Difficult Co-Workers

Have you ever had a co-worker who is generally pleasant to be around but is just not a good employee? If you are a co-employee or a manager, this type of problem comes up after the usual honeymoon period of a person's employment. The co-worker becomes defensive and inflexible and just does not want to be a team player. It may seem that the main purpose of this co-worker's being is to do everything to make your life harder. However, even the worst scenario has a solution that you can try in order to ease tensions in your everyday life when you're at work.

Problem: Your co-worker will not do their share of the work. They wait until you do most of it and then ask if they can help, knowing full well that you completed all the work.

Solution: In the morning, divide the work you have been given, making sure to inform your co-worker which work you will be doing and which work he should be doing. In order to make this interaction more amicable, have your co-worker pick the tasks he wants while still making sure that the workload is equal on both of you. When your co-worker gets used to doing the same amount of work, you will be able to pick the work you like to do as well.

Problem: Your co-worker is actually your subordinate and will not do what you ask. Every time you ask this person to do something, he gets defensive and becomes very confrontational.

Solution: This problem is the toughest when you are acting in a managerial capacity, yet you are not considered a mainstream boss. The co-worker may see you as an equal and may have a hard time following direction due to this. Have a meeting with the co-worker in a closed off area. Explain to your co-worker the role that you play in the organization and the tasks for which the co-worker is responsible. This will enable your co-worker to gain a clear picture of the different roles that both of you have.

If the problem occurs again, make sure to handle your discontent behind closed doors. . Make it very clear to the individual that if he's not willing to do his job, then you will need to talk to your boss in order to figure out a solution to the problem, but also make it clear that doing this would not be your first choice.

Remember, your co-worker, even if he's a subordinate, is someone you need to work with on a daily basis so your goal with this person is to have the best relationship possible. This will provide for a better work environment for everyone involved. If your co-worker is still giving you problems after you've tried the steps above, go to your boss to discuss the issue and look at possibly replacing your co-worker.

Problem: You work in a very laid-back environment and your co-workers sometimes say things to you or around you that make you uncomfortable. You really don't want to seem petty but the environment is making you cringe when you think about going to work.

Solution: While there is nothing wrong with a laid-back environment, an environment that makes you uncomfortable because of something that your co-workers are doing can be borderline harassment and illegal. If it is just one person and they seem easy-going, take your co-worker to the side one day and let her know that some of the things she says make you uncomfortable. If the problem involves a couple of people, try to talk to them individually.

If the problem is so pervasive that talking to individual people just won't work, talk to your supervisor. She may be able to talk to the whole group or run risk-management training in order to educate your co-workers on the legal consequences of saying certain things in the workplace, which may alleviate the problem.