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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

so pissed off and worried about meeting tomorrow at 9am

106 replies

Sarah510 · 02/06/2020 18:09

so we have a big work meeting tomorrow. I've done loads for it, data, spreadsheets, etc. But my team leader refused to check it (although yesterday she said she wanted to go through it to check the calculations, which I was glad about cos it's easy to make a mistake). So she 'wasn't available' all day today, there was a short meeting on teams around 5pm and she was at it too, so I tried to catch her after it, but she left really quick, and when I emailed her saying I was here, did she want to check stuff with me, she replied to say I was to 'forget about it'. Am so pissed off. Feel like she's going to probably throw me under the bus tomorrow morning if she does check it and find any errors, or else, if anyone else finds errors, I will be shown up in front of everyone. So I'm sat here going through it all one more time. I think it's really mean of her not to even talk to me. Don't know what I've done except work my ass off.

OP posts:
CRbear · 02/06/2020 18:12

Do you ask her to check everything? Do you think maybe she’s frustrated you aren’t more independant? I’m not saying this is a fair or right way as a manager to deal with that problem but it might help you understand why she’s behaved like that.

Suzie6789 · 02/06/2020 18:14

It’s right for you to check this yourself. Why should she have to re-do your work?

Sugartitss · 02/06/2020 18:15

Check it, check it then check it again.

Good luck!

BillywilliamV · 02/06/2020 18:24

Yep, you need to check it yourself, have some confidence in your abilities. You've got this..

Soubriquet · 02/06/2020 18:27

I’m sure part of your job is to check your own work?

EduCated · 02/06/2020 18:29

Agree that it depends what normal working practices would be - is it usual for managers to check work in that way? Is it something other colleagues ask for?

IncrediblySadToo · 02/06/2020 18:30

Check it?

You're an adult with an actual job, why would you expect someone to check it? It's not homework and it's not a course, it's a job where you're paid to do stuff, supposedly you gave the skills to do it.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but come on!

cologne4711 · 02/06/2020 18:32

The posts on this thread are what's wrong with the modern workplace. No collaboration, no "two heads are better than one". Of course you have the skills to do your job well but if it's important, you get someone to look it over for you because once you've looked at something a million times you will miss things.

OlivejuiceU2 · 02/06/2020 18:35

You need to be able to check your own work. I am a team leader and have someone in my team like and it is very frustrating. You need to be able to reliably do the work yourself without someone else checking it for before every meeting.

Ahardknocklife · 02/06/2020 18:36

I think theres an assumption that the OP is in a position of authority.
I would certainly expect my team to support each other with any checks and would much prefer to be prepared for any key meetings with casting an eye over critical data. Maybe the OPs senior requested they view the data before presenting.

OP, it could be that your manager is under pressure from other perspectives within the business that could be taking their focus away. Could you run this past any of your coworkers?

Suzie6789 · 02/06/2020 18:38

The posts on this thread are what's wrong with the modern workplace

I disagree, the OP is why many people can’t get on with their own work due to constantly being asked to check others work. A very quick sense check is ok, or to seek an opinion is collaborative, but to check for errors is asking for it to be re-done. Then they have the fallback of ‘oh x checked it for me so it’s their fault’. No, people should take responsibility for their own work.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 02/06/2020 18:38

I work with spreadsheets all the time.

Our process is “Do, Check, Review” with three different people.

Most people have no idea how much impact a very small spreadsheet error can actually make.

Or how easy it is to spot someone else’s errors and how hard it is to spot your own.

Original poster
Sarah510 · 02/06/2020 18:38

well I've been in a similar role for over 20 years, and for this kind of work we would always have double checked each other's work. Just to help each other out as when you've been looking at something sometimes you just cant see the errors.

She offered to 'check' especially as it's my first time running the data, and it's very complicated. I thought it was normal when you were on team.

I was happy to be in a team as I used to work on my own and I thought we could 'have each others backs' I thought it was teamwork.

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 02/06/2020 18:38

Why can't you check your own work? If you're not capable of that you probably shouldn't be in the job.

DelurkingAJ · 02/06/2020 18:40

Rather depends what the work is. Fiddly numbers lead to errors and the preparer is often number blind by the end. Also depends on the work culture around errors...

Original poster
Sarah510 · 02/06/2020 18:40

she wouldn't even talk to me about it today - got the feeling she is actively avoiding me. she's still working as she's just sent out a work email. I dunno, 15 mins and we could have gone through it. We'll both look bad if there's errors tomorrow. Or maybe she will tell the meeting. Which isn't very nice I don't think.

OP posts:
Disquieted1 · 02/06/2020 18:42

I wouldn't worry too much. Just recall Disquieted's Law: "Every spreadsheet has an error in there somewhere."

As long as your conclusions make sense, the detail can always be corrected.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/06/2020 18:42

God some people on here are so arsey.

The OP quite clearly says she said she wanted to go through it to check the calculations so it's something her Boss has actually requested.

The OP can check, recheck and check again. But the Boss has said she wants to do it too.

Original poster
Sarah510 · 02/06/2020 18:43

OK I think the consensus is I need to have it checked myself.

And I'm not a needy employee - far from it!!!! But she is the team leader, and she wanted to check it, and there is always a meeting prior to presenting the data, and everyone casts their eye over it. Just feel she's setting me up for a fall. Very unsupportive since it's the first time I'm presenting in this role. I don't want a hand hold, but I don't want to be put out to dry either!

OP posts:
iMatter · 02/06/2020 18:44

Maybe email her saying something like I understand you're very busy today but I'd really appreciate it if you could glance over this before the meeting tomorrow.

VodselForDinner · 02/06/2020 18:45

I’m a big fan of having a second fresh set of eyes on data. Excel blindness definitely kicks in, and even one incorrectly typed digit can have a massive impact.

Have you worked together long, OP? Has she checked work like this for you before? Why do you think she’s declined to do it now?

Original poster
Sarah510 · 02/06/2020 18:45

I have a feeling she is checking it by herself tonight. Just an instinct, and also that I just got a notification that she opened the file earlier so... why wouldn't she talk to me.

OP posts:
Mumoftwoyoungkids · 02/06/2020 18:47

OK I think the consensus is I need to have it checked myself.

I don’t agree. And I suspect that the vast majority of people who are saying that only work on spreadsheets that are less complex than the average tea rota.

IceniSky · 02/06/2020 18:48

Does she normally show you up?

I have my team peer review each other work when it needs to go out aside from my senior team members. Can you set something like that up?

She is likely very very busy.

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 02/06/2020 18:51

Do you have a colleague that you could ask to check it and say you'll check theirs next time?
If not I'd double check it again myself, and in the meeting just say apologies for any errors, we normally double check each others work to ensure accuracy but it wasnt possible this week