Is this out of order

[LadyRussell]

Colleague who is same level manager as me asked our joint boss if someone I line manage could do a task for her (small admin task not strictly in her role but it’s quite a flexible role).

Line manager (micro manages everything) agreed it and my colleague ran it past me and told me after boss had ok’d it.

Employee then emails me today cc’ing in my manager saying X has asked me to do this is this in my job role? Line managrt then enails her back CC’ing in me explaining she had already ok’d it.

AIBU to think if a manager (sane level as her own) has asked her to do a task (if she had the time if not don’t worry) she should be then checking with me and certainly not cc’ing in my line manager?

Anyway, I think the most obvious explanation is that she knows you and the other manager are friends, doesn't think this part of her job and believea you would direct her to do it because you and the other manager are friends, rather than because it actually is part of her job. Cc'ing your manager shows she doesn't have any faith in you as her manager, but perhaps you have to own that?

OP what a non issue I don't understand what the problem is. Sounds like you're the one with a chip on your shoulder.
Seriously move on

If that the case it had backfired as line manager already knew.

She has no reason to have no faith in me. I am a fair and supportive manager. My manager is a bit of a ball breaker and complete micro manager and goes over all three managers heads (us) with people we line manage which pisses us all off as what is the point of being someone’s line manager.

Which makes it important that I address it with her tomorrow.

I don't understand why your issue is with the admin person rather than your line manager or your same level colleague. When I read the beginning of your OP, I assumed the issue was their failure to ask you before approaching your line manager whether it was OK to use a member of your team - after all, for all they knew you had something you really needed her to do which would mean she didn't have time to do whatever it was they wanted.

FWIW, I think employee was right to cc in your line manager, because she presumably (and, as it turns out, rightly) was in part concerned that they hadn't checked it with you first. Certainly if it was something that wasn't fairly and squarely within her job description it does raise a question whether even your line manager had authority to OK it.

Dear god. Why didn't you just talk to her. Or email her yourself.

So much fucking hierarchy and levels. I'm so glad I don't work in an office environment anymore.

Or, rather than addressing it with your report as if it is her fault, you could address it with your manager?

Insubordination??

Crikey, I'm glad I don't work for anyone so keen to take their "subordinates" down a peg or two.

Unless the employee in question is extraordinarily mild-mannered (which it doesn't seem that she is) I think LimeCheesecaker's email would put her back up whether or not she was intentionally being a CF.

And OP you weren't even there for her to ask so what is she supposed to do.

Leave her be you sound like a bully!!!!!

I don't understand why your issue is with the admin person rather than your line manager or your same level colleague

This.

You're coming across as a terrible bully. Shit scared to address it with your manager or colleague but can't wait to stick it to someone who works for you, because you need to prove your authority and can't do it with peers and supervisors.

It's not important you talk to her, what was important, as you say you were available, was to either call her or email her and explain the request was coming through, and why she was expected to do it.

LadyRussell

So you didn't line manage your staff and are annoyed that they have gone above your head to ask why someone that isn't their line manager is asking them to do tasks on the say so of your manager.

sounds like the problem isn't your staff member.

If your boss micromanages and goes over your head to the people you line manage... I wonder where your new staff member could have possibly got the impression that she ought to cc in your boss?

She's probably working things out still. Don't take it out on her that your boss is annoying.

(Tbh I think it's kind of rude for you to agree to someone else giving her extra work without talking to her to ask how she's managing with what she already has to do. But maybe I don't understand how things work in your place!)

Yes, say what limecheesecakemaker said. That will completely secure your space as over anxious micro manager. Chill! Just email saying thanks for keeping me in the loop, I’m glad we you had the capacity to help x, hopefully their team will assist us next time!’

There was nothing to address with my manager or colleague.

Please do not call me a bully. That’s incredibly offensive.

That is so far from the truth it’s laughable.

I have literally not had time until this evening to get to my phone. If she had texted or here had been a missed call I would have excused myself and called her back.

The task was so irrelevant and minor I didn’t think it warranted me leaving a meeting to email her about it and I had said to her if you need me ring or text me and I’ll get back to you when I can.

Bunnyfuller

So much more authoritative.

OP, do this.

So much fucking hierarchy and levels. I'm so glad I don't work in an office environment anymore

Me too! reading this thread with huge glee

You aren't coming across well OP

LadyRussell

If you had spent 5 minutes yesterday to contact your staff their wouldn't have been anything to address.

Your sloppiness in communicating what has happened to your staff member has caused this.

The task was so irrelevant and minor I didn’t think it warranted me leaving a meeting to email her about it

Why is she being tasked with irrelevant and minor jobs for people who don't manage her?

Something a bit off here. If it isn't worth your time to tell her she has been allocated a job, is it worth her time doing it?

I was leaving the office at 6pm when my colleague caught me on my way out the door.

The task was so irrelevant and minor I didn’t think it warranted me leaving a meeting to email her about it and I had said to her if you need me ring or text me and I’ll get back to you when I can

Then you were wrong, it is not something she was aware was part of her job description and it took her by surprise,

You cannot manage sometimes and not others, not act like a supervisor when you can't be arsed but getting your arse in your hands when someone doesn't play the hierarchy game,

You broke the rules first, you didn't speak to her, you allowed another manager to allocate her tasks, you deemed it to be irrelevant like she as some form of skivvy and then want to give her into trouble and stamp your authority,

If thr task is so irrelevant. You do it.

To be honest, it sounds as though your personal relationships are affecting your professional ones

LadyRussell

Your lack of respect for your staff is really shining through.

But she's been soooo busy doing important things, not the irrelevant and minor things handed to the employee.

Honestly if it was so simple why didn't the other manager just do it herself rather than causing this huge drama. Or is it beneath management level?

tossers

Why is she being tasked with irrelevant and minor jobs for people who don't manage her

There are three at my level and we can all ask people to do tasks for us, it’s just seen as courtesy to ask direct line manager first.

What I meant was it wasn’t a massive deal and something the person previously in her role was also asked to from time to time.

She was also told it wasn’t a priority and could she please do it if she had time.