How to deal with crazy coworker?

Question

So, I work in an office environment and have this coworker who always dumps her work off on others... She will let certain things pile up for weeks, and keep it hidden, until she finds somebody to dump it off on... Sometimes, I will come in to work the next morning to find a pile of work on my desk from this person... (btw. we are at the same rank, she is not at a higher rank or a supervisor)... She will never ask me for assistance with certain things when I am around, she just dumps things off when I'm not at my desk. She has no reason why she can't get this work done, as I see her all the time walking around and visiting with others, talking on her phone with family, or text messaging her kids, or surfing the internet. She is also very nosy, as I've caught her several times snooping through my desk, listening in on other's conversations, and I've even heard from other coworkers about how she will go to my desk when I'm not around, and play around with the stuff on my desk (This is a big pet peeve of mine). Whenever she finds out about an event happening in somebody's life like a birthday, new baby, quitting, moving, death in family, etc... She makes a big deal about it without even asking that person if it is ok, She'll go around demanding everyone donate money, or a dish, or something. I realize that this could be perceived as just being nice, but she gets into the personal live's of others without their consent.Not to mention that she wastes valuable company time on all of this, when it is nowhere in her job descriptions... In my opinion, I think she just tries to do this to avoid working. She also has very rude and disgusting habits, for example, she will leave food out for days, and not clean it up, she leaves crumbs, and bits and peices of food all over one of the office counters, until somebody else cleans it up to avoid making the entire department look like slobs. Some of her rude habits also include standing around others desk watching them while they work until she can get thier attention... So, doe's anybody have any tips/ ideas for dealing with this person? Should I bring this up with management? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Yes you should take that to management, why should others do her work, and she gets paid for it, this person wants to be more then what she are around the office...another thing you can do is,  when she put her work on your desk,take it and put it back on her desk, tell her look i still have lots of work to do of my own, and sorry but i can't do this anymore...

Answer 2

If someone let me a pile of their work, I would scoop it right back up and deposit it right back on their desk. I'd also inform them "I'm sorry, but I have my own work to do".

This lady sounds like an office bully. I'd speak to her about the complaints you have (in a polite way as possible). If she's not receptive, I would bring it up with management or human resources. They'll line her out.

Answer 3

i would say is that you should tell the management about this, and the management can take the action on her.

Answer 4

About the desk snooping, talk to your boss about getting desks that lock.  Explain that you have seen people snooping through desks that weren't theirs, and through your's in particular.  

About the work, can you just put the work back on her desk.  If so, do that with a note that says you have your own things to get done and will NOT do her work for her.

About the personal life stuff, birthdays, rude habits, etc.  That I would try to let go.  Under different circumstances I might try to put a stop to it, but you should focus and the other two, which are professional issues.  Adding this might make you seem petty.

Answer 5

Talk to your manager.  It is his/her job to deal with her.  Focus on the work being "dumped" on your desk, and the disruption to your work with her "excessive socializing".  I am amazed your manager has not noticed nor done anything.  Not a good sign.  (retired IBM exec mgr)

Answer 6

print this page and leave it on her desk asking her what she would do.