Q: As a young, knowledgeable, ambitious employee, I find myself in a perplexing position. I work for a large government agency, where many people spend their time doing anything but work.

They play computer games, surf the Web, read the paper, take frequent smoke breaks, discuss TV shows, gossip about celebrities, plan vacations, manage their finances and work on school assignments.

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Sometimes these co-workers try to give their assigned tasks to me. I always reply courteously by saying, "Just OK it with the boss, then I'll be glad to help you." So far, the boss hasn't given me any of their work.

I can't decide whether I should report this chronic abuse of agency time. My goal is to get into management, so I want to demonstrate my dedication and work ethic. But if I'm seen as a whistle-blower, I might lose any chance of advancement.

A: Your goof-off colleagues obviously have no concern about job security or waste of taxpayers' money. Your response to their requests for assistance is politically brilliant.

Apparently, your boss is either totally indifferent or too timid to tackle the problem. Because the abuse is widespread, odds are that upper management also has chosen to tolerate it.

If you can find a higher-up who seems receptive, you might raise the issue. But perhaps it's time to stop worrying about the agency and start worrying about yourself.

You seem to have landed in an organizational culture that's a complete mismatch for your personality. And one lone employee won't change the culture single-handedly.

If you remain with this agency, you are likely to evolve from a frustrated young employee to a frustrated aging manager. So start looking for a job in which your strong work ethic will be applauded, not resented.

MARIE G. McINTYRE

OFFICE COACH

Q: I work the night shift in a large call center, but I'm looking for a new job. Unfortunately, two prospective employers recently scheduled my interviews at 8 a.m.

Although this is only a few hours after I get home from work, I agreed for fear of seeming inflexible. I went to both interviews with very little sleep. I know I'll do much better in interviews if I'm fully awake. How should I handle this?

A: Considering the stakes, negotiating an interview time is perfectly reasonable. Interviewers want to assess your abilities accurately, so a later meeting will be to their benefit. Any rational person knows that sleeplessness doesn't promote peak performance.

When a prospective employer calls, explain that you work the night shift and request a suitable interview time. If unusual circumstances dictate an early appointment, at least you will have adjusted your interviewer's expectations.

If someone arbitrarily insists that you come in with no sleep, be wary. You may not want to work for a company that demonstrates so little regard for your needs.

- Marie G. McIntyre is an Atlanta-based workplace coach. Her weekly column is syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Send questions at www.yourofficecoach.com.