This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
Have you ever found yourself covering for a colleague who's frequently absent from work, without any explanation? This is a common dilemma many employees face, and it's essential to handle it carefully to avoid jeopardizing your career.
According to Fred Gituku, a Human Resources Practitioner, it's normal for colleagues to request help from time to time, but some requests may be impertinent. In this case, your colleague has asked you to cover their shifts for four days in the last three weeks, without explaining why.
Before reporting your colleague to your supervisor, consider having a candid talk with them. Let them know that you're concerned about their frequent requests and ask if there's a way you can help them resolve the issue they've kept to themselves. If stepping in for your colleague presents a risk to your job, state this as a concern and express your unwillingness to continue assisting them in the circumstances.
It's possible that your colleague is preying on your kindness, but it could also be that there's a serious issue affecting them. If they're unwilling to listen and don't want to divulge information that would enable you or others to offer help, it might be useful to let your supervisor know.
As Fred Gituku advises, be helpful but don't jeopardize your career by letting your colleague mistake your kindness for naïve charity.
Published on June 11, 2020
