Larchmont Gazette.com: Career Doctor -

The Career Doctor™

by Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez

Looking for a first job? Thinking of changing careers? Facing a lay-off? The Career Doctor™ is a Larchmont psychologist specializing in career counseling. If you'd like to ask a question of your own, use the anonymous form, and she might answer you here. Read more about the Career Doctor here. Contact information is here.

HOW TO DEAL WITH A LAZY BOSS?

Dear Career Doctor:

One of the bosses that I work for is very lazy and lets other workers who work for her just sit around and talk to her instead of working. Because of this I have to do more work than I should while they do nothing. What can I do to work with this difficult boss and the other workers, instead of getting overwhelmed with work?

Zoe

Dear Zoe:

You probably wouldn't get anywhere by speaking to the lazy boss, because she obviously likes to hang out with her chummy in-group, while making you Cinderella. If she were your only boss, you would probably have no option except to leave.

But since you have more than one supervisor, here's what might work: Go to the boss you like the most and say that you enjoy working for him/her, and try to do a good job. But since you are often required to do most of the work for the lazy boss's group, you are often not as timely, efficient and unstressed as you would like to be. Ask this manager to keep an eye on the situation and correct the unfair work distribution.

Be sure that you keep your tone of voice pleasant when asking for this help and to try to be factual rather than complaining and insulting. (I hope I don't have to tell you that you would never refer to the Lazy Boss as lazy.) If this fails, you can always speak to Human Resources about the problem, but you should be looking for another job, because if at least one boss doesn't back you, life in the office will probably not improve.

The Career Doctor




	The Career Doctor™ by Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez Looking for a first job? Thinking of changing careers? Facing a lay-off? The Career Doctor™ is a Larchmont psychologist specializing in career counseling. If you'd like to ask a question of your own, use the anonymous form, and she might answer you here. Read more about the Career Doctor here. Contact information is here. HOW TO DEAL WITH A LAZY BOSS? Dear Career Doctor: One of the bosses that I work for is very lazy and lets other workers who work for her just sit around and talk to her instead of working. Because of this I have to do more work than I should while they do nothing. What can I do to work with this difficult boss and the other workers, instead of getting overwhelmed with work? Zoe Dear Zoe: You probably wouldn't get anywhere by speaking to the lazy boss, because she obviously likes to hang out with her chummy in-group, while making you Cinderella. If she were your only boss, you would probably have no option except to leave. But since you have more than one supervisor, here's what might work: Go to the boss you like the most and say that you enjoy working for him/her, and try to do a good job. But since you are often required to do most of the work for the lazy boss's group, you are often not as timely, efficient and unstressed as you would like to be. Ask this manager to keep an eye on the situation and correct the unfair work distribution. Be sure that you keep your tone of voice pleasant when asking for this help and to try to be factual rather than complaining and insulting. (I hope I don't have to tell you that you would never refer to the Lazy Boss as lazy.) If this fails, you can always speak to Human Resources about the problem, but you should be looking for another job, because if at least one boss doesn't back you, life in the office will probably not improve. The Career Doctor The Career Doctor cannot answer every question here, and she does not respond to personal emails. Please use this form to ask your question. First Name, Initial: Question: The Career Doctor™ is Larchmont psychologist and career counselor, Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez. Her office is at 90 Beechtree Drive in Larchmont, 914-834-1982. For more information go to www.jacquelineplumez.com.