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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Work situation- aibu to be upset

41 replies

Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 06:54

Yesterday at work I called a sub contractor that i speak to maybe 30-40 times a day. I thought we got on well.
I asked for a time job to be changed to an urgent priority if they could and he said no. Not possible, why did it need to change. I didn't know this information so said I would find out and if it still needed to be moved forwards to immediate action, I would call back.

It did. So I called back.

I assume he must have thought I was on hold because i heard every word of his tirade against me. It was very aggressive.
The contract they have states that in this situation a job like I was asking, trumps everything else.
I did say I was sorry but it was the contract.

He then did not pick up the phone to me all day.

Aibu to be upset?

OP posts:
C0untDucku1a · 26/04/2018 06:56

Instead of being upset, why not report to the correct people that he is in breach of contract?
40 times a day? About what?

Original poster
Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 07:00

I have.

They did the work, so technically didn't breach it though the attitude I got on asking was obviously awful.

40 times for a constant flow of live information that continually changes.

OP posts:
Justinecase1985 · 26/04/2018 07:00

I wouldn’t be upset but I would be angry that he had let me hear his tirade. I would have let him know I’d heard it too. That would have taken the wind out of his sails!!
I think it’s important to remember that even though you get on with people in a working environment- it’s business and you aren’t friends.

topcat2014 · 26/04/2018 07:02

40 times day - christ I would hate to be on the other end of that many phone calls whilst presumably trying to do some work?

That is every 10 minutes give or take.

I wouldn't be able to concentrate on whatever the fee earning work is with that level of interuption

MyotherUsernameisaPun · 26/04/2018 07:03

You must be calling him 5 times an hour! That's every 12 minutes! How does he ever have time to do anything else?

I would let him know you heard his rant and give him the chance to apologise. I would also see if there was a more efficient way of getting information to him than literally constant phone calls.

EdmundCleverClogs · 26/04/2018 07:04

Well what was he ‘tirading’ about exactly? Was it anything about being bothered by you 30-40 times a day, because quite honestly that could crack a saint’s patience I’m sure.

Sirzy · 26/04/2018 07:04

It sounds like your workplace needs a better communication system! Must be impossible for him to get any work done if he is constantly taking calls

Gottokondo · 26/04/2018 07:04

If he can ignore your calls the rest of the day Then it makes me wonder if you are harrassing him with 30 calls a day. It would drive me bonkers.

Lacucuracha · 26/04/2018 07:08

Not possible, why did it need to change. I didn't know this information so said I would find out

I'm not sure what industry this but it all sounds crazy. You needed an urgent change but didn't know why?! That's basic info, surely? I can see why this sub-contractor got frustrated.

It doesn't sound like he meant you to hear so not sure you dam call him aggressive. Communication seems to be a massive issue in your industry.

Original poster
Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 07:08

The number of calls is asked from higher up than me. It's not from my own accord.

We should have a member of their staff on site which hasn't as yet been provided which will cut the call volume down, but until they sort it, its how it is.

OP posts:
Lacucuracha · 26/04/2018 07:08

*can not dam

Hereshopingforimprovement · 26/04/2018 07:08

I work for a subcontractor. I wouldn't take the slightest bit of offence op, it's a frustrating and high pressure environment when constant changes are being demanded at the drop of a hat. They wouldn't have meant anything personal against you. I would absolutely make it clear to him that you know though, he will doubtless be very embarrased.

Original poster
Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 07:11

Well I knew why it needed to change, obviously. The work was planned for 3 hours later but at the last moment thibgs changed and it would have been far too late.

I needed to double check how serious the situation was.

OP posts:
Lacucuracha · 26/04/2018 07:15

I'm confused now. You said you didn't know the information but now say you did know.

icelollycraving · 26/04/2018 07:15

I wouldn’t be upset, no. He was sounding off.
Have you never said a bad word about anyone when you’ve cut a call? Even people you like? I have when what they need to say pisses me off.

Ohmydayslove · 26/04/2018 07:17

How does anyone get anything physical done if they are constantly on the phone? Tell him you heard his rant and from now on be simply professional. Just discuss work.

However the set up sounds very frustrating for you all.

Original poster
Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 07:18

I did know why, but what I didn't know was that if we had even a tiny bit of leaway within that.

I don't want to explain what the situation is as it's a bit senstive so best to leave it at that.

OP posts:
LakieLady · 26/04/2018 07:31

If there are criteria for when work has to be done more or less immediately, I'd make sure that I knew the criteria applied to the job I was trying to expedite before I made the call, tbh.

Then you can simply say "It's X, Y & Z, so needs to be done straight away", and no debate needs to be entered into.

I get that it must have been upsetting to hear the guy slagging you off though, in that sense YANBU.

FullMetalRabbit · 26/04/2018 07:31

Being on the phone constantly is not the issue here, OP is just giving background. PPs clearly don’t understand the work and are focussing on that.

OP YANBU and I would report him to whoever he needs to be reported to - it’s not your fault you have to give the instructions, I imagine it has come from a higher authority

Sirzy · 26/04/2018 07:33

I don’t agree that it isn’t the issue, that and then a phone call which was calling for immediate change without knowing why is very much a part of the issue here.

The op may only be doing what she is told but that doesn’t mean the other worker wasn’t understandable in being frustrated by being pressurised by such a rediculous system.

pigmcpigface · 26/04/2018 07:44

I think you caught him on a bad day. But it's still really hurtful and awful that you heard his 'tirade' against you (and unprofessional of him to launch into one in the first place).

Chalk this one up to experience. The guy is two-faced and not as friendly as you thought. Keep things cool and professional in future. If he asks why, be honest.

RedSkyAtNight · 26/04/2018 07:47

I wouldn't get too upset - have you never had a rant about someone you worked with (and not necessarily because you're frustrated at them, but might be the situation). It sounds like the worker was in this position.

That said, your set up sounds ridiculous, I would be querying why you have to ring up so often (and yes, this might mean pointing out to management that if you stop ringing constantly the work might get done more quickly). And if you do have to call, preempt the questions you might get, so that you don't have to make multiple calls for the same issue.

Original poster
Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 07:48

Again, I knew why we needed the change, what I didn't know was if it was ok to be left or it was a case of ' we have to go now or it will be too late '

OP posts:
LovelySouffle · 26/04/2018 07:50

Sub-contractor being faffed about rants to colleague about the people higher up the chain with their changing demands.

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

Original poster
Quiddichcup · 26/04/2018 07:53

It's not a situation that should really be joked about. So from that regard it was totally out of order.

OP posts: