To be mighty effed the eff off at this work situation?

[TulipsInBloom1]

Quite specific so will alter bits.

I work ft in a specific type of admin. Another admin person (different specific) works pt. Lets call them Bob. I do pick up Bobs work when they are on their days off as required (urgent. Anything else keeps).

Bob has been doing admin for a specific project run by Kate. Its highly specialised work, which tbh Kate should have just contracted out as it includes stupid amounts of legalities/technical wording etc. Think multi million tender.

Kate had leave booked in over the time that she deadlined a big date for her project. Quite how it was agreed ive no idea. Kate left the finalisation of this part of the project to Bob. Completely out of their remit. Kate had the agreement of another manager (below them) that they would support Bob.

Kate requested I then step in and do this work if it didnt arrive in time for Bobs contracted days. I was completely unaware of the scale of the project and the work I would be agreeing to. Kate explained it was an admin task and this other Manager would lead me, but that it boiled down to "sending some pre-prepared letters".

Bobs off today. Letters came back from a legal company who were approving/checking etc with errors. Manager and I had to sit and go through it all with a fine toothcomb, pick out any errors, recalculate and then send back for approval.

Our offices closes at 5.30pm. Approving company said best they could do was a 5.30pm return for us to then send out. 5.30pm and the letters arrive. Letter in no fit state to send. No company header, no signatures, three different fonts used, all sorts.

Manager and I then take 2 hours neatening up; adding backing docs, checking all attachments go out. 22 different sets of paperwork to send, all individual, all needing differing levels of supporting docs etc.

I am fuming. This was given to me as a back up person, was told "its basic admin,letters will be approved, its just a case of forwarding them on".

It was not only a bloody awkward task of epic proprtions, but sent as we closed, and of massive importance to our organisation. I am livid that Kate has taken the days off around this. She set this deadline.

She essentially left this crucial part of the process to me. The lowest paid person in the organisation.

What do I even do about this? Kate is deputy CEO. There is only the CEO above her and he wprships the ground Kate walks on.

Aibu to feel that this was way way above my role?

P.s sorry about the essay!

I’d send an email saying what you’ve told us so that you at least get the credit if you go for a more senior role!

As long as you did the task correctly I’d chalk it up as good experience and keep the extra hours worked for a couple of hours lieu time.

Definitely annoying. It will set you in good stead though - this kind of effort doesn’t go unnoticed!

this kind of effort doesn’t go unnoticed

Kate is notoriously known for her lack of gratitude over stuff like this and has been known to take credit for others work.

Thankfully my own line manager was made aware by me of the work before he left for the day. Hopefully he will appreciate it if nothing else.

There is nothing you can do. This woman is the deputy CEO, the last person you want to piss off. Just politely let her know you stayed behind an extra few hours to ensure everything was done correctly.

Unless you want to piss off a very important person you just have to leave it. YANBU to get annoyed, but unfortunately you just have to take it on the chin and move on

The thing is Kate is the deputy CEO. There’s nothing you can do. Rant away, but that’s about it.

I'd ask your manager if you could be paid overtime for your work, or have time in lieu if not, but be breezy about it. Probably the best you can expect if she is that senior.

It's crap but there is nothing you can do about it.

Unless you are prepared to be seen as "difficult".

And next deadline, book leave............

I’ve seen this type of manager over and over. They think all admin work is simple. They don’t understand that tasks don’t have to be complicated to be time consuming. They definitely don’t understand that some tasks are surprisingly complicated.

If you have a manager other than Kate, I would start by speaking about the episode with your manager.

I think given the time of year and I’m assuming coming up to annual appraisal time, given the importance of the project and how instrumental you were in delivering it, you need to think about how to write it up as part of your end of year review.

Bob should have changed his days off. In Kates absence it should be him who checks the paperwork.

Also your boss should have stayed behind to support you. You could have been there longer than 2 hours.

Bob is same level as me - bottom rung. Why should they change their contracted days when the whole project was Kates? Surely Kate should have been there?

Bob has agreed set days as part of their flexible working arrangements.