I’m part of a group research project, and recently I’ve been mostly unresponsive. I understand how that looks, but I want to explain the situation.
For the past week, I’ve been dealing with a high fever and I’m still not fully recovered. On top of that, my phone broke, so my communication has been very limited. I can only reply when I’m able to borrow my brother’s laptop, which isn’t always possible because he needs it for his own work.
One of my groupmates (who’s acting as the leader) told me that if I’m still not present by Monday, they’ll remove my name from the research paper. I tried to explain that I didn’t choose to be absent or unresponsive and that my situation is due to health issues and circumstances I can’t control.
I also said that I’m willing to coordinate and make up for missed tasks as soon as I’m well enough.
I’m not refusing to work or abandoning the group, I’m just sick and can’t guarantee I’ll be fully okay by Monday.
I feel like immediately threatening to remove my name isn’t fair given the circumstances, but I also understand that group deadlines are stressful.
So, AITA for pushing back and asking them to reconsider removing my name from the paper because I’m still sick?
but from their side you basically just ghosted so you better get a doctors note and show them any work you’ve actually done ASAP
You need to speak with your professor and explain the situation. You shouldn’t be penalized for being sick but your group members also shouldn’t have to cover your share of the work because youre sick. Once your prof is aware of your illness (supported by a doctors note or whatever your university requires) he will likely arrange a different assignment for you.
Yta group projects take more than a week usually
Is this a school project? Surely this needs to be handled through a professor – it’s not fair to the others if you’re not able to contribute, but they can’t just unilaterally set a deadline to kick you out if this is a part of your class.
There is some info missing, how old are you, how long have you worked on the group project, and how much have you contributed to the paper? All of this needs to be taken into account. If you are three ppl working on it and you’ve written a third of the text, then fine. If you haven’t written anything more than one paragraph and the project lasted one or two weeks, then not ok. In that case you need to communicate to your teachers about whether you can do something else instead after the project has finished.
I’m 18, and we’ve been working on this project for about 3 months. It was actually my research idea that we used, and I contributed a lot, from coming up with the idea, presenting it to get it approved by our professor, and doing the initial research and data collection needed for the paper. We’re a group of 9 people, and I made sure my part was done even though I couldn’t respond to questions recently because I was sick and had limited access to a laptop.
If your work is complete, then you’re NTA. Though coming up with an idea is not really considered “work” imo, it sounds like you helped with the initial presentation and already did a bunch of work outside of that.
The leader either doesn’t fully understand how to lead a team (semi understandable considering their age) or wants the work horse back to cover other tasks. I would make the effort to message the entire team, and if they’re still threatening removing you from the project then go to the professor and show receipts of your work on the project.
Well, yeah, why should you get credit for work you haven’t done? It doesn’t matter if you were sick, in prison, or on vacation, you still didn’t contribute. Have a conversation with your teacher/professor about the work you did do and why you were unable to do more, and ask for an extension to finish the rest of it by yourself.
Talk to the professor, and perhaps he will be willing to accept your individual work with an extended deadline. It is not fair for the other students to have your name on the paper if you did not participate, regardless of the reason. They are not mean or punishing you. It’s not honest to have your name there. It’s also not fair to expect them to wait for you and incorporate your work with theirs. Everybody has their own schedule.
As a teacher I recommend.
Detailing all you did do, write down the date and duration of meetings, screen shot communications, list tasks you have done.
Email your group and cc your tutor / teacher in.
Apologise for not being present due to illness the last week, explain you realise it is extra pressure on them and if you can do anything from home please sent it to you.
Attach/ list the above info.
Unfortunately too many students don’t do equal share and it isn’t fair, if this is not the case then just be transparent with all.
Also – you may be absolutely fine for Monday? But send the info on the off chance you won’t be but explain you do hope to be in and ask if you can have a teams / slack / google / zoom whatever meet prior to Monday.
Info: How long has this project been going on??
YTA based on what you say and don’t say. This is a three month project and the team leader is threatening to remove your credit from the team product. This isn’t about not showing up on Monday. You were assigned tasks and failed to submit your work. The team has had to do your tasks to accomplish the larger project. Why should you get credit for work they had to do? Talk to your instructor about what credit you think you deserve, but I’m with your team on removing your name.
YTA – you may not have chose to be absent but its still your responsibility to communicate it, after a few days you should be talking to your teacher/prof. Hope you get well soon.
INFO
How are you doing work if you don’t have a computer?