1 week Ago
NICOLA HORLICK: I admit it - I AM the office slacker - do I say sorry to my boss or just change my ways? By NICOLA HORLICK Updated: 16:50 EDT, 26 April 2025 e-mail View comments Working life today is full of constantly evolving challenges and pitfalls. When is it OK to date a co-worker? Can you tell your team to get back into the office five days a week? Whether you're a baffled Boomer, a muddled millennial, or a confused Gen Z-er, our brilliant columnist Nicola Horlick can help. Dear Nicola, After some conflict, I realise that I have been behaving rather badly in the office lately.
I've come to the conclusion that if I do not get my act together there could be consequences in this job and others. I have been the slacker in my department. I don't rate some of the bosses, so I have been doing the minimum, gossiping and never volunteering.
It's not been so much 'silent quitting' as 'noisy doing next-to-nothing'. It dawned on me over the Easter Bank Holiday that none of this is making me feel better about myself. I have been letting my colleagues down, and some senior people who have been trying to help me.
I think I've been ruining my chances of promotion – which I care about. Should I apologise to my manager? Or would the best thing be to be super keen, turn up early, put myself forward and so on? I am hoping that there's a way back. Yours, Marina Decision time: Marina realises that she has been behaving rather badly in the office lately Dear Marina, Well, the good news is that you have a high degree of self-awareness.
Believe me, that's unusual. The perennial problem for managers is dealing with team members who are convinced that they are doing a good job when they really aren't. I think the best route back is to show that you have changed your attitude.
You need to prove to your boss that you are totally committed. You should also make sure that you have an unofficial 'sponsor' – someone in a senior position who has your interests at heart. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next NICOLA HORLICK: Colleagues won't stop using dating apps in.
.. NICOLA HORLICK: A colleague stinks and it's costing ME.
.. Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account A sponsor is different to a mentor.
It's someone with influence who believes in you and can speak up for you in management meetings. Anyone who really wants to progress in their organisation needs one. It may be that it will take some time for your boss to fully appreciate your change of heart and the good work that you are doing.
But if you are sure that you are in the right job and you want to give it all you've got, then you should be prepared to wait. Given we spend a good chunk of our waking hours working, I think it's important to enjoy the job and to aspire to greater things within the organisation. Now that you have realised that you do want to do better, I am sure that you can turn things around.
I wish you the very best of luck. Yours, Nicola DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More InvestEngine InvestEngine Account and trading fee-free ETF investing Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free share dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission.
These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: NICOLA HORLICK: I admit it - I AM the office slacker - do I say sorry to my boss or just change my ways? e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted.
Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. Add your comment Enter your comment By posting your comment you agree to our house rules . Submit Comment Clear Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
No Yes Close Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy . More top stories.
