Work situation - what is the protocol?

WIAWSNB

Hi.

A friend has a situation at work where one member of their small team - 3 folk in total - does little or no work. It is quite blatant; we are talking periods well in excess of half-hours at a time when they just message on their phone or - literally - do their nails. Lots of making hot drinks, lots of chatting with other colleagues. Very very little obvious work.

Even when 'working', there are few, or no, results from what they have supposedly done. 

The other two members need to work solidly every minute of their time just to complete their tasks - that's fine, and the way they like it. 

To be clear - this 'idle' person's job remit is not the exact same as their other two's, although there is some overlap, and they are part of the same 'team'. 

There is an element of poor management involved, where this person has not being given specific tasks to complete, but is largely left to their own devices. However, there are things that can - and should - be done by them in order to develop the business (one of their remits), but they are failing to do this. Done properly, their job should engage them fully the time they are there.

What should my friend do, if anything? 

Ta. 

MeteredOut

If the friend is having to pick up extra work because of this idle worker, they should raise it with their manager.

If not, then its really nothing to do with them - its between the idler and their manager.

WIAWSNB

MeteredOut said:

If the friend is having to pick up extra work because of this idle worker, they should raise it with their manager.
If not, then its really nothing to do with them - its between the idler and their manager.

Thank you - that was my feeling too.

There's a bit of both going on - the person should be handling some of the simpler tasks my friend and their other colleague are doing, allowing them to focus on the more complex ones (beyond the ability of this person), but they do largely have their own 'developing' role within the team. Not even that is being done.

'Grit teeth' was my advice so far 

LightFlare

The friend could be more pro-active is directly assigning/asking the other worker to the simpler tasks

A simple "Can you do this task please, so I can attend to this urgent task" might do the trick

WIAWSNB

LightFlare said:

The friend could be more pro-active is directly assigning/asking the other worker to the simpler tasks

A simple "Can you do this task please, so I can attend to this urgent task" might do the trick

Thanks.
Yes, but a few issues - this person's ability for carrying out these technical tasks is limited, and even the simple ones - which are delegated - usually require correction afterwards. My friend has realised there is no time gain by doing this, since this person also cannot cope with being corrected, or given constructive criticism, and what should be a one-minute 'could you change this, please?' more often than not turns into a prolonged techy discussion whilst the toss is argued.
And, these delegated tasks are a minor part of their remit in any case.

born_again

This is what management is there for. If they are not aware, make them aware. 
it can be as simple as asking management what exactly this persons tasks are, & that when given a simple task to do they can not do it without issues.
So you friend could put that in such a way as saying they are seeing them struggling with simple tasks. Would management like them to take them under their wing & train them up.
Win all round, management are then aware of a issue, your friend gets brownie points, for offering to help them 👍

Hoenir

The "management"  will be aware.  Might well be a far bigger picture. Which involves a significant reorganisation being planned. In which case such individuals become top of the list for redundancy. 

WIAWSNB

Thanks all.

I understand that 'management' is aware, but not of the extent. I agree - this is entirely their problem to solve.

I'm going to suggest just to sit back and not become involved, at least unless it really does impinge significantly on the rest of the team.

Thanks everyone. 

kinger101

MeteredOut said:

If the friend is having to pick up extra work because of this idle worker, they should raise it with their manager.

If not, then its really nothing to do with them - its between the idler and their manager.

I largely agree.  I worked in a university for years and we had some people who did less then nothing as they just distract others.  Didn't bother me as I seem they seemed to know I had no time for them.

As you get more senior though, it probably is in your remit to  flag lazy employees and ineffective managers.  You duty ultimately is to stakeholders. It's a case of picking your battles though because lazy employees and ineffective managers are ubiquitous.

Personally, I just don't understand the laziness.  It drives me potty if I have nothing to do at work.