To think i shouldnt have to do more than my job description?

[OnTheEdgeToday]

Am i right in thinking that i do what is said on my job description, and only that - unless my manager asks/suggests otherwise?

Aibu to NOT do a job that is asked of me by a few another member of staff?

A little background -
I do my job, i do all that is expected of my job and often more. However, recently i have been asked to do extra. Only i dont have the time so refuse to do it. I dont finish on time to begin with because i do extra - by choice.
I would feel differently if my manager had approached me. With it being other members of staff, im feeling more like an 'erm no'.

For the type of person i am - part of me feels maybe i should just do it (and leave far later than i do already) to keep the peace and others happy. The other part of me feels like people are attempting to take the piss

Just to add - i dont finish on time doing my normal job...the extra i add in is to save a colleague who would also end up staying back far later if i didnt help out.

Is it something they should be doing?

Are they taking on extra work too and simply asking you to share the load?

Are you a team player?

Is what you're being asked to do part of another person's job description?

It depends what the extra tasks are I think.

Nope it is not something they should be doing either.
Yep, i am a team player. This feels more than me being a helping hand, though.

Yes it is part of another persons job description. Because these other members of staff are never around when this person is, they dont know them and cant get on their backs.
I feel i am just being seen as the next best person to do it...

Say sorry, you don't have time to do the task. Be nice about it and explain why.
You don't have to do something outside of your job description asked for by another member of staff.

But arent the extra tasks irrelevant unless my manager asks me to do them?

So just for an example let's say you work in a supermarket. You're on the till. Are you saying that your friends, whose job it is to stack the shelves, are now asking you to stack shelves with them? Or are they asking you to stack the shelves while they do something else? Or are they asking you to help at going-home time so they can leave on time?

I work stacking the shelves. My only job description is to clear old stock and stack the shelves.
Now the checkout staff are asking me to wash the shelves before stacking. So i now have to clear everything off the shelves (not just old stock), clean them and THEN do my actual job of stacking.

Thank you for the excellent example. It worked well

Can you approach your manager? Say you're being asked to do x. If you do x, you won't be able to finish y. Would your manager prefer you to keep on just doing y, or to do x instead?

I would approach the manager. It is an extra 'layer' to the job. Let the manager prioritise (especially if they manage the others too).

I am going to be speaking to my manager. I just feel if my manager wants me to do these things, then surely it is managements place to approach me.
I dont even think my manager is aware of this.

Welll it seems obvious that the shelves need to be cleaned at some point and the best time to do it is when they are mostly empty, which I expect would be just before restocking them. However I dont know why its the cashiers sticking their beak in telling you to do this? What has it got to do with them? Why isnt the manager asking for this task to be done.

Who would normally wash the shelves? Are you referring to a job that should be done but which isn't assigned to anyone?

Why do the checkout operators think it's their job to tell you what to do?

People who don't manage you should not be assigning you jobs. It's one thing to help every now and again, just to be friendly, it's quite another to be entirely assigned a new task that you then take responsibility for. I would just say, 'sorry I don't have time to do that,' and think no more of it. If the manager asks you then you say 'I already have a full list of tasks so this task will mean another one gets lower priority. Which task should have lower priority?'

Do you have something along the lines of 'any other reasonable duties' in your contract? If so, you have to do it I'm afraid.

Say no!
If you are repeatedly asked to do it, speak with your line manager and go from there.

It could well be that if there is a clause that makes provision for you to do other duties, then you will have little say in it. But you can of course discuss your role and working hours generally, if these additional tasks will have a detrimental effect.

Unless your contract specifically states putting stock on shelves then I think cleaning the shelves etc falls under your remit. Saying that the request should come from management imo.

Honestly, its something that should automatically be done when stacking shelves. Not every single one, but just doing a bit at a time.

I work as a dispenser in a small pharmacy. However, as well as doing all the things that the job involves and keeping things clean in the pharmacy, if I have spare time/we are short staffed, I also stack and clean shelves on the shop floor, serve customers, mop the floor and generally helping where it might be needed. The manager does the same. Its not in our job description, but if it needs doing, then it gets done.

Honestly, if the "job description" listed every single thing done, then it would be pages and pages long!

I dont work as stacking shelves though. It was just an example.

Am i wrong for thinking that if it is a job that should be assigned to me (which ive never been asked before) - that management should be the ones to approach me and my hours should be increased to fit it in. The other jobs are definately priority over this - considering i go over my time anyway.

I would have no problems at all doing this job - if asked to do it by my manager and if i had the time to do it.

Thank you all for your replies.

A one off request from other colleagues would be acceptable in my view, but if this is happening repeatedly and you don't have time then it becomes a management issue. Should the intention be that this becomes part of your job, it is definitely a management issue and your hours changed/another task removed from your list to compensate.

A job description should never specify the exact tasks you do in your job.
Most will say "and any other tasks commesurate with the role and salary" or something like that which basically means that yes, you can be asked to do other tasks as needed, as long as they are at a similar level of skill (and therefore pay). Asking you to audit the year's management accounts would be ridiculous. Asking you to do your own filing is fine.

I think you are barking up the wrong tree in trying to use your job description as leverage to "not do" this new layer of work. You say you don't even think your manager is aware this is being asked of you- so tell them and let them sort it out, first of all. If you can't finish your work in a day you need to speak to your manager about it, and let them sort it out. But don't be surprised if this does become "your" work.

Most job descriptions also have a statement regarding the purpose of the job, so a new task which helps to "achieve" the job purpose is wholly acceptable.

I would go to my boss and say (keep it quite friendly and breezy) "Phew, Karen's been asking me to wash the shelves quite often lately, and obviously I'm happy to pitch in and help out other teams if you want me to, but it does mean I'm struggling to get through all the shelf-stacking you asked me to do on time! I just wondered which thing you'd prefer I concentrate on?"

Your manager will almost definitely say "oh, Karen shouldn't be doing that! Concentrate on my work please".

To which you say "of course! Just thought I'd better let you know".

And next time Karen asks you to wash shelves, you can just say "ooh is it OK if you check it with Bossperson first, because Bossperson has asked me to concentrate on the stacking?". Karen will probably go back and find some other sucker.