Bad Co-workers: To tell on or not to tell on?

What do you do if you have a uncooperative coworker who comes  to work late and unprepared, spends the day doing nothing much work and messes up his/her tasks and is often rude to others especially customers the leaves the office early?

The question is, should you tell your supervisor/manager about your problematic co-worker?




It might be probably best to mind your own work, since it isn't your job to manage your co-workers but what if the lazy and rude co-worker is affecting your own job performance?

Of course, you can always try talking to the coworker directly too, and that's often a good first step. But typically, behavior problems of this sort rarely change without direct intervention by a vigilant boss.

First depending on your relationship with your troublesome coworker; if you're on good, friendly terms, you can try talking to the coworker directly. Try to motivate him/her to do better and hopefully things would work out without having the manager involved.  Oftentimes though, behavior problems like this in the office rarely improve without direct involvement by a watchful supervisor.

Second, it's best you ask your manager for advice in regard to your problematic coworker, if you have a good communication with your manager. Doing so you're politely relaying your concerns regarding the behavior and work ethic and getting your boss informed.

If you have a good manager, he or she isn't going to just give you advice, they'll look into and handle the matter themselves --hopefully by paying more attention to how Bob is spending his time and addressing it with him if he or she sees that there's an issue.

If you deliver discreetly and professionally about the lazy behavior of your coworker one time, it would be generally appreciated by managers.

However, if things do not improve and your co-worker's behavior affects your work, then it's best to alert your manager again but this according to protocol set in the employee manual. Prepare specific instances of the recurring problem (with date, time, place and specifics).

Do your best to keep it professional, impersonal and unemotional--your tone should be even and measured, without aggravation.

Again, be courteous and explain that you feel uneasy bringing this to the manager's attention but your co-worker is affecting your own job's person. And then request how you should handle it.