How do I warn a co-worker that she is in hot water w/ the boss without getting too involved?

Not your problem, stay out of this one.

You definitely want to stay out of this. First of all, it's her problem and if you've heard the buzz, she should have too. She's a big girl and if telling her about it will only get her to be combative with you, you don't need that. Secondly, it's important for you not to talk to her about it, so that if some kind of discipline comes her way, it doesn't look like you may have been involved in it. You can have a good relationship with your co-workers, but at the end of the day, you can't make them save their own jobs. It's up to her and you don't need the conflict.

Keep out of it. If you warn her, you run the risk of being dawn into it. Not only could you anger your defensive co-worker, but you can also anger your supervisor(s) for spilling the beans. The person you describe might be a very nice person on a personal level, but in a business, showing up late and socializing too much is a sign that she is not a good employee, and by warning her, you'll essentially appear to be aligning with her. That is not going to help your standing. Just keep out of it.

I've been in this very situation and without pointing the finger directly at her I just forewarned her administration watches and will come down on tardiness and too much socializing, that they have in the past, so for her to be careful and try to start getting in on time, that you'd hate to see her lose her job. If she gets defensive then it's her head, not yours, and at least you were concerned enough.

Stay out of the way. The boss will tell her. Don't get involved or you could end up in hot water too.

Michael

I agree with hot Carl if you can warn her of her actions that you see and she wont take the offensively then cool. if not stay out of it because things always get twisted around and you might be the one with your job on the line. Besides your co-worker/friend knows weather their behavior on the job is acceptable or not.

each and every time she starts to hum, do not say something, purely fake a seizure. at the same time as the humming stops, upward push up off the floor and flow again to artwork like not something's incorrect. Then at the same time as she starts humming again--yet another seizure. If not something else it is going to likely be humorous as heII.

If you can't give her a friendly warnign without her getting defensive then just stay out of it completely.

If you want to be helpful, just tell her. Your other option is to just stay out of it, and let her suffer the consequences of her actions. If you tell her, but she just gets defensive and doesn't change anything, then that would happen anyway.

DO NOT tell her, I found out a close friend of mine was going to get fired and he hasn't spoken to me in twenty years.

To be honest, I'd butt out. It is her life, and if she's defensive, you could be stepping into a heap of trouble.