AIBU to think this is a horrible thing to do on the deadline of a major work project?

[RJ2023]

I work for for an insurance broker and a key part of my job is clients coming to us (and our competitors) with a problem they have and we have a few weeks to put together a report with our proposed solution.

Typically results in a brainstorm, narrow it down to 5 ideas, 2 weeks of actuarial analysis on those, and then a 50 slide PowerPoint to explain those 5 ideas and our overall recommendation for our pitch.

One guy never joins any of the calls throughout the project because "he is too busy" but consistently finds time at 4pm on the deadline day to start raising questions and concerns about our recommendation (cc'd to everyone he can think of obviously!)

There's obviously nothing that can be done at this stage so I have to send the report as it is and instead of the happy feeling you get after finishing three weeks hard work I'm left feeling a bit shit as the project lead, and he looks great for spotting something nobody else had picked up on.

AIBU? I think it is a really horrible thing to do to people on the deadline day of a major piece of work.

Oh, that is a deliberate tactic

I can’t abide people who do that. Is it somebody very senior? The deputy chief executive used to do it in my last place.

No, he's the same level as me. It's just making me feel a bit shit this evening.

He's done it to other people too.

Oh god I work with someone like that, he is master of pulling things apart and saying that we shouldn’t have done X, Y, Z instead of giving advice based on where we actually are with a project. So frustrating.

I'd be inclined to send an email (cc'ing everyone if you feel particularly salty) advising him that he should have attended meetings X Y and Z on A B and C dates to raise any concerns or suggestions and that raising things an hour before sign off off is not helpful or professional.

Or maybe just go to your manager about it / him and his lack of input.

I’d go back and say thanks for your feedback, but as it’s come in so late, unfortunately he’s missed the boat.

I hope the 50 slide power point is a typo.

In that case, it might be worth talking to your manager about it

Obviously, with the deputy chief exec, it was a tactic that was endorsed from the top. But you might have some chance of getting it changed here.

Is there no way to call him out on this?? Why is he getting away with giving no input until the very last second?? Do you have a boss you could mention it to?

I doubt anyone actually thinks he looks great.
If someone did something like where I work, I’d think they were a bit of a ln idiot and incapable of managing their time.

It is not sadly!

Sounds like he’s recently read wankernomics (as have I)

it’s all bollocks like most jobs anyway isn’t it OP, I include my own in that. He’s a dick, but it’s Friday night, so chill

Just reply nicely cc-ing everyone you can think of "Thank you for your valuable contribution, Benjamin. It is really appreciated to have a fresh pair of eyes on the report. We've discussed this project at length on such and such dates and it is a shame you could not join us due to conflicts in your diary. We will continue inviting you to our meetings for the upcoming project and hope you can join us in the future so that we have sufficient time to act on your suggestions".

Or whatever nice version of "show up for meetings or shut up" you can come up with.

This

I will do when I next speak with my line manager - it is not great for my morale or the team that worked with me on the project

Is he more timely if higher ups ask for comments?

I have that book too! I love it. My Mum got it for me for Christmas last year.

I’m going to see them next week, excited

"Unfortunately your comments have come too late in the day for us to be able to make any changes. It might have been useful to have this contribution when you were sent the proposals [x] days ago or at the meetings on [dates] to which you were invited."

Wow! I didn't know they did live performances - my book is written by James Schloeffel & Charles Firth - is that who you are going to see?

This was kind of what I was thinking! But I don’t work in this kind of environment so didn’t know if it was appropriate!

He sounds like a complete prat.
Can you call him out by replying to his emails, while keeping everyone CC’d, explaining that it’s too late in the day for any changes and politely tell him that if he had graced any of the meetings with his presence, he could have discussed his concerns etc then?

Id send an email back cc to everyone he sent the original email to saying something like

'Given that today is the deadline and it is currently 4:00 PM, we are unable to accommodate further revisions at this stage. I am concerned that raising these points at this hour is not a constructive use of our remaining time.'
Regards RJ

I like it - especially the "Regards" sign-off, which in corporate speak is the best way to tell everyone you are annoyed!

Anyway, the report is sent to the client - I thought we did a good job - I'll keep a very close eye on this guy in the future on any projects I am leading.

Sorry this douchebag has burst your bubble OP. I'm sure you and your team did do a good job.

We have similar arseholes at work, but rather than putting it in an email they often litter your document with their comments at the last minute. Super annoying.

I would simply send him an email copied in to everyone who needs to know saying please can you read by xx date and provide any feedback and if no feedback is given by that date you are confirming you are happy with the report

then if he does come back last minute I would call him out in front of everyone