When a Co-Worker Drags Their Feet…
Now You’re The One Stuck Waiting
🚍 You’re on the road, ready to roll. But your co-worker? Not so much.
You’ve seen it before—taking their time, chatting, moving at a snail’s pace while the clock ticks.
And now you’re delayed.
If this happens once, fine. But when it’s a pattern? It wears on you.
And let’s be honest—confronting it the wrong way can make it worse.
So what do you do when a co-worker’s “slow-motion routine” is messing up your flow?
1. First, Ask Yourself: Is It Really Every Day?
Frustration warps time. One bad shift can feel like every shift.
But before you call them out, check your facts. Is it a pattern, or just a bad day?
2. Then, Find Out Why
Some delays are intentional (dodging work). Others are unintentional (something’s going on).
Instead of jumping to “They’re lazy!”, try asking:
🚍 “Hey, I noticed you’ve been running behind lately—everything okay?”
You might find out they’re struggling (fatigue, stress, bad schedules) or strategizing (waiting for fewer passengers).
Either way, understanding first = better approach later.
3. Call It Out (The Right Way)
If their dragging is deliberate, a heated confrontation won’t fix it—it’ll just create drama.
Instead, go direct and neutral:
🔹 “I need to stay on schedule. Can we both roll out on time so neither of us is picking up extra slack?”
No blame. No accusations. Just a clear expectation.
4. If It Keeps Happening… Step Back
If you’ve addressed it and nothing changes, let management deal with it.
You can’t control your co-worker’s work ethic—but you can control your reaction.
Final Thought:
Dragging your feet at work doesn’t just affect one person—it ripples out.
If you’re the one stuck waiting, take a step back, get the facts, and decide how much energy this is worth.
Because some battles aren’t worth fighting… but some are worth handling smart.
💡 What’s your strategy when a co-worker drags their feet? Let me know in the comments!