actually giving a damn if he does anything during the day.

[FireFly]

Fire him. Maybe your boss is testing your testicular fortitude.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Fire him. Maybe your boss is testing your testicular fortitude.

I've come to the conclusion that my boss is the nicest guy on the face of the earth and even when I think back on it now, putting up with some of the losers we've had working with us, he cannot fire someone. I've yet to see him do it in two years of working with him and probably seeing 50 or more guys come and go.

Although you may be onto something there, he knows I can't stand the guy. No wait, that's a woman's train of thought. A man's is never that complicated! lol

[Vulcan]

Be carefull with your anger Eddie. My one serious accident in construction came under circumstances similar to yours.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

I've come to the conclusion that my boss is the nicest guy on the face of the earth and even when I think back on it now, putting up with some of the losers we've had working with us, he cannot fire someone. I've yet to see him do it in two years of working with him and probably seeing 50 or more guys come and go.

Although you may be onto something there, he knows I can't stand the guy. No wait, that's a woman's train of thought. A man's is never that complicated! lol

So maybe he isn't testing your testicular fortitude, rather he just hopes you'll do it because he can't.

[Eddie Bronze]

You free to stop by Wentworth tomorrow, fotze? lol!

[kermitology]

My only advice is to be direct with this. Include your boss and your co-worker. In my office, I was dealing with a case where two guys (on either side of me) were having it out between eachother and management was siding with one of them without understanding everything that was going on. It was awkward and made work really hard to get done.

I just hate it when people don't have the balls to bring something up so that everyone knows what's going on. Hrm... one of the reasons why I'm leaving for "greener" pastures.

[Eddie Bronze]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Be carefull with your anger Eddie. My one serious accident in construction came under circumstances similar to yours.

I'm going to let him take care of himself. He's purchasing a Suzuki Hayabusa with absolutely no experience driving a motorcycle. I've seen the stunts he pulls in a car. If he tries the same crap on that bike, he'll be dead anyway.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

You free to stop by Wentworth tomorrow, fotze? lol!

You building that school?