I'm so fed up with my coworker.

[Anonymous]

He calls me at least once a week to tell me he's running late instead of letting management know. This morning I had 5 missed calls (3 to the office, 2 to my cell) while I was in a meeting. He has issues with his PC, occassionally comes over asking me to do the particular task to avoid getting his PC fixed and constantly requesting me to reset his passwords because he kept getting them confused.

It's all these little things that just bugs the heck out of me but too petty to complain to upper management. I have told him many times to get his issues resolved and still doing these things for him just get him to leave me alone.

[Anonymous]

How are you able to reset his passwords? Tell him to write down his passwords on a sheet of paper and keep it in his desk. It's not secure but a lot of people do it.

[Anonymous]

we're software engineers.

[Anonymous]

I think a few times of "I didn't see my phone in time to convey that you'd be late" should help.

[Anonymous]

Tell him to use his name or his dog's name for his password, just exchanging one letter for a number or a symbol.

Stop telling anyone that he called to say he'd be late. Let that be unexcused or whatever consequence happens because he didn't tell management.

Stop resetting the password.

Do you have kids at home? I would not want to be raising another one as a coworker. But only you will stop it. he has a pretty sweet deal.

[Anonymous]

Stop taking his calls when he is running late. Say, sorry I don't know when he asks questions. Refer him to others. If you did already tell him no. Stop the hand holding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He calls me at least once a week to tell me he's running late instead of letting management know. This morning I had 5 missed calls (3 to the office, 2 to my cell) while I was in a meeting. He has issues with his PC, occassionally comes over asking me to do the particular task to avoid getting his PC fixed and constantly requesting me to reset his passwords because he kept getting them confused.

It's all these little things that just bugs the heck out of me but too petty to complain to upper management. I have told him many times to get his issues resolved and still doing these things for him just get him to leave me alone.

The solution is to start saying no. No, I will not tell management that you are running late, you need to let them know yourself. No, I will not do your work for you so that you can avoid getting your PC fixed. No, I cannot reset your password. If you can't do that, then it's going to keep happening.

As a manager, I would not like it if an employee consistently told a coworker rather than me that they were running late. It would make a bad impression on me.

[Anonymous]

I had a coworker rely on me for things not exactly like this, but similar. I disassociated myself from his as much as possible, divided up our portfolio so there would no longer be any overlap (so people would stop asking me for "our" deliverables), and when his failures negativity affected the organization, I stopped picking up the pieces. When he was being irresponsible, I didn't chase after him to get his work done. I just let him stand on his own two feet and now it's clear to everyone what the real situation is.

You have to stop covering for him. Don't take his calls, certainly not on your phone. Don't pass along a message. When he stops by for a password reset, be busy.

[Anonymous]

"Sorry, I am really busy working on XYZ and won't be able to help you with this. You might want to ask IT to help you with your PC or reset your password." Then back to what you were doing.

[Anonymous]

When you get a missed call on your cell, text back saying "In a meeting...will call back at 10:30" or something to say, "tough, take care of it yourself"

When he needs password reset, "okay, I'll get to it when I get a break" and then take an hour or so to get back to him.

If he asks you to ask you to do a particular task, "I'm in the middle of something, I'll get to it when I have a chance." and then handle it at the end of the day.

When he has to explain why he couldn't log in or why he didn't get that task one on time, he can try to figure out how to tell others that he was too lazy to get his system fixed or that he forgot his password and was waiting for you to reset it, maybe he'll start taking some responsibility.

Agree with everyone else. Stop enabling him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He calls me at least once a week to tell me he's running late instead of letting management know. This morning I had 5 missed calls (3 to the office, 2 to my cell) while I was in a meeting. He has issues with his PC, occassionally comes over asking me to do the particular task to avoid getting his PC fixed and constantly requesting me to reset his passwords because he kept getting them confused.

It's all these little things that just bugs the heck out of me but too petty to complain to upper management. I have told him many times to get his issues resolved and still doing these things for him just get him to leave me alone.

The next time, answer your phone, and tell him that you aren't his secretary and he should call management because you're not going to pass on messages for him. And when he asks you to fix whatever on his computer, either tell him you're busy or tell him you'll do it one last time, but it is the last time because you have your own work to do. He should go to IT if he has a problem. What a pain.

I have several older colleagues who routinely ask me for help with their computer issues. If I am not too busy, I usually try to help. But if I really am busy, I have no hesitation in telling them sorry, can't help, you'll have to ask someone else or IT this time. They're fine with that because they understand that we all have work to do. Your colleague is just taking advantage of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He calls me at least once a week to tell me he's running late instead of letting management know. This morning I had 5 missed calls (3 to the office, 2 to my cell) while I was in a meeting. He has issues with his PC, occassionally comes over asking me to do the particular task to avoid getting his PC fixed and constantly requesting me to reset his passwords because he kept getting them confused.

It's all these little things that just bugs the heck out of me but too petty to complain to upper management. I have told him many times to get his issues resolved and still doing these things for him just get him to leave me alone.

Are you his mother?

Cut the cord.

[Anonymous]

"I am not your supervisor, you need to call Mr. Doe if you are going to be late."

[Anonymous]

Yeah this one isn't a stumper. You already know you need to stop helping, so do it already.

[Anonymous]

10:22 is probably the "right" or direct way, but I'd probably go with 13:33's more indirect approach.