To be pissed off at being volunteered without being asked?

[JakeyRolling]

Got a message from the head of another team at work to tell me I've been volunteered for some training.

This was the first I've heard of it.

I don't really want to do the training (it's not essential that I personally do it, just one person on my team needs to know the process) but would have agreed if I'd been asked. (Though I would have questioned if I was the best person as I'm the only PT member of my team).

But I wasn't asked, or even given a head up of "I want you to do this training".

I now have to find time in my schedule/clear some workload to attend the training session.

AIBU to be a bit pissed off?

Have you reminded the person who volunteered you that they'll also need to train a FT member of staff to do that duty when you aren't there, so wouldn't it be more cost-effective for just the FT member of staff to be trained?

I’m guessing your work is somewhat like mine where you don’t have a completely hierarchical structure and work tasks are not always explicitly assigned top down. Sometimes in that environment it can be easy to forget that it is still a work environment where management is doing overall planning on staffing and training. So even if the normal protocol for most things is to ask if someone can complete a task, sometimes tasks do still get assigned.

Who volunteered you?

And if you don’t need the training speak up.

No one can boss you about.

You haven't been volunteered, you've been nominated & id tell them 'no'

@Morechocolatethanbarbara

Have you reminded the person who volunteered you that they'll also need to train a FT member of staff to do that duty when you aren't there, so wouldn't it be more cost-effective for just the FT member of staff to be trained?

They would just leave the task for me to do on the days I'm there

Though I would have questioned if I was the best person as I'm the only PT member of my team

You can still do this.

@Blossom64265

I’m guessing your work is somewhat like mine where you don’t have a completely hierarchical structure and work tasks are not always explicitly assigned top down. Sometimes in that environment it can be easy to forget that it is still a work environment where management is doing overall planning on staffing and training. So even if the normal protocol for most things is to ask if someone can complete a task, sometimes tasks do still get assigned.

This is different. Our hierarchy is hub-like. Multiple small teams on a similar level, each with a leader and a traditional hierarchy above that.

Each of our teams is a specialism. There's some cross over in process though so the head of this specialist team contacted my team lead to ask for someone from my team to learn the basics.

There's some cross over in process though so the head of this specialist team contacted my team lead to ask for someone from my team to learn the basics.

Yeah YABU. You've been nominated by someone more senior and they'll have nominated you for a reason. They don't need to ask whether you'd like additional work to do. They'll know the teams capacity and capabilities.

I'd take it as a compliment.

Not sure I'm seeing the problem, you've been asked to train someone in something that I guess you know? Where's the issue?

If you’ve been “volunteered” by a supervisor or manager then it’s a responsibility that’s been assigned to you and if it’s not detrimental to your career or job satisfaction (which I assume from your “if asked, I’d have done it” comment) I don’t really see the problem. You’re taking issue with the form of words they used in a somewhat petty way.

If “volunteered” by a peer then I can see why it’s annoying and it’s poor management to let peers put you up for a task without giving you a bigger opportunity to advocate for yourself. I’d push back that others can’t “volunteer” you and you think you should have more say in wether your suitable or not than other random members of the team.

If this is how they want to pay you to spend the work day, then fair enough. Just make them aware that your "usual" duties won't get done that day.

Even if it's a manager, they shouldn't just volunteer you without checking with you first.

Who volunteered you?

I feel playing the I'm 'only part time' is a slippery slope when it comes to training, and people wanting to reserve opportunities for full time staff is one of the things that holds women back in work

Agree with withnailandyou

It's the lack of heads up that's annoyed me.

The reason I'm annoyed at this is it's a process that involves numbers and I'm dyscalculate. It's a discussion I would have preferred to have had before being volunteered.

‘Voluntold’ more like!

Managed to chat to team lead who basically said "oh shit, I was asked for a name and meant to mention it to you but forgot".

He's the only one of the team so far who's done this training so was able to assure me that in terms of numbers I can copy and paste figures into the program, so don't have to worry about reading 123456789 and seeing it as 123465789 and then typing it as 143652879.

Other team lead happy to work around my workload (which for various reasons has some rigid meetings and deadlines which can't always be delegated)

Storm in a tea cup then?
Someone just forgot to tell you that you were nominated to do something relevant to work, in work time, paid.
And no discrimination against you because you’re part time.
All sounds good to me!

@errnerrcallnernnernnern

Who volunteered you?

And if you don’t need the training speak up.

No one can boss you about.

Your boss can....

@Mumdiva99 😭

I would do it. I was always happy to do any extra training because it make my position more secure and my cv look better.