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My supervisor at work has asked me to find one word which perfectly relates the following phrase:
'You are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.'
He wants to be able to use the word as noun, verb and possibly adjective. So a word for each type would be acceptable
(P.S. I work in IT - Computer Programmer)
Counterproductive
Oxford: having the opposite of the desired effect: The response to the disaster was unsuccessful and perhaps even counterproductive.
Macmillan: having a result that is the opposite of the one you intended: Research shows that sending young offenders to prison can be counterproductive.
Cambridge: having an effect that is the opposite of what you intend or desire: As a way to improve traffic, widening roads can be counterproductive, as it may just encourage more people to drive.
Collins: achieves the opposite result from the one that you want to achieve: In practice, however, such an attitude is counter-productive.
How about "hindrance". Similarly someone can be "hindering" the progress of a project.
But I'm afraid you can't be s hindrantacious person. Still, 2 out of 3 isn't bad!
Roadblock, defined by Merriam Webster as:
- something that blocks progress or prevents accomplishment of an objective
Your supervisor could say:
X's suggestions are nothing but roadblocks to getting this job done on schedule. (noun)
If your supervisor likes this word, he can easily make it into a verb or an adjective.
There's that old (original TV series) "Twilight Zone" episode where, in the future, if you are not deemed a useful member of society, you may be voted obsolete by a govt. committee - and summarily executed.
Your supervisor can probably use this reference for a jarring dramatic effect. (Tell him/her to climb on a desk, point to the offending party, and bellow "Obsolete!") (It might help to find the episode on YouTube, or something)
To emphasize that the coworker is not passive, but involved in causing the problem:
abet -
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong
n. abettor, v. abet, adj. abetting.
I much prefer complicit for the adjective. Abetting is a stretch in that sense.
I also like n. detriment, v. stymie, adj. detrimental.
In the IT sense, I use these words (depending on the situation):
Lacking self-awareness, or Clueless.
Lacking understanding or knowledge [1]
[1]: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, http://www.thefreedictionary.com/clueless
Liability
By your actions and behavior (or like thereof) in this company, you have not made yourself an asset to this company, but rather a liability.
I appreciate thinking about situations from an economic/accounting/investing perspective. Since your work is probably for-profit, such a perspective might drive directly to the heart of the matter (and do so in a beautiful synthesis of poetry and cold hard cash).
See Investopedia's take on the term via the link below.
