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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague ignoring phone-calls and emails

114 replies

czechout · 02/03/2021 21:18

Hello all,
Just a quick question - a colleague is currently ignoring phone-calls and emails. By way of background we are recently out of redundancies and a colleague was made redundant in a very unfair manner, I could not take on all their workload (I took on what I could) despite the organisation trying I fought back as already do well beyond contracted hours.
Boss was very unhappy with result (they have to do some of this work) and the team secretary has now clearly been asked not to cooperate with me.
I'm emailing politely, getting no response (working from home). If I call secretary they are refusing to pick up phone. Have been advised by another colleague to keep emailing so there is a record of refusal. Not sure what else to do, not sure there is any point complaining to the boss who is likely behind this.

Any ideas most welcome :)

OP posts:
Original poster
czechout · 02/03/2021 21:19

Should I email the boss and flag this concern?

OP posts:
ContadoraExplorer · 02/03/2021 21:21

I hate to be a cc wanker but on this occasion, if they're not responding and should be, I'd start cc'ing people in to prompt a response.

Womencanlift · 02/03/2021 21:23

I would message the boss once so you can show you have went through proper channels. Give them a few days to make sure they have had time to ‘have a word with the secretary’.

Then message the secretary again and if still an issue go to boss’s boss saying that you have tried to resolve and nothing has changed and it’s impacting your work. Ask them for advice on what to do next

Chimoia · 02/03/2021 21:27

If its a small place, honestly I'd start job hunting. If bigger, keep a record, hope boss leaves, or go above boss if there is a higher level. You're being punished, but it's going to make you look bad. Sucks.

lockdownalli · 02/03/2021 21:28

I would .cc in the boss and say you are doing so as you are concerned maybe X is off sick as they haven't responded to communications 1, 2, 3, 4.

lanthanum · 02/03/2021 21:29

I think you probably have to remain 100% polite and cooperative, but also start to make sure there is a record of unmet requests.

If you have a question that needs answering, you could phrase it as
"I'm not sure if you would like me to do A or B; I'll assume A if I don't hear from you by Thursday."

Is it worth suggesting to your boss that you'll be in a better position to take on a bit more of the additional work if you are given prompt replies/assistance to enable you to get through your existing tasks? Again, be ultra-polite: "I realise everyone's overloaded at the moment, and although I couldn't take on all of Z's work, I'm happy to do what I can to help if I can get through my own tasks quickly enough. Unfortunately I'm sometimes being held up waiting for replies from X; I don't know whether we can find a way to work things more efficiently?"

TrainspottingWelsh · 02/03/2021 21:37

Are you sure it's personal? My line of work can be hectic, and on very tight deadlines. I always have to prioritise tasks, and I do complete everything eventually, but every so often someone from admin or another department will decide their particular request is urgent, when on my scale, and from a company pov it really isn't. On those occasions I will politely respond once or twice to explain I'll get back to them, but if I haven't got time to fulfil their request I certainly haven't got time to talk or email explaining why it can't be a priority right now. And I'm afraid that the more they contact me to request updates or demand I do x or y, the less inclined I am to bother to respond, and the further their demands drop down my to do list.
I'm not a secretary though, so other staff requesting anything is secondary to my role, so it maybe irrelevant to your situation.

Heronwatcher · 02/03/2021 21:59

I’d phone your boss and speak to them about it, maybe pitch is as you’re worried about the secretary as she seems to be uncontactable, maybe ask if she has IT issues or other issues the team might need to be aware of. If your boss is woolly or vague push her on it. Stress that if you can’t utilise the team Secretary then you’ll need to discuss your workload again with your boss as obviously you won’t be able to do so much if you’re also doing secretarial work. Ask for your boss to suggest a way forward. Don’t put up with this- not only is it hugely unprofessional but it’s a form of bullying.

Original poster
czechout · 02/03/2021 22:04

Many thanks for all for responses, I like them all and will take them onboard and see what works or otherwise.
Yes unfortunately @TrainspottingWelsh it is personal as this has coincided with a colossal level of anger from boss following redundancy situation, this was not the previous situation with secretary. The secretary also recently tried to set me up saying I wasn't in a location (online meet) I was supposed to be. They changed a document with links without updating me. Fortunately I was able to prove this failure to inform me via version history (which they subsequently removed when I pointed this out). Boss was cc'd into this and did nothing/orchestrated the incident. There was no apology nor have I sought it and I do agree @Chimoia that the best way forward is perhaps to also look for other opportunities. Part of me hates to have to leave because of bullying but I do see your point.
I am in the shielding category so have to work from home whilst many of the team including said secretary work from the premises. Have an onsite doctor who has instructed me to WFH in addition to GP which the boss does not like (for anyone) but I have no choice and incidentally it's not my preference either nor does it affect my productivity as I'm sure many of you have experienced yourselves. Maybe I should start to cc the work doctor into emails too for dramatic effect :)
Thank you again all really appreciate time taken to reply.

OP posts:
Original poster
czechout · 02/03/2021 22:07

@Heronwatcher this is a great idea but think I need email this concern as otherwise it won't be taken seriously. Not sure written record will be either but will try.
Thank you.

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MuddleMoo · 02/03/2021 22:08

What has them being made redundant got to do with you? Were you chosen over them?

I would defiantely keep contacting by email. Are there many jobs in your line of work? Could consider looking elsewhere.

Original poster
czechout · 02/03/2021 22:13

@MuddleMoo they weren't made redundant but the (unfair) redundancy of a team member has resulted in more work for the team. Boss tried to give it all to me, I took what I felt was reasonable and stood my ground on the rest. They are livid and this is part of the fallout.
There are jobs in my line of work yes I guess part of me resents having to leave because of bullying but it's looking that way if continues like this.

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TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 02/03/2021 22:14

I’m a team secretary and if I didn’t respond to emails or phone calls from colleagues I’d get a right bollocking.

Any PA should be sending an acknowledgment email at the very least and give a timeline for action or signpost elsewhere.

I would be adding sent receipts and asking for ‘read’ receipts, which can of course be ignored, but still...

MuddleMoo · 02/03/2021 22:17

@czechout I see, thanks.

Yes I agree i would resent feeling forced out.

MuddleMoo · 02/03/2021 22:18

Good shout on adding sent receipts.

HollowTalk · 02/03/2021 22:32

Are you the only person who's expected to take on the extra work?

WinstonmissesXmas · 02/03/2021 22:35

Why did everyone expect you would take on the work of the person who was made redundant?

TrainspottingWelsh · 02/03/2021 22:53

Fair enough @czechout.
Did your working from home coincide with the extra work/ redundancy by any chance? Because in some cases a colleague working from home can create extra work for those in the office. Reasonable people obviously raise this and look for solutions, eg we have a shielding colleague wfh and it's simply easier for us to just complete some of their tasks and in return they do some of ours.

My concern would be that if she's making things as difficult as possible, she'll claim you're creating extra work by being at home, even if that's nonsense, so I'd suggest trying to leave records/ emails or whatever is applicable proving that isn't the case before that excuse is given.

notdaddycool · 03/03/2021 00:12

Start muttering constructive dismissal claim and gather evidence.

endlesswicker · 03/03/2021 00:32

Might I suggest that (since they have a habit of changing documents and deleting the evidence) that you start printing things out and keeping them in a folder? Keep written proof of everything, especially including the dates and times you phone the secretary without success, and conversations with other staff too. It might come in useful should they try to lever you out and you need to go down the constructive dismissal route.

Original poster
czechout · 03/03/2021 08:36

Thank you all for the further suggestions and yes I have been the one asked to take on the largest work tasks, other minor jobs have been handed out outside of the team. @WinstonmissesXmas Boss is scared to give a fellow team member (same level as me) any additional work as they are very close friends for Boss's senior manager. Part of my resistance was a refusal to accept this unprofessional arrangement. Boss is concerned that if Boss's senior doesn't like friend being tasked, will have repercussions on them. The way I see it is that isn't my problem and if they can't do what is professionally (or morally for that matter) correct I figured they should have to accept the work coming their way to some extent. Which it has.
@notdaddycool and @endlesswicker thank you will start doing that. Not sure if should evidence collect without saying anything though as will probably be able to gather more as they are clearly not watching their steps much.

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Original poster
czechout · 03/03/2021 08:44

@TomorrowIsAnotherDae thank you for your perspective and sounds like a great idea if google mail has such a function, will look into it.

OP posts:
Original poster
czechout · 03/03/2021 08:47

Need to send follow-up email this morning from an ignored email from Monday (an important matter). Thinking of the following wording:

Dear X,
Please see email above. I haven't received a reply and would appreciate a response.

Thank you, Czech....

Good/poor wording?

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TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 03/03/2021 09:04

@czechout I think your proposed email is fine. She may forward it on to boss so best to always compose emails that you would be happy for others to read (especially important if they might also be used as evidence in potential grievance hearings or employment tribunals)

In fact, I would be careful with everything now as others have said - keep in mind that all correspondence/ actions could be be used as evidence should you need to make a complaint. Keep records. It isn’t OTT (my work revolves around legal HR and employment matters)

sanfranfibber · 03/03/2021 09:28

I would make it clear why you need the response

Dear X,
Please see email above. I need a decisions/response/guidance on X by today in order to ensure that Y happens/Z does not happen/W can do the next thing.

Thank you, Czech....