Help Please - Work Problem - UGH!

BunSnoop · ‎05-22-2010

Supervisor called and explained a problem he wants me to assist with.

This is something I have no knowledge of and no expertise. I told him I really don't think I will be able to help as this is something I have no knowledge of. I told him in my opinion I believe this should go to our legal department.

He said he'd like me to prepare something to then forward to legal to review. I again told him this is something I do not think I can be of any assistance.

He then said something like "I know you can" and "thinking out this problem with help you grow". He said I should put on my "thinking cap" and we'll talk tomorrow. He would not accept from me that I do not have the answers to his problem

I did not tell him, but I was thinking it - I do not want to "grow". I plan on giving my notice to retire in about 8 months.

Help - any suggestions on what I can say to get it through to him that this is beyond my scope of work. He just did not seem to accept that he's going to the wrong person for assistance.

I'm wondering if someone told him to prepare the document for legal and he's now pushing it on me! :-(

rms1954 · ‎06-06-2019

@BunSnoop wrote:
Supervisor called and explained a problem he wants me to assist with.

This is something I have no knowledge of and no expertise. I told him I really don't think I will be able to help as this is something I have no knowledge of. I told him in my opinion I believe this should go to our legal department.

He said he'd like me to prepare something to then forward to legal to review. I again told him this is something I do not think I can be of any assistance.

He then said something like "I know you can" and "thinking out this problem with help you grow". He said I should put on my "thinking cap" and we'll talk tomorrow. He would not accept from me that I do not have the answers to his problem

I did not tell him, but I was thinking it - I do not want to "grow". I plan on giving my notice to retire in about 8 months.

Help - any suggestions on what I can say to get it through to him that this is beyond my scope of work. He just did not seem to accept that he's going to the wrong person for assistance.

I'm wondering if someone told him to prepare the document for legal and he's now pushing it on me! :-(

That's what it sounds like to me. If you plan on retiring in 8 months I would not worry about it. Do as he asks to the best of your ability. He can either like it or not and if it's not he will assign it to someone else.

BoopOMatic · ‎06-08-2021

I would just go for it.

Read it and give your best answer.

He can't technically hold your answer against you as you have already stated that it's above your knowledge base....maybe he just wants another input? I hope that's all it is.

de1rdre · ‎04-12-2010

Sounds like you may be right -- that this is a task your supervisor is avoiding by assigning it to you (and being a bit condescending in the course of doing so).

Here is my recommendation. Prepare a memorandum to the legal department. It should include two sections. The first section is entitled Facts and consists of a recitation of the facts of the issue to the best of your knowledge. The second section is entitled Questions and will consist of an enumeration of every question that occurs to you regarding the issue, with a caveat that this list is questions is not intended to be exhaustive.

Present the draft to your supervisor. S/he will edit as necessary. Then the legal department will do its job. It is they who must provide advice to your supervisor.

Good luck. Focus on your retirement date -- 8 more months!

sweetee2 · ‎06-21-2015

Just do the best you can. Whatever you do if you haven't all ready let them know your leaving. I've done that and thing's were not pleasant afterwards.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

Why are you fighting him on this? He doesn't know you've given up on the job and you are just marking time until you quit. He thinks you are still committed. So, meet with him. Hear what he has to say, hear what he's looking for and then do the best you can since you are still collecting a paycheck. You can't actually say you don't want to expand your skills or take on a new assignment WHILE you are still getting paid. It's possible that he is delegating this to you because he can't or doesn't want to do it. So what? That's what managers do, they delegate.

aroc3435 · ‎09-30-2010

@BunSnoop Do as the supervisor asks as best you can. As @de1rdre suggested put it into two sections.

By the way, my advice is to NOT announce that you think you will be retiring in eight months. Wait until you are much nearer your retirement date.

Things can change and a premature announcement is NOT to your benefit.

Best to you. It will turn out okay. Don't stress yourself.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

mimomof4 · ‎03-08-2018

I would make the presentation. Even though you plan on retiring in 8 months, what if you change your mind and still need this job longer.

Do the best you can with the presentation and make notes of additonal detail you need from your boss.

If the topic is something in general you don't feel comfortable with you can also go to HR.

FancyPhillyshopper · ‎05-02-2017

As a former "boss", I had many employees in whom I identified potential for growth and leadership.

I did have those who said they did not want to learn anything new or do anything more, but that is not the way the world works.

Part of my responsibility as a leader was to help staff continue to develop skills and improve their abilities.

I especially liked when folks when on to be successful with their new abilities/responsibilities.

You could also take it as a compliment that your boss is providing you with more challenging opportunities.

By the way, even legal does not always have all the answers. Sometimes their job is to just review a policy response and ensure that it does not violate any laws.

I agree do not tell the office you are planning to retire. You could be replaced right now with someone who is more eager to help the company prosper.

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

@BunSnoop Sounds to me like he is passing the buck and possibly looking for a scapegoat! This does seemlike it probably is not really in your job description.