Now expected to walk my bosses dog at lunch.

[Rose785]

My boss started bringing her dog in maybe once a week. She works through lunch so she can leave work an hour early. I like to walk at lunch time. She asked if I could walk her dog and I genuinely didnt mind to begin with. But now she's bringing her dog in 3 or 4 times a week and now just expects me to walk her dog on my lunch break. I am a very busy mum so my only time to get my steps in is during my lunch and I find the dog annoys me by constantly stopping to sniff and slowing down my pace as well as picking up the poo which isnt my own dog is unpleasant!!! I finally said no when my boss asked me the other day and she was like oh please just a quick one! And it's now just irritating me that I have to walk her dog on my lunch when I just want to be on my own and decompress from being a busy working mum. it's getting to the point where I am thinking of possible ways and lies of getting out of it.
AIBU to feel this way. And if not any advise. It is my boss and I love my job but it's getting to me now.

For everyone suggesting she walks the dog in work time - OP has said in her update that won’t work for her:

She would definitely let me take a longer lunch to walk her dog but that doesn't work for me as my work load doesn't reduce so it just means a more stressful afternoon.

The OP also mentioned picking up its poo as unpleasant. Walking the dog at a different time wouldn’t necessarily remove the need to pick up poo.

I would say “I’m happy to walk your dog for a walk if I can take my break after I get back from doing that?” Give the dog a 2 minute walk and then take it back and go for your walk.

“Hi boss, I was happy to use my lunch break to walk Rufus when it was an occasional thing like once a fortnight, but I am finding now that it’s too much for me. I need my lunch break for chores and for walking at a pace that helps my overall fitness, which I can’t do with Rufus. I am sorry, but I won’t be able to walk him going forward, so you’ll need to make alternate arrangements.”

I’m a pushover and even I wouldn’t do this! Why is the dog there in the first place?!

I hope you avoided walking the dog today. If not, hopefully you can tell her this afternoon that you won't be walking the dog again. Don't say "sorry", don't say "unfortunately". If pressed, say something like "it doesn't suit". Don't give any reasons as that's an opportunity for her to attack the reason.

It is difficult to do these things but you'll feel so much better for standing up for yourself.

Remember, at the moment you're giving up your free time so she can leave early and save money on a dog walker. Nobody would reasonably think this is okay, and it won't change until you force the issue.

If you need a little push, think of other people in the office or in your team that she definitely wouldn't ask to do this favour for her. Your last update shows that she's manipulating you rather than directly asking. She sees you as an easy target. This is not okay.

Remember:

• Her dog is not your responsibility.
• Bosses generally have respect for those who stand up for themselves, and have little respect for those who don't.
• She's not asking everyone in the office to help, she's targeting you.

You can do it!

I hope you've managed to put a stop to your boss bullying you into walking HER dog in YOUR lunch break.

Also, it's cruel to walk dogs on pavements/tarmac in this heat as it risks burning their paws, and they shouldn't be out in this heat.anyway.

I still don’t get why she doesn’t walk her own dog

plus so hot here at moment so area depending no dogs should be walked at lunchtime anyway

"No, that doesn't work for me on MY lunch hour"

I'd imagine she gets into the office as early as possible so she can work her hours & leave as early as possible, so probably can't be bothered to allow enough time to walk the dog before work

If it were me I'd be delighted, as long as I could have my normal break in addition to the dog walking.

How did it go today OP?

Yes me too, but sadly OP doesn't have time for that

Once a week was fine. Three or four times a week is taking the piss.

Don't be so fucking ridiculous. Op, you've been given lots of sensible advice. This isn't sensible advice and don't even contemplate saying it.

op says this can happen but means she has same amount of work to do in less time

so doesn’t work

Hi OP.

I would gather my things to leave for my lunch break and if she asks, I would say ‘No, I’m taking my lunch break’ , smile and keep going. If she says ‘oh please’ I would repeat again ‘No, I’m taking my lunch break’ and leave. This is absolutely acceptable as a response, not rude at all.

No is a complete sentence, but this can feel uncomfortable and the power dynamic is at play as this is your boss. Softening the NO with the clear statement that you are taking your lunch break may make it less awkward for you, but also highlights the fact that this is your time and she doesn’t get to direct what you do with it.

Honestly, it’s really unreasonable of her to expect you to walk her dog. And when you said no to wheedle and persuade you.. that’s beyond rude! Asking again after you saying no is her applying pressure. Very manipulative as she will be well aware of the power dynamics at play here.

I would repeat the very same ‘No, I’m taking my lunch break’ with a smile every time she asked me. It will become really clear how ridiculous she is being when it’s the same clear appropriate answer from you each time.

this is insanely unreasonable of her. I don't even know where to start with this.

She is an unbelievably unreasonable woman!

She's a CF as she's obviously saving paying for someone to walk her dog from her home!

Ask her to pay you the going dogwalking rate for your lunch hour?

Is it though? Whether it's once a week or three times a week, OP's boss is using her power as OP's supervisor, to bully OP into doing unpaid favors for her, at the expense of OP's own free time. It's totally inappropriate. The very fact that OP is afraid to say "no" to her boss, shows why her boss's behavior is unacceptable here.

Most dog owners have no idea how much other people might loathe their dogs

I love my neighbour's dog, but there is no way I'd be taking it for a walk. And that is not in work time.

Hope the OP has said no.

Time to have a word with her boss. She’s taking the piss. Also, put it in writing that you will no longer be walking her dog.

It got the lunch time the other day and she told the dog to ask me for a walk so I thought nows the time I say something! I just said what I said on here and she just said she felt bad as she honestly thought I just loved to walk the dog. Wasn't anywhere near as bad as what I built up in my head and all cleared up now!

That's good news, glad you've sorted it and can go back to enjoying your lunch break in peace.

Glad you were able to stand up for yourself.

Her excuse that she thought you loved it is just that, a bullshit excuse but if that's what she needs to say to save face then it's fine.

Goodluck.