Decide if you need to take action.
If their behavior isn’t affecting you, it may be better to not get involved. It can feel really frustrating to see your coworker slacking off while you’re working hard, but remember that your coworker’s behavior is not necessarily your responsibility. Consider the following questions when deciding if you should take action—if you answer yes to any of them, only then might it be time to take further steps: Does your coworker’s laziness mean you have to work longer hours? Do you often have to redo your coworker’s sloppy work? Has this behavior been going on for a long time, such as a month or more? Do you know that your supervisor hasn’t already talked to them about their behavior? Remember that most managers don’t publicly announce conversations with their employees about their behavior.
Put yourself in their shoes.
Empathy allows you to see their behavior in a clearer light. If you suspect that your coworker has been going through recent difficulties in their personal life, their performance issues are likely not coming from a place of laziness. Asking them a casual question like, “How are you doing? I’m here if you ever want to talk about anything,” can give you a better insight into their behavior. You should also consider some of the following questions before deciding how to get involved: Has your coworker seemed stressed with matters going on outside of work? Have their work obligations been communicated to them clearly? Has your coworker already been trying to change their behavior?
Remind them of their responsibilities.
A polite reminder can help your colleague meet their obligations. Although your coworker would ideally be able to manage their own responsibilities, it’s better to send them a reminder than to have to do their work for them. Keep this conversation private, so that you don’t accidentally end up embarrassing your coworker. For example, you might try sending them a deadline for their work, so that they’re clear on their task. A message like, “Please get your half of the project in by Friday, or let me know if you can’t do this by today,” can work well. A reminder of their responsibilities helps you set your own boundaries. You might say something like, “I won’t be able to do the other half of this report, since I’ve already done my share.”
Ask them to help you with something.
Asking for personal help can bring out a different side of your coworker. Your coworker might think of their standard work obligations as things that they can ignore, but a personal request for assistance can be much harder to turn down. This can be a really useful way of motivating your coworker to do more at work. For example, you might say something like: “I have a big project due at the end of the week. Can you give me a hand with it?” “Can I get your feedback on the presentation for this evening?” “Would you mind giving me some help closing up after the final shift today?”
Talk to your colleagues about your coworker.
A private conversation can help you assess the extent of this problem. Ask your colleagues about their experiences with your coworker, but do so without complaining, and in a way that doesn’t try to confirm your belief that your coworker is lazy. Keep these conversations one-on-one, and ask your coworkers to keep them private. For example, you might say something like: “It’s been great working with you on this team. How have you found working with John?” If your colleague expresses disappointment with your coworker’s performance, say something like, “Thanks for sharing that with me. I appreciate hearing your perspective.” At the end of the conversation, say something like, “I’d appreciate it if you kept this conversation private. I’d like to stay away from office gossip.” You could also talk about how you're feeling with a trusted friend or partner.
Approach them about their performance issues.
A direct conversation is the best way to fix this workplace issue. Find a time when you can talk to your coworker privately, and let them know your concerns. Be professional: instead of calling them “lazy” or criticizing their character, let them know how their performance has been affecting you. You might say something like: “I wanted to talk to you to ask whether you’d be able to pick up more of the workload for our shared assignments. I’ve been feeling overworked, and I could really use your support.” “I’ve noticed that it’s been tough for you to meet some of the deadlines. I know that you might have other things going on in your life, but it would make a big difference if you could complete your tasks on time.” “You may have noticed that I’ve had to redo some of your reports these past few months—could you work on being more careful? It would help me manage my own workload.”
Offer them help.
Your coworker might need assistance to improve. If you’re capable of giving them advice to help them become a better employee, try offering your help. Work can feel overwhelming if you don’t have people around you who have your back, so show your colleague that you have theirs. Try saying something like: “I know adjusting to these new clients is tough. If it helps, I can give you some time-saving tips that have really made a difference for me.” “It can feel difficult to juggle all the responsibilities of this job. I normally make a time log to see how much time I’m spending on each task—I can share it with you, if you’d like.” “If you ever feel overwhelmed by the job, talk to me. I’m always here to listen.”
Give them time to improve.
Change takes time and positive encouragement. If you’ve taken steps to address your coworker’s behavior, don’t expect a total turnaround overnight. Try to be patient as you give your coworker a chance to improve their performance. By offering them positive encouragement as they make gradual changes, you can help keep them on track for future success. Say things like: “I noticed you did a great job with the report last week. Thanks!” “Thank you for handling those recent tasks so quickly. I really appreciate your hard work.” “Thanks for taking on that extra work yesterday. I’m really grateful for your contributions to the team.”
Document all of your work with them.
Keep your own performance evaluations safe by documenting your work. A lazy coworker can make it tough for your hard work to get recognized, especially if their behavior causes you to miss important deadlines or standards. In case your supervisor thinks that you’re responsible for not meeting company goals, keep your own contributions documented. For example: Try making a spreadsheet showing all the tasks you accomplish each day and how long it took to do them. When you’re working on a project with a lazy coworker, make a separate document detailing all of your contributions. If you have e-mails or texts with your coworker where they refuse to do their work, keep them saved as screenshots.
Talk to your supervisor.
If nothing else works, it’s time to talk to your boss. Although complaining about your coworker to your boss should always be your last resort, if you’re finding yourself constantly burdened with work that you shouldn’t have to do, there’s no reason for you to put up with it. Instead of calling specific attention to your coworker’s behavior or personality, try talking to your boss about a particular assignment. For example: “I’ve completed my portion of the assignment, but we’re still waiting on Bill to finish his.” “I’m looking forward to the presentation on Thursday. Unfortunately, Jane hasn’t been responding to my requests for updates on her end.” “I’ve spoken with Vanessa about finishing her shift, but because she’s been pulled away by other commitments, I’ve ended up having to cover for her these past few weeks.”
Focus on your own success.
If you can’t fix your coworker’s behavior, you can control your own. Stay focused on your own work and career goals, and know that this kind of attitude will pay off in the long run. Other people’s laziness doesn’t have to affect you, and by building a work ethic in spite of the inaction of others, you’re setting yourself up for a prosperous future. It can be easy to fixate on your coworker’s laziness at the expense of doing your own work. When you catch yourself doing this, remind yourself that you have the ability to stay focused. If your workplace is making you genuinely unhappy, it may be time to find a new job. Your hard work at your current company means that you’d be a valuable asset at another one.
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