Re: Help Please - Work Problem - UGH! - Page 3

BunSnoop · ‎05-22-2010

Thank you @pdlinda. No, he is not an attorney. We have a legal department in our company and I feel he should go direct to them. My thought is that someone told him to prepare a draft and then present it to legal. He in turn, is requesting I prepare the draft, as he also is not qualified for this task, and is trying to find someone else to handle it. As you said, with my lack of knowledge, this is just a waste of time. I'm going to let him know tomorrow. Wish me luck!

DSD2 · ‎01-09-2016

Whatever the reason/rationale for this assignment (to challenge, to push, to punish, to unload) is murky. However, he/she is asking you to perform a task that by your own admission, you do not have the the knowledge or experience to accomplish. Even after you explained that the scope is beyond you, they refused to back down and insisted.

Who is above your boss in the chain of command? Not knowing what your relationshiip is, if at all possible, try to speak to them. If your directive was sent via e-mail (hope it wasn't all verbal), youi might consider putting in writing what your valid reasons are for not pursuing further, copying his boss.

You are being set up to fail and you need some help. If none of this is feasible, go to the HR department. If this keeps up, their behavior could well be construed as harrasssment and/or bullying.

Do not give your retirement notice now.

God bless and good luck. Please let us know how you make out..

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@BunSnoop Please emphasize that ANY document like that requires specific legal language and phraseology that, if not correctly drafted, might result in MASSIVE liability for the company AND you wouldn't want that burden to rest on HIS shoulders.

Presuming that he would submit whatever you "prepared" as his own, whomever reviewed it from the legal dept might form a very negative opinion of HIS ability to do his job.

On that basis, I wouldn't escalate the situation to involve anyone else and I would mention in passing that his reputation in the company should be preserved and what you're suggesting would most likely accomplish that goal.

I would attribute the request from whomever asked him to draft up the document in the first place as a MISUNDERSTANDING of what was involved. Nothing INTENTIONAL and leave it at that!

Hope this helps.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

I saw that one poster said to let them know you are retiring and I would whole-heartedly agree with Aroc and others - DO NOT NOT NOT DO THIS!

You probably already knew that, but I just wanted to stress how bad an idea, for reasons mentioned by others here, it would be to tell them at this point that you plan to retire down the road.

That would be a big big mistake. Be very careful here what advise you heed.

Hope it works out well in the end with this project. It does seem odd to me, although without knowing any details (and that's cool!) that the supervisor would ask you to do something so odd and not within the scope of your experience and knowledge.

cindyNC · ‎08-01-2019

Sounds like a lot of good advice..........I have none........but please post the outcome of this situation.

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@BunSnoop wrote:
@chrystaltree, I'm not "fighting" him and I have not given up on my job. I feel he's "fighting" with me!

I honestly do not have the answer to what he wants and have told him. I feel he should accept that.

I do not have the knowledge or expertise and it's out of my scope. He should accept that move on and find someone that is qualified in the organization to help him.

@BunSnoop

Good for you for standing your ground.

That removes you from any liability in this case, ask yourself one question, why is he and the legal dept. laying this responsibility at your feet, when you've obviously stated that it's beyond your scope?

I think we both know the answer to that....

As to a lot of comments here, if you were the other employee that OP is asked to judge, knowing that she's said she isn't qualified to judge this situation, still feel that she should just "do what's she's told, it's her job", if it were You?

I bet NOT.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Tori3569 · ‎06-27-2010

As a boss myself, I would not be ok if I asked someone to do something and they refused, no matter what the reason. In a situation like this, I would expect that the person would potentially partner with someone else in the organization that could assist. Some things are delegated for development, but others are just because they need to get done by a competent person.

He may just not have time to get into it and needs help. Even though I have subordinates, I help my boss with things all the time, including things I have never researched or done before. I send him my draft, he has an opportunity to revise or to add to it and send it on.

From what the OP wrote he's not asking for a finalized presentation, more of a draft. I may have missed something on that, but IMO are getting too caught up on job descriptions or responsibilities.

I also don’t see how this could result in a liability for the company. This is clearly not the final document, it’s going to the legal department for their use or info.

Mj12 · ‎03-09-2010

I don't know much about the situation in the OP; I can't see how there is any legal liability when a non-attorney asks another non-attorney to prepare a draft document for legal to review. That is the job of the legal department - to provide a legal opinion for a specific matter.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@BunSnoop wrote:
@chrystaltree, I'm not "fighting" him and I have not given up on my job. I feel he's "fighting" with me!

I honestly do not have the answer to what he wants and have told him. I feel he should accept that.

I do not have the knowledge or expertise and it's out of my scope. He should accept that move on and find someone that is qualified in the organization to help him.

@BunSnoop

Let me get this straight ...... he wants YOU to write something up, and then YOU send it to Legal ... without him even reviewing it ???

Sounds like he could be setting you up ... OR .... covering his behind by later saying "I had no idea she was going to do that or say that .. or whatever"

I admit, I am suspicious.

qbetzforreal · ‎08-28-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@BunSnoop wrote:
@chrystaltree, I'm not "fighting" him and I have not given up on my job. I feel he's "fighting" with me!

I honestly do not have the answer to what he wants and have told him. I feel he should accept that.

I do not have the knowledge or expertise and it's out of my scope. He should accept that move on and find someone that is qualified in the organization to help him.

@BunSnoop

Let me get this straight ...... he wants YOU to write something up, and then YOU send it to Legal ... without him even reviewing it ???

Sounds like he could be setting you up ... OR .... covering his behind by later saying "I had no idea she was going to do that or say that .. or whatever"

I admit, I am suspicious.