fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3091 ]

[ SECRET POST #3091 ]

⌈ Secret Post #3091 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

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I'm currently in a very awkward position.

I've been working in my dream job (has something to do with SDCC but won't go into details) for about a year now, but I'm transferring to another city in a few weeks.

In my job, I'm used to seeing people at work who are working in our line of job because they love it.
They don't just do it because it's a job. To most of us, it's our blood and soul.

My boss has been pretty consistent in hiring people who actually want the job, and generally been very strict in that everyone has to work hard or they've got to go.
My boss is currently on vacation and won't return until 2 months from now.
Just before the vacation, we got a new hire. Thing is... Our newest hire? She doesn't want to do jack shit.

She's on her phone, talking to her friends, all day every day.
Last week I hear her complain (quite audibly, I might add) to her friends how "we do nothing". We. As in her and everyone else at our work.
Me and my co-workers are busting our asses off, and even though it doesn't always look like it since a lot of it involves computer-work, I've been sleeping 4 hours every night for the past month. That's how swamped with work we are.

I get that she's young and this is her second job ever but C'MON. JFC.

When my boss comes back and sees her doing nothing? She's gonna get sacked. And heaven help me, I don't want that. I actually feel sorry for the poor girl.
She's socially awkward (know-it-all, talks over people, can't take a hint, everything is black and white to her re politics and gender issues etc, still going through that awkward "gay boys are yaoi teehee can't you see I'm progressive?" phase), and the only thing she enjoys participating in is fandom talk.
I wouldn't mind the fandom talk if it wasn't constant. I disagree with her on a lot of fandom things but keep my mouth shut because she gets very defensive and argumentative.

Basically, she's your typical shut-in nerd. I can sympathize, because I used to be like that. Kinda. A little bit like that. Maybe I still am.

I'm not sure what I can do to help her? Like... how do you motivate someone? How did she even pass the job interview?
Ugh. I'm super stressed and I've never had to deal with this kinda situation before.

I'm sorry, that kind of behavior deserved her betting sacked, and there's probably nothing you can do to save her.

This. I mean I guess OP can have a chat with her if she wants and give her a heads up that her standard of work will not be satisfactory to the boss, but given the description in this post, I'm guessing this woman will get very defensive if this happens and will probably just bitch at the OP. I would just let her get fired. She honestly has it coming, will hopefully take it as a life lesson to learn and grow from, and there's also probably someone else out there who deserves the job more anyway

op

I know I shouldn't get involved but I honestly can't just stand by and watch. I know you're right, and yet... No can do.

Then I'd talk to her. I'd just say "listen, I want to look out for you here, and I don't think your level of work is gonna cut it with the boss." If she gets mad, then it's on her. I mean it's still on her, but if you want to feel like you've done something, that'd be it.

SA

getting sacked, not betting sacked. Spell much, today, self?

but she needs to get sacked then maybe she'll learn. If it's her second job and not her first she should already know better.

op

she got sacked from her previous job... I don't think she learned anything from that experience

:/

then serves her right
for fuck's sake
let someone more deserving have the job!

da

I would just send her an email (maybe even from an account that doesn't have your name associated with it if you think she would try to start drama with you) telling her that you're worried about her job security because you've been working there a long time and you know that the boss wouldn't be happy with her performance. Maybe give her some tips or something about time management and offer your assistance if she finds herself confused about any of her duties. If she reacts negatively to this, then I would advise you to wash your hands of the whole thing. No point in sticking your neck out for someone who clearly doesn't give a shit. When your boss comes back and notices her slacking, hopefully they'll give her a verbal warning first and that might spur your coworker into getting her shit together.

op

I think I'll try the anon advice below you, but this is a good suggestion also

You just can't help some people. She ought to be grateful to have a job in this market, and if she's such an idiot she can't see everyone else working their asses off while she screws around... /shrug

But if you're feeling saintly, you could try giving her a heads up. Something like, "Hey, I know things seem pretty lax around here while Boss is away, but Boss will be back in _____ and he/she's pretty strict about people keeping up with their workload. It can get really competitive, because a lot of people want a job here and he only keeps people who pull their own weight. [short pause] How are you settling in?"

If she says she's fine, nod and say, "Okay, well I noticed that X, Y and Z are behind schedule and we could really use your help with _____." Mention your own tasklist and what you plan to get done by way of emphasizing that everyone else is on the ball.

If you feel you can exert any sort of authority, give her specific tasks and set deadlines. "X needs to be done by the end of Tuesday" followed by "Have you finished X?" on Tuesday afternoon.

If she takes it badly, shrug and wait for her ass to be fired.

OP

This is really solid advice, thank you! Definitely something I can at least try.

(not ayrt) Let us know how it goes please! I'm just really curious about this scenario, I've never had to deal with an awkward coworker before.

Can you enroll her in a bunch of team culture courses? Tbh she sounds like she needs to grow up a bit and if that doesn't happen soon she'll be a lost cause.

Can someone she doesn't work with, like a workplace facilitator, take her to the side and lay down where she needs to back off?

And work her off her feet :p

Edited 2015-06-21 22:23 (UTC)

I'm going to go against the grain here and suggest you DON'T talk to her, because:

a) It probably won't motivate her to change, you're all the ones with the problem in her mind, not her,

b) getting fired might be the motivation she needs to be a better person, but she needs to come to that realization herself by living through that experience, not just having it as a possible consequence, looming far away in the horizon, and

c) she might think you had something to do with her getting fired if you talk to her, and weeks later her boss fires her. If she's as, er, not-realistic as you portray her to be, she might very well fumble for any excuse that doesn't involve her being responsible for her own life, and you don't want to be in the line of fire of that sort of drama.

Honestly... sometimes people need to learn from the consequences of their actions.

She needs to learn that if you pull shit like that, you get fired.

She is not your responsibility. If she's a grown adult with a job, then she needs to act like one. The most you can do, I guess, is encourage her to get up off her ass and help you guys with all that work you've gotta do. Is there some smaller less responsibility-intensive tasks you can give her to do?

Apart from that... let the cards fall where they may, and let this be a lesson to her.

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[ SECRET POST #3091 ]

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