Dealing with Difficult People at Work

[tp6626]

Hypothetical problem.

Say someone is incompetent or just not willing to carry out their job function, and is effectively doing so little work that their role is redundant.

Now, the only reason they're still here is that they lick the bosses wifes arse, and she thinks that the sun shines out of their arse. In turn, the boss only hears good things about her.

What would everyone do about this. Anyone got any useful advice!

(The boss knows my views, but I believe doesn't believe them, or will only listen to his wife - might be a bit 'head in the sand').

[INTJoe]

To what extent does it bother you? Like, are you on a team of 3 people, or 17? Not that it should make a difference; I'm just trying to figure out where you currently reside on the boiling point meter.

[PRBori]

Let it go!!! don't kill yourself for others and if it bothers you so much, then try to look for another job.

When a men is blind is very hard to make him see your way... specially if most of those he surrounds himself with are blind as well... for a blind helping a blind goes nowhere...

[tp6626]

Yeah I should let it go really, but it just annoys me when there's one or two ass-holes holding back progress.

We're a small office of around 10 people, and 8 I feel that 6-7 people are doing the work of 10 whilst 3 sit around doing nothing - yet being paid the most!

Pretty annoying, I could be working on much more valuable things than I end up doing...

[Mogura]

Yeah I should let it go really, but it just annoys me when there's one or two ass-holes holding back progress.

We're a small office of around 10 people, and 8 I feel that 6-7 people are doing the work of 10 whilst 3 sit around doing nothing - yet being paid the most!

Pretty annoying, I could be working on much more valuable things than I end up doing...

How do the other 6-7 people see things? Are they in full agreement with your assessment?

The 3 sitting around doing nothing wouldn't happen to be managers, would they?

Does this bother you enough to make you want to update your CV?

I tend to classify "Difficult People" as ones with attitude problems (a$$holes). How are the attitudes of the 3? If they have pleasant personalities and are just lazy, you'd probably be better off trying to accept the situation rather than fight it--those types are present in all companies/office situations...

[LionsPride]

Hee hee hee. When stuff like this comes up, I always picture a canoe analogy.

Having these people around is like having 3 people pretending to paddle in a ten person canoe and only the people sitting behind them notice. You make progress, but you end up thinking "we could be doing so much better if they either started paddling or got out of the canoe".

The reason I think of this analogy is I remember being on a student council with people I felt were rowing in the opposite direction. I used to spend all my energy just trying to not to go backwards. Needless to say, we never accomplished anything.

[Mogura]

Hee hee hee. When stuff like this comes up, I always picture a canoe analogy.

Having these people around is like having 3 people pretending to paddle in a ten person canoe and only the people sitting behind them notice. You make progress, but you end up thinking "we could be doing so much better if they either started paddling or got out of the canoe".

The reason I think of this analogy is I remember being on a student council with people I felt were rowing in the opposite direction. I used to spend all my energy just trying to not to go backwards. Needless to say, we never accomplished anything.

In that case you get with the others and come up with a plan to throw them overboard in shark-infested waters...

[tp6626]

How do the other 6-7 people see things? Are they in full agreement with your assessment?

The 3 sitting around doing nothing wouldn't happen to be managers, would they?
Yeah, the others are generally of the same opinion. The 3 are 'technically' managers, but don't make (actively avoid) any decisions, don't support their workers and generally don't take any responsibility for anything. The other 6 tend to moan alot, but avoid taking any action. They still view these 3 as being 'the bosses', and are intimidated and daren't speak out. At least one is actively looking for other jobs, and we've had problems retaining & attracting new employees under these bosses.

Does this bother you enough to make you want to update your CV?
Yep, I did this last October after they were really taking the piss when the MD was away on holiday. Updated my CV on a Thursday night,submitted it online Friday, was offered interviews by Monday, and had a job offer by Wednesday. I had a letter of resignation waiting for my MD when he got back off holiday, and explained the problems/reasons. I got a 40% pay rise starting the following week, and now report directly to him - but he went straight back to having his head in the sand about these 3. What has happened now is that I probably have more respect with the MD than these 3, and have more responsibilities for the way things run here than they do, but I don't have any title as such; I'm Design Engineer where they are Administration Manager, Technical Manager and Production Manager, which doesn't really bother me, but complicates the situation to everyone outside looking in!


I tend to classify "Difficult People" as ones with attitude problems (a$$holes). How are the attitudes of the 3? If they have pleasant personalities and are just lazy, you'd probably be better off trying to accept the situation rather than fight it--those types are present in all companies/office situations...

They are not pleasant at all. They don't give a monkies about the future of the company, and can be absolute snakes sometimes. They seem to think they are owed their wage, and do as little work as possible to get it.

They've made many approaches to me to try to get me to 'stop rocking the boat', but I'm not going to. I respect ability and achievements, and their technical position means nothing to me - they don't like this at all, and I assume must absolutely hate me!

I could quite easily get a job elsewhere, probably at a higher wage and in better conditions, but thats not the point. I don't like giving up on things, and kind of see it as a challenge here, if that makes any sense?

[LionsPride]

I could quite easily get a job elsewhere, probably at a higher wage and in better conditions, but thats not the point. I don't like giving up on things, and kind of see it as a challenge here, if that makes any sense?

Makes perfect sense. I hate leaving something broken too, even if leaving might be the best choice for me.

Learning from my own experiences, staying to fix things is alright as long as I have a fail safe point that lets me cut my losses and walk away without feelings of guilt/regret/anger. Pick a date and say "if things don't improve by this date even with my efforts, I will walk away." and then visualize handing in your resignation and NOT coming back for any reason. OR pick something you know should be the last straw (like if one of the 3 are promoted). By setting your limit ahead of time, it reduces the whole "is this particular bad day going to be my breaking point?" struggle. For me, if the choice is always a day to day choice, I never choose to give up. It's caused me to go down with the ship a few times.

[tp6626]

Good advice, although its hard to know what 'the limit' may be. (Mogura would be interested in your thoughts as well - if you have time).

I would be quite happy if I was fired, in actual fact, as at the moment I feel like I physically cannot walk away of my own choice without feeling bad about it.

What caused me to resign last time was partially these 3 idiots taking the piss, and partially a wage review where I was moved from £20000 to £23500. I thought that this was an insult so found another job, and ended up being offered £28000 to stay. Needless to say, this did cause a bit of resentment all round in the office.

I did also say to the MD that if I wasn't on the same level as these other bosses within a year, I would definitely leave as well, so guess I'll see what happens in October!