Ms. Theologian reflects on lateness…..
Thursday December 15th 2005, 6:21 pm
Filed under: letters
Filed under: letters
Dear Ms. Theologian —I work the third shift, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Everyone I work with gets along well, but often the person who replaces me is late. Just 5 or 10 or 15 minutes, but it’s still late, and man, I’m tired and want to go home. We joke about it. “Hey, you’re late, ha, ha. “Yeah, ha, ha, traffic, you know….” The boss is never around at that hour. Should I tell on my coworker?
–Sleepyhead
Dear Sleepyhead –
When you find yourself using language like “tell on my coworker” it’s time for a maturity-check.
Ms. Theologian thinks that you should speak to the coworker directly, honestly, and explain how the lateness affects you. You should only “tell” your boss as a last resort.
Promptly,
Ms. Theologian
There’s minor lateness that doesn’t effect anyone else, but this is more than lateness, it’s a lack of awareness of one’s coworkers. Or a lack of caring. Very frustrating, but your advice is good as always.
Comment by Patry Francis 12.15.05 @ 9:18 pmYeah, you’re right, it’s the fact that the lateness affects (effects?) someone else….especially someone who has been up all night.
Comment by Stephanie 12.16.05 @ 9:16 amStephanie, an agent effects things while things affect someone. If these things start keeping you up at night, pick up a copy of Fowler’s.
Comment by Anonymous 12.16.05 @ 3:45 pmOh, sadly, I have plenty of style guides, anonymous. And equally sad, they are pretty inconsistent on the use of effect/affect. I have learned to simply move on.
Comment by Stephanie 12.16.05 @ 3:49 pmI write around affect and effect too.
Comment by K Cutter 12.16.05 @ 8:48 pmLeave a comment
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