AIBU to think people shouldn't make promises they clearly can't get close to...

[lampygirl]

Spent the entire day at work today waiting for some files to be sent over to finish a piece of work I need for tomorrow. They were asked for by weds last week, but was promised by Thursday lunchtime latest. Got to 5 o clock to an email I now won't have them until tomorrow afternoon, which means I'll be forced to work late to get it done, despite originally allowing myself over a week. It's for a bit of work they need weds AM, they will want to check through/ revise yet if it's not right/ on time it will be my fault and they will kick up about paying even though it's 100% their fault if I went home at normal time and it wasn't done.

AIBU to think that sometimes, the client just isn't right...

Assuming it was the client sending files over I'd have started renegotiating the deadline on Thursday lunchtime.

Can't you tell them that they will have to re think the deadline you were given?

I'd love to but my boss is a firm 'the client is always right' person. It's so frustrating. I'm not allowed to say no and I'm not allowed to put the price up the shorter the deadline. Im all for being helpful if something comes up and causes a problem meaning stuff gets pushed back but I don't think letting them do this week after week after week teaches them about deadlines. Maybe I'm just too nice and conscientious, but if I've promised say a printer a bit of work by a time, I work all hours to meet that deadline because it's the right thing to do.

I had the exact same issues with my previous employer - I wasn't able to fix it, so left. There's nothing more frustrating then your boss not backing you up and letting you look bad for things you can't change.

The only thing I can suggest is telling your boss that you haven't received the things you need, but will not be working late to fix it so he needs to deal with the client himself. I dont have any other advice, sorry

Totally acceptable to renegotiate if the client sends stuff late. Your boss is wrong. He risks making your company look weak and unable to communicate effectively with clients. Believe me the 'big' design agencies are shit hot at protecting their turnaround times and charging extra for rush jobs. You can look desperate if you always bend over.

This has happened a few times to me and I refused to work late and said to my boss. I have a life and at 5pm you stop paying me...got a nice little overtime payment for it.

The client always being right doesn't mean you (actually, your boss) can't tell them that it will take x working days from the point you receive their data.

Your boss is a fool and he is encouraging your clients to see your part of the service as worthless and something that can be skimped and rushed. He needs to set some boundaries. Unfortunately that's no help to you!

Could you ring round your competitiors and ask for their policy on late work and present it back to him as a sort of 'we're missing a trick' thing?

Charging for your time shows a client that your services are valuable - failing to do so suggests that the work you put in isn't worth anything. I don't understand your boss's attitude - if you base a working relationship on this kind of behaviour then you are basically telling the client that this will be ok in the future as well and that you are happy to provide a last minute rush service for the same price as a planned project.