Co-worker wants to skip out

[mcatdog]

Suppose that you and several co-workers are assigned to a project. With all of you working together, this project will take about 6 hours to complete.

One of your co-workers sends the rest of you an e-mail stating that he will be unable to help with the project. Without being too specific, he has a legitimate excuse. In the past, when similar schedule conflicts have arisen, the person with the schedule conflict has paid a substitute to do the work for him, and the going rate for this is a hundred bucks. However, this guy says he'd rather not hire a substitute because there are enough of us to get the job done without him. He says that if the rest of us have a problem with that, we should tell him, and he'll find a substitute.

Most of these guys have been at this job a lot longer than me, and I'd rather not rock the boat. At the same time, I'm annoyed that someone would ask us to do extra work for free. I think he put the rest of us in an awkward position by basically asking us to confront him, as he knows that we're all pretty laid-back dudes. What exactly would you guys do in this situation? Hilarious, over-the-top suggestions are welcome, but I'd appreciate some serious advice, too.

[irishiain]

Make him get a substitute for you.

It's the fairest solution.

[euphoricism]

go to the boss. anonymously.

[donkbee]

Reply to his email and tell him something like, "Hey it's nothing against you, but I just don't think it's fair for you not to hire a substitute and I'd really appreciate it if you did so." Tell him (nicely) that you don't have time to do someone else's extra work.

There's pretty much no reason to not say something.

[mcatdog]

go to the boss. anonymously.

I don't see why I should involve our boss when the guy specifically said to tell him if we'd rather he hire the substitute. I think our options are either to tell him that, or let it slide. I just don't know the guy very well and I don't know whether he's being honest about not minding hiring a guy, or whether he's just saying that and he'll be a passive-aggressive douchebag to me from now on if I make an issue out of this.

[euphoricism]

You gave a perfect reason for letting the boss know:

"I don't know whether he's being honest about not minding hiring a guy, or whether he's just saying that and he'll be a passive-aggressive douchebag to me from now on if I make an issue out of this."

This makes it the bosses problem. This isnt something you should even have to be concerned with.

Further, the coworker is already a douchebag for even putting you guys in this spot. Bosses need to know when people dont play as a team.

[koolmoe]

Send him the following e-mail in reply:

"My girlfriend is going to be away this weekend, and I really need to get laid. I was going to hire an escort, but I think your wife can get the job done without forcing me to hire a professional. If you have a problem with that, let me know, and I'll find a substitute.

Cheers,
mcat"

[Miffed22001]

tell him his wife gives you a blow job otherwise its an anoymous letter to the boss

[Halv]

I think you all should tie him down and PIITB. Thatll teach him. If you're uncomfortable with that, get a substitute.

[bode]

DONT go to your boss. If you DO have a problem w/ it, you and your team need to take it up w/ him. Going behind his back and telling your boss is childish. This also relies heavily on the task at hand.

[flotu]

I think he should get a substitute just because that's what everyone else had to do, right? Why should he be treated different than others have been in the past?

[givememyleg]

I'm the kinda guy that if it doesn't really add too much, I'd rather just avoid the confrontation or whatever. If he was a strong part and every persons role would be necessary, I'd probably ask my other co-workers what they think. Since they've been there longer they would probably know if you will be hurting and if the guy has a high word or whatever. I don't mind helping other people out, like if he is in a situation and can't do the project. But it greatly bothers me if it's just someone trying to get out of the work and lying about it.

[AHiltz]

To hell with emailing him. Walk over to where he is and lay into him. Lay down the law now so that this shitting over people ends quickly and without further hardships. Then go tell the boss what a douche he his.

[arkana]

He says that if the rest of us have a problem with that, we should tell him, and he'll find a substitute.

[biondino]

How do your colleagues feel about this? If they're not bothered, then you'll likely look a douche to them too if you make a fuss, no matter how justified. If they are all "damn lazy asshole not getting a substitute", then the whole lot of you should ask him.

[bigred]

Send him the following e-mail in reply:

"My girlfriend is going to be away this weekend, and I really need to get laid. I was going to hire an escort, but I think your wife can get the job done without forcing me to hire a professional. If you have a problem with that, let me know, and I'll find a substitute.

Cheers,
mcat"

Wow, another awesome post by moe.

Talk to your coworkers and have a group agreement that a substitute is needed. Then tell the guy ducking out that you all have discussed it and a substitute should be brought in.

Worst thing you can do is go to the boss. This is an easy situation to remedy and you will look useless/drone-like if you need boss mediation for something as simple as this. Go to the boss and good luck ever being considered responsible/driven enough for a promotion. The guy's not even causing a problem yet, he's offered the substitute if you think you need it.

[Lukie]

come up with a better excuse then he did to back out (eg death in family, serious illness, etc). if you want to know some of my over-the-top suggestions, let me know.

[biondino]

One possible problem here is the precedent - will other team members now feel that they can back out without booking a substitute? "Oh but when X pulled out you all agreed you didn't need him to pay for a replacement, so why should I?".

[bigred]

One possible problem here is the precedent - will other team members now feel that they can back out without booking a substitute? "Oh but when X pulled out you all agreed you didn't need him to pay for a replacement, so why should I?".

Great point.

@lukie: gabe gave me mono isn't a good excuse.

[mcatdog]

Bigred,

I agree with your post and I'm not even considering talking to our boss. Euphoricism, I don't mean any offense but I bet you haven't had a serious job before. If you had, you'd understand how petty it would be to involve the boss in minor situations like this. He has better things to do with his time than be a nanny who makes sure we play nice to each other in the sandbox.

Givememyleg,

I guess I gave the wrong impression of the type of project. This is going to be pretty mindless busy work, but it's something that needs to be done. A substitute could do this job equally as well as any of us. However, if one person doesn't come at all, the rest of us are going to have to stay there for 30 minutes to an hour longer to make up for him. We're probably going to be there until pretty late that night anyway, so this might mean staying at work until 1 AM instead of until midnight. Not sure whether that changes anyone's answer.

[NWNewell]

What is typical? 4 man groups? Why does he think that the remaining 5 is enough.

I'd say prorate it... because regardless, each member has to pick up his slack. if the going rate for a sub is $100 and this is typically for a 4 man group, I'd say make him pay for the sub, or make him pay $15 to each remaining group member ($75 total) for picking up his slack.

fair is far.....

Works out for everyone.... the group gets some extra cash for picking up his slack, and he saves $25. And I think it would be a better precedent.

[Rondavu]

It would be petty to involve the boss in minor situations like this. He has better things to do with his time than be a nanny who makes sure we play nice to each other in the sandbox.

Are you kidding me? Bosses love this shit. It will give him a chance to showcase his authority.

[NWNewell]

Bigred,

I agree with your post and I'm not even considering talking to our boss. Euphoricism, I don't mean any offense but I bet you haven't had a serious job before. If you had, you'd understand how petty it would be to involve the boss in minor situations like this. He has better things to do with his time than be a nanny who makes sure we play nice to each other in the sandbox.

And I disagree with this replay.... it depends on the management structure and your boss' function.

Some managers are there to manage the personal (i.e. this would be exactly they type of decisions and situation he is payed to resolve), others are do resolve and work bigger issues, and funnel work load to and and manage their subordinates (in which case, I wouldn't disagree that this could be somewhat petty). But without exactly knowing your company's management tree/structure, Euphor's suggestion is a legitimate one. No need to start attacking someone's work experience. Your response is narrow minded and I suspect it is you that does not have broad work experience.

The fact is, I work at a pretty "serious" job and in my organization's management structure I have two managers, a "Integrated Team Manager" and a "Product Manager." The product manager deals with the larger and more "global" (so to speak) issues related to our "product" and who I am responsible to for the end results of my work/efforts (this would be a petty issue that I would never bring to him). My "Integrated Team Manager" managers personal, recourses, H.R. stuff, and who I am responsible to for "how" I do my work, when I work, the integration workload of our team, etc. Your issue is exactly the type of issue my Integrated Team Manager is responsible work out. He was put in that position and gets paid the big bucks to determine the most efficient what to get our group to produce our product for our Product Manager and our customer.

Try to be a little more open minded and grateful when responding to people that are trying to help you out.

[jyms]

If your other coworkers don't mind him doing this then you need to do it too. If it's ok for one, it's ok for two. Watch how fast they change their tune after you pull the chute as well.

[mrhappy333]

I like the Idea if the guy splits the $100 between everyone who picks up the slack. and not pro rated. if theres four of you, you should each get an extra $25.

If its not like this, then he can skip out all the time and save $25 for not getting a sub.

or if everyone rotated, and skipped out. If this was a monthly project and there was 4 of you,each one of you could skip 3 months, out of the year.

[mcatdog]

Are you kidding me? Bosses love this shit. It will give him a chance to showcase his authority.

Nah, he's not like that. See, this is why I moved from Massachusetts to California. You don't run into nearly as many people on power trips here as you do there.

All,

Thanks for your suggestions. I agree that him paying the rest of us sounds the fairest, but that's probably because we think like poker players. I think most people would think I was being a nit if I tried to put a price on working for another hour.

[mrhappy333]

If there is one thing Ive learned in life is, you need to take care of yourself first. The only person looking out for you, is YOU. If your ok with working an extra hour and not getting paid, then its ok. If your not ok with it, then at least say something.

[mrhappy333]

UPDATE? so what happened?

[mrhappy333]

UPDATE? so what happened?

bueller? bueller?, bueller??

[mcatdog]

Oh yeah, forgot about this thread. Basically I decided to be a bitch and not say anything.

[Silly String]

So basically at 5BB/100, four tabling, you missed out on $15-30 at the poker room of your choice.
I'd punk out too. No reason to rock the boat over $15.

[Penfold]

1. quit your job
2. play poker
3. call said co-worker when you wake up at 11 am. and laugh at him, make various "let me know and i'll find a substitute" remarks
4. profit