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.

In keeping with our "Contracts" theme for this week, we'll talk about the slacker that invokes the verbal contract. They are great at this: "When I came here, they told me that _______ ." Or, "When I took over this assignment I was taught that I should always _____."

Dispel these thoughts quickly without being defensive. As to the first type, both slacker and you know that they were hired on an "at will" basis (most likely, I have known few people under contract) and anything said then lacks validity, especially if it has any age. As to the second, it can be handled quickly with, "Well, that may be the way your former supervisor handled these matters, but I choose and take responsibility for handling them differently."

Your slacker will not be happy (not your job anyway), but you will have made the point.