Has it ever been beneficial to let a co-worker fail to make a point?
I’m in a bit of a moral dilemma. I have a co-worker that is on paid time off for a few days. There was an agreement between us that I would be the one to cover their job duties. Largely, because there are certain people that she doesn’t want to do it. Come to find out that the person she really didn’t want anywhere near her stuff, is the one doing it. I have been trained by the co-worker on PTO to perform the task exactly as she wants it done. I know for a fact that it will not get done that way. Trust me on this.
This person isn’t my supervisor, but a supervisor, nonetheless. So, there is absolutely nothing left for me to do. I let her know of the agreement made, but it made no difference.
I have been told by other co-workers and my supervisor actually, to just let her fail with the hopes that she will not be allowed to do the job again. When I say fail, I’m using it in the sense that the job won’t be done to the standards that it needs to be, meaning “half-assed”.
Sorry for the drama, but I started wondering if that actually works. I’ve never been able to sit still long enough and let it get that far. I want to get the job done and move on with my day. Has anyone ever had any experience with letting a co-worker fail?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
4 Answers
If I am following the scenario correctly, I don’t understand why other co-workers and your supervisor would encourage you to do PTO co-worker’s tasks the way she trained you if they want to prove her failure. Wouldn’t it make more sense to allow you to do these tasks in your own way and prove that she is insufficient at her job?
I worked for the same company for 25 years in various positions. This type of situation would crop up occasionally. For awhile, it was common for an employee to be shuffled to a different dept. or location based upon fictitious rave reviews from a supervisor that just wanted the employee gone, but didn’t have the gumption to terminate their employment or find a better fitting job within the company.
My advice is to stick to your morals, avoid the gossip, and keep your supervisor in the loop objectively.
What is your alternative to letting the coworker fail? Are you thinking of surreptitiously doing her work so that the client is satisfied? If you have been expressly forbidden from doing that, that sounds like a very bad idea.
Perhaps your management thinks that your PTO colleague is too much of a micromanager, and wants to diversify that employee’s tasks. I think you would be better off staying out of it, since it seems to be a bit of a power struggle. At best, interfering will only get you into trouble.
@Pied_Pfeffer I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. Still a bit tired. There isn’t really an agenda against her in a grand sense. It’s that me doing it or helping makes the job seem eaiser to her. I’ve been instructed by my supervisor to avoid helping so that she sees how hard the job actually is. I normally get the okay to help out, but this time, no.
@dappled_leaves I am not one for usurping. I do what my boss says, that’s it. If the job is left on it’s own, then I’ll take care of it. If someone else is taking charge, I will stand down begrudgingly. Though I will try to quietly check for loose ends that need to be done. I’m not allowed to do that last part this time.
This is a new situation for me, so it’s a bit nerve-wracking to sit still.
What will the outcome of leaving her to make a mess be? Who will be affected by that decision? Who will have to clean up her errors?
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
