Frustrated with a co-worker. Seeking advice.?

Question

I have a co-worker that I work very closely with who has been with the company for many years (almost 20). I've been with the company for 4 years. Our positions are independent but the work we do often overlaps each other so we rely on each other for information, assistance, etc.

It seems that, more often than not, she is pre-occupied with personal business while we are at work. She's either balancing her checkbook, taking personal calls, or gossiping with the other women. I've always taken the position that as long as it doesn't affect my ability to perform my job, I don't care what the various "sewing circles" (my pet name for a group of women who would rather socialize while at work instead of actually working) do at my place of employment. However, I am constantly having to track her down only to find her at someone else's desk chit chatting, or waiting on her because she's on a personal call. It is quite frustrating.

We both have the same boss and our boss offices out of state so she is not here to see what occurs daily. I have been short with her at times, which is unlike me. I am extremely frustrated. Do I just need to get over it and keep plugging along? I love my boss - she is by far the best boss I've ever had - but I am really frustrated with this co-worker. I am the type of person who works hard while at work and leaves my personal life at the door and I'm really finding it difficult to be courteous or civil to her.

Answer 1

Your work ethic is your work ethic, and you shouldn't be applying it to others' performance.

   While it's hard to do, you must look after yourself and try not to judge others. If your boss has been tolerating the "sewing circle" attitude of your co-worker, then so must you.

Answer 2

tell the co-worker that she needs to leave her personal life at home otherwise you are going to have to tell your boss

Answer 3

You gotta accept it man as long as the boss is not aware of your coworker's failure to perform as best she could she will just keep doing it

Answer 4

Since your boss is not in the same office as you and you are seeming to have to do the lion's share of it, what would happen if you started to suddenly get a little lax and the quality of your work isn't the same as it normally is?  Don't you think your boss would call to find out what is going on or pay you a visit?  Maybe you should try this and see how it goes on a not-so-major project that you have to work on together.

Without being a snitch, you might also find this 'need' to call your boss and have him or her come down to your office to help you with something and 'forget' to tell your coworker about the visit?

For the time being, just ignore your coworker and if you are not working on a major project, just suddenly leave your coworker holding the bag because unless your boss has a partiality to your coworker, the chances are that since she is the 'senior', it will dump on her head and she will be the one to catch h**l (and if she tries to point the finger on you, just tell her that you were trying your best, but every time you needed her for something, she was either busy or away from her desk.)

If worse comes to worse, start looking at the want ads and try to line up a new job somewhere else or move to a different department if there is an opening (just tell them you need 'change').

Good Luck.