Exposing A Workplace Menace: Old Friends Who Just Show Up

at the pretty girl sitting down gazing at her laptop. Isn't she pretty? You bet. But to the untrained employee, she is probably the worst-type of "menace" who costs any American company or company in Europe millions in lost production and paying employees to work some overtime to pay for the time they lost with her.

"She" can be anyone. An ex-employee who went on to better things. A good friend of your boss who went to college with his daughter. Anyone with no real purpose in being at your workplace. That's her. "The Loafing Menace."

frozen to your PC screen laboring to finish work that you didn't get done thanks to the girl in the first paragraph who "just showed up." Oh, your experience with this type of girl taught you that she had no real purpose to impose on you, your boss, or coworkers. She seemingly had this desire to hinder you from getting home at a decent time.

I can tell you from personal experience that "this" menace, who comes in many forms, exists as true as the sky above. I recall many times my boss and I would be working to get a current edition of the newspaper mailed to the press, and in walked this guy who apparently knew my boss for they smiled at each other, shook hands, and "this" intruder of sorts, just made himself at home near my boss' work area and talked, and talked, and talked.

there are three people, but only two are employees. A clue: The "Friend who just showed up," is the man with his tie around his neck. He is a former employee who got a better job at another company, but he has not forgotten the good times he had at your company before you were hired.

So the "friend who just showed up," just waltzed-in one busy morning and stayed to nearly mid-afternoon telling one yarn after the other. You are not really a religious man, but you prayed to God secretly to make this guy leave. And you are at heart, a friendly dude. Not with this guy. He is a living, breathing hinderance. Each minute he robs you of valuble work time, the more you loathe him.

person in the above photo is the "friend who just showed up?" Well, I am sorry to have deceived you, but it is the giddy girl with the piece of paper. She works across town in a research company who did some work for your company years ago, but she invites herself anytime she chooses to come and visit you and your staff who secretly do not want her in the office, but you and these good people are not cold-hearted enough to hurt her feelings.

Now for some further information about the "friends who just show up":

How Do You Identify A "Friend Who Just Shows Up at Your Workplace?"

• They walk slowly into your office with "that" look on their face--peaceful, easy-going and relaxed as if they belonged in your office.
• These hindering people will always go to the person they know the best. The boss, the general manager or regular employee because they share a past with them.
• Their mouths open first with a jovial, "Hi, bud!", "Hey, now!", or a "Look out! Here I am again." They say friendly things to "break the ice" with strangers in your office that are foreign to them. And when the employee they know introduces them to you, out of respect, you "act" welcoming.
• These people always have a great idea or story to share that is so interesting, the boss will try to continue to work and listen to these people all at once.

Other Ways to Identify "Friends Who Just Show Up":

• These people never admit to having a job, taking extra classes at the community college to improve themselves.
• These people help themselves to the company computers that are not being used.
• They say things to you indirectly that are all "old news."
• They offer to buy your boss a good lunch for as they say, "For the good times."

Feasible Ways to Rid Yourself and Office of "Friends Who Just Show Up":

• Meet them in the lobby and say, "Hey, uh, I am so sorry. We are in "emergency mode," and got to get an important job finished before 5 p.m."
• "Roger is out of town this week," referring to the "friend who just showed up's" friend from college.
• Cough heavily and explain that most of the office has a rare disease called: Thailand Flu.
• "I wish I had time to visit, but I do not." Say this if you are the one that "friend who just showed up," stopped by to visit.