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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To try and manipulate my boss

72 replies

JungleInTheRumble · 05/12/2016 08:12

So the job I do basically has 2 types of work (type 1 and 2). I love doing type 1 work but I hate doing type 2. I've asked my boss on a number of occasions whether I can reduce the amount of type 2 work I do in order to focus on type 1 work.

My boss agrees that I am much stronger at type 1 than type 2 but he refuses to agree to reduce the type 2 work he gives me because, according to him, you need to be good at type 2 work to be good at type 1. I disagree with this and can point to plenty of people in the office who do solely type 1 or 2 work (in fact when I started I was told I'd be doing type 1). I feel like I spend so much of my time on type 2 work which, for various reasons, I really struggle with when I could be focussing my efforts on type 1 work which I am much better at, certainly better than average.

The most annoying thing is that I really do enjoy this job (and most importantly can see real career opportunities here). it's just the type 2 work which I hate. I'm applying for new jobs but tbh my ideal situation would be to go to my boss with a new job offer and say "look, I'm taking this other job unless you give me what I want". Would that be really cheeky and unreasonable? Those of you who manage people, would you look very unfavourably on someone who did this?

Sorry if this is super confusing!

OP posts:

OnionKnight · 05/12/2016 08:14

What will you do if he says off you go then?

Original poster

JungleInTheRumble · 05/12/2016 08:17

That's why I'm not going to do this until I have a job I'd be happy to go to.

I don't think he would say that though.

OP posts:

DesignedForLife · 05/12/2016 08:30

Don't say that unless you have a secure offer if another job.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 05/12/2016 08:33

So you expect some other poor sap to pick up your slack on the shitty type 2 work? Your colleagues will love you for that.

RoseGoldHippie · 05/12/2016 08:36

I would just remember no one is indispensable and threats like that don't often go down well. He would very likely show you the door.

stealthbanana · 05/12/2016 08:37

This is hard to answer without knowing what the two types of work actually are.

I'd start by asking why your boss thinks you need both to be successful. The fact that some people don't do both is different - s/he might have bigger aspirations for you. I guess rather than just writing off what they are saying because "you don't like it" I'd try really listening to what s/he's telling you.

If you've done all that, then if you have a good relationship with your boss I'd be telling them you don't want to do it! I would not threaten to leave but you can certainly say that you don't think it's in your future to be doing type 2 work (assuming it is actually possible to have a career at this place without doing it - see my point 1).

isthistoonosy · 05/12/2016 08:37

Is there someone else doing both types who refers type 2 so you can go with a solution?
Or do.think doing type two is needed if you are to ever be promoted as you will need to understand what your staff do - in which case I would suck it up.
I've never seen ultimatums work out in the long run.

sirfredfredgeorge · 05/12/2016 08:39

Of course it's reasonable to negotiate either way. No need to wait for a new job, just discuss it first without the ultimatum.

"I'm not super happy here, so I'm thinking about my options, Crocodile Wrestling is the thing I'm really interested in, and I think I'm good, but this job has too much Flower Arranging, could we look at re-balancing the work?"

(I may have put my own imagination on what type 1 and type 2 work is.

PurpleDaisies · 05/12/2016 08:39

If you don't like the work you've been assigned to do as part of your role, just start looking for another job without this ultimatum nonsense. Almost all jobs have elements that people would rather not do. That's life isn't it.

ZoFloMoFo · 05/12/2016 08:41

Well either way your boss will need to recruit someone or redistribute your work.

Staff who think they're more important than they actually are, issuing ultimatums, are generally a pain in the arse to manage so I'd wave you off.

Bluntness100 · 05/12/2016 08:42

Someone needs to do the type 2 work, and it may be they need someone to do both type 1&2. If you have another job you are happy to go to, then you have nothing to lose by asking, but be happy with a no and leave if that's what you get.

Kennington · 05/12/2016 08:43

Is it filing?
I wouldn't recommend you do this unless you are super specialised. Most people are replaceable. He may not trust you again.
I would just be honest and say you really don't like a particular type of work. Or try and get promoted.

ClopySow · 05/12/2016 08:44

Would type 2 work help your continuing career? There are things in my job that i hate doing, but i know are good for me in the long run.

I don't think there's anything wrong with saying it to your boss when you have another job to go to, but you may find yourself in a similar situation in another job.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 05/12/2016 08:45

I'd say "off you pop" then. That would really piss me off and I wouldn't entertain it.

BravoPanda · 05/12/2016 08:45

As management I'd let you go asap. I say this from experience. You've already raised the issue and your boss has given you the answer in a very polite way. If you came back and said that to me I'd tell you good luck in your search and that we'd get recruitment to start advertising the position. Frankly I wouldn't be able to trust your loyalty as an employee anymore if you said that.

Cel982 · 05/12/2016 08:49

Who'll do the Type 2 work if you don't? If it needs to be done then your preference for Type 1 work really isn't the most important factor in your boss' decision.

Ilovewillow · 05/12/2016 08:50

We employed someone who did this to us, they now have a new job with another company! Even if they were brilliant at their job it would have been unacceptable to us. I'm all for negotiation though, you need to make a sensible business case.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 05/12/2016 08:59

YANBU. In my DP's profession this happens all the time - employees get better offers elsewhere, go to their manager, if the dept wants to keep employee then they counter offer. This can be a counter offer of better pay, a change in roles, change in hours or a change in working patterns. I don't see it as manipulation - in many working environments it's perfectly normal and expected that this is what employees will do however you need to be sure that if they do simply let you go that the alternative role is something you really want.

Scooby20 · 05/12/2016 08:59

I would let you go. The slightest hint that you were issuing me with an ultimatum would have me happily accepting your resignation.

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 05/12/2016 09:03

IME most jobs have a less enjoyable element. Bosses like to be in charge and if you produce an ultimatum it'll put him on the back foot which will annoy him. Good luck with the job search.

OllyBJolly · 05/12/2016 09:05

I'd buy him this book www.amazon.co.uk/First-Break-Rules-Marcus-Buckingham/dp/1416502661

Basically, it says people are happier and more productive doing jobs they are good at. I completely changed my management style on reading this and the results have been so positive. Of course, there is the caveat that the work of the company has to get done. And for the employees' development, especially early in their career, there are some things they need to learn.

Ultimatums don't work. With all requests to management, frame your proposition as a business case. Who else would do Type 2? Why should they? What would the company benefit (i.e. not you) in you focussing solely on Type 1? Can you put these benefits in the form of business metrics?

nonetcurtains · 05/12/2016 09:06

I had a job that involved one particular mundane task that no-one else wanted to do. Many new starters had been given the task, some had left, some moved up, some transferred to other roles/offices etc.

I 'inherited' the task and even though I hated it, I did my best and everyone (customers, colleagues, manager) said I did a great job, it had never been done better etc.

Soon I was promoted - the task suddenly became part of my new role. I was promoted again, and again guess what??? This time I put my foot down (burst into tears) and threw my toys out of my pram. I hated that task. Hated it. But I learned a lesson... if you're given a task to do that no-one else wants to do, don't do your best.
Eventually I left, if I hadn't I think I'd still be doing it now, 40 years on.

mrscarrotironfoundersson · 05/12/2016 09:08

Don't be hurt when he accepts your resignation though. I've worked for some managers who would take a perverse pleasure in the control saying yes or no to their staff (both big and small organisations) even if it meant to detriment of the work.

CocktailQueen · 05/12/2016 09:09

But if both types of work are in your job description, then yes, you should do them! If you don't do the type 2 work, who will do it for you?

senua · 05/12/2016 09:11

Can you apply the male a subtle approach: be so awful at Type 2 work that they prefer to take it off you?

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