Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SeniorEnglish]

I have a co-worker that acts very unreasonably at times. Sometimes it makes me very angry, but I am a nice guy so I don't say anything. I hear constant complaints about doing the minimum. I have numerous years of work experience, I can tell my co-worker has never had a real job, meaning being treated like the typical employee. It is very bothersome hearing someone complain everyday, who puts in the minimum when I put in a lot of effort. This person even on ratted me for no reason. Honestly, I think this person behaves like someone who has been babied all of their life. It gets on my nerves and I do think less of the person because I worked my way through life and earned everything I have.

How can h this problem in the nicest way possible?

[Corporal]

[SeniorEnglish]

There was a time where there were many problems at work. Now, I think everything is going as possible. It is time for peace. The person at hand needs a reality check.

What would Bryan Boytano do?

[flint]

[laogaiguk]

I hate working with those kinds of people too. I have no advice except ignore them. Those kind of people tend to get defensive for any reason.

[some waygug-in]

You could say, Is that all you can do is complain?

Then walk away.

[Mr. BlackCat]

I have a somewhat similar situation. One of my co-workers has obviously gotten by in life by using people and manipulating situations to give him the best possible outcome. Although I think he has indeed held a couple of past 'jobs', they were more things to do during the day than a steady stream of necessary income. It is clear, even now, that he has lots of financial support outside his paycheque.

This is relevant because he too does the absolute minimum, even less sometimes. He is able to do this because of a situation he has established at work (I won't get into it here). Therefore, others around him have to pick up the slack at an already busy workplace.

In the past when I have brought my concerns to our boss, in a very professional and positive way, I have been accused of complaining. Now this particular co-worker has pigeon-holed me a complainer because of that one discussion I had with the boss to the extent that if I say something negative about the weather he goes on and on about how I can't stop being negative.

I also find it frustrating because I, too, have worked a majority of my life to get myself to this point and don't appreciate being sabatoged or mocked by a selfish do-nothing who doesn't understand what it means to actually care about a job or need a paycheque. He puts in no effort but always seems to come in on top with our boss.

My coping strategy has been to ignore it at best. Luckily, I also work with some cool people and we discuss it (OK, get drunk and bitch) sometimes to release the pressure. That's all you can do, really. In your specific case you could try to make jokes about your co-worker when s/he complains just to bring the tension down a little. I tried that and it worked for a while, but the person I know is vindictive and obsessed with drama so it always turned into a mess.

I'm not trying to hi-jack your thread. Just want to let you know you're not alone out there. This type of job attracts some very strange people, which can be good, but mostly bad. Some people think its a joke and treat it as such.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

All in all I'm so happy that I don't work with any waygook-saram. While about 25% may be a real pleasure to work with, it seems that 50% of foreign co-workers are at best useful for English small-talk and 25% are asses or nutters.

[laogaiguk]

[SeniorEnglish]

Mr. Blackcat,

I feel for you man. How great would the world be if diligence, virtue, and altruism took precedence over indolence, arrogance, and narcissism. (words of the day)

[ilovebdt]

[seoulsista]

If you really want to put this person's complaining to an end and you can put aside your anger towards them for long enough the fastest and most diplomatic way to do it would be to take him/her aside and approach the subject a bit organically.

Wait for him/her to approach the subject and then just respond "Well, you know I wanted to talk to you about this. I understand that you have some valid concerns about the workplace but I think sometimes your complaints are overbearing and lack validity." Something to that effect.

But as previously suggested making a passive aggressive comment and walking away, that's a very *beep*-ass way to deal with an uncomfortable situation. It takes a really mentally strong person to face someone one on one and deal with them accordingly.

Confronting this person in a comfortable and friendly way will not only likely resolve the issue but probably change your opinion of this person and help the two of you to get along better.

[SeniorEnglish]

[kermo]

[PRagic]

When they complain, ask them what needs to be done to rectify the situation. Most complainers are simply habitual, and don't even know the extent of their rants. When forced to actually digest a situation and offer some concrete solutions, they're unable to think and, as it would go, talk!