I just got a new job and i’m really happy but there is one problem: one of my coworkers works no more than 3 hours in an 8-hour workday. she spends time at lunch, shopping, personal phone calls, and chatting with other workers. her behavior makes me think she has no respect for her fellow co-workers. i have to take up the slack. she has been here for two years and I just don’t see how she keeps her job. should I escalate or ignore this…
Thank you for the question. We are all faced with people and situations in our life that test us. Our buttons get pushed and we get annoyed. The truth is, as annoyed as you may be with your coworker, this is not her lesson to learn. It is your lesson.
I would guess that this is not the first time that you have been in a situation where you see that you are putting forth the effort and others are not. Your coworker may be oblivious to your observation of her behaviour. She is content.
What you could consider is: What is it within you that is causing you to react to her in this way?
As a child, were you scolded if you were being “lazy”. As an adult are you still searching for validation? Are you afraid that all the burden of the work will fall upon you if she doesn’t “step up”?
You see, our biggest challenges are our teachers. She is in your life to teach you something, And you don’t have to worry about her. She will have to deal with her own set of annoyances and lessons, in her own time. That’s not up to you to invest your time and attention in. Just begin to consider what it is that can be learned from this situation and how you can grow from it.