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Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

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Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#51

Post by jgwil2 »

tubby12345 wrote: post #34
ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #27

> " Is there any scenario in which this makes sense for me to mention something to my manager or should I just keep my mouth shut? " The only thing you should bring up to your manager is if the person is not meeting their commitments in a way that impacts you meeting your own commitments; you do want the responsibility for that to land where it should. Even then, do it in a non-accusatory way. Beyond that, it's just…

Quoted post unavailable.

Somehow you found a way to advocate for kindness and empathy while still coming off as a bit of a jerk... it's kind of impressive actually. The little brag about the size of your paycheck was a nice touch.

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#52

Post by deanmoriarty »

guynamedloren wrote: post #42
deanmoriarty wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Total comp with some mild stock appreciation. My entry offer was $950k+ when I joined last year. https://levels.fyi has several data points similar to mine, look at the L6/L7 IC tracks at most FAANG. I feel we are going a bit off topic here, but I’ll say that you have to deal with a lot of frustrating situations in these large organizations, so it tends to wear you out. Startups, in my experience, are more fun if you…

"some mild stock appreciation".. quite an understatement. $250k (annual) appreciation in a year. Whew.

My perspective is skewed by several friends who made it HUGE by joining unicorns at the right time.

My network is literally filled with senior developers who are earning $5M+ a year from the successful IPOs of 2020/2021, most after having been there less than 3 years. Crazy stuff.

From that perspective, a FAANG growing 30% yoy looks like a risk-free rate of return :-)

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#53

Post by rufus_foreman »

Well of course no you don't say anything, but more important that that, look at what your situation here is.

You live in one of the best off places on the planet, at the best point in time to live there, in one of the most advantaged professions to be in at that time, and you are looking at this person who you work with and think you work harder than, and you're thinking "they're a slacker and they probably get paid more than me".

I mean without even discussing the snitching thing, you've just gotta drop that attitude. You're never going to be happy with an attitude like that. Life is good. Enjoy!

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#55

Post by ratg13 »

ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #27

> " Is there any scenario in which this makes sense for me to mention something to my manager or should I just keep my mouth shut? " The only thing you should bring up to your manager is if the person is not meeting their commitments in a way that impacts you meeting your own commitments; you do want the responsibility for that to land where it should. Even then, do it in a non-accusatory way. Beyond that, it's just…

There is a saying that goes, "the fastest way to demotivate a good employee is to allow them to watch you tolerate a bad one"

Not all managers are aware of this.

Everything you say is true, however, I have also witnessed first hand this sort of thing drain a company of talent.

It's only after everyone else leaves and maybe you leave yourself where you start to question whether watching the whole company lose it's talent was worth being polite.

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#56

Post by tubby12345 »

jgwil2 wrote: post #51
tubby12345 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Somehow you found a way to advocate for kindness and empathy while still coming off as a bit of a jerk... it's kind of impressive actually. The little brag about the size of your paycheck was a nice touch.

No post body was provided.

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#57

Post by bko »

ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #27

> " Is there any scenario in which this makes sense for me to mention something to my manager or should I just keep my mouth shut? " The only thing you should bring up to your manager is if the person is not meeting their commitments in a way that impacts you meeting your own commitments; you do want the responsibility for that to land where it should. Even then, do it in a non-accusatory way. Beyond that, it's just…

> Beyond that, it's just plain none of your business

What if someone was embezzling money from the firm? Where do you draw the line?

> You also don't know what, if anything, the manager is doing to address the problem nor are you entitled to. If you want to be in the business of dealing with that kind of issue, become a manager yourself.

Most managers would expect junior team members to speak out. If it's being addressed, the manager will likely tell you that he or she is aware and its being addressed.

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#58

Post by blibble »

I had a report like this

he talked a good game during standups/planning meetings, but was never able to answer anything concretely because he never actually did anything (due to the perfect mix of incompetence and laziness)

I spent months on this guy: helping him break down simple tasks into trivial tasks, sending him documentation to help him out with those tasks, then directly pairing with him out with those tasks, and even doing it bits with him watching when he frequently got "stuck"

immediately after I stopped he went back to doing bullshitting and doing nothing

after I while I figured out his strategy is to argue, obfuscate and make it so difficult to work with him such that his co-workers get fed up and do his work for him (simply because it's easier than dealing with him)

I've had repeated conversations with him saying that his performance isn't up to scratch (with examples A, B, C, D, E, F, G ...), but after 18 months of trying to get support from my manager to do something about him I've thrown in the towel instead and quit

Re: Ask HN: My coworker doesn't work. Does it make sense for me to say anything?

#60

Post by drooby »

strangattractor wrote: post #44

Keep track of the what goes on and document it. It can then be used to blackmail your manager for higher pay or taken to his management so you can move up the ranks. Tech is a ruthless industry, you have been treated like a cog all you life now is your chance to be a cog that moves other cogs. Read Machiavelli.

lmao
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