May 13, 2008Ask Meryl ~ Computer maintenance

Meryl,

Three of us work in my office. We have the same computer hardware, the same software, same responsibilities, and (supposedly) the same skills. One coworker refuses to maintain her computer equipment properly (ignores update notices, etc.) and so she does not have the same functionality that I have. She keeps trying to hand work off to me because her “machine’s not working right.”

I have suggested she call our IT department but she claims they are unresponsive. I am tempted to refuse to help her outright, but don’t want to be viewed as not being a team player.

Ideas?

Meryl Responds,

I suggest you say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean when you say it.

Say,

• (Name,) your machine isn’t working right because you haven’t kept your computer updated. I’ll help you keep your computer updated, but doing your work for you because your computer isn’t updated isn’t the best use of my time – or yours.

Let me know how it works.