To find this work request unprofessional?

Funkyslippers · 2023-05-15T15:17:19+00:00

I work in an office, several other departments. Our manager is trying to get us to work more closely with one of the other departments, which I appreciate, as we do similar support roles. But he said we should do something nice for them and the person that they feel has done the nicest thing will get a prize! Now I'm not sure what he has in mind really, but he's probably assuming we have money to spare to do this sort of thing. I'm all for sharing information with other departments where needed and building a good relationship, but this feels as if we're competing to see who's the biggest suck up!

Fraaahnces · 15/05/2023 16:18

I’d be tempted to write back “Fine. You start.”

Lindjam · 15/05/2023 16:20

Oh just ignore him. He’s an idiot.

pokabubble · 15/05/2023 16:42

That sounds odd

tweener · 15/05/2023 16:45

"Great idea boss, let me know how much petty cash the company is provided for this and I'm sure we can come up with something within that budget."

NotTooOldPaul · 15/05/2023 16:49

I would find out what really nice thing someone from one of the other teams wanted. I'd buy it, get a receipt and claim it from the company

Timeforabiscuit · 15/05/2023 16:50

What @tweener said!

All the "nice" in the world isn't going to make up for crap management!

JustMarriedBecca · 15/05/2023 16:56

It probably means writing a review on Linked In of how they are amazing to work with and a great team player bla bla bla (free for you, great PR for the company).

BashfulClam · 15/05/2023 16:58

Thank you board. Write thank you notes to people when they help and stick them on the board…costs are minimal and so is the effort. We have a wall dedicated to this and also post photos of team building nonsense, some people did charity work together.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 15/05/2023 17:01

Doesn't he mean things like writing them a review/endorsement, nominating them for something, giving good feedback on a project and copying in their boss, including them when you make a round of drinks or do orders for breakfast sandwiches rather than spending money.

Aaron95 · 15/05/2023 17:04

Something "nice" doesn't have to involve spending money. It could be as simple as finding out someone in the other team is struggling with something and working through it together. It could be having a coffee with osmeone from the other team and talking about good/bad things which you may both encounter.

AllegraWalterJones · 15/05/2023 17:07

'Prize for nice things'? Are you in primary school?
There's a more professional way to put it.

Allthings · 15/05/2023 17:14

I would replace ‘nice’ with supportive and see where that takes you.

It’s doubtful that your manger means to buy them something nice. I suspect that the message has got lost in translation.

Lolaandbehold · 15/05/2023 17:19

Organise a half an hour coffee catch-up on the kitchen, their team and yours, since you’re all going to be working together.
Minimum effort, visible as team collaboration and may well make your working life easier if there are synergies to be had by working with them. And it’s on company time!

caringcarer · 15/05/2023 17:36

JustMarriedBecca · 15/05/2023 16:56

It probably means writing a review on Linked In of how they are amazing to work with and a great team player bla bla bla (free for you, great PR for the company).

This sounds likely. It probably does not mean.buy them gifts OP.

UsingChangeofName · 15/05/2023 17:44

Yes, although the whole "prize" idea sounds a bit odd, I wouldn't have jumped from "doing something nice for someone" to "buying them something"

daytriptovulcan · 15/05/2023 17:44

I wouldnt take it too seriously. Just buy a kinder surprise.

maddiemookins16mum · 15/05/2023 17:45

We did something similar before Covid. An inter department Bake Off spread over two weeks.
Max budget per cake was £5.
20 of us, £100 straight out of petty cash.
It was great fun.

Whiteroomjoy · 15/05/2023 17:49

Sounds like boss is a complete plonker
you need to arrange a meeting with him

ask him
”what, is he wanting to achieve, in terms of a specific defined objective, for this team building exercise?”
” What specific problem is he trying to solve?”
“How will he measure the “nicest” of relative actions you each make- what is the criteria and who will assess this?”
”tell him to give you examples of things you think would qualify ?”
and if the examples are things to spend money on or your own time, say clearly “ no I will not be doing that . It is not part of my job contract to spend money or my own time on team building intiatives. Is it part of yours ? “ ( it won’t be🤦‍♀️)

Then say to him that in your opinion this is not an effective way to build cross function teams. It will merely lead to resentment within his own team, if the other team don’t reciprocate (eg why should you do all the running) and feels a lot t like just sucking up to them. That is not going do good working relationships, it will more likely result in the other team believing thy call all the shots.

then tell him that strengthen relationships is a great idea, and wouldn’t it be far better to use proven effective ways to do team building. These things don’t need to cost money, examples would be (maybe think of few of your own so he can see you are trying to meet his objective )

sharing your lunch time in small groups to “get to know you”. Lunch and learns form team members about what their role is or specific tasks/systems they use, Setting up some cross function teams that can compete for silly quizzes , identifying who the baby was game, who has the silliest pet photo, all the way to the company paying for a drink together after work one day. it should also include lots of mutual recognition as specific people or teams reach their objectives along the course of your working togther - even just gathering folks round and him saying thank you can be mighty powerful . That does need organising, can all be done at pretty much zero cost. But he needs to a sign specific tasks to individual team members in both teams to do that.

And is exactly why he doesn’t want to do that proven team building, cos he’s a lazy arse , or just stupid, and wants you all to magically make it happen .

LolaSmiles · 15/05/2023 17:49

I don't like these sorts of things.

In one workplace I was in the principle was about random acts of kindness, making cups of tea, picking people's copying up, bringing some chocolate in. In reality some people were buying quite lavish (for a workplace) gifts and it turned into "look someone's obviously spent £15/20 on me". That's a lot of money to throw on work gifts for colleagues. I think it harmed the culture too.

AllegraWalterJones · 15/05/2023 17:53

Whiteroomjoy · 15/05/2023 17:49

Sounds like boss is a complete plonker
you need to arrange a meeting with him

ask him
”what, is he wanting to achieve, in terms of a specific defined objective, for this team building exercise?”
” What specific problem is he trying to solve?”
“How will he measure the “nicest” of relative actions you each make- what is the criteria and who will assess this?”
”tell him to give you examples of things you think would qualify ?”
and if the examples are things to spend money on or your own time, say clearly “ no I will not be doing that . It is not part of my job contract to spend money or my own time on team building intiatives. Is it part of yours ? “ ( it won’t be🤦‍♀️)

Then say to him that in your opinion this is not an effective way to build cross function teams. It will merely lead to resentment within his own team, if the other team don’t reciprocate (eg why should you do all the running) and feels a lot t like just sucking up to them. That is not going do good working relationships, it will more likely result in the other team believing thy call all the shots.

then tell him that strengthen relationships is a great idea, and wouldn’t it be far better to use proven effective ways to do team building. These things don’t need to cost money, examples would be (maybe think of few of your own so he can see you are trying to meet his objective )

sharing your lunch time in small groups to “get to know you”. Lunch and learns form team members about what their role is or specific tasks/systems they use, Setting up some cross function teams that can compete for silly quizzes , identifying who the baby was game, who has the silliest pet photo, all the way to the company paying for a drink together after work one day. it should also include lots of mutual recognition as specific people or teams reach their objectives along the course of your working togther - even just gathering folks round and him saying thank you can be mighty powerful . That does need organising, can all be done at pretty much zero cost. But he needs to a sign specific tasks to individual team members in both teams to do that.

And is exactly why he doesn’t want to do that proven team building, cos he’s a lazy arse , or just stupid, and wants you all to magically make it happen .

Please give a talk to some of my former bosses too!

PonyPatter44 · 15/05/2023 18:04

I find it interesting that you were told "do something nice" and you've interpreted it as "buy something nice". The person upthread who suggested a thank you board is closer to the mark than you are, to be honest.

Ktime · 15/05/2023 18:06

Let me guess? There are mostly women in your team?

He is creating a lot of duplication of 'work' here. I would do nothing.

Ktime · 15/05/2023 18:07

PonyPatter44 · 15/05/2023 18:04

I find it interesting that you were told "do something nice" and you've interpreted it as "buy something nice". The person upthread who suggested a thank you board is closer to the mark than you are, to be honest.

Or maybe you could give her the credit of knowing her boss and what he likely expects?

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 15/05/2023 18:16

Ktime · 15/05/2023 18:07

Or maybe you could give her the credit of knowing her boss and what he likely expects?

Show quote history

Even if that is what he expects, his team can deliver free options and they have fulfilled the request. He can judge the "winner" but it is pretty meaningless beyond the prize so really as long as the OP engages she can show she has joined in and won't be in trouble.

Throughalookingglass · 15/05/2023 18:19

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 15/05/2023 17:01

Doesn't he mean things like writing them a review/endorsement, nominating them for something, giving good feedback on a project and copying in their boss, including them when you make a round of drinks or do orders for breakfast sandwiches rather than spending money.

Yes this is what it he will have meant.

It’s all a load of BS though tbh.

Just send a thank you email to whoever next helps you do something. You will have ‘participated’ with the BS request and it’s minimal effort!