Dear J.T. & Dale: My co-worker just got picked for jury duty. She’ll be out for four days a month for months. We are already short-staffed. She is planning to send all of her emails and customers to me in her absence. A colleague who is friends with her confided that she had the chance to be excused from jury duty but didn’t take it. I am so angry. It’s like she is purposely doing this, so I am stuck with her work. Should I tell my boss? — Wes
DALE: Federal law requires employers to give their employees time off to serve on a jury, although it doesn’t require paid leave (some states do, however). One survey, back in 2007, estimated that 15% of Americans were summoned to serve that year, with about a third of those actually making it onto a jury. The point is that this happens a lot, and there’s nothing your management can do about it; or, in my mind, should do about it.
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J.T.: Before going to your boss, try to have a conversation with your co-worker. Express your concerns about the increased workload and discuss how you both might manage this situation effectively. It’s possible she’s not fully aware of the impact her absence will have on you. If you find the conversation doesn’t resolve the issue, then it might be appropriate to talk to your boss. Frame this conversation around seeking solutions rather than placing blame. Focus on the impact on the team’s workload and your ability to manage the additional tasks effectively. Ask for suggestions on how to handle the situation, which might include temporary assistance, reprioritizing tasks, or even bringing in a temporary replacement.
Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a career coach and the founder of the career site workitdaily.com. Dale Dauten’s latest book is “Experiments Never Fail: A Guide for the Bored, Unappreciated and Underpaid.” Visit them at jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via email, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
