Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About this work colleague?

55 replies

Angel1983 · 18/02/2015 16:42

I am a member of a five person team who are all on the same pay grade. The most recently recruited member of the team joined about a year ago.

Work is allocated according to who has the most capacity but this newest colleague seems to expect the best quality work to be given to him on the basis that he is more senior than me (but not the other members of our team).

A really interesting case has come into our work allocation system and I asked if it could be allocated to me, as I haven't had any experience in that area (that's not to say I'm not capable of doing the work - it is fairly standard). All my other colleagues have dealt with a similar matter this year. I am the only one who hasn't had this opportunity.

My boss has now pulled me to one side and said that newest colleague is not happy and would I consider offering this job to him to keep the peace.

I am not happy about this and I am minded to say no but I worry about the team spirit and atmosphere in the office. AIBU?

OP posts:
comedycentral · 18/02/2015 16:45

Just tell him you are really keen to develop professionally and use new skills so you really dont want to turn this opportunity down

sanfairyanne · 18/02/2015 16:45

are all the other staff members men? if so, i would point that out as well as saying no

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2015 16:48

I was just going to say whatever you do do not turn this into a sexist thing just yet as it might not be that, and then you'll just look, incorrectly, like a sensitive female Hmm

Id say exactly what Comedycentral has said and see what your boss says.

weeblueberry · 18/02/2015 16:50

Yeah I would be inclined to say that while you understand he'd like this project your main concern is fleshing out your own experience and so you'd like to go ahead as you've requested.

Sounds like a bulldozer of a colleague though. :(

nochocolateforlentteacake · 18/02/2015 16:52

I'd say 'tough cheese!' And not offer the job. Newbie isn't scared about stepping on toes, are they? Don't let them do it!

skylark2 · 18/02/2015 16:55

I would play innocent. "Hasn't he already had one of these cases? I thought he worked on the xxx case."

Make your boss explicitly say "yes, he thinks he should get two and you should get none."

And why does the newest member of the team think he's more senior than you?

RabidFairy · 18/02/2015 16:58

Sod that, if the work has been allocated then colleague number 5 will have to suck it up.

But don't say that. Say what comedycentral said and don't let them convince you to give it up.

PtolemysNeedle · 18/02/2015 16:59

I agree with the playing innocent.

Whatever you do, play it somehow! Do not just willingly hand over the job, your boss will lose respect for you if you do.

wobblebobblehat · 18/02/2015 17:00

Say no and tell your boss that you will also be unhappy if you don't get it.

Start as you mean to go on with this colleague. In the nicest possible way of course... Wink

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 18/02/2015 17:02

Oh God, I worked with somebody like that once. He got very annoyed when a decent project ended on my desk. And he was even more pissed off when I made a really good job of it and got loads of visibility. He gave my poor boss a right earful as he felt the project should have gone to him as he was more senior.

I would just point out to your boss that all the others had a chance with such a case and you really want the experience. And I would also say that it's not fair to take it from you just because colleague is making a big fuss about it.

Because if you give in, at least without getting something else in return, this colleague will continue to make a fuss anytime you get any choice work.
And would also make this point to your boss.

BTW, my boss at the time liked the quiet life too...

FabULouse · 18/02/2015 17:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Waswondering · 18/02/2015 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 18/02/2015 17:07

Do you have appraisal objectives such as skills development? You can say that doing this matter will help develop your knowledge and skills which is a benefit to the team and the business and also meets one of your objectives. Your boss may well also have objectives around training and developing the team so with a push in the right direction they may see it as fulfilling one of their objectives too.

DancingDinosaur · 18/02/2015 17:08

Say no, that you need the experience and everyone else has had a chance of doing that. Now its your turn.

Nomama · 18/02/2015 17:34

Well, doesn't care about team spirit, so don't you dare knuckle under.

Go back to your boss and tell him, no, you stated your reasons for wanting that specific job. Unless he doesn't want you to develop/expand your skills there is no reason that your new colleague should take precedence.

Also, why does he have seniority over you? Is that formal or just his opinion? If the latter then you are going to have to wear some Very Big Girl Knickers for a time...

fizzycolagurlie · 18/02/2015 17:52

say no. if you were a bloke they wouldn't even ask.

Yarp · 18/02/2015 17:55

Your manager sounds gutless. Why should you fold, to keep the peace?

lougle · 18/02/2015 17:58

Politely decline on the basis that you need to develop your skillset.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 18/02/2015 17:58

Say no, why does he think he can whine about it to the Manager.

He sounds like a twat, keep your wits about you.

Treats · 18/02/2015 18:00

Make sure your boss is clear that it benefits HIM more if you do the job. He will have a better qualified, more skilled team.

Original poster
Angel1983 · 18/02/2015 18:05

He is more qualified ( in terms of years since qualification). However, we all have the same job title and are paid the same wages.

Thanks for your input everyone. I'm Glad I'm not BU. Sometimes you just start to doubt yourself.

OP posts:
Waswondering · 18/02/2015 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OfaFrenchMind · 18/02/2015 18:12

Ask your manager to put on his big boys pants and let you develop your skills and competences. Which is a huge part of his role as a manager.
If you have a very predominantly male office, do not hesitate to mark the fact that you are a female, and that you need to be sure your work is appreciated at the same level as your colleagues.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 18/02/2015 18:13

It sounds like a piece of work that pops up fairly regularly, I'd simply say that he has dibs on the next piece.

SlaggyIsland · 18/02/2015 18:17

He's not more senior than you then. How many years experience he has is irrelevant. He was recruited to a role at the same grade as you.