What should I do about coworkers hiding or standing around not doing their job?

25 Comments

1. HILDA GNovember 4,2022 at 5:23PM UTC

   My opinion only, if taking photos that are time and date stamped is quite uncomfortable on your part, you may continue the observation and take note. Then you may report those noted observation so that your manager would take time to observe as well based on your notes. :)

2. AnonymousNovember 4,2022 at 5:32PM UTC

   You should never take on management's role of supervision of employees.

   Catering should be highly managed by supervisors and work flow managers. That's you job.

   What I would do is only report offenders when they directly impact your performance. Otherwise you are going to be met with a lot of resistance.

   Service work is normally staffed with equal amounts of workers and slackers. If you manager is nit addressing your challenges I would move up the chain.

3. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 2:05PM UTC

   Thank you, I emailed my manager my concerns and a list of problems that are arising on a daily basis. I work on a different floor (those I serve only have a small window of time to have their meal) and not sure why he does not take the time to come up and check on things. A guest made a comment that they appreciated my hard work while others were standing around or hiding. I was embarrassed that it was that obvious as well as feeling walked on by other employees. I told my manager but feel that he is listening but not hearing. One person trying to run a buffet for 100 people in a remote (kitchen on 1st floor) area while slackers do nothing is quite frustrating. But he says the job should be easy with all the help I have and he doesn't know why his boss has had to jump in to help. This is the start of his second year with the company and I'm going on 6 years.

4. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 5:05PM UTC

   Keep documenting mistakes and lack of suuport.

5. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 6:34PM UTC

   Thank you, no one knows that my Dad is friends with someone who is on the Board of Directors as I like to be commended for MY work and not ride on my father's coat tails. I don't share work problems with my Dad either. I'm over 50 and believe I should be able to handle this myself. I also caught a coworker stealing but that's a whole other story? ?

6. AnonymousNovember 4,2022 at 5:53PM UTC

   I don't really know that industry though don't think you as an employee should be doing the manager's job - can the manager walk around and view what people are doing?

7. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 1:48PM UTC

   Yes the manager can but I am working on a different floor and do not know why the manager does not check on the area. His boss did stop by and saw that there was a need for help and she jumped right in. Then I was reprimanded in front of other coworkers because his boss had to step in and help. I spoke up right back to him and told him that I am not the supervisor and should not have to supervise the supervisor or keep picking up extra slack because others are hiding or standing around doing nothing. I honestly don't think he is hearing what I am telling him.

8. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 2:10PM UTC

   I was also yelled at for "disrespecting" him twice once on the phone and because I asked him why he is pulling away staff during busy time.
   This has been building up for so long and I have been telling him so I finally exploded at him. I have a sneaking suspicion that my supervisor is lying to me and not being pulled away for other projects.

9. Sharon GrehanNovember 4,2022 at 7:04PM UTC

   Your manager should not put you in a position to take photos - it is their job to hold people accountable. You raised the concern and what impact it has, the responsibility now lies with your manager. If it comes up again, clearly state that you are not comfortable with the ask and your intention was to alert the manager to the impact of your coworkers lack of contribution as you care about the reputation and quality of the output from your team. You are not in a position to document and I'm sad to hear that your manager is asking you to do so. This is a clear no

10. AnonymousNovember 4,2022 at 7:04PM UTC

    Sounds very frustrating. Sorry to hear. Not the best reassurance, but there are slackers in any company/team. It's annoying, but I've learned the cream always rises to the top. Your work will be noticed... though waiting for that to get corrected can be tough. I'd bet your manager just has a bigger issue that's distracting them from getting to this one.

11. AC80ydNovember 4,2022 at 7:52PM UTC

    I observed my daughter in a similar situation. I advised her to identify what inspires & motivates her teammates. Then talk to them and remind them of their "why". She did that, and now, she no longer does all the heavy lifting, they are done in half the time because everyone is pitching in and they feel part of a team and that their individual contributions are a valuable part of the band's reputation. By the way, they don't get paid, but the success my daughter had is building on her confidence as a leader. She is only 16! If a teenager can do it, you def can. I believe in you.

12. BethBNovember 5,2022 at 1:04PM UTC

    Oh, my, that’s a hard no!! Do

    not take pictures of your coworkers. Stop doing what they won’t. You might be able to get somewhere by doing something like loudly asking, hey, who is handling table 8, they are getting antsy. Other than that, do your job.

13. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 3:41PM UTC

    This is a buffet for approximately 100 people, I have been doing this for approximately 6 years and any staff that has worked this has either switched to a different department or left. The new supervisor has only been doing this for about a month and additional support staff only two weeks. None knows how to run the POS or CC machine besides me and new supervisor who disappears all the time. He clocks in 3 hours prior but nothing is ever done therefore I am scrambling to get the line up. The kitchen is located 4 floors down and food is staged in a hot box and portable cooler we use disposables but the only one who goes to the storage room to restock is me eventhough new supervisor is supposed to be taking care of it. When I ask him if there is enough supplies or food even on the line he comments that it should be "good enough" then we get a surge of 20+ people and then we're out of stuff. I'm ready to go to HR or my manager's boss to figure out how to resolve these issues seeing neither the supervisor is taking this serious and the manager is listening but not hearing me. I have also updated my resume and have applied at other establishments eventhough I am coming up on my 6 year anniversary. Many of the staff that were working there when I started have moved on to other departments or left the company

14. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 9:35PM UTC

    I understand your sense of responsibility. I do. Can you turn it around a little. Would they care about you? If you hurt your back or broke an arm? This is not your company. The fact that you are the only one who can run certain systems is their own fault. Not listening to you is their problem not yours. This is not your problem it is theirs.

    If you love this kind of work there are lots of caterers or restaurants that would love someone with your experience. Many are really hurting for staff.

15. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 10:58PM UTC

    I have updated my resume and applied at a few different establishments. Just finished a phone interview today. I do enjoy this type of work and have been in the restaurant industry in different capacities/areas for over 24 years. I know the business aspect such as marketing, accounting, customer service, BOH as well as FOH but not in every single position but enough to know who takes care of what and daily functions

16. Bosslady520080November 6,2022 at 5:27PM UTC

    Don't wait. Run. Get a new job where you'll be valued.

17. surfnwriteNovember 5,2022 at 2:04PM UTC

    I would definitely not take photos! I would consider that an extreme invasion of privacy and would definitely lead to alienation. Is there a way you can call an informal group meeting to discuss these issues? You don't mention if you are in a leadership position but if not, there should be a way to get your point across in a casual, non-threatening way.

18. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 10:50PM UTC

    Not in leadership role, was turned down for it and it was given to "new supervisor" who is not doing what is on his "to do" list which I am the one who wrote it up last year so people would know how to do the job in my absence. I wrote out the detailed job description/duties on my own time too. Last year was a tiny bit worse than this year.

19. AnonymousNovember 6,2022 at 1:48PM UTC

    You were turned down for the leadership role which was given to your new supervisor who is not doing his job? Hmmm trust that there are better places out there for you and give yourself permission to let go.

20. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 5:03PM UTC

    Focus on you only and do what you can and allow tge rest to falter until your supervisor steps up. If you are blamed for the others" shortfall then go to hr

21. AnonymousNovember 5,2022 at 6:28PM UTC

    Thank you, I have never been in this position before. To get yelled at for others not performing what they say was taken care of but wasn't thus delaying the service and opening time is like a slap in the face. The new supervisor is only concerned about eating and visiting with his friends instead of taking care of business. I call him or text him to find out what is going on or where he is at and he tells me the manager had him take care of something which turns out he lied to me. I'm not supervising the supervisor (a friend of the manager) and I'm not sure why I am getting reprimanded in front of the whole kitchen when the supervisor is the one that messed up. There is not much leeway in time if anything goes wrong (equipment failure ....coffee machine, elevator, heat lamp failure, lack of supplies.. etc) I politely tried to explain to the manager but then he said all I give him is excuses. When he was yelling at me in the kitchen I yelled right back because I was mad he came up to me later and said I disrespected him twice in one day and I better watch it. The manager that used to run this department is in another department and things used to run smoothly. I might ask to be transferred to his department

22. AnonymousNovember 6,2022 at 2:26PM UTC

    The manager gave you some good advice. One thing you have to remember this is a job, not a social club. Those individuals are there to perform a duty. These people are not contributing to the team. I have a different attitude than the current workplace environment. This is common everywhere. I respect co-workers, supervisors, etc. that give their best to the job. I am not considered with the feelings of people who do not work, hide, or play on their phones at their jobs.

23. AnonymousNovember 6,2022 at 3:39PM UTC

    i have a co worker like this and it really stressing me out. she is doing nothing playing youtube and when she gets tired she will start bossing us around to think that we were all in the same rank.

    i dont mind her doing nothing and me end up everyday doing everything as long as she dont bother me but when she starts to open her mouth and acting like she's a boss it pisses me off

24. AnonymousNovember 9,2022 at 9:57PM UTC

    I understand 100% two coworkers were in this closet we use to stage food and supplies on their phone sitting back in chairs that just appeared one day. Someone from another department said that he had gone in there to retrieve something and they were sitting, eating and on their phones during lunch hour while I'm trying to keep up with food and beverages. I didn't find out about it until the next day but I was pissed off when I found out where they were.

25. Wanda ShawNovember 7,2022 at 1:21AM UTC

    This is something that is sometimes apart of team dynamics. You have those that go above and beyond in doing their jobs, while others are seemingly there only to collect a paycheck. So what to do? Really it is up to the manager to address each subordinate’s job performance or the lack thereof. Maybe the next time you’re doing a task, and you notice an employee standing around idly, ask them nicely if they’d like to assist you, or you could say. “You know’ I’m prepping this large salad order that I have to get ready, could you jump in and do….?.” Oftentimes, workers who aren’t motivated to do their jobs or to go above what is expected tend to feel disconnected or that they have nothing to contribute. With that being said, however, there is no excuse for being lazy or goofing off on company time. Everyone clocking in should be doing a task to help the organization meet its goals and earning a wage. Even if they’ve finished their tasks, they should take it upon themselves to go to the supervisor to inquire about other task that may need to be done. I applaud you for your work ethic. I just wish your teammates shared it.