Hike vs Work Dilemma

“I work with some lazy people, who will not do their own tough work, and are masters at sloughing it off on others. The more efficient I am, the more work gets sloughed off on me. If I work hard, skip lunch and don't hang out on TT or other more professional places during the day, I could often finish early, and go for a hike before I go home. But the more efficient I am the more gets dumped on me. I get dumped on less if I am passive aggressive and time the end of my work to the end of my day, ruining my ability to go for a hike.

What would you do? Bite the bullet and get out at any cost to go for a hike or make your work fit the work day, while passifying yourself by hanging out with some backpackers?

Talking with these people is not an option. There is a really weird power structure here based on seniority, semi-nepotism and personal relationships.

This can't last forever, some are nearing retirement, some are moving on. LOL.”

“That's why I do very little and pretend it took all day, when infact I am online talking to people all day!”

“Don't get me wrong, this isn't an everyday dilemma. Most days are slammers, many of which make getting lunch or leaving on time a push.”

“Hard work will pay off every time in the end [Enron employees are exempt from this statement]. It's a shame ya can't use the chain of command where you work to find some diplomatic solution. Work hard and hike with a clear conscience. Don't be a drain on the countries GNP like Tarpy is. LOL!”

“Unfortunately, if you don't stay till "afterhours", most employers think your not giving your all to the Company regardless of how much work you do.”

“Just say no more. Set your limits and be up front about it. Saying something like, "I think that this might be done best by you not me" when unwelcomed work is dumped on you might work....”

“Yep, I've been accused of "not committing to work" because I like to have a life outside of work. Its a struggle. I don't have any real advice for you. Nigal is right. Work hard and hike with a clear conscience.”

“In my heart I want the laqtis/nigal "work hard, be up front approach". Unfortutately, these are not up front/work hard people. They are suck up/devious people and chain of command in fact knowingly fosters the practices and laud the productivity of the sloughers.

I am afraid I must outlast them, because those who last with me are in my boat and the problems will be moving on.

And do not be concerned. I still get here earlier, stay here later and am more productive. Nobody is getting cheated.”

“I thought that I was the only one that really had problems like this. I had my boss book a show in a spot that gives me a 3 1/2 week straight work week without a day off. Funny thing was I told him exactly what I suggested to Pathman, he said I can understand that, so that show is a go, right?

Couldn't believe it. I'm afraid that if this keeps up, I won't see my son untill he's ready for college.

GEEEZZZ”

“Hike in the morning, come in to work a little later, and you'll have your hands full getting your own work done.”

“the occassional days I could get out early enough for a hike, the sloughers get out even earlier!”

“Sounds like an absolutely sh!tty company. Slack away then if it won't bother you. If you can remain happy this way go for it. Pick up the classy-fieds too. There is a perfect job out their with a good reward to work ratio for you.”

“Dude, set your life up so you're not so dependent on your job! Keep it simple, or simplify, and live your life instead of being a slave!

I don't car if my job fires me today, I can go hike the AT!

We have a lot of opportunities living in this country, take advantage of it instead of buying into the consumer culture and getting into massive debt!

For some this is easier than others, but if you're surfing the net all day, you can probably do it!”

“I am walking in the morning, Fritz. I get up at 0500 to do so. Somebody else already has unspoken permission to slough off by coming in late and (supposedly) staying late, another by coming in early and leaving early, leaving others to "cover" for them at times and it ticks me off. I'm here when my "customers" need me.”

“I don't consider myself a consumer slave, but my family might be, LOL. I may be a slave to "purpose" and work though.”

“Give me my laughs and high points during the day.

Anybody else listen to "Imus in the Morning"? What a hoot. It is an acquired taste (like TT), but the mix of insanity and serious interviews makes my morning.”

“Here we go. The usual MO is "You know more, I am not so smart, will you figure out this problem for me?" Problem is, if I don't the "customer" suffers because this person will not put forth the effort.”

“I work for a small dept for a major corp. We bring in a decent amount of EBITDA for the company, we are also sales based, and I'm not in sales. As the DBA around here I make stuff work, I ensure we can bill and all of that. I have 2 levels of mgmt above me and very few people here can turn on a computer by themselves, therefore I end up doin all sorts of stuff. I don't get paid in the range that other DBA's make but I get perks, including the company will pay a chunk of my tuition. There are days this job really sucks, so I'm always looking. The worse case scenario is that one day I'll have a Masters degree... I think my employment aspects will be a little better then!!!”

“I have as much experience and more variety experience as the dept head, but I have only been here 2 1/2 years, the dept head 12 years and the "problems" 20 or more.

I do not want to leave Albuquerque, and this is the best, most stable place to be. So, it comes to survival, outlasting and effecting grass roots change through time.”

“I am happy just as long as I have the weekend off....:)”

“Albuquerque is the first place I'd move if I left CA... CO second”

“Crazy Mike, answers like that are why I come back here. :-D”

“regardless what you think, the problems won't go away over time (attrition, promotion, etc.). unless they are adressed by you and management, others will come and fill those spots. if you begin a practice of sloughing and surfing, you will more than likely earn your slough position through seniority and, having already payed your dues, will not want to give it up when it is your turn. you have three choices. (1)you can change to go along with the acceptable culture, (2)you can change the culture to your liking or (3)you can leave.”

“I forgot your fourth choice. (4)do nothing and slowly deteriorate and remain miserable.”

“My employer rents my time. They did not buy my life.

Pathman take care of your customers and they will take care of you. Be sure they know who helped them out, they WILL remember it.

The contacts you make are like gold.”

“You have hit the nail on the head, and time will make choice #2 possible.”

“Right now choice #2 would be like beating my head against a wall, and all the more reason to get out ASAP and hike.”

“Work appears to be a delima for several TT regulars.”

“Aaaaaaa, Mike aren't you happy all the time!!!!

I think everyone thinks they work harder than the others. They're all slackers except for you. It doesn't do any good to gripe either, nobody likes a whiner. So just do your job the best you know how and go home a happy man. Nothing is more fulfulling than knowing you did a great job at work even if you're not given your props.”

“MOT, I think you are wrong. I see people who make it a point to do less. And whiners get what they want around here.”

“Pathman, you spent all morning posting on TT. For you coworkers to work less they would have to be dead.”

“You have no clue how much work I have done or will do today.”

“I think I have a clue.”

“Then you are even more clueless that I thought.”

“Maybe you are real good at multitasking.

Snicker”

“bp - it's called multi-tasking

Like walking and chewing gum”

“I thought it was like working and not working.”

“tomado - tomato”

“Pathman whatever the case might be, those individuals that make a point to do less and gripe about things, go home unhappy and unsatisfied. They created this problem by not looking for alternatives and other solutions. Poor attitudes are infectious in any work environment, the question is how susceptible are you making yourself by not focusing on something more enjoyable. If you're letting work and others bring you down you'll just screw yourself.

Look, everyone is a martyr in their own mind, and there are thousands of "ditch diggers" that go home happy. WHY?”

“I will take them to heart and meditate on them.”

“bacpac, you are adorable when you snicker like that. Don't change, we wouldn't know what to do without backpack”

“I am in the position to have others work for me. When people do not talk to me I have no way to know what is bothering them. Your employers must have some appreciation of what you are doing
for them. I have been known to let someone get taken advantage of because they let themselves. Every business has more slackers than workers. They want to keep you believe me. If you don't feel comfortable spitting it out then write a memo. Make sure that you are accurate or it will come back on you like kids on the playground. Tell them you need a better balance between work and family. They can't afford to have you burn out. I seem to remember you gave us a site to go to on that very subject awhile back.”

“It is kind of like a dysfunctional family, Maryphyl. I am recognized for my efforts, and my efforts will certainly serve me well, while others suffer no consequences of theirs, and in some cases are rewarded for counterproductive behavior.

And bacpac you are not all wrong. This discussion, which has been very valuable for me as a worker, has slowed me down some.But, it has not negatively impacted anybody. I, not somebody else, will make up the slack”

“Perhaps you need to be the wheel that is squeaking right now?? You would not have posted this otherwise?? :)”

“Perhaps you need to be the wheel that is squeaking right now??

True, but trying to figure out a way that is productive, not just petty, and satisfying because it meshes with my personal life, and is not just "getting back".”

“Obviously you don't do any work because you have been on this damn message board all day? Hard worker my ass! Unless you have some excuse for it, like you're in another country?”

“Or you work at night?”

“Okay--think about exactly how you would like things to operate while still being fair to others. Pretend for a moment that you are management. Write it down.”

“Or you're gay?”

“Tarp Rat--shssh. Just be real quiet and get back to work. Be like a mouse.”