How to handle a difficult co-worker

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #185603
    jlondon
    Member

    So I got hire at this public company doing A/P, and it was kind of like my first “real job”. I work with another AP Accountant who is doing about the same thing as me. When I got hired, he trained me and then gave me task, etc.. So I was just really happy I got a job, then a year past, and then I realize he basically trained and then push everything to me. So I prep payments for entry, which is extremely time consuming. And he does the entry of payments once a week. I feel like this is unfair, since I spend about 4 out of 5 days prepping them. I also have to file all the paper work, as well as deal with the auditor’s request for testing. I feel like I take on 75% of the work load, and that is why I never get the chance to improve the process/functions etc. Or build formulas into my spreadsheets, etc.. And that is why he has all the time to improve functions, build formulas, show off to the supervisor what he has accomplished.

    It just feels hard to confront him since I did this task for the past year. I should of realize, I am doing so much work, and this is causing me not to have time to improve process, etc, and never have enough time to take on new task.

    Also, on top of that, he never works the 8 hours.. I believe he averages about 6 hours each day, sometimes taking an hour lunch.

    What would you do? How would you approach this?

    BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
    AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
    FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
    REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

    -Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

    "I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

    "You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #553807
    Mayo
    Participant

    Just do the same to the new trainee when he/she gets there? Sorry..couldn't resist.

    Anyhow, is it possible you were hired so he WOULD have more time to address different things?

    Mayo, BBA, Macc

    #553808
    Mayo
    Participant

    Just do the same to the new trainee when he/she gets there? Sorry..couldn't resist.

    Anyhow, is it possible you were hired so he WOULD have more time to address different things?

    Mayo, BBA, Macc

    #553809
    taxman89
    Participant

    welcome to your first job. lesson #1 $hit rolls down hill. in other words. new guy gets the crappy tasks. It makes sense that you would do the more tedious basic tasks while the more experienced accountant does the more complicated/visual tasks. your supervisor knows how long stuff takes and knows that the other guy couldnt be prepping all the pmts and be doing the spreadsheet stuff (thats why you were hired) so i wouldnt worry about it.

    as far as him working 6 hours a day, you are not his supervisor so it really doesnt matter to you how many hours he works. I have found that it is better to just worry about whether you are doing your best on your responsibilities and if you are putting in a solid 8 hr work day. There are people in our office that are always worried about if someone took a lunch that was too long or left early or came in late….and guess what, every one knows who they are (the constant bitshers). PLUS they have been stuck at the same level for a while now because the VPs dont want to give them more responsibility because all they do is worry about everyone else rather than worry about their work product.

    just do your job well, its what they hired you to do. my $.02 anyway 🙂

    Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
    Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
    Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
    Far-78 1x easiest section

    #553810
    taxman89
    Participant

    welcome to your first job. lesson #1 $hit rolls down hill. in other words. new guy gets the crappy tasks. It makes sense that you would do the more tedious basic tasks while the more experienced accountant does the more complicated/visual tasks. your supervisor knows how long stuff takes and knows that the other guy couldnt be prepping all the pmts and be doing the spreadsheet stuff (thats why you were hired) so i wouldnt worry about it.

    as far as him working 6 hours a day, you are not his supervisor so it really doesnt matter to you how many hours he works. I have found that it is better to just worry about whether you are doing your best on your responsibilities and if you are putting in a solid 8 hr work day. There are people in our office that are always worried about if someone took a lunch that was too long or left early or came in late….and guess what, every one knows who they are (the constant bitshers). PLUS they have been stuck at the same level for a while now because the VPs dont want to give them more responsibility because all they do is worry about everyone else rather than worry about their work product.

    just do your job well, its what they hired you to do. my $.02 anyway 🙂

    Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
    Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
    Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
    Far-78 1x easiest section

    #553811
    mla1169
    Participant

    Are you doing what you were hired to do? You're always going to see things that seem unfair, but remember you're only seeing part of the story. As long as your immediate supervisor realizes what you accomplish in a week and is satisfied with your performance there is no need to confront your coworker. If you feel your coworker is receiving credit for tasks you have performed it is time to talk to your boss and not your coworker.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #553812
    mla1169
    Participant

    Are you doing what you were hired to do? You're always going to see things that seem unfair, but remember you're only seeing part of the story. As long as your immediate supervisor realizes what you accomplish in a week and is satisfied with your performance there is no need to confront your coworker. If you feel your coworker is receiving credit for tasks you have performed it is time to talk to your boss and not your coworker.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #553813
    jlondon
    Member

    @taxman89 thanks I agree with you. I am worrying about my own work, but what bothers me is… the task I have is so long, that I can not make the time to improve process, etc.. and that's why he is able to show off to the boss that he has accomplish this and that, and made this.. I am not jealous.. I just feel it is not right, we have different titles, but we are both considered… “Ap Clerks”.

    I definitely don't care how much he works… it's better for him to work less since I will get the space to myself when he leaves.. But I just feel it's wrong for him to dump everything on me.. This is bad leadership skills.. If I was to ever become manager, I will work with my subordinates, and not dump stuff on them and hang out when I'm done with my part. That's just not me,.

    BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
    AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
    FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
    REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

    -Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

    "I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

    "You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

    #553814
    jlondon
    Member

    @taxman89 thanks I agree with you. I am worrying about my own work, but what bothers me is… the task I have is so long, that I can not make the time to improve process, etc.. and that's why he is able to show off to the boss that he has accomplish this and that, and made this.. I am not jealous.. I just feel it is not right, we have different titles, but we are both considered… “Ap Clerks”.

    I definitely don't care how much he works… it's better for him to work less since I will get the space to myself when he leaves.. But I just feel it's wrong for him to dump everything on me.. This is bad leadership skills.. If I was to ever become manager, I will work with my subordinates, and not dump stuff on them and hang out when I'm done with my part. That's just not me,.

    BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
    AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
    FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
    REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

    -Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

    "I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

    "You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

    #553815
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    Do you report to him? If so, then you're doing your job.

    Agree with what others said. Is he taking credit for YOUR work? That's a problem.

    If he's taking credit for process improvement, that is NOT your work, then it's probably why you were hired since the company realized the need to add another person.

    Perhaps you could express interest in learning more about some other things, like process improvement, IN ADDITION TO what you already do? Then you get credit for everything you want, and also will be seen as a proactive employee.

    #553816
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    Do you report to him? If so, then you're doing your job.

    Agree with what others said. Is he taking credit for YOUR work? That's a problem.

    If he's taking credit for process improvement, that is NOT your work, then it's probably why you were hired since the company realized the need to add another person.

    Perhaps you could express interest in learning more about some other things, like process improvement, IN ADDITION TO what you already do? Then you get credit for everything you want, and also will be seen as a proactive employee.

    #553817
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I didn't read all the comments so I apologize if I repeat anything, but this doesn't sound like you work with a bad coworker. This sounds like you have a bad manager. It is the manager's responsibility to lay our what your duties are and to convey what kind of relationship you have with your coworkers in terms of what they are allowed to ask of you. When I hired my last staff accountant I made it clear that she was hired to reconcile the majority of our 230+ banks to allow my more senior staff accountants to focus on their other duties (consignment inventory, fixed assets, marketing funds, etc). But I was also the one that trained her and because I knew one of my staff accountants would try to treat her like their underling, I made it clear to her that she was not to do anything unless I asked her to do it. As a result I am made aware of each instance that she has been asked to do something that I didn't specifically train her on and have made changes within the department to allow her to help with special projects like her peers. This was her first real job too and I knew that if I didn't lay things out for her then she would get walked on because her title is Junior Staff Account (due to lack of experience) and the others have titles of Senior Staff Accountants. She has developed a good relationship with the other accountants, but does not allow them to push her around. I think it has earned her some respect that she might not have gotten if she had just done whatever they asked her to do. Your manager needs to intervene if you are being treated unfairly. If it was never conveyed to you that your coworker had the right to give you assignments then you need to have a discussion with your boss detailing exactly what your coworker's input in your work load is.

    #553818
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I didn't read all the comments so I apologize if I repeat anything, but this doesn't sound like you work with a bad coworker. This sounds like you have a bad manager. It is the manager's responsibility to lay our what your duties are and to convey what kind of relationship you have with your coworkers in terms of what they are allowed to ask of you. When I hired my last staff accountant I made it clear that she was hired to reconcile the majority of our 230+ banks to allow my more senior staff accountants to focus on their other duties (consignment inventory, fixed assets, marketing funds, etc). But I was also the one that trained her and because I knew one of my staff accountants would try to treat her like their underling, I made it clear to her that she was not to do anything unless I asked her to do it. As a result I am made aware of each instance that she has been asked to do something that I didn't specifically train her on and have made changes within the department to allow her to help with special projects like her peers. This was her first real job too and I knew that if I didn't lay things out for her then she would get walked on because her title is Junior Staff Account (due to lack of experience) and the others have titles of Senior Staff Accountants. She has developed a good relationship with the other accountants, but does not allow them to push her around. I think it has earned her some respect that she might not have gotten if she had just done whatever they asked her to do. Your manager needs to intervene if you are being treated unfairly. If it was never conveyed to you that your coworker had the right to give you assignments then you need to have a discussion with your boss detailing exactly what your coworker's input in your work load is.

    #553819
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    When I have lazy coworkers it bothers me…I left my last job because the other person with my title was so lazy never did anything, I couldn't take it anymore and bounced to a much better job…it could be time for you too…

    NEW YORK- DONE

    #553820
    Herbieherb
    Participant

    When I have lazy coworkers it bothers me…I left my last job because the other person with my title was so lazy never did anything, I couldn't take it anymore and bounced to a much better job…it could be time for you too…

    NEW YORK- DONE

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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