The Lazy Coworker Everyone Has (But No One Talks About)
Updated: Apr 7
If you’ve ever worked with a lazy coworker, you already know how frustrating it can be.
Green status.
No replies.
No calls answered.
Dealing with a remote coworker not responding can be one of the most frustrating parts of working from home.
The “Always Online” Illusion
On paper, everything looks fine.
They’re:
active on Teams
marked as available
part of every project
But in reality:
messages go unanswered
calls are ignored
tasks move at a glacial pace
Meet LUKE.
The Classic Signs of a lazy coworker
You’ll recognise this type instantly:
Camera is always “not working”
Never joins on video
Avoids screen sharing completely
Takes hours (or days) to reply
Somehow always “busy”
Work output… questionable
And yet — their status is permanently green.
Why This Happens More in Remote Work
Remote work changed how we communicate.
Without physical presence:
visibility becomes performance
status replaces accountability
communication gaps get wider
Some people thrive in this environment.
Others… disappear into it.
The Real Impact on Teams
This behaviour doesn’t just affect one person.
It:
slows down projects
increases frustration
creates extra work for others
breaks team trust
And over time, it can make even simple tasks feel exhausting.
How to Deal With It
You probably won’t change Luke.
But you can reduce the impact.
Set clear expectations and deadlines
Follow up with direct questions
Keep communication documented
Don’t rely on instant replies
It’s about working around the problem — not fixing the person.
Turning That Frustration Into Something Lighter
Let’s be honest.
At some point, it stops being annoying… and starts being ridiculous.
The “always available but never there” lazy coworker is such a common experience that it almost becomes a joke.
That’s exactly the idea behind Luke.
Instead of letting that frustration build up, you can turn it into something you can actually laugh at — and deal with in your own way.
👉 Check out this funny voodoo doll for office stress relief here:https://www.stabcrifice.com/
Remote work has a lot of benefits.
But it also comes with its own challenges — and people like Luke are part of that reality.
You can’t control how others work.
But you can control how much it affects you.
And sometimes, the best way to deal with it… is not to take it too seriously.
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