The co-worker or subordinate that is a slacker is a large problem in any entity. These are the people that started early with the "Dog ate my homework" routine and have been at it ever since. We need your input on such problems. Please send us, or leave on the Tip Line (678-201-9575), your anecdotes, success stories, pleas for help, suggestions to solve pleas for help and so forth. We'll keep them anonymous.

Modern technology has given slackers a new tool to avoid receiving directions and instructions--email. I recently heard from someone who was frustrated about a subordinate claiming to lose or never receive their emails. This works as long as you, the boss, allow it to work.

If the subordinate with the defective email is on the same physical site as you the solution is simple--have them stop by your office at a specific time each day to get instructions. Not on your site, do the same thing with a phone call. The important thing is that it is set at the same time each day and you follow the timing religiously.

If your slacker says they are busy during "normal working hours" with their very important job, then do it before or after normal working hours or at lunch. If they are a day shift person, I find six a.m. a good time to get together and work out the details of the day. And I am not joking.

Just remember, "I never got the email" lasts only as long as you let it.