Dear Nanay,
In our office, one of my colleagues is so unprofessional. I don’t think she knows the meaning of commitment, professionalism and dedication. Every day, she comes to work late and leaves early. She likes to take extended lunch breaks and is always on Facebook or texting on her phone. I feel like she is pulling down morale and I end up having to do more work, otherwise we would never finish our assignments.
What I do not understand is how our boss can tolerate all of this. Maybe because he is also so busy with meetings and conference calls that he does not notice what is really going on — that he has such a lazy employee he pays a salary to every month.
Can I tell my boss about her so that he can take the proper actions against her?
Hard Worker
Dear Hard Worker,
I think your name is so appropriate — “Hard Worker.” Because that is exactly what you are and that is exactly what you should be. You work hard. You are committed, professional and dedicated. And because of your excellent performance, you should not concern yourself with the problems or shortcomings of others and concentrate on yourself and your work. Who cares if your officemate is lazy? Pabayaan mo siya. (Leave her alone.) Mas maganda pa nga kasi mas lalo ka aangat. (That’s even better because you’ll get ahead.) The lazier she is and the worse she performs, the better for you! One of these days, you might be surprised because your boss will eventually see that you are the one doing all the work. You are the one who is committed and dedicated. And therefore, you are the one who will get the promotions and the increases.
Every time you do something like pagsusumbong (tattling), you just create intrigues and tension in the workplace. In the worst-case scenario, it might even look like it was you who started the whole problem and you might be blamed for something you did not do or did not intend to do. So if possible, I think it is better for you to just stay out of it. You just concentrate on doing your work well and I am sure that eventually your efforts will be rewarded and your officemate’s laziness will also be properly addressed.
Sincerely,
Nanay
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Does Raising Children Get Any Easier?
DEAR NANAY,
I have two small children and am pregnant with a third. I am so tired. Even if we have a maid, she mostly takes care of the other household chores. I am the one who has to take care of the children and I cannot help but feel that they are getting all my energy. I know they are still young — almost babies — but they never listen to me. It is very satisfying to see them grow up. But does it get any better when they are older so they are not so uncontrollable?
Panicked
Dear panicked,
As your kids grow up, they will be easier to talk to and hopefully reasoned with (until they become teenagers!). The problems you have today may get easier to deal with over time as the kids mature, but the overall job of parenting does not. The challenges may not be the same, but there will always be challenges.
For now, maybe you are dealing with kid problems — diapers, tantrums and endless kakulitan. But after they grow up and these are no longer problems, you might have to deal with other problems like grades, drugs and other things the youth of today have to deal with. Ibang-iba ang mga kabataan ngayon! (Young people today are so different!)
Just remember that being a parent is a challenge and a full-time job. It is never easy and it will never get easier. Magiiba lang ang mga problema. (It’s only the problems that will change.) But in the end, parenthood is still very fulfilling. When you see what fine children you have raised or when you see them during graduation, you will beam with pride and it will all be more than worth the effort.
Sincerely,
Nanay
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