Help Please - Work Problem - UGH! - Page 4

qbetzforreal · ‎08-28-2010

It's a draft. Do what you can. It sounds like he wants you to frame it for him. I'm low man on the management ladder at my job and we at the bottom get requests like this quite frequently.

A directive is a directive. He has asked you to work outside your comfort zone.

It will probably entail some research. You can get it done.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@de1rdre wrote:
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!

@de1rdre @BunSnoop

Your "rough draft" should have a list of unknowns which, obviously, prevent you from making any assessment or suggestions ....

I mean, HOW does anyone make suggestions for a solution if you don't understand the problem and don't have all the facts?

And he doesn't want to even see it ... just send it to Legal? Uh, you better cover your own behind, but do the best you can.

This is an interesting thread ... let us know if we can help more.

Skyegirl21 · ‎03-20-2010

Yes, I bet you're correct, he doesn't want to do it Himself !
I would just use the internet to learn and do it the best you can with it-

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

If it's something you have absolutely no knowledge of, tell him you'd like to be able to work with legal or someone else who may have more knowledge of the situation. That way, you're not backing down, you just don't want to waste anyone's time, including your own and not doing it incorrectly. You want to do the best you can, but you do need help.

Enufstuff · ‎03-12-2010

@BunSnoop Like @Tinkrbl44 , I am suspicious. Since it is illegal

to get rid of older employees and replace them with "new blood", I have heard of and seen situations where employers or supervisors

have created unpleasant or difficult work environment to "influence " an older employee to leave on their own. They don't want to risk being charged with ageism.

Sometimes it is to hire a relative or friend for that position, not just a younger person. It happened to my husband.

Scorpio1971 · ‎03-10-2010

@BunSnoop I have an idea!

Tell him/her you will need to speak to the legal department to find out the format you need to submit this draft in, as well as request any legal advice they may assist you with in writing this document and if you should be presenting a conclusion that would encompass a court decision that could go either way! This way it does not look like you are refusing the task. You are merely looking for assistance from the legal department since you have absolutely no exoertise.

Also if you are to perform this task you must be relieved if all your normal daily duties and that they be given to others while you are working on this "special task" for him/her as you will not be able to handle both jobs at the same time. I bet his/her upper management is going to want to know why others are getting your duties or why they are not being done! 😃 A sneaky way of getting upper management to find out what he/she is up to without YOU going over his/her head in the chain of command to inform them! 😃😃

I bet when he/she finds out you want & need help from the legal department he/she will back down for fear of having the legal department and upper management find out he/she passed it on to someone totally unqualified.

Good luck!

Travone · ‎10-14-2016

I can't imagine ever telling my boss I wouldn't do something. I may say it is not my area of expertise, but I will do the best I can. This is called "Other duties as assigned" and it is in EVERY job description.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@Travone wrote:
I can't imagine ever telling my boss I wouldn't do something. I may say it is not my area of expertise, but I will do the best I can. This is called "Other duties as assigned" and it is in EVERY job description.

Yes! That phrase is on every job description for a reason. As a supervisor and manager for many years, no employer EVER just said NO when asked to do something they didn't want to do. I never did it either and throughout my career, I was asked to do things I felt I didn't have the skill set for. You explain that and promise to do the best you can.

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

HR

manny2 · ‎05-24-2010

The legal dept doesn't draft the appeal. They have appeal coordinators that do that. I am assuming this company doesn't have them. They in turn send it to the legal dept to look over.

My suggestion ask your boss to give you an outline of what he wants you to research for the appeal. Research the points and present to legal. Done.