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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New person at work sitting next to me?

110 replies

BornInSydneyy · 14/01/2018 19:33

Brought in from different department to help with work load. Had minimal training - not their fault.

Due to our workload being extremely high we’re being targeted now very heavily.

I think it’s unfair that new person will (understandably) be asking me lots of questions and therefore distracting me and meaning I have less time to do my own work.

Aibu?

OP posts:
mumonashoestring · 14/01/2018 19:51

Do you want help with your workload or not? Yes initially it'll mean more time answering questions but the trick is to identify the more routine tasks that the incomer can learn quickly and get on with while you handle the more complex tasks or issues. A little less whining, a little more planning and you'll have some effective help instead of wasting both their time and yours.

NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom · 14/01/2018 19:52

Rude/aggressive-one or the other certainly Hmm
What are the alternatives?

icelollycraving · 14/01/2018 19:52

Is it that you are a bit stressed about this or are you generally —bolshy— forthright?
You don’t seem a wallflower, speak to your line manager.

icelollycraving · 14/01/2018 19:52

Ah strike through fail.

dorislessingscat · 14/01/2018 19:54

Chill.

It hasn't happened yet.

Wait and see.

If it becomes a problem speak to your manager in a positive and proactive way.

I hope you are friendlier to the new person than you are online.

Barbie222 · 14/01/2018 19:55

YABU have you read that back to yourself? People like you make going to work hard.

Maybe she'll show you a thing or two?

Mintychoc1 · 14/01/2018 19:57

I would speak to your manager and explain that you're more than happy to spend time training the new person, but that your targets need to be temporarily adjusted accordingly.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/01/2018 19:57

@BornInSydneyy - I think it would be reasonable for you to ask your manager to adjust your work target whilst you are helping the ne person learn the ropes. I can u derstand why you are stressing about having to keep up your own output at the same time as helping the new person.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 14/01/2018 19:57

Preemptive whinging. Just what the world needs more of.

🤔

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 14/01/2018 19:57

If you are likely to be pulled up if your productivity reduces due to helping them find your feet then YANBU. Have a discussion with your line-manager and make them aware that you will need some slack if this occurs.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 14/01/2018 19:58

*their feet
Grin

ShiftyMcGifty · 14/01/2018 19:59

“Sorry, due to the heavy workload, we’re being targeted heavily. I’m happy to answer any questions when I take a breather and get myself a cuppa but for everything else, you’ll need to see if anyone else on the team has a minute for you or maybe make notes and see x about further training.”

The thing is, new person will go to manager and say you refuse to answer/verify even the simplest things so instead of cracking on with the department’s workload, she’s had to sit there and wait for someone to confirm something (or worse has wasted hours doing it wrong when 2 minutes of your time would’ve sufficed)... how do you think your manager is going to be feeling about your attitude?

LoniceraJaponica · 14/01/2018 19:59

"Aibu?"

Yes. I think you should point out that helping the new person out will affect your workflow though.

You clearly aren't a team player Hmm

Original poster
BornInSydneyy · 14/01/2018 19:59

I’m exceptionally good at my job thanks and very well liked in my department.

Unfortunately for the ones trying to put me down rather than being constructive. I know myself a lot better than any of you. So it won’t work Smile

But yes it does get rather tiring when the op is expected to just sit back and take abuse. But if they stand up for themselves then the mob attacks even more.

OP posts:
Andylion · 14/01/2018 20:00

Also I wasn’t rude. If you find that rude then you need to get out into the real world.

I live in the real world. You were rude.

It hasn’t even happened yet and you are complaining.

Failbydefault · 14/01/2018 20:02

So when you were new and had to ask questions, like you’ve acknowledged, did the person sitting next to you help you? How might he/she have been thinking about that? Resentful, stressed? Did they still help you? If yes, now it’s your turn to give something back. If they refused to help, you probably felt shit. Is that how you want your new colleague to feel?

Jeannie78 · 14/01/2018 20:03

I once started a new job, to help out someone whose workload had increased, and on my first day I was told that I could only ask questions at the end of the day, to avoid that person getting distracted, as you say you might be. The thing was, if I needed to ask a question, it was because I was unable to continue - it wasn't a job where you could move onto something else and come back to the bit you were stuck on - so if I needed to ask something at 10 past 9 in the morning, but wasn't allowed to until 5 p.m., then I sat around staring into space for 8 hours.

Needless to say, I resigned on the third day.

MsHarry · 14/01/2018 20:03

YABU. It's part of work life.

AcrossthePond55 · 14/01/2018 20:05

If you feel that you won't be able to keep up your workload as well as answer this person's questions, I suggest you speak to your leadership team about your concerns.

rothbury · 14/01/2018 20:05

OP - I think you need to address this with your manager. Explain that you want to be able to be welcoming and helpful to the new person, but your targets will need to be adjusted for at least three weeks.

If they refuse, take the new person for a cup of tea, explain that you wanted to be able to help them,but management have refused your offer, and so every time they need to know something, you will have to refer them to the trainer.

Hassled · 14/01/2018 20:06

Have you had a conversation with your immediate boss where you've said this is going to be difficult for you and he/she has effectively said "suck it up"? Because if not, you really should.
And if all else fails tell your trainee that they can learn best by observing. If that doesn't work for them, they can tell your superiors that it's not going well.

KatyS36 · 14/01/2018 20:07

You've asked a direct question bluntly, sometimes that goes down badly here!

Is this person just sitting next to you, or are you going to be responsible for all or part of their training?

I'd speak with my manager in advance. Let them know how much time you think it will take and ask how this can be managed with your current workload.

good luck
Katy

PassiveAgressiveQueen · 14/01/2018 20:07

It is understood if you are on a short term busy phase that bringing people in "now" slows everything down with time spent training.

If this workload is continue they are doing the correct thing.

Glumglowworm · 14/01/2018 20:08

Yes YABU

is there not a system to record interruptions like printer malfunctions and helping colleagues? If so then use it. If not, suggest it and offer to implement it.

The most efficient thing for the business is for the new starter to ask questions as they go of the nearest person who can help them.

You could be a bitch about it or you could use it as a development opportunity for yourself.

swg1 · 14/01/2018 20:10

Is it a call centre type environment, OP? If so, I get it (and people who have never worked in that kind of environment won't get it).

For people who haven't done it I've worked jobs where we were allowed an average of 90 seconds per call, averaged over a week. On the third time you didn't meet that target you were given a warning. Fourth time was written warning. Fifth time was sacked agency work, they can do that, even though we were providing service for a large reputable company. In that kind of environment, yes, you get jumpy at anything that will impact your stats.