Lazy coworkers that cause you to work long hours because they don't do their share of the work on a project?

I am a commercial artist, and my "full-time job" is designing, editing, and publishing magazines. There is a ton of production work in producing an 84-page mag. I am supposed to share the graphics work with a colleague, but he NEVER HELPS me, and takes days - sometimes a week - to finish very simple, small advertisements that any normal artist can do in an hour or two.

We just recently published a magazine and I worked nearly 90 hours last week building ads, editing copy, designing pages, et cetera. I received no help from my colleague, who left early almost every day that week.

I work in a small office, and do not want to cause drama. Our Publisher won't say anything to this person, despite me, the Advertising Director and the Salespeople complaining about him nearly every day.

What should I do? Technically, this guy is the Art Director, so I can't really "pull rank" and make him do things. I do not want to quit my job, but am at the end of my rope. What should I do?

My Publisher will not fire the guy. Eight months ago, he told me that he was firing him and giving me a raise and another full-time artist. That was the only time I have ever even heard him say anything about it.

This guy calls in at least twice a week, and all of the other employees (include me) laugh and wonder if he is somehow holding something over our Publisher's head. It sounds ridiculous, but there is little else we can think of as to why our boss would keep this guy on staff.

I would try this:
1) Talk to your publisher one more time with a fellow employee present. Tell him you cannot continue working at this pace - your work will suffer. Offer a hard deadline for behaviour to change.
2) Under no circumstances work over 45-50 hours and never on the weekends after that deadline passes.
3) Re-evaluate your position if you get blamed for unfinished work.

Ther reality is that you work to earn money. If you are working that much while that guy is slacking, not only is your salary being cut in HALF, but you essentially are giving that half to the slacker. There really isn't an option other than quiting if you are not receiving the support you need from your manager. Your boss is dragging his feet because the work is getting done. His viewpoint might be that there is nothing major wrong. Now go change his mind.

Imagine this.. what if you had the chance to be born in the year 5090? then there would be a robot that knows all the answers to everything.

Go sick for a while. They'll appreciate the amount of work you do when you're missing, and it'll highlight the lack of work from the 'dead-weight' you're carrying!

I am anticipating that you are in the US rather than the UK, where I am and where Yahoo have opened up their Answers site. Because it's difficult to tell I'll put my four penn'orth in for what it might be worth.

As a drastic last measure - if going sick doesn't work, do you have documentary evidence of the hours you've worked? You could (in this country, at least) threaten to take your firm to an industrial tribunal and sue them for the amount of excessive work you are having to do.

You say this guy's behaviour is known to the Publisher. You also say you don't really want to leave your job. In your shoes, I'd start leaving circled adverts on your desk from sits vac columns, and make them ~think~ you are looking for another job. Take a couple of afternoons off for 'appointments' that you 'really have to keep' and if push comes to shove, ~really~ start looking. You might end up with something better - don't forget this job was new to you once, and your value might be better appreciated by someone else.

Set the guy up to fail.. and let him do it. make sure you cover your butt.

hey! u're in trouble man! i guess if no1's listenin 2 u 'n u have NO oder option,den u either bare da brunt or quit.Otherwise,take a stand 'n ask ur publisher 2 take action!! its not fair wats happening..why don't u also try talking 2 da man directly?(da 1 whose da trouble maker,mr.lazybones)??

my husband was in pretty much the same boat. he's a mechanic and state inspector. he's been with the same boss same company for over 20 years and has not gotten a raise. he's done more work and brought in more work, but he still has the same pay.
i called my husband at work the other day and when his boss answered the phone i told him point blank,' my husband is not making enough money to support me and i don't want to work any more so he has a job interview today at 6:oo p.m.. can i talk to him or is he busy?'
i thought that man would die of a heart attack right there on the phone.
my husband got a raise. and i love what i do so i don't really want to stop. my husband's boss doesn't quite know what to think of me, but i made him think about his awesome employee and how his business would (not) run without my man.