Employee receives 7% while coworkers get 13%, starts slacking off and expecting them to cover: 'They used to do 6 tasks in a day, now they do 2'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 13, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

Is there anything more annoying at work than having to cover for a coworker who won't do their job properly?

A lot of employers put a lot of emphasis on their employees being good team players, and that is often for good reason. It only takes one bad actor in an office for a workplace to be inundated with conflict and complaints. You may not want your coworkers to be your best friends, but it is important to feel like you can rely on them to do their jobs and that they are relatively pleasant to be around.

Some of the most frustrating colleagues are not the ones who are the most combative, but rather those who are checked out of their job and expect others to pick up the slack. Almost everyone has lazier or less productive days in the workplace, but this becomes a problem when it is a regular occurrence that directly affects other people. 

The likelihood is that a slacker coworker is not going to rectify their behavior just because it inconveniences others. It leaves their colleagues in an awkward position, where they don't have the authority to get them working again, but they can't work with them effectively as they are.

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  • A representation of an employee sitting at a computer desk, closing his eyes and clasping his hands behind his head
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A representation of an employee sitting at a computer desk, closing his eyes and clasping his hands behind his head

  • A work team received their yearly raises, with most getting 13%. However, one coworker who seemed to sometimes struggle with their job had only received a 7% raise. They soon realized that almost everyone else had received a bigger raise than they had. 

    In response, they significantly reduced the amount of work they were doing for their team. They did fewer tasks per day, and were harder to reach and communicate with. One of their coworkers felt like they were doing more work to make up for their laziness, and they were wondering if there was any way that they could successfully address this change in attitude.

  • Colleague stopped working after latest hike numbers

    So I have this colleague who got like 7% hike this year and most other folks (me included) from the team got around 13% and this information spread pretty quickly among the team members (you know how that question pops up "how much hike you got?" out of nowhere when you're with a
    via WastedTalents1
  • colleague in a one on one call, so yeah that happens a lot here). So this colleague of mine is not very technically sound, they take a lot of time to learn stuff and sometimes been caught for just sitting on the tasks when they have been assigned days ago (I do that too some times but
    via WastedTalents1
  • didn't get caught because I put in the effort to atleast make some progress on the tasks assigned to me before the standup call haha :). So if you get caught slacking off, obviously the leadership will penalize you in some way.
    via WastedTalents1
  • So now that they reached the "Find out" stage of "f\*ing around", their efficiency has cratered, like if they used to do 6 tasks in a day, now they just do 2, and are constantly with "away" status on teams like 6hrs out of 9hrs they are away.
    via WastedTalents1
  • But the team still has to be answerable to clients and the leadership and I have had to pick up their slack since last week.
    via WastedTalents1
  • What do I even do in this situation, because I don't want to get them fired or anything (they joined this organisation along with me and we were on good terms atleast socially) but I can't take it anymore as this is making my job more hectic than it already is?
    via WastedTalents1
  • A representation of an employee sitting in front of a computer screen with a graph on it and looking at his phone
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A representation of an employee sitting in front of a computer screen with a graph on it and looking at his phone

  • Neat-Sir-2026 I can't believe someone with that kind of performance gets 7% in this job market.
    via Neat-Sir-2026
  • As far as your question goes, you are responsible for yourself, why are you carrying or concerning yourself over someone who can't put in the effort on his own behalf?
    via Neat-Sir-2026
  • michelle_0413_ Stay out of it
    via michelle_0413_
  • rqhany 1. Getting a 7% raise is actually great, let alone a 13% one. Y'all hiring?!?
    via rqhany
  • 2. Talk to your leader about it. Don't come across as wanting to talk sh but focus on the objective inefficiencies that are occurring. Come to that meeting prepared with a few potential solutions.
    via rqhany
  • Smokedealers84 He is an adult, you are not his manager let him decide if he want to burn and crash his career in the meantime do your part.
    via Smkedealers84
  • tedy4444 sounds like this person is working 2 jobs. you might not be ready to hear this, but it also sounds like you're the second job.
    via tedy4444
  • pwolf1771 7% raise for the weakest link is crazy are you guys hiring???
    via pwolf1771
  • exposedping You're at work to make money. If one of your colleagues is making work difficult for you then they are effectively making it harder for you to earn money.
    via exposedping
  • OkSomewhere6760 They just thought they were getting fired and got 7% instead. So why even work lol get 4% next year?
    via OkSomewhere6760
  • Significant-Ad213 How can you be on good terms with someone so selfish? They are actively making your job more chaotic because they are unfit for theirs and are basically throwing a temper tantrum for not getting a raise they think they deserve.
    via Significant-Ad213
  • Diligent-Lunch590 Does this affects you directly? No. Mind your own business.
    via Diligent-Lunch590
  • Separate-Exchange375 You can complain without pointing fingers.. Say you need more people or something like that. If you want to be nice at least
    via Separate-Exchange375

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coworkers raise slacking off workplace
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