Hospital worker spends months reporting lazy coworkers who disappear for hours, only to be penalized after one gets fired: 'Be more of a team player'

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Jun 19, 2026 5:00 PM EDT

Speaking up at work is important, but is it always rewarded?

Every person that have ever had a job can agree that it is fundamental to be a good coworker. No matter who you are working with, having a good relationship with them is going to make your workday ten times better. Now, when your coworker is not a team player, what would you do? That is something that u/dalastwaterbender debated herself over.

I'll say that I'm not against reporting two coworkers that dissapear for hours, and don't help get the job done. We're all here together, and we all want to leave as soon as possible, so why not all work towards the same goal? I get pretty frustrated when others take advantage of someone responsible and maybe faster at completing tasks. Hence, I'm with the OP, and I'd have reported both my lazy coworkers to management.

Now, I wouldn't expect that backlash at me and having my own raise jeopardized because of that decision. If the OP intended to get the work done faster and better (in which she succeeded, because they fired one of the girls), how come this would affect her? Well, according to her own manager, she should have been more of a "team player". Is something more of a team player than trying to improve the work? Definitely let me know your opinion.

Anyways, I may be writing these words because I can totally relate to the OP: this could have happened to me, since her attitude sounds very much like mine, and if I were in her situation and somehow came across this, I'd feel better for sure. Now, enough with the introduction, scroll down and find out for yourself that unique coworker story.

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  • A representation of a hospital employee reviewing documents at a workstation.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    A representation of a hospital employee reviewing documents at a workstation.

  • I have a lead position in a small hospital, not a supervisor with any power more of a trainer capacity.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Beginning of the year we had 2 new processors who became besties and would disappear in the break room for HOURS on lunch while there's this to do (samples keep coming). At first I'd ask them if they were on break and if not could they get back to work. I did notice they'd go ask the boss about her kids and be more extroverted and cozy up to her. But after going through this for months I finally started complaining to mangement both in person and I have a paper trail of emails.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • I was told by my useless management "oh maybe they have something going on", ..."everyone works at different pace" ..." be more of a team player" friendly sand dismissive she like that. And this is patient samples we're dealing with so pretty important but bosses sit in their office all day
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Somehow one of the newbies turned the tables and complained to my supervisor I made her upset by complaining... and she said she'd tell HR on me....so | backed off
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Eventually about 2 more months passed and my other coworkers started complaining to management about how nothing is getting done and work is rolling over to other shifts and people are not getting out on time.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • The girls were finally spoke to, and one started doubling down out of retaliation and started disappearing even more...eventually she was told not to come back. Yay!
    via dalastwaterbender
  • The other one is now a little bit better now that her friend is gone, still lazy but not as much as before
    via dalastwaterbender
  • My biggest issue is I was snubbed on a recent performance review raise!. For my teamwork and leadership...
    via dalastwaterbender
  • I was told I should have been telling them to get to work more (even though I'm the lead not the supervisor) instead of running to management... tried to explain I did tell them but boss didn't want to hear it. I had email proof too but was dismissed
    via dalastwaterbender
  • A representation of two healthcare workers discussing information on a tablet in a hospital.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    A representation of two healthcare workers discussing information on a tablet in a hospital.

  • And also these girls were not green, they'd been here for months and we have so many SOPs and task lists you can check to see what needs to be done...also just use your eyes. Like they would literally be watching movies in the break room or chatting for hours while there was work and that's my fault? I was so shocked, I feel like it's common sense when you have a job you actually should do the job-l have to hold hands?
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Additionally in the past few years I've worked here it's never been an issue if I come in a bit early or stay late to catch up on work...but she deducted points in the leadership category and claimed "came in early/late unapproved, should delegate duties as expected to avoid staying late"...like she's literally twisting the story and pulling at strings-I came in an hour early or late some days to help this business not to steal an extra hour of time such bs. Like she's mad I complained about one
    via dalastwaterbender
  • She had the nerve to say "I know you didn't get your maximum raise but we did see a decline in performance, despite that I do hope you stick around I think you're a good worker"
    via dalastwaterbender
  • So disappointing that I who have been here 7 years lost my full raise due to people 6 months in who management liked better cuase I was the first to speak up
    via dalastwaterbender

  • The comments quickly moved beyond the lazy coworkers themselves and focused on management's role in the situation. While I understand why the employee felt frustrated, I also think many readers saw the performance review as a sign of a much larger workplace issue. Once leadership starts ignoring problems and blaming the people who report them, it's hard not to expect some kind of fallout.

  • nudedude6969 Time to quietly look for a new job, and move on...????
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Flicksterea Is there anyone else you can go to about this? I know exactly how frustrating and infuriating working in a hospital can be, management is useless at administering consequences for those who deserve it but those who do their jobs are penalized over trivial stuff. Go higher if you can.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • A representation of two hospital employees reviewing data together on a tablet.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    A representation of two hospital employees reviewing data together on a tablet.

  • Johnndo96 Time to start looking for a better workplace.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Feeling-Invite 7953 NTJ. You're on the bottom rung of the nepotism ladder, right now, in spite of your skills and experience. Sometimes, it seems like NOTHING you do will EVER move you up that ladder, because bosses will reward sycophants, just for being sycophants, before they reward good workers.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Lazy Tomato4321 I've discovered at my place of employment when you speak up about all the bullsh*t happening, YOU are suddenly a problem. It amazes me every single time how some people get rewarded for their bad behavior.
    via dalastwaterbender
  • Tiredofstupidity2 This sounds a perfect example of resigning after you have a new job effective immediately or booking approved vacation for at least 8/9 workdays and giving notice at end of shift and being gone the whole time coming back to do a hand over for 1/2 days. Of course email HR notice. You never know if you want to come back years later at a higher level.
    via dalastwaterbender

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