Blowing the whistle on a lazy coworker

Dear Nanay,

I just started in a new job and I really like it here.  One of our officemates only works four to five hours a day when we should really be in the office working for eight hours.  The rest of the time, she pretends to have meetings outside or pretends to be taking phone calls or is just on the computer surfing the Internet.  It drives me crazy that I am working so hard and she is just wasting her time.  Should I tell my boss about her?

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

Especially because you are just new in your office, you have to be careful.  Even if you have the best intentions, it may not look good for someone so new to be blowing the whistle on a coworker.  You do not know the relationship of your officemate to the boss or to the company.  Maybe their understanding is that as long as she finishes her assigned work then she is free to come and go as she pleases.  Baka meron siyang kapamilya.  Mahirap sabihin.  Kaya hindi ka puwedeng basta makikialam. (She might be related to someone there. It’s hard to say. That’s why you can’t meddle just like that.)

If she does something that is directly detrimental to the company — for example, nagnakaw (she stole) — or her failure to work is affecting your work — for example, hindi nag-submit ng report kaya hindi mo natapos yung trabaho mo (she didn’t submit a report that caused you not to finish your own work) — then maybe you can talk to your boss.

You should also gauge your relationship with your boss.  How do you think he will react?  Does he look like he favors your coworker?  Or is he just so busy that he doesn’t see her lack of productivity?

If she is really lazy and is unproductive, even if you don’t say anything, I think the boss will eventually see it.  Magkakahalataan rin iyan. (It eventually won’t escape notice.)

Sincerely,

Nanay

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Never Been Kissed

Dear Nanay,

I am in high school and there is this guy who I think I really like and I think he likes me, too.  He tried to kiss me a couple of times but because I am so shy and conservative, I never let him.  I am afraid that if I don’t relax or loosen up, he might get tired of me and I will lose him.  Sayang naman, di ba, Nanay? (That would be a shame, wouldn’t it, Nanay?)

KL

Dear KL,

First of all, I don’t really know how old you are, but you might be too young to even be kissing!  Baka masyado ka pang bata!

But seriously, regardless of how old you are, if this boy really likes you as much as you think he does … if he has all the respect for you … and most of all if he is worth having as a boyfriend … then he will wait for you until you are ready.  Hindi siya magmamadali (He won’t rush) and he will not force you to do something you do not want to do.

Take your time.  Check the guy out first before you fall too much in love.  Do not get pressured into doing something you don’t want to do.  And don’t worry about kissing … you will have plenty of time for that later.

Sincerely,

Nanay

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