The Job Wasn’t Hard. Working With Lazy People Was.

 I’ve had jobs that were physically exhausting, but sometimes the actual work wasn’t the problem.

The problem was being partnered with someone who apparently thought teamwork meant watching me work.

If you’ve ever worked in caregiving, assisted living, housekeeping, or any job where two people are supposed to share the workload, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

You start your shift thinking there are two employees.

Then somehow, twenty minutes later, you realize there is actually one employee and one spectator.

And congratulations.

You’re the employee.

Suddenly, Their Work Becomes Your Work

This used to drive me absolutely insane.

I would be running around trying to get everything done while my partner was sitting down like we had completed our entire shift.

Meanwhile, I’m looking around thinking:

Dude. We have a lot of shit to do.

And some of them would actually tell me:

“Come sit down.”

SIT DOWN?!

Ma’am, I would LOVE to.

Unfortunately, the work did not receive the memo that we have collectively decided to stop working.

Some people would sit there reading their books while there were still things that needed to be done.

And listen—I have nothing against reading.

Reading is wonderful.

I just prefer not to run a one-person assisted-living facility while my coworker starts Chapter 12.

Then There Was the Sleeping Coworker

This one still makes me laugh because of the sheer audacity.

Someone actually got caught sleeping during her shift.

And she wasn't just accidentally dozing off in a chair.

Oh, no.

Apparently, she needed accommodations.

She went into one of the bedrooms and was sleeping in the freaking closet.

THE CLOSET.

😂

Imagine working your ass off while somewhere down the hallway your coworker has turned somebody’s closet into a Holiday Inn.

I’m doing the work.

She’s busy snoring.

And somehow, she wasn't fired.

Two employees clocked in. Only one remained conscious.

That part amazed me almost as much as the closet.

“But You Can Handle It.”

And this is where being a hard worker can sometimes screw you over.

Once people realize you’re dependable, they know the work will get done.

Why?

Because you’ll do it.

Your partner doesn't finish something?

You’ll probably finish it.

Something gets forgotten?

You’ll notice it.

There’s still work left?

You’ll keep going because you don't want to leave everything unfinished.

Eventually, instead of management fixing the person who isn't pulling their weight, the reliable employee quietly becomes responsible for compensating for them.

And THAT is exhausting.

Not necessarily the job.

Not necessarily the residents.

Not necessarily the cleaning.

The resentment.

Because nothing drains your energy quite like working your ass off while somebody beside you is being paid to sit on theirs.

I’ve Seen This Before

It reminds me of something I wrote about in “My Team Lead Trained Me So Well… Apparently So She Wouldn’t Have To Work That Hard.”

I was trained to clean thoroughly. I followed everything I had been taught because I thought that was simply how the job was supposed to be done.

Then eventually I watched how quickly someone else could finish the same work and thought:

Wait a damn minute.

Turns out there is a significant difference between finishing the work and making it look like you finished the work.

If you haven't read that story, you can read it here:

My Team Lead Trained Me So Well… Apparently So She Wouldn’t Have To Work That Hard

This Is Why I Don't Want to Go Back

Experiences like this are a big reason I don't want to work in caregiving or assisted living again.

It wasn't because I couldn't handle hard work.

I can handle hard work.

What I got tired of was being expected to handle someone else's work too.

In caregiving especially, this isn't just about somebody leaving a trash can full or forgetting some small task.

There are people depending on the staff.

When somebody decides not to pull their weight, another employee has to pick up that slack—and that person eventually gets tired.

Really tired.

You can love helping people and still hate working in an environment where laziness is tolerated and reliability is rewarded with more work.

The B.S. Truth

Being a hard worker shouldn't automatically qualify you to do two people's jobs.

If two people are scheduled, there should be two people working.

Not one person working while the other one reads.

Not one person working while the other one disappears.

And definitely not one person working while the other one is sleeping in a damn closet.

😂

Sometimes when a good employee finally quits, management wonders:

“What happened? The job wasn't even that bad.”

Exactly.

Sometimes the job wasn't the problem.

The people you had to work with were.

B.S. or Truth?

Have you ever been partnered with someone so lazy that you basically worked the shift alone?

And please tell me: what is the craziest thing you've ever caught a coworker doing instead of working?

Because somebody sleeping in a closet is still pretty damn high on my list.