Re: Help Please - Work Problem - UGH! - Page 5

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

I have to admit, your situation is interesting .... and I still am suspicious about his motives.

Any updates?

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

I'm not sure I see the problem. He's your boss and it sounds like he's asking you to draft a summary of a situation that will then go to those who will decide how to proceed. It doesn't sound as though he expects you to solve the problem. I'd say it's bad advice when people suggest you decline. That this isn't your area of expertise is almost irrelevant because again, it seems he wants a draft summary not a policy decision. Whether providing such is specifically in your job description or not almost every job description I've ever seen includes some sort of 'other duties as assigned' type of statement, and so from many perspectives, refusal to do as asked is potentially grounds for discipline.

In my pantry with my cupcakes...

BunSnoop · ‎05-22-2010

Update: For those of you that said an employee should never decline work that is assigned, I guess I may have not explained the situation clearly enough. I had NO knowledge what so ever related to the project he wanted me to complete. How can I do something when I've never been trained? My current job is probably a step higher than a general office clerical worker, I'm a high school graduate with no college education and he wants ME to draft a legal document that could involve claims over 1 million dollars! My thought was that there must be someone in the company more qualified than me to handle the assignment. And I guess I was right.

It turned out he had another meeting yesterday after he spoke to me with about 5 VIP's from other departments. It was agreed that 1)our legal department will prepare the draft AND 2)then it will be forwarded to another company that we consider "our legal partner" and they will also review and offer recommendations, etc.

He said he will forward it to me once it's completed and we can review it together. I said fine. He was very pleasant with me during the day and I have no regrets telling him that I did not have the experience or knowledge to complete this request and it appears I was right as two separate legal departments will be handling this. Honesty is the best policy.

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@BunSnoop I'm so glad the matter resolved in your favor!

Having worked in a legal environment for MANY years, with an advanced degree AND training, I would NEVER have approached a task like that in the manner you described. EVER!

That your boss took the initiative to include parties to the discussion who understood the nature of the task and were interested in completing it in the most efficient and effective way (that certainly EXCLUDED YOU) is to his credit.

Enjoy the Holiday weekend and the days leading up to your well-earned retirement!

BunSnoop · ‎05-22-2010

@pdlinda thank you for all of your help. Much appreciated. Hope you also have a nice holiday weekend - enjoy!!!

roeroe1005 · ‎03-13-2010

@BunSnoop,

I'm glad it worked out for you. I agreed w/you. I worked in a corporate legal department for 20 years, and no way would I want that responsibility put on me.

Whew! Enjoy your weekend!

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@BunSnoop wrote:

Wow, it takes guts to say no. You should at least try to do what was asked.

Managers delegate. That's how it works. You can't read your manager's mind to know why you were selected. Assumptions are usually dead wrong. They don't know you're leaving. And don't tell them this far ahead!

I'm sorry, I was in middle/senior management before I retired. I always dreaded having to deal with employees like this. If it continued after talking it through with them, I'd probably consider it insubordination, put them on written warning or final warning (which impacts bonus, etc), and it would affect the next performance review.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@CalminHeart wrote:
@BunSnoop wrote:

Wow, it takes guts to say no. You should at least try to do what was asked.

I'm sorry, I was in middle/senior management before I retired. I always dreaded having to deal with employees like this. If it continued after talking it through with them, I'd probably consider it insubordination, put them on written warning or final warning (which impacts bonus, etc), and it would affect the next performance review.

Bingo! I recently retired, I managed a staff of 40 and I was a supervisor for a decade before that. I obviously OP is only giving us a fantasized version on what really happened. She's insecure because she lacks the education and skill sets that the newer employees come with. She freaked out when she was asked to do this thing. It wasn't what she originally thought. But NO employee of mine would have been allowed to just refuse to do something. My employees didn't tell me what they were going to do. I told them. Of course they could discuss an assignment or project with me or their supervisor. Sometimes they needed training, instructions or help. Out right refusing would be insubordination and the employee would be written up and still have to do the assignment. No one can run an office in which the employees are free to pick and choose what they will and will not do.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

He clearly is passing it on to you, to keep his hands clean. Do what you can, if legal says it's a no go, it'll end up back in his lap. Continue that route, until someone else passes the "legal" part.

And ONLY give a 2 week notice. Otherwise, you'll cut your own throat.