To not push an employee to do more?

[itsallbowlsbaby]

I started a new role six weeks ago and have inherited a small team based all over the world. Three of them are young, ambitious, eager to progress. One of them works at a very large site and does all the admin for it, and therefore is quite insular and self sufficient. She also speaks a different language. She's been there 20 years and is considered part of the furniture. I've just done her mid year performance review and it's very clear she doesn't want to do any more, take on any more, broaden her role or do any additional training. She's quite happy doing her job and going home. Says she has no capacity to take on any more. Thing is, MY boss wants her to take on more but by the sounds of it, she will push back. I'd be quite happy to leave her to it and focus on the younger members who do want to further their careers. WIBU to just let her get on with it?? She's late 50s if that's relevant.

Does the boss actually know what they're talking about though?

Do they have even the slightest clue what this employee does. You're their manager, so its incumbent on you to give the boss facts and data on what the employee does and whether they are at capacity. If their day is say 80% covered, you might identify an additional task they could add, but not load them to such a capacity that they are overwhelmed, especially as they sound like a loyal employee who needs to be appreciated not hammered into the ground.

Not everyone has a line manager - I know here there are multiple levels of management but hundreds of thousands of people must be employed by small businesses where there is only one manager or boss. I'd never refer to my boss as my line manager.

It sounds a bit like you want to let her off doing work that she could do (and possibly others will then have to do) because you know she will push back. That doesn't seem fair.

I think being asked to engage in sharing her practice cross the company seems a very reasonable request.

Projecting? Or maybe we are telling the OP how his direct report feels because we are in the same boat, nothing like a bit of lived experience.
Or should we suggest he manages her out?

I always hated the idea of managing others, and when my boss pushed me to do so I really couldn't handle it. I hope she can be encouraged to share her findings and working practices with other departments though. That really is an essential part of any job where she's in charge of an isolated location.

In that case I would just refer as "manager".
Boss got so many odd power balance connotations, I would avoid it like a plague.

I bet this lady can't wait to hear your company strategic policy on sustainability, your 4 pillars, and take on this new bullshit task, ensuring everyone is collaborating to endeavour to achieve your objectives. Thinking Kate waterfall funny corporate bullshit ....