[lenjan]

I work in a satellite office in the next town over from where the main office is. There is only one other person in this office.

One of us needs to be here at all times between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., excluding the lunch hour. That's the problem.

My coworker goes to play basketball at the Y over lunch. Lunch is supposed to be from noon to 1.

But, since there's no boss here, and I have a habit of not speaking up when something bothers me, I'm getting run over.

He leaves at 11:45 for the start of his noon game. He routinely does not come back till 2 p.m. Right now it's 2:15 and I have yet to see his face from lunch. He didn't have an outside assignment that I'm aware of -- we generally tell each other.

It becomes very difficult to make up lies when, 2 or 3 times a week, the boss calls after lunch and asks to talk to this guy. And I'm getting annoyed because not only do I not like to lie, occasionally *I* need a long lunch, to run into town for blood draws (I have a clotting disorder that requires close monitoring) or something. But I feel compelled to be here when he's not.

Am I being silly? Because frankly, 2.5 hour lunches %#@&#! me off. What's worse is that I fax both our timecards together, and I see that he lists his lunch hour as noon to 1.

I don't feel like I can tell our boss without ruining my working relationship. It's a very tiny space in here and only the two of us and I can't afford to alienate him or make my life difficult. but I can't put up with much more of this, either.

Ideas/suggestions/helpful hints?

Candy

[nothemama8]

Poopiebear, send him a memo telling him your taking your lunch at ***** and Thank him sooooooooo much for being here for you ( Kill him with kindness)
Angie

[bebop]

well I think I would just suggest maybe to the boss that he/she stop by at 1 to see what is going on. if they do that then you are not responsible right?

[(JD)]

Let him know ahead of time YOUR wishes. And let him lie about his time on his own...let him send his own timecard in. Maybe you can discuss this or not... as it could be an opening to do so (why you don't feel good about sending in his timecard with so many errors? LOL)

Ah (((candy))) there are so many things worse than this... I'm not minimizing the angst in this, not at all... but try and find a higher perspective...like from when you had to live with your sister and had no job

(((hugs)))

[lenjan]

Hardly angst, Sky. Annoyance, perhaps. I'm annoyed that I'm put in this position. And yes, I'm grateful for my job.

[(JD)]

Yeah, I hear ya. How about asking him what you should tell the boss when he calls?

[sabby]

Personally, I would have no problem telling the boss when he calls that so and so isn't back from lunch yet. Since when were you told you had to mother/babysit this guy??

I can understand the annoyance...boy can I understand it. But heck...it's his neck on the line with the boss...you don't want to be caught lying for him.

Thats just my take on the situation...of course I'm not living it and don't have to deal with the consequences either. I hope you can find some kind of middle ground that makes you feel less annoyed and more appreciated!

Hugssssss
J

[Perna]

Candybear; you didn't say whether it was every day? I would demand 2-1/2 days worth of lunch out each week (that would be "fair") and I would let him know he's been late back "too often" and that you have been covering for him when the boss calls but are not going to do that but once a week (or whatever schedule/deal he cares to make; perhaps you can trade so when you're on a long lunch he'll cover for you -- not that the boss is "dumb" -- he'll figure it out even if you cover every time that when he calls at X o'clock the guy is never able to come to the phone).

I'd just be joking/pleasant and say you get half the week (both people get 2 days and you get every other Wednesday or something). But if he is unreasonable, calls your "bluff," or doesn't keep to an agreement, I wouldn't tell him about the boss calling and your covering for him; I'd just next time(s) the boss calls say "I'm not sure where he is, he hasn't gotten back from lunch yet." Simple truth. If the coworker is a jerk, he's not going to change and there's eventually going to be a blowup anyway.