STRATEGY

We've all been down this road: saddled with extra work at the last minute, you and everyone else in your department start coming in early and/or staying late to complete it by a deadline…everyone else except one lone soul, that is. They're at their desk at nine and out the door exactly at five, and you're all getting pretty ticked. If they put in some extra time like the rest of you, everyone's burden would be eased. The goal of this script is to get them to pull their weight and put in those extra hours like everyone else. Your first strategy will be to appeal to their sense of fairness. Point out the rewards of coming in early and/or staying late, whether it's the bonus the department has been promised, or simply getting the work done faster. Remind them they won't have to put in these hours forever. If these tactics fail, point out that they're rapidly becoming an object of hatred among their peers. Unfortunately, some people don't care if coworkers dislike them. If even the threat of pariah status fails, it's time to use your final weapon: let them know that if there's a problem with the project and the boss is looking for scapegoats, their name is likely to be number one on everyone's list.

TACTICS

• Attitude: Your attitude should be one of asking for help without resorting to begging, cajoling, or threats. It's okay if they get an inkling of how angry you and the rest of the department are, as long as your dissatisfaction with them isn't conveyed blatantly via yelling, cursing, or name calling.

  
  

• Preparation: Talk with others in your department and let people know you plan on approaching the nine‐to‐fiver—alone—about their unwillingness to put in extra time. Tell those who disagree that while they may feel differently about the situation than you, you'd appreciate it if they didn't tip your hand. Ask those who agree to back you up if there's a demand for proof that others feel as you do. If applicable, be able to provide concrete examples for them of how the nine‐to‐fiver's refusal to come in early and/or stay late has hurt the department.

• Timing: Talk to them while the project is still in progress, not after it's completed. Make sure the two of you are alone. After lunch is always a good time to talk to a peer, since satiated people tend to be in a decent mood. Avoid approaching them when they're on their way out the door at the end of the day; what you say will go in one ear and out the other.
• Behavior: Start out polite, appealing to their sense of fairness. If they refuse to even consider what you're saying, it's okay to throw a touch of annoyance into the mix. Don't be afraid of using a veiled threat, either. Whatever you do, don't beg or yell.

ADAPTATIONS

This script can be modified to:

• Request a friend, relative, or spouse pull their weight on a joint project, whether it's planning a party or keeping a house clean.

KEY POINTS

• Get the backing of your coworkers before talking to them.
• Talk to them while the project is still underway.
• If applicable, be able to provide concrete examples of how their unwillingness to put in extra time has adversely affected the department.
• Appeal to their sense of fairness, pointing out they're the only person in the department who isn't coming in early or staying late.
• If that fails, make them feel guilty for not pulling their weight like everyone else.
• Point out the benefits of coming in early and/or staying late, such as the potential for a bonus, easing the work burden for everyone, and getting the project done that much faster.
• Point out the drawbacks of their behavior, such as alienating their coworkers.
• If you must, threaten them with telling the boss they're to blame should the project not be finished on time.
• Don't beg, cajole, or threaten.
• Let a touch of anger show if necessary, but don't yell or belittle.