Should I say something? Or do something?
By breepeace
@breepeace (3014)
Canada
August 28, 2009 5:49pm CST
A few days a week I cover coffee breaks for my office's receptionist, but I've noticed in the past few weeks that instead of her taking the normal 15 minutes, she is done for upwards of half an hour. The one day she was gone for 45 minutes!
I thought maybe she was just doing it to me, but a few days ago, another coworker noticed that I was STILL at reception at half past 10 (her coffee break is always at 10), and she mentioned that it's been happening to her everytime she covers reception, too.
The receptionist has been here for like 15 years, and I've only been here for 6 months, but I still feel like it's a little unfair that she gets to take her time, while we're required to be back to work 15 minutes after starting our breaks. It's especially annoying because I'm a smoker, and on days I don't cover, I take my break at 10, as well, so by 10:30, I'm starting to feel a little antsy as I now haven't had a smoke in 2 and a half hours.
I'm a little apprehensive to say anything because sometimes she's out walking with my direct supervisor on her breaks, and I don't know if that'll come back to bite me on the rear or not.
What would you do? Should I maybe say something to her in an offhanded manner to let her know I notice?
5 people like this
15 responses
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Sounds like she's one of those 'give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile' type people. You bet I'd say something. I'd be nice about it, but I'd say something. What I would do is wait until she asks to cover for break again, and then tell her 'well, ok, but I can only do it for 15 minutes because I have __________to do'. I'd also say that after the 15 minutes are up I'd no longer be responsible for answering her phones because I'm extremely busy and I have my own work to get done. Since she sometimes goes with your supervisor, it makes it a little harder to handle. If there's more than a few of you that have the same problem with her, then you ALL should approach the supervisor and tell her it's interferring with your work duties of your own. It's never fair when one employee takes advantage of another's good will, and I'm amazed that the supervisor is letting her get away with it. Whatever I would do, I'd try and not make it sound accusatory, and approach it without any anger or such. Makes it hard too that you're the new one and she's been there a long time.
2 people like this
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
28 Aug 09
sometimes she's out walking with my direct supervisor on her breaks
that makes it hard since this woman is walking with your supervisor who should know that this person should only be on break for 15 minutes not half an hour. Maybe mention it to the receptionist first, say something like "I've noticed you have been taking longer breaks is everything okay?" more of seeing if maybe she lost track of time or is trying to work somehting out with the supervisor.
2 people like this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Hey bree! Oh, the joys of working in an office where there
is that old familiar person taking advantage who is good
buddies with the supervisor! Oh I remember it well! OMFG!
Been there so many phucking times! I hate to tell you some
of MY stories! At my final job from hell my office manager
and her "pets" would go across the street to the local bar
for 2+ hours and leave me and the paralegal to work the
office phones! She hated me and wasn't that fond of the other
person! Complaining got me fired! Long story! Those things
never end well so be careful because you're leaving soon
enough! You need a decent reference I would say bite your
tongue, bide your time, keep your mouth shut! If you were going
to be staying I would give you completely different advice
and tell you what I did!
2 people like this
@SurveyPrincess09 (338)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Hi Bree,
I would say something but also be careful how you say it, since it looks like the supervisor is friends with this receptionist. Since she's been there longer than you there could be a little conflict and you don't want to put yourself in a bad positions where you will be creating enemies at work. You are in a bad spot, I hope you make the right decisions and some of mylotters can give you a little guidence in what to do. :)
Good Luck!
Olivia~
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Tell her you're there for 15 minutes and you'd appreciate her being on time. If the supervisor gets mad, you have plenty of witnesses to bring suit if you are fired! You could also ask someone else to cover the desk after 15 minutes and when she comes back she'll see another person and know the word has spread that she's taking advantage of people. Especially nice if a supervisor notices.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
12 Mar 11
Hi. breepeace. If her taking breaks is not disturbing your break, then I think that you should should not worry about it. If it is, I would privately consult your supervisor about this. Don't let their walking together stop you or intimidate you from informing your supervisor. She should not take any more longer breaks than she is allowed to.
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
30 Aug 09
I HATE people like that! It's really unfortunate this person seems to be a friend of the supervisor. Anyway, you're leaving soon (aren't you?) so you can work yourself up into a suitable frenzy in the next few weeks, and then tell this lazy biatch exactly what you think of her slack ways! There are always going to be people in the workplace who take advantage of every opportunity and let others cover for them and do their work - yep, I'd definitely be making some sort of comment to her to let her know you've noticed - then, if she has an conscience at all, she'll maybe cut her breaks a bit shorter.
@murtuza89 (513)
• India
29 Aug 09
I think it would be useless even if ou shout, screal, yell, or even dance in front of that girl in anger to remind her of the time she is wasting.
She is going out with the direct supervisor and she is taking full advantage of the situation. If you complain, you may get into trouble. I would advice let it carry on as it is and let the supervisor do whatever necessary.
@iowamomof3 (30)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I feel for you in this situation because it is really hard when you want to say something about a fellow co worker but yet they are friends with the boss. I know you have only been there 6 months but what this person is doing isn't fair. You might want to bring it up to your boss in a round about way. I wouldn't bring it up to your co worker because if they have been there for a long time they are going to take offense to the new person telling them how long of a break they can take. You might want to bring up to your boss that on the days you cover for the receptionist you are having a hard time getting your work done and ask her for suggestions. If she asks why you can then proceed to tell her why and what the situation is. This way you really aren't telling on the person you are bringing up an issue that you are hard by not being able to complete your job because of the affect of what someone else is doing. If your boss sees it as a problem for the department then she might try to take care of it before it gets out of control. I hope this helps.
@gossipzz (498)
• Canada
29 Aug 09
I beleive job or not, you need to say something. It does not matter how long she has been there,if she is hanging out with your supervisor. You are entitled to do your job and your breaks aswell. Who is doing your job while she is taking such a long break. Like you said she did it to someone else. This person will continue to do it to everyone until someone says something. Happy lotting.
@naewunder0682 (7)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Hello,
WOW...This sounds exactly like a lady I worked with. I was her supervisor but she was like 20 years older than me and completely took the pizzle when It came to breaks and even going as far as falling asleep at work!! I know!! Lazy witch...lol
I think the best thing to do would be to take a break the same length as she did and wait for her too say something to you...because she will!!! Another good thing would be to make a joke when she comes back...."I was gonna send a bloody search party out for you" Or "I never knew we got a half hour break...I've been taking 15mins all this time" That should give her the hint! Or you could always take her in the toilet and flush her head ;)
@sunny68 (1327)
• India
29 Aug 09
some situations can be really tricky. you never know what works and what does not. maybe it would be more polite to interact with the receptionist first. like when she is late you can say 'oh! you made me late, now my supervisor will get over me'. see her response, it might also give you an indication as to how close she is to your supervisor. another thing you can do is when you get back to work go directly to your supervisor and tell him 'sorry i am late, i had to cover for the receptionist' this way your supervisor will know why you are late and if he has a problem with that he might as well talk to the receptionist. -- please note that these are just suggestions. please evaluate your options and give it some time. eventually you will get over the problem. you can also ask your coworker as to how she got rid of this. a very good luck to you.
