How will you handle a co-worker who always "forgets" to give you the info you need to do your work?
This is despite daily reminders and now the manager's getting angry with me for not completing the assignment.
She's always prompt when it comes to requests from others so I really do not understand her attitude. I do not recall offending her in any way so I'm pretty lost here.
There was this occasion when she told me "jokingly" that she doen't like me. Help! It doesn't help that this co-worker is also the boss' pet.
Any advice?
Answer:
Tell her that if she's not giving the info you need within 24 hours, you will do it yourself, by looking and messing up with her files. And tell her too that if you see anything fishy or will make her go down the drain, that you will definitely keep it for future use.
If she goes back at you and tell you that that is harrassment, tell her that you are not harrassing her, you are only "joking".
Document all your requests and all her "forgetfulness." Put things in writing. Take it to your boss if it keeps happening.
pretty much sounds like she is envy of you. i would go straight to the boss and ask what was needed for the assignment and not depend on the coworker, apparently you already learned that she is not gonna do anything in your favor but to try and get you fired. so from here on out get it straight from the horses mouth and continue to be ok with her cordial but feed with a long handled spoon and pray for her her envy is gonna cost her a lot of pain in the end. that was not a joke she was being honest with you
Is there another way you can obtain the info you need to complete the assignment? If so, it would be better for you to take that route.
Your co-worker may feel intimidated and afraid of perhaps you becoming the boss' pet so she could be purposely holding the info from you.
At this point, get the info from others (or find it yourself) and complete the assignment. There's no need to put your job on the line because of your co-worker's lack of professionalism and teamwork. Best wishes on your assignment!
Document your first request in e-mail.
After a day or so forward the first request to her, and CC your boss requesting the information again.
After a day, forward the second request and CC your boss asking for the information again...
Finally, forward the copy of the third request to your BOSS, CC the co-worker, asking for your bosses help.
You will only have to do this one time, I promise.
tell the manager that your co-worker doesn't give yet the info you need. maybe when he finds out, he will talk directly to this co-worker of yours to give the details you are looking for
She doesn't like you.... you are right! She hasn't forgotten either but you know these "facts".
What is there to do with the boss' pet? :) You may be the "odd person out" in this triangled relationship & in this company??
A few questions: How long has the "pet" been at the company? And you at the company?
Your relationship with the boss: is it one where you can talk to frankly with her? and with your co worker? Did you take someone's position in the company recently?
Can you speak with a wise person in the company that see the whole situation of what's going on?
Good luck! I hope the project gets done satisfactorily & that you are able to be in decent contact with your boss & co worker.
I hear your frustration. Hang in there! :-)
You should have found another source for the information. She isn't joking. She has singled you out. Keep on your toes and be aware of your surroundings.
send reminder emails to this person and cc your boss this always helps me.
OK, your manager is already riding you for an assignment which is already overdue - this is not a good time to bring up tensions with a co-worker, especially when it's being used an excuse for you not having your work done. That is all your argument will be regarded as - an excuse - and any opportunity you have to address the issues you have with your co-worker (which are independent of the fact that you're late on a deadline) will be thrown out the window.
Regardless of the actual circumstances, the who did/did not do what, the fact is you are responsible for *your* job duties, and you are responsible for *your* relationship with your manager. This is what you need to address right now.
This assignment you were "supposed to complete" for the manager had to have been given to you directly by the manager, in which case you should know exactly what you need to do, and do it. If the manager did not tell you directly what he/she wanted - but you found out (even if you heard it through the grapevine) that the manager had a project for you and you didn't know about it - it is, fair or unfair, still on you to take the initiative to ask the manager directly if you don't know what's going on. If you still need to figure out what that is, you're going to have to go in now, apologize up front and without guilt that you did not take the initiative to determine what the assignment was and when it was due, and assure him it was entirely an error of miscommunication, an error which you will be sure not to make again, and that you would like to do everything possible to devote yourself to finishing this assignment. Clarify with him exactly what he expects (even if you already know), and in the course of this clarification, if there is information that you need to get from your co-worker (again, act as if you are approaching the assignment new, you don't know she's being difficult, do not mention your problems with her at this time), review the steps you are going to take to complete the assignment with your manager -- including that you will ask for information X from this co-worker -- and conclude by saying that you will give him CONTINUAL updates on every step you take until the assignment is in.
NOW, do the assignment. Request the information you need from the co-worker in person (or on the phone), give her a memo "as a reminder" immediately with the request written down - stating explicitly that you need X info by Z date/time - and THEN send an email to her, making sure you CC: the manager on the email, and say "As we discussed today and as I wrote in the memo to you, I need [info X] by [date/time] so that I can complete an assignment. This assignment is backed up against deadline, so if you have time to send me the information sooner, I would definitely appreciate. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks again, ."
You have now held your co-worker responsible for her position without embarassing anyone. The manager knows that you have talked with the co-worker, that you have worked out a time by which you expect help from her, and the co-worker knows that the manager is aware of this. You will get the information you need. If you don't get it immediately, send an email the evening before or morning of the time you expect the info (always CC: the manager on anything like this from now on) reminding them to pass the info to you by that time. If you STILL don't get the info by the time you set, give her no more than 15 minutes before asking her for it. Try your best to get the info right then and there without sounding impatient (after all, it benefits you whether she helps you or not, though she doesn't know that). If she insists on delaying the info, make her establish the time she will get it to you, then immediately go back to your desk and send an email to your manager, CC:ing the co-worker, letting him know that you are moving forward on the assignment but that you are currently waiting on the information you need from this co-worker. Say that you expected to have it by [the original time], but that at that time she informed you she could not do it until [new time]. Say that you are awaiting the information and are ready to continue making progress after it has been received.
I doubt you will have a problem after that. Finish the assignment, give it to your manager. You have saved face with him, acted in a 100% professional manner, not only taking responsibility for a bad situation but you've used it to demonstrate to the manager that you are capable of keeping a cool head, rolling with the punches, getting organized, working with others towards a common goal, and have pride in getting your work done. Whatever happens next, you will have those strengths in the eyes of the manager. I cannot guarantee that friends don't win out in an office conflict, but it's much harder for a friend to gossip negatively about an employee that has shown their dedication and professional worth to the manager.
In all future dealings with this co-worker, always make sure that you are clear about what you need from her and when, be as helpful as you want her to be when she needs things from you, ALWAYS send written requests (even if you've asked in person), and ALWAYS keep a printed record of any written communication with this co-worker, even if tensions calm down. Remember that if you want the record to clearly show that she has a problem with you or with being productive to the workflow, when you email, even in times when you are frustrated, angry, or stressed out, your emails should read more "this problem is affecting my ability to do my job" than "this is a problem of your personality vs. my personality;" they should read more "unfulfilled expectations" than anger or impatience. And of course, any future conflicts, personal (as in jokingly telling you she doesn't like you) or professional (as in not giving you information that she says she will provide or is required to provide), whether made in email or in person, should be followed-up in email -- keep these in your printed file, and only show the file to your manager when you feel you've had enough, and that you can show you have made consistent efforts to work well with this co-worker but that your efforts seem to have no effect and you really need the manager's mediation or intervention. The words should then speak for themselves.
Lots of luck to you! I hope you can find a way to make this work out.
If you are using Outlook in your office, it's best to send her mail stating an exact hour that you need the data, and don't forget to use Flag for follow-up and set an alarm of 15mins. interval near the deadline.
Don't mind her about the promotion. It is not for you to decide. The boss will surely know if she deserves it in time.
i think your co worker is doing it on purpose so you can get in trouble tell your boss to give you the info not her cause she dont give it to you and see what happens .she's jealous of you doing a better job then her .
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