How do you deal with asshole coworkers?

[alarimer]

I get so completely fed up with this guy at work. First of all, we work for the state. We have a certain number of marine resource samples we need to collect every month. Normally these duties are (or should be) shared among all of us (three of us usually end up doing it which is fine) except that this guy has started (actually has been doing this for a while now) to insist that he does all of it. The rest of us get to flip a coin or something to determine who goes with. Now, my boss is pretty hands off, which is why this situation has arisen. Normally that is fine by me; there is usually plenty to do and it is not as if I am asking for a tally to be kept as to who does what. I just think it is unnecessary (and unfair) for this guy to do what he is doing. He is also an asshole in many other ways. I try, try, try not to sweat the small stuff but sometimes it really gets to me. It is also not as if I don't have plenty of things to do, because I could stay at the office every day and not run out of stuff to do but this guy is not really being a team player (which all the bosses think is really important). I will be talking to my boss the first chance I get but he will be gone most of the rest of the month so the situation will not be resolved soon. In the meantime what should I do (besides calling in sick every day LOL)? This guy listens to no one. You cannot tell him anything; I certainly can't. The first chance I get I am leaving.

[carpetbagger]

1. Emails with cc to your boss.

Find some very objective things to bring up, and start an email correspondence with copies going to your boss. Something like asking him to carry some weight in a certain area he's not, and then if he bitches about doing all the sampling, give him your written response w/ cc to your boss.

[alarimer]

13. the funny thing is

He does all this work, then complains how tired he is!! Something of a martyr complex I guess. I just say "you don't have to do all this. Other people work here too."

Today I was pissed because I had planned on going to finish up our work today or tomorrow only to find that my colleagues (this guy and another)
had already planned that they would do it. I am often not around when they plan stuff so I am often excluded. I did tell them that I was unhappy with them doing that (very coolly and not angrily). At one point, though, I said out loud (to no one in particular- I am not ever sure anyone was around) "well I guess I might as well take the rest of the month off then since I am obviously not needed here".

I am probably way overreacting (I do have a tendency) but these people piss me off and I basically hate my job.

[ET Awful]

2. I'd say a dead fish under his passenger seat is in order.

Especially if it's currently winter. Come March or so, it should be pretty ripe :)

Yes, I stole the idea from Grumpy Old Men, but I still like it :)

[politicaholic]

3. I have a solution for you that you and your coworkers will enjoy.

Since he has chosen to take ownership of this little aspect of the job, he should also take ownership of any screw ups.

Sabotage him by colaborating with your fellow fed up coworkers.

It won't lose him his job, but he will figure out very quickly that it's lonely under the bus.

[loudestchick]

4. Give them Whooping cough?

[alarimer]

6. That would probably kill him

He has a heart condition. Actually there was a time when he was on restricted duty and I am not sure how he convinced his doctor to let him go back to work but he did. I am concerned that all this is not really good for him either. I cetainly don't want to be there when he finally keels over.

[Nadienne]

5. Try to do the stuff before he does.

Or do it seperately from him. Include everyone else and exclude him...

[alarimer]

7. I don't know why I care so much about this

I should be glad to sit in the office instead of freezing my butt off on a boat in January (but it is Texas so mostly it is pretty nice). So what's wrong with me LOL?

[Nadienne]

9. Nothing's

wrong. I get irritated when people butt in and take over my jobs. I don't know why it should irritate me, but it does.

[DS1]

8. I make them change their passwords twice a week

:7 and it's set to not allow previous ones

[StaggerLee]

10. Heh!

:D

[alarimer]

11. I do know his password

I shouldn't- we're not supposed to give them to each other but sometimes you have to find a file or something. So I could change it on him but I am not really mean. I don't want to get in trouble either.

[Redleg]

12. I give 'em five across the eyes.

Whack whack, stun the muthas.

Actually, I am a professor so I can always retreat into my office if my colleagues piss me off. More often then not I will give 'em a nice rant to shut them the fuck up.

[crispini]

14. Meh, if someone wants to do more work, let him!

I'd find something to laugh at in the situation, and laugh at it. But that's just me, I try not to take things very seriously. I mean, in 100 years we're all going to be dead anyway, so who cares? May as well just try to have as much fun with it as you can. :evilgrin:

yeah, I'm kind of a cynic. :7 but a very mellow and tolerant one, heh.

[alarimer]

16. that's probably the right way to be

I guess I need to just let it go.

[Kire]

15. at least you're not paid per job

aren't you?