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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

39 replies

OnTheEdgeToday · 19/11/2015 14:30

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

OP posts:

MediumBox · 19/11/2015 17:49

my job description basically ends with ...and anything your manager asks you to do...

whois · 19/11/2015 19:32

Exactly what mannequinonthemove said. Just speak to your manager rather than hufifng about it on MN!

StealthPolarBear · 19/11/2015 19:35

Do other people work alongside you in the same role?

Original poster

OnTheEdgeToday · 19/11/2015 19:47

Yes stealthpolarbear and they are complaining, which is why im here.
I personally would usually just suck it up and get on with it. Because of this i never know when people are taking the piss, unless its obvious even then im a fool
So this...as simple as it may be for you all to see and work out, has sent my anxiety into overdrive.

If i do just get on with it and do the extra job, not only would i be shitting on myself with time, id be shitting on those who are complaining.
Because i feel i am not able to just to the extra job without upsetting others, i feel stuck because i feel it may be pissing offthose who have asked for the jobs to be done iykwim

I dont even want to speak to the manager.

OP posts:

RaspberryOverload · 19/11/2015 19:48

Polgara25
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.

I have that sort of thing too. But it doesn't apply when it's just other colleagues asking me to do stuff on a regular basis.

So, the OP should only be doing this if her manager was asking. OP, I'd have a talk with your manager to explain the situation and ask for a decision. Make it clear that as you don't have enough time to complete everything already, without doing the extra stuff, then if s/he wants you to do the extra stuff then something else has to go to compensate.

You also mention that it's part of someone else's job description. I think it's fair to ask if they are indeed doing it as part of their role, because if they are not, then it should be brought up that you're effectively being asked to do someone else's job.

StealthPolarBear · 19/11/2015 19:51

Sorry they're complaining because they're being asked to do it too (in the same way)?
Or complaining because it is part of their job and they're struggling?

Original poster

OnTheEdgeToday · 19/11/2015 19:53

They are being asked in the same way. It also isnt part of their job.

OP posts:

lougle · 19/11/2015 20:14

It depends a bit on your organisational hierarchy. For example, as an NHS worker, if a band 6 asks a band 5 to do something, they'd be expected to do so, even though the band 6 is not the manager of the band 5.

Euripidesralph · 19/11/2015 21:19

OP I really would talk to the manager .... Prior to maternity leave I ran a 50 strong team and firstly if anyone was having duties added either in or their line manager would tell them (their line managers reported to me I'd that makes sense) never another staff member

But I know there were staff members who pulled this on someone else.... They would ask them to cover etc and I would often struggle to catch them in the act because the person like yourself was afraid of rocking the boat so they didn't let me know what was happening

Often all I needed was confirmation and I would easily be able to shut the situation down and protect all involved but I always needed conformation (otherwise I'd have my ass handed to me for bullying)

Talk to your manager....

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 19/11/2015 22:45

What puts you off approach your manager with this? Do you speak to them regularly for appraisal, feedback on how you're doing, training /career prospects?

I've comes to prefer approachable but targeted and organised management, rather than a manager who wants you to like them and approaches the relationship as pals, or the other end of the scale - a manager who views you as worker number 2257941v.II.

Basically, do you usually have fairly open and frequent lines of communication with your manager?

What is your relationship like with the rest of the staff, are you comfortable with how you fit in and is their an environment of trust?

Original poster

OnTheEdgeToday · 19/11/2015 23:13

I dont want to be seen as complaining. I do speak to my manager from time to time, in passing though. Its never a sit down chat.

My relationship with other members of staff i feel is ok. I am not comfortable because of it not feeling like an environment of trust. If you say something to one person, it is bitched about with every other member of staff - to the point you feel uncomfortable.
This current issue was well discussed amongst each other before bringing it to our attention. They spoke as though it has been an on going issue...but we have only just found out about it.

I believe that whatever i do complain about is going to be that days gossip amongst them all.

OP posts:

Duck90 · 19/11/2015 23:26

Generally the phrase "it's not in my job description" really annoys me. It is an unhelpful way of working. Esp, if it is something really trivial- like I know the cleaner is off sick but I won't take my be out (for weeks).

But your place of work sounds unpleasant, so maybe yanbu. X

Krampus · 20/11/2015 07:14

My usual response would be that it's not good to be a jobs worth and being helpful makes you useful friends. That is if they are not regularly impacting your own work.

If I'm reading your post correctly.

You and the rest of the team are being badgered about doing a regular extra task that will take up considerable time.
Not the best atmosphere within teams and between them, you don't feel comfortable approaching manager or team leader.

When somone from the other team bitches to you about doing it smile and say that they need to speak to the managers, their's or your own, about any ideas for improvement. Mention that you don't have the authority to impliment it. Another big ☺ but dont enter into a debate. Then at the next team briefing raise the issue. Hi manager we keep getting this request from x team, is this something we should be doing? Big helpful

I don't usually use the word bitch but I have an image of them all consantly winding each other up then sending off the bravest to tackle it. I could be wrong

jay55 · 20/11/2015 07:39

Send an email to your manager asking for clarification on priorities.

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