Skiver

A 'skiver' is a person who avoids work or a duty; a shirker or malingerer. The term typically implies a deliberate intent to evade responsibility, often through deceptive means. This avoidance can apply to various contexts, including employment, education, or any obligation. A Skiver prioritizes their own leisure or self-interest over the commitment they've made. This behavior often leads to resentment from those who are left to pick up the slack. The extent of the deception can vary, from minor excuses to elaborate schemes to avoid detection and consequences for their lack of work or the duty that is needed to be completed, but can still be regarded as a lack of commitment.

Skiver meaning with examples

• During the project, John became a notorious Skiver, frequently calling in sick or claiming sudden family emergencies to miss deadlines and escape contributing. His colleagues were left to shoulder his workload, leading to frustration and resentment. Management noticed the pattern and after a series of meetings, he received a final warning about his poor attendance and lack of effort, with dismissal in mind.
• The students knew that the exam was important, but several students were determined skivers, making excuses to stay away from lessons, hoping to not learn anything about what to do. The teachers were aware of the pattern and worked to bring these skivers in line. They attempted to help the skivers in their lessons by working with them in a way where they were not too aware that they were the problem.
• The team expected a huge amount from him, given the salary and his standing as one of the most experienced team members, but he quickly became known as a skiver. Despite the large team size, he would avoid meetings, delay his contributions, and often leave earlier than the rest. This meant that his performance was heavily scrutinized, and not in a good way. He was eventually put on performance improvement.
• The new employee started well, but soon became a skiver. They made excuses for poor results, and found ways to avoid any difficult work. They arrived late, left early, and didn't contribute to meetings or projects. Their colleagues observed these behaviors and came to the conclusion that they were taking advantage of their position. Their poor behavior soon began to affect company morale, and they were fired.