Co-workers
 

This must be the pest of the week, or the month, or perhaps of the few years. It's been annoying me on most, well, every job I've had so far, given I'm quite young and uneducated (for what a while of economics at university counts for) I'm really not fit enough on paper yet for an independent job. So I've so far been "enjoying" myself in the 21st century brand "teamwork". It's frankly ****ing frusturating. I do have good papers. I actually have people who have offered to vouch me from every job I've been in so far.

Yet I'm again pretty much pissed off. As you may have noticed, my job description isn't so hectic that I wouldn't have time to write on forums, hence I do. I read the Financial Times and a few tabloids a day, do my work (and meanwhile, a lot of the team's work), and still have time for a long lunch break and my daily dosages of caffeine. I'm very okay with other people in the team slagging off too, as I acknowledge doing it myself.

What annoys me, though, is that when there's actually work to be done, everyone's too deep dug in their tabs to bother to actually notice. One of them has reached the point where he's completely oblivious to his surroundings, and won't even notice if his phone rings when he's reading a tab. He's suffering from a total lack of initiative, and possibly incurable inability. The ugly side is, people are noticing it. I'm not sure if I am to be ashamed or giggling when I see someone knocking on his desk between all the mags to get his attention.

Nevertheless, we were helping on arranging a high profile meeting yesterday, and I'd been running around picking up pieces and getting projectors and some powerpoint shibte together. I had come in early, and was leaving off accordingly so the woman who was sorting it with gave the notorious co-worker a huge task of putting up the powerpoint splashes ready so the CEO could just click with the remote of the projector in the meet next morning. I told him to do it now instead of the morning just because. So, today morning, I come in, check myself ready, go down to the lobby to fetch some guests, and blam. It's obviously not done, so I just shrug, log in, calibrate the projector, and click a few buttons to get it up. And bugger off. Of course, he's already found the tabloids.

I'm feeling aggressive.

Re: Co-workers
 

Don't worry, I'm sure if you and your other colleagues keep covering for this guy for another few years the problem will magically fix itself without any need for confrontation or discussion.

Re: Co-workers
 

Thank God I'm only here for the summer, and maybe-probably-if the next one, too. It seems to be indifferent where you go, though, as there's those shit co-workers everywhere. (Admitted, otherwise the job is a very fine opportunity).

Re: Co-workers
 

Having very limited work experiance I can honestly say I've never had to work alongside someone who annoys me, but perhaps I've just not got enough experiance.

Or perhaps I'm the annoying one??? :crymeariver:

Re: Co-workers
 

Are you the 'team leader'? If so, why dont you effectively declare that there are times when you can slack off, as you personally would slack off, and there are times when not to slack off; ie, when there are things to be done. You could even use yourself as a yardstick: if i look busy, then you should also be busy.

If you directed this person to do something, move them aside (with no mags as a distraction) and ask them why they didnt do as they were directed.

Re: Co-workers
 

Or crazyglue his phone as a punishmen. Everytime he messes up, the pranks become that much harsher.

Re: Co-workers
 

No, I'm just another peon. If I was the team leader, dear god there'd be shouting, swearing, yelling, and cursing going on. Perhaps even insults. Or I'd just sit in my corner and cry the inability.

Re: Co-workers
 

Yeah, he'll get promoted.

Re: Co-workers
 

didn't dante once post that he couldn't confront people/cause a scene?!!

Re: Co-workers
 

I can feel your pain. I am also plagued by co-workers.

I'm still at the school I started at in February. It originally was only going to be 1 week's supply work, but then it became 2, then a month, and now I'm staying on until next year.

Officially, I'm a supply teacher. This means I rock up at 8:30am, teach 6 lessons (some of which may be cover for the subject I'm not specialised in, with cover work provided by another teacher) and then go home at 3:20pm. I am paid by the day. I get nothing extra for marking homework, setting detentions, staying after to plan, or marking coursework.

As I'm a nice guy and am going to be staying next year (going to be added as "proper" member of staff in September) I don't mind setting homework and detentions, and planning work. It makes my life easier in the long term (homework to get the kids up to the standard I want them, detentions because otherwise you get a reputation as a walkover in the school, and planning work because it means I know what I'm doing every day so am not in a panic).

There are 3 people in the ICT Department. There's me, there's M, and there's C. M is the head of the department. C is a newish teacher. M is leaving at the end of this school year (July) to teach somewhere else in September. C has just had a baby with his wife and unfortunately the baby did not make it, dying from a heart defect after a week.

C has just finished his paternity leave and is now into compassionate leave (understandably). I really like the guy and he seems hard working, but he's let down by the departments disorganisation - mostly due to M. The "office" is a complete mess with papers strewn all over the place and noone knowing where anything is. I comandeered a filing cabinet so I know where my stuff is, but it can be really annoying as if I want something, I have to actively go and FIND M to get it for me from there, as he knows where it is under the mountains of paper.

The main gripe I have with it is the coursework. I took over towards the end of the year 11's coursework. It's compulsory, so there's 150 or so that have been handed in. Out of this, about 30-40 were pupils I took.

A couple of weeks ago, I sat down with M and we realised that C would be unable to mark the coursework, as he was off for 3 weeks (2 weeks paternity + 1 week halfterm). So M asked me if I could mark my coursework and we split C's in half. A proper supply teacher should have told him where to go - I'm paid by the day - why would I want to mark their coursework? As I'm a nice chap, I said ok sure.

I set aside a day in halfterm and ploughed through 50-60 pieces of coursework. I was up at 8:30am and didn't finish until 6pm or so. I was completely knackered but I'd managed to do it all and tick it off.

I came into school after halfterm and M had done 5, at the most. He said he was going to do some each day. Brilliant, considering the deadline had been and gone. I just shrugged and said "ok". It was his call and his back that'd be on the line anyway.

So Friday rolls around (2 days ago). He asks if we can go over a couple of things. He then says "oh i've got a small favour to ask... could you do some of my coursework?" then smiles as if it's the tiniest favour to ask. "Which ones?" I ask. "Just the Unit 2s". I sighed "Yeah, sure". I'm terrible at saying no. What's wrong with me?! There's now about 20-30 more pieces of coursework waiting to be marked.

So as a supply teacher, who shouldn't be doing anything, I'm now going to have to have marked the majority of the year 11 coursework.

Complaining about it won't do anything either, as he's leaving in 8 weeks :(

Re: Co-workers
 

At the end of the year, you may well have a check-up interview with the head to check that you're still fine to take the job full-time. He/she will also have spoken to M about you. M will mention how helpful you've been - and I'm sure you can drop it into conversation with the head.


It's putting yourself out there as someone who's willing to work hard when push comes to shove that will do wonders for your internal reputation. Pupils may judge you on the standard of your teaching, but I suspect that fellow teachers notice behind-the-scenes work far more. I could be talking out of my arse here, but it's just a thought.


Being the junior member of the department sucks - but if you keep plugging away then you won't be junior forever.

Re: Co-workers
 

That's why you modify people's behaviour without causing a scene. Sheesh, haven't you read those "How to improve your life by harniessing the power of mind control" books?

Re: Co-workers
 

I hear CIA favour mescaline and LSD to go together with mind control efforts (the MKULTRA -way).