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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:
user1492877024 · 14/01/2018 20:10

Sorry Hun but you YABU.

iamyourequal · 14/01/2018 20:10

Andylion
I live in the real world. You were rude.

Thanks Andylion Smile. It really is exasperating when an OP comes on here, ask advice, has dozens of people oblige and then the OP is downright rude to them. I've been on here for years and have never even had the nerve to start a thread yet. I'm damn sure i will be nicer than Bornsnidey is to those trying to help me if I ever do!

Tistheseason17 · 14/01/2018 20:11

I hope the newbie gets support from their line manager.....

VivaLeBeaver · 14/01/2018 20:14

I can understand being worried when you have targets to meet. I’m sure if OP didn’t have targets it wouldn’t be an issue.

I would say see how it goes, if it’s a problem talk to your manager. They will have to give you some leeway with your targets or provide more training.

ragged · 14/01/2018 20:15

Short term pain for long term gain? Very nice to get to train them up to do things your way, too.

Cheby · 14/01/2018 20:17

YANBU OP.

What a ridiculous pile on! Of course she’s not being unreasonable. It seems clear to me that the OP has targets to reach. Anyone who works in an environment like that is going to be judged on performance (I’m envisioning call centre type roll op?), and there is often very little leeway given. Depending on the type of place you can be given a disciplinary for going to the toilet more than once per shift.

OP, speak to your managers. If they won’t adjust your targets accordingly then you are going to have to refuse to help, or restrict questions to once an hour or something. Good luck.

AskBasil · 14/01/2018 20:19

You haven't actually said whether you will be expected to support this person and to what extent.

What conversations have there been about it? What notes have been made on your personal development file (or whatever your organisation calls it)?

Get them to put "support new xxx executive/ officer etc." as a target.

That way it gets measured.

Tisfortired · 14/01/2018 20:19

Going through the same thing at the moment, new person say next to me and asking a million questions a day! Which is tiring but will be worth it in the long run when it lightens everybody's workload.

My manager is understanding about it though and has adjusted my targets accordingly, could you have a word to see if your manager can do similar?

Polarbear46 · 14/01/2018 20:20

YANBU

I’d worry too. I have someone next to me who’s been in the job way longer, works part time in a role higher than mine but enjoys spending her morning asking me shit she knows I can’t answer.

Drives me up the way. Deep breaths OP, I hope it doesn’t last as long as my torture

OverByYer · 14/01/2018 20:23

So OP asks AIBU.
Most posters reply that you are.
Then you get angry at them?
If you don’t want the answer, don’t ask the question.

Original poster
BornInSydneyy · 14/01/2018 20:23

I've been on here for years and have never even had the nerve to start a thread yet. I'm damn sure i will be nicer than Bornsnidey is to those trying to help me if I ever do!

Do you not see the irony in what you just posted?

To the point where you had to sink to the level of childish name calling.

OP posts:
Lweji · 14/01/2018 20:24

Well, tell your new colleague to ask questions to the training people.

Or tell who ever put them there that you either do your job or train people. I'd think it's fair if you're given at least a couple of days basically dedicated to help her.

Original poster
BornInSydneyy · 14/01/2018 20:25

Oh also there is no long term, they aren’t moving to the department permanently. It will he for 4 weeks maximum.

OP posts:
Mammylamb · 14/01/2018 20:27

Folks, I think we should back off OP a little her. My reading of this is that you are expected to keep to your targets in an already pressurised environment whilst taking time out to train someone else. This is pissing you off as you are expected to maintain your own targets and getting crap if you don’t maintain them. Is that right?

echt · 14/01/2018 20:35

YABU. It hasn't happened yet.

Also, do you know that this expectation to support them will be put on you?

If and when it does, go your manager and say something like this: "Naturally I'm keen to reach my targets. The newbie has a had lot of important questions to ask, and this takes up time, but I can see they want to get on. I'd like my targets adjusted for a week (whatever) and review at that time".

This puts the newbie in a good light, someone worth helping., the questions are relevant and help the job get done. The review gives you time to evaluate and an opportunity to say whether it's working or not. The short time before review cheers up the manager, who likes results, as it's do-able. They should have thought of all this themselves.

Original poster
BornInSydneyy · 14/01/2018 20:35

This is pissing you off as you are expected to maintain your own targets and getting crap if you don’t maintain them. Is that right?

Pretty much. Our department has got into such a state that our managers manager checks what we do every single day.

There has been redundancies made before Christmas.

I have nothing against the new person and more than happy to help. But I’m already so stretched and stressed out ... I don’t know how I can cope (without being too dramatic)

OP posts:
Amaried · 14/01/2018 20:35

Feel so sorry for your colleague. Hard enough being the new person without having to sit next to someone who doesn't want them there.
Think you should wait and see how it goes before you assume the person will be annoying you with questions . They may surprise you.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 14/01/2018 20:36

I've been in two places where the person who was assigned to help me huffed and puffed and said they were too busy.

Didn't stay more than a couple of weeks in either of them.

echt · 14/01/2018 20:36

Ah, I see your update. Bummer. Pain for possibly little/no gain. Go to see the manager before the newbie arrives.

MrsGrindah · 14/01/2018 20:37

Mammylamb Why? Just because the majority of us think the OP is being unreasonable doesn’t mean we are piling in...it’s a public forum and she asked for our views. A lot of us are making constructive suggestions too

princesssparkle1 · 14/01/2018 20:38

I’m expected to still reach my full target and support someone at the same time. This is what I find unfair.

Then escalate.

Take the advice given and see the boss.

FlashTheSloth · 14/01/2018 20:39

YABU.

I was new in a job recently. I felt like my training was patchy and I had a lot of questions after. I had to ask the person next to me often, I tried to ask others as well if I could. They were also incredibly busy and I ended up feeling like a nuisance because I would get told often that they were doing x and y and would be with me in a bit, then get involved in something else. Meanwhile I'm just sat waiting. It's not a nice position to be in. I'm sure you can take a few seconds to answer some questions from someone who has been brought in to help out.

Mammylamb · 14/01/2018 20:39

I’ll go against the grain here and say that I understand you OP and you are not the horror colleague folk are making you out here!

You are in a toxic work environment by the sounds of it. This new person isn’t the problem. The workplace is. Find something else.
In the immediate, flag to your line manager that new person will understandably ask questions, and you think it will have an impact on you meeting targers

DriggleDraggle · 14/01/2018 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArchchancellorsHat · 14/01/2018 20:54

I started a new job this week and was told i can't ask questions. Guess how good i feel about going in to work tomorrow. Completely demotivated and I know I'm going to either not be able to work or will fuck up. I'm looking around already for something new. It might be a bit crap for you but imagine how the other poor bugger feels, who's there to help you out

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