co-worker with personal problems

[Surfergal]

ok I feel for this guy I work with, but since he was assigned to my group he has had continous personal problems with family. I am stuck doing all his work. when he is there, he is on the phone for personal reasons, or just cannot remember what he did last week or the day before. he does not know how to use the computer, so he prints out everything to read and file and keeps a daily hand written journal of what he does that day. this takes up half the day. then he takes a long lunch, gets on the phone and leaves early

this has been a continuing pattern with the company I am contracted to for the last 10 years. I do the same job as the real company employees. two of us are supposed to work on a project as a team. the company employees make more than I do get more benifits and do less. they get 6 weeks of vacation, plus can buy an extra week and 20 sick and personal days, and get paid for 16 holidays. I am at work All days. they get regular salary increases. I get the 16 holidays as unpaid vacation, get paid only for what I work, my pay was cut 4 years ago when they cut all suppliers 9% and have not had a raise since. plus I now pay my own insurance and benifits and those costs have gone up $50/mo. for the last 3 years. in the last three years I have had 4 new people in my group. I have to train them, this takes up my time. I have to review their work until the get up to speed, I have to do half their work as well as all of mine until they get up to speed. it usually takes 2 years to get up to speed, and they stay about a year. they give me people who do not even know how to use computers. so in this day and age, I have to show them the basics of that too, and they simply never want to be there. they take no responsibility and have no sense of owning their jobs. they will not do anything unless I ask or tell them to and then it takes forever and they do it poorly. I am working 11+ hours a day, get paid for 8. my boss says I should be grateful he has managed to keep me as most contact workers have been let go.

these employees regulary come in late, leave early, goof off, they only do the minimum they have to. they act like it is my program and they are just "helpers" when we are both supplused to be equal. they will not do any of my work if I ask, because it is not in their job description.. but I have to do theirs or the program would fail and I would be let go, as I am the lead person. because as contract I do not get formal annual reviews, any thing I accomplish is written as their achievement. the first co-worker was promoted up, the second retired. the third complained I gave him too much work- i am not his boss, so he\was moved, I just finally stopped doing his job. this guy has a kid and wife with emotional problems.

why do I not leave? I have had my resume out for years. no offers. there is agreements in my industry to not "steal" employees. I can not even go contract to another company for 90 days if I quit. has my company hired contract employees in the last 10 years -yes. they tell me I am at the top of the list to be hired in- one of the best contract employees. but who have they hired the pretty or tall age 20 somethings. I am in my mid 50's. sorry just have to vent = I am tired and stressed

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[dangerousfem]

wow.. sounds like you are getting the short end of it... they know they have a good emplyee, with out having to pay top$$ for you... any chance of saying you want hired on as regular or you quit? Do you think they would do it if they thought they were gonna lose you?

[Surfergal]

wow.. sounds like you are getting the short end of it... they know they have a good emplyee, with out having to pay top$$ for you... any chance of saying you want hired on as regular or you quit? Do you think they would do it if they thought they were gonna lose you?

since there is no where to go, a threat to quit probably would do no good. I should probably just have them let me go, at least I would be able to collect unemployment. the company I was with for 10 years previously downsized and I was out if work for 6 months before this job. I had 3 interviews in the 6 months i was out of work then. All were for contract positions.

I think management knows I am a convenient place to put problem employees. I cannot complain and have virtually no employee rights. their employees cannot be fired..it is a good ole boys network and they protect their own. they can even justify raises for these employees because the performance review includes my achievements on the program.

[dangerousfem]

well then maybe start doing just the min.... let them fire you... that way you can get unemployment while you look for somewhere that won't take advantage of you.

[queenangie]

That really stinks!

Hugs!

[cpbaby]

Uhhhhhhhhhhh, you may want to check your state laws before you do anything. I dont think contract workers can draw unemployment here.

HOWEVER, I do think you need OUT of there. They are taking advantage of you and every day it gets a little more and a little more. I dont think they are doing you right and, as for that "no contact" clause, with the way they treat you, I beleive you could fight that with a good lawyer.

[msmom79]

Hugs To You,i Do My Bosses Job Alot And I Make 2.78 An Hour He Makes Like 17.i Say Do The Best You Can To Get Out Of There.ann

[schsa]

Why should they hire you? You come every day, do your work, train permanent employees and you do it for minimum wages and benefits. They don't have to hire you because they feel that you won't go anywhere. Give them 30 days notice and if they don't hire you, then they never were and it's time for you to move on.

I know that going without a job is hard but you are at a dead end. You won't get promoted, increase in wages or any benefits unless you find another job. So what is important to you, to be treated like a convenience or to be appreciated as an employee?

[Shann]

((hugs)) wow, what a bad situation. I think you need to get out of there also. I know I couldn't stay that long if I was treated that way.. I actually just put in my notice at a job that I thought was going to be great, but has turned out not being for me and I have to listen to the supervisor of the dept next to me complain and be nasty all day. (i'm so thankful i'm not under her!) There has got to be something better out there, that is my way of thinking... (of course my dad doesn't think like that, that is why he's not hearing about my quitting.)