AIBU to think it's their responsibility to provide me with all the info?

[Funkyslippers]

Our team has a meeting every morning, which I can never attend as I start work later. Usually it's just discussing plans for the day and any changes to normal plans. Usually around 5 mins. I've heard through the grapevine that in the meetings last week the team were asked to each make a Powerpoint presentation, to be presented in a few weeks' time. The first I heard of it was an email from one of the managers saying "as discussed in the meeting, here is the sign up sheet, please put your name next to a subject". The email also mentioned some training on Powerpoint that they'd all had in one of the meetings. Apparently this week they were told that not everyone had put their names next to a subject and they expected everyone's names to be there. All of this was told to me by a friend in the team. She was not told to pass the info onto me or anything.

So now I'm thinking I'm going to be chased up for something I have barely any official knowledge of, and if this is the case I think I'm well within my right to say that unless I'm given all the info I am not equipped to do it?

I think once you received the first email you should probably have asked some questions, they made you aware there was a task to complete then. Also, how much training can you get in a 5 minute meeting really? Are you the only person in your team who doesn't attend the meetings?

If I was in your position I'd follow things up now rather than leaving it and potentially having this raised as an issue against you. At the same time ask for the extra training on PowerPoint if you feel you want/need it.

Speak to your manager and ask about it

Why do you start work later than everyone else? Is it driven by work requirements or your flexible working? How would you feel if you made a bug fuss about this and they changed your working hours to start at the same time as the rest of the team?

I think you’re sounding a bit petty here. When you got the email about signing up, why didn’t you ask for more details then? I suggest you approach your manager and ask for more details of it now plus a process to be kept up to date with anything discussed at the morning catch up

I think you need to be a bit more proactive in your job. Email your supervisor and ask what you should be doing. You can teach yourself PowerPoint- use some initiative!

Is your team working remotely at the moment? If so, could they record the meeting so you can replay it when you get in?

But you know about it now, so ask if you still have questions. It’s not evidence of being a great employee to be a petty jobsworth about things like this, just get it done and if it’s a repeated issue, ask for there to be some more formal way to share instructions.

Tricky. How much later do you start? I don’t think they should have regular meetings without the whole team, and certainly you should be made aware of what is discussed but it isn’t always easy. Re the PowerPoint I think you need to be proactive on that one. Ask for more information as you weren’t at the meeting and maybe ask if they could vary the meeting time occassionally

I think it would probably be a sensible idea to email your manager asking for some clarification on this.

As in, you’ve received an email with a sign up sheet, but you haven’t had any information about what you’re supposed to be signing up for - or this PowerPoint training - because you’re unable to attend the morning meetings.
It might also be a good idea to ask about whether you could be provided with some sort of minutes of meeting, so that you don’t miss anything else important in future.

You need to work out how you get the meeting info or you are not performing well.

@Chimoia

You need to work out how you get the meeting info or you are not performing well.

Why? If they employ 5 people 9-5 and pay them 9-5 and then employ another 10-4 (for example) why should that person turn up at 9for free because that's when they hold the meeting?

If the boss wants everyone on the team there they should hold it at 10am or at 3.30pm (ish) for the following day.

But I agree if you get an email asking you to do something and you are not sure about the details you email to clarify.

It's pretty standard!

I work in education, so this meeting is before any lessons start. I start mid morning every day to fit in with school run. I said the meetings are usually 5 mins but obviously for the Powerpoint training the meeting was longer I guess. I don't have time to do any training as I'm in lessons all the time

I think strictly speaking maybe you're right OP.

But really work is about getting the job done, trying to be proactive and take responsibility, and get over the numerous occasions at work when colleagues fall short, in the interests of harmony and getting the job done well.

If you know you're missing some info then I think a professional approach would be to chase proactively and also twist the person try to remember to include you next time as otherwise could easily have been missed.

@Bumpsadaisie

I think strictly speaking maybe you're right OP.

But really work is about getting the job done, trying to be proactive and take responsibility, and get over the numerous occasions at work when colleagues fall short, in the interests of harmony and getting the job done well.

If you know you're missing some info then I think a professional approach would be to chase proactively and also twist the person try to remember to include you next time as otherwise could easily have been missed.

Twist? No don't do that that!🤪

I meant ask!

Annoying that they can't have the meeting later but I think you need to be a little proactive about this or you risk them saying you can't start later. You've had the email so ask. If they are doing the presentations in the meetings you won't be there for then I would suggest you ask for a suitable time for you to do yours.

I think this would depend. For example, if they have budget to pay for another full time person and have only reduced hours because of your own flexible working request, I would say it’s your responsibility to make it work. If the actual job requirements are 10-4 (ie if you left then they would replace you with someone working those hours), I think it’s a bit different

Sorry, that should have been quoting @itsgettingwierd

I think you should chase it up.

Personally I would phrase it to my line manager as "just wanted to confirm that I don't need to do one of the PowerPoint presentations the others have mentioned"

They may have said everybody but could well have meant "everyone who was able to attend the training and will be available at future meetings to present their work back." Ultimately though I'd have thought Ppt training would be handy for you and you're losing out by not doing it.

You need to take some responsibility in this situation, you were made aware in the email that there was a task so that was your cue to query this and find out what’s what. Show some initiative!

If you had zero knowledge of the task then I'd say YANBU. The fact you had an email from your manager about it and dribs and drabs from other team members, I'd say YABU. What stopped you emailing your manager back and asking questions about what the task was and how you'd like things like this handled in future? It's pointless digging your heels in about something you did have knowledge about from management (even if it was just a snippet) and saying you won't do it for reasons x, y and z. It comes across very childish. Have a conversation with your manager like a professional - pick your battles.

Goodness OP, get some self awareness! You've been given the privilege of flexible working to accommodate the school run. Show some give and take and make it your mission to find out what you missed at these meetings, you're a salaried adult not a child. If they really are 5 minutes surely you can dial in?

You need to show your employer you can make flexible working work. If you were in the private sector this attitude wouldn't be tolerated.

I'm sure you mean well but you really need to have a word with yourself here. It's your career and livelihood.

When you work different hours, as I have often done throughout my career, I find it pays to be proactive to make sure you are still an equal part of the team. By that I don't mean you have to work lots extra and take on more so it defeats the object of your different working pattern but not stepping up and doing things everyone else in the team does marks you out as being a lesser part of it.
Don't make others resentful by expecting them to hand you everything on a plate, make yourself look better by being proactive, finding this out and letting your manager know you would like to be informed in future

From a legal point of view, yes you're in the right. If they sacked you because you hadn't been able to complete the training/make a presentation/whatever, they would have to produce evidence that you had been given the correct info and tools to do so.

However, assuming you want to stay in your job, perhaps move up the ladder, and generally be good at your job instead of doing the bare minimum (not saying that's what you're doing now!) then passive-aggressive crap like this is not going to do your career, or your self-esteem, any good.

@WaterBottle123

Goodness OP, get some self awareness! You've been given the privilege of flexible working to accommodate the school run. Show some give and take and make it your mission to find out what you missed at these meetings, you're a salaried adult not a child. If they really are 5 minutes surely you can dial in?

You need to show your employer you can make flexible working work. If you were in the private sector this attitude wouldn't be tolerated.

I'm sure you mean well but you really need to have a word with yourself here. It's your career and livelihood.

Yeah this.

I work in the private sector and although my work has an amazing flexible working policy (I'm very lucky), this attitude would not be acceptable. Fair enough if you can't make the meeting every day. No-one appears to be objecting to that. You've been given the information regarding what you have to do by several people, you need to take responsibility for yourself and find out more.

@Trumpety

I think this would depend. For example, if they have budget to pay for another full time person and have only reduced hours because of your own flexible working request, I would say it’s your responsibility to make it work. If the actual job requirements are 10-4 (ie if you left then they would replace you with someone working those hours), I think it’s a bit different

Make it work yes.

But if they agree 10-4 working hours and have a meeting at 9am they cannot expect you to attend for free. If they wanted you there then refuse the shorter day due to operational needs.

I do agree thought the OP should email and ask for clarification as she's been sent an email informing her.