Should I just ignore the comment?

Fairyliz · 22/12/2021 12:32

So your colleague can’t do their part of the job because your manager hasn’t authorised it and it’s your job to get this authority?
Sorry I know it’s a pain when managers are like this but I do think it’s up to you to chase manager.
Just think of it as helping colleague and hopefully at some time they will repay the favour.

LotusCheesecake · 22/12/2021 12:33

My way of getting round this with a similarly unresponsive manager is to send another email along the lines of - as I've not heard from you I assume all is ok - please let me know by 5pm or else I will send as is. Thanks.

Quickchangeartiste · 22/12/2021 12:34

Would depend on how time critical the task was. I may chase up once but thereafter if manager was a repeat offender I would go talk to them about it - maybe ask how you can help streamline this process - not directly criticising . It’s ridiculous that anyone in an organisation needs prompted to do their job but it’s common in my experience

GinIronic · 22/12/2021 12:37

I would send the request again - with a read receipt- copy in your colleague and walk away. You’ve done your bit. You are not the PA.

girlmom21 · 22/12/2021 12:38

Is there a way you can communicate with the manager aside from via email? Does the approval go through a system or just come via email?

Is it actually your job to chase the approval?

I'd personally go over your managers head every single time they choose not to respond. It might piss them off but eventually their manager will get pissed off too and have to address the issue.

Original poster

countrylady2 · 22/12/2021 12:39

My colleague said if the manager does not authorise it, it goes ahead anyway without his authorisation so he can proceed with his role. It seems like a complete waste of time.

OP posts:

Aprilx · 22/12/2021 12:39

@countrylady2

In my role at work I have to do a task for a colleague so they can proceed in their role. I carry out the task then a manager has to authorise it. This colleague says I may have to chase the manager as he doesn’t respond to emails. Now I have set this all up on the system and emailed the manager to authorise and got no response.

The manager is quite lazy and will only get involved in things which have nothing to do with him. I don’t see why I should be chasing people and acting like their personal assistant when I have a very tight workload as it is. The previous manager was not like this and was very efficient and well respected.

Best to just ignore this comment?

It is your role to provide an authorised piece of work to another person / department. Therefore yes, it is definitely up to you to get the work authorised. You should take it up with your manager if they are not approving things quickly enough.

I have worked in finance for decades and authorisations are a fact of life. To me it absolutely beggars belief that you imagine you can wash your hands of it prior to authorisation.

Original poster

countrylady2 · 22/12/2021 12:44

@Aprilx You didn’t read my other comment. It goes ahead even without the manager’s approval.

If it is like your role finance related then yes I would chase up as suppliers need to be paid.

OP posts:

Squeezita · 22/12/2021 12:45

@LotusCheesecake

My way of getting round this with a similarly unresponsive manager is to send another email along the lines of - as I've not heard from you I assume all is ok - please let me know by 5pm or else I will send as is. Thanks.

Given the work goes ahead anyway, I think Lotus has the right approach.

Warn him that the work will self-authorise by 5pm or whatever.

Dorismargaret · 22/12/2021 12:48

Surely your colleague should be chasing it with manager not you. You've done your bit.

Or maybe you could have a meeting with your manager to clarify weather he really needs to authorise it.

quietinhere · 22/12/2021 12:49

If you've followed procedure, it is not up to you to manage the manager.

For purely practical reasons, if you get into the habit of reminding the manager then this will become the norm, and will increase your workload without you ever getting recognition for the fact that you are managing one of your superiors.

Also, if you manage this person's email reminders, the hierarchy within the company may never realise that one of their managers cannot manage their emails properly (there may be other areas this person is weak in, and will require training).

Squeezita · 22/12/2021 12:52

@quietinhere

If you've followed procedure, it is not up to you to manage the manager.

For purely practical reasons, if you get into the habit of reminding the manager then this will become the norm, and will increase your workload without you ever getting recognition for the fact that you are managing one of your superiors.

Also, if you manage this person's email reminders, the hierarchy within the company may never realise that one of their managers cannot manage their emails properly (there may be other areas this person is weak in, and will require training).

Here, here. It's quite a gendered thing, expecting you to chase the male manager.

Grimchmas · 22/12/2021 12:53

I would get into the habit of emailing manager and colleague who needs it when my bit was done to say it is done and ready for manager to authorise it. Then it's up to the colleague who needs it to chase the manager.