DEAR MISS MANNERS: As a teenager in her first job, I have a good workplace, for the most part. The manager is friendly, and the co-workers are amusing and cooperative.
Except one. She is the kind of person who always has SOMETHING wrong: her finger (cut while she was under the influence), her hand (scraped by an approaching car), her hip (nerve pain, which the manager also has), etc.
Her complaints sometimes differ, but they all have one thing in common — making others pick up her slack.
One employee demanded she never get scheduled on the same shift with her. People trade pained smiles when we get stuck with her during rush hours and closing. Multiple people have approached the manager, and he always says he’ll do something (like cut her hours or talk to her), but it never happens.
How can I elegantly handle this? Or should I keep my nose out of it and deal with it?
GENTLE READER: Perhaps, Miss Manners suggests, you can keep your nose out of it AND deal with it by saying, “I’m so sorry that you’re hurt, but unfortunately, I only have time to do my own job today. Perhaps you can speak to the manager about cutting back if you’re not feeling up to working this week.”
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
