Workplace dilemma
 

So i'm clerking at a law firm with 3 other law students. Get along great with 2 of them, the other 1 is a very odd bird. We've tried to be nice to him, tried to get him to eat lunch with us, etc to no avail. OK, no problem, whatever. We can deal.

BUT, we operate under little supervision on a day to day basis. Our assignments and stuff are gone over, but we just sign in and out and keep our own timesheets. Our boss comes over to our area maybe twice a day, usually just to see his secretary. He doesn't check our sign in/out sheet at the front desk.

This kid comes in an hour and a half late probably twice a week. Leaves early at least once a week when the boss is not there (he asks if the boss is gone for the day). The times he does this, he's not truthful when he writes down the time signing in and out. He fudges it to make it look like he's there longer. We have no idea what his timesheets look like, but it's very likely he's lying on them as well, which is essentially stealing.

He disappears for a couple hours sometimes. He came into the attorney's meeting last week looking like he just got back from a 3 day bender, i've never seen bags so big under someone's eyes. He fell asleep at his desk yesterday and has done it several times before. Uses his cell all the time, even though we were explicitly told that's a no-no. He writes long emails to his GF and rarely does any work. He gets fed the easy assignments because he just finished his first year and the rest of us finished our second.

Myself and the other law clerks are really at a dilema with this. It's creating a lot of hard feelings. We all bust our ass to make our commute on time and get our work done.

I have the best relationship with our boss, and the other law clerks want me to talk to him about it.

I don't know what to do. I don't want to be a tattletale, but there's the possibility that he could be stealing (i.e. lying about working and getting paid for it), it's creating a lot of hard feelings among us, and it's reflecting poorly upon us. The law clerks are all kinda lumped together.

I've made comments to the kid before when he's come in late (sleep in today, Bryan?), but he doesn't get the hint.

Any advice? If not, oh well, felt good to vent :)

Re: Workplace dilemma
 

I don't care if you're the best lawyer ever. If you pulled that shit, I'd fire you and keep him. Why? Because life's unfair but you are advancing yourself and pretending it's for the firm that you care.

Do you really care about the firm? Is it the firm's sake your really worried for? The answer is no. Is there anything wrong with that? No.

But be truthful with yourself. You're in this to get ahead. You're in this for yourself. It's you he's hurting because you feel as if he gets what you get and doesn't work as much.

What would I do? I would say something to him. I wouldn't cover for him. People will notice.

Also remember you replace the retard and someone more competitive comes in that can make trouble for you.

-Rudey

I agree with Rudey. Don't cover for him. Let others in the office catch him sleeping at his desk.

It's obvious that Slacker boy could care less if its just a summer job for beer and drug money. If he is making extra work for you and other clerks, then schedule a time to see your boss with the other clerks. Why do you need to be sacrificial lamb so to speak? You don't want to jeopardize your relationship with the boss.

If you go in alone and your boss comes back to the others and they don't support you , there's always a possibility that you'll be the one canned. Ah the joys of office politics. There's strength in numbers. You need provide a list of examples how he affects the team.

I'm surprised that whoever does paychecks for the firm hasn't noticed a discrepancy in his timesheets. Is there a policy in place that states no personal use of company computers?

As for his cell phone use, if he does in front of you or other clerks when working tell him to take it somewhere else because it's a distraction and that it effects your work. Plain and simple.

Dani honestly worry about getting ahead and helping your team get ahead...think about screwing people only as a very last resort.

If all else fails, download childporn on his computer and let the proper authorities know about his disgusting habits.

-Rudey

My friend's co-worker was arrested for downloading that. The FBI showed up at her office and took his computer as evidence. Apparently, they had been on to him for months, but they sat back as he downloaded more evidence.

When I first stated out in my field, people like this guy used to annoy the hell out of me. But as I became more experienced, I realized that the "bosses" knew what was going on with their other employees and I just sounded childish to complain. He will be found out and end up screwing himself in the end, I am sure. This has happened with all the slackers at my job. Concentrate on you and getting ahead. However if it really bothers you and he is bringing your team down go to your boss off the record with your concerns but make it sound like that, that you are "concerned". Too often I have seen employees bringing their personal issues with someone into cases similar to this and that shows THEIR weaknesses and what they can't handle. Good luck!!!!:)