How would you deal with a co-worker who is constantly late getting back from lunch which often makes you late leaving for lunch?

by sandra
(utica, ny usa)

a co-worker is constantly late getting back from lunch which often makes me late leaving for lunch, how should I deal with it?

Jan 31, 2011
or maybe. . .
by: Anonymous

you can ask your late co-worker "what do you want me to tell the boss about why you were late?" maybe that will drive the point home. ..

or "could we trade lunch times since yours seems to be giving you trouble on getting back on time?"


Oct 16, 2010
Dealing with late co-worker
by: Kevin

There are a couple of ways to handle this.

There is a good chance that the co-worker is not aware that this is a problem or that you are frustrated with them. I would suspect that they are not doing this to be spiteful. Chances are, the person is just unhappy with their work and not in a hurry to get back to something they do not like to do.

In all honesty, the problem is really either that they are unhappy or unaware of the problem. Making them aware of it is the easiest solution.

Again, it all comes down to how you say it and approach it. The easiest way that I would approach it would be to say something like, "Is there anyway that you can come back earlier? I am starving!" That way, you are using an excuse (your hunger) to deal with it rather than offending them.

I would guess if they knew you were having issues with it, they would probably change their behavior right away. Most people do not intentionally do things to annoy other people unless you give them a reason to.

Kevin
www.modern-manners-and-etiquette.com