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.

I have no fucks to give and would 100% be assertive. "Hindsight is wonderful Bob. The report is ready to send.".

And any future work, very strict deadlines "feedback by the 23rd October" and just the dreaded "as per my last email, attached" cc.ed to everyone he did if he misses the deadline.

But I'm close to retirement and they like me.

What are the seniority levels? Can you thank him for his valuable feedback and ask him to give it earlier in the process next time to allow you the time to incorporate it?

He's justifying his existence and he is demoralising you, or attempting to then complain about him to your manager.

If he had a brain, he'd be dangerous

Aaargh THE AUDACITY. I've had this too OP, from two higher ups literally hours before I had to submit those very papers to Board - when my team had asked them for feedback on the subject on multiple occasions, going back 8 weeks!

I did call it out in public (against every fibre of my passive being). Grave nods and apologies didn't change anything for me and my team, I still had to deal with the fallout, but it made me feel a bit better for saying something.

If this guy is the same level as you, aren't you well within your lane to say Kevin, the time for constructive feedback was days ago when we actually had time to make adjustments, we can't take late comments on board - try engaging earlier next time? Or would that have to come from his manager? Do you have the same manager?

This!

I think there are two ways to handle this, depending on whether you really need this guy's input or not. Or you could blend elements of both.

Do you do lessons learned/debrief sessions after submission? It could be a perfect vehicle to raise this. Don't name names (because you don't need to, everyone knows who it is!) but focus on what went wrong, what could be better next time etc.

The first "method," imo, is the tough stance one: Make it clear that next time, there will be a hard stop for revisions built into the timeline. Then when kicking off the next project, however you communicate the timeline, remind everyone: "as a reminder, the deadline for amendments/revisions is 25th October, and the submission deadline is 30th October." Or whatever works obviously. Stick a reminder into everyone's calendars for that date. Basically be as obnoxious as possible about keeping to that date! And then be clinical and unbothered if it happens again - "the revisions deadline has passed, but thanks" etc.

The second method, and I suppose you could do this as well really, is that he might need coddling. If you could really do with his insights and they are normally good ones, you could give him a ring a few days before your deadline and practise your persuasion skills! (All the while inwardly rolling your eyes of course.)

But either way definitely don't feel disheartened! He's a prat and it's really annoying. Other people will see it that way too.

Why are you ignoring everyone’s feedback on this. You really need to push back on this, you have been given plenty of responses to use.

I'd reply all with something like this:

As today is the deadline and it is currently 4pm, we cannot accommodate further revisions at this time. Raising these points at this hour, having not attended any of the project meetings or review calls is not a constructive use of time and does not allow for proper analysis.
We are proceeding with the final deck as tested. Going forward, feedback must be brought to the scheduled team calls so we can address it in the proper window.
Regards,
RJ"

I would stop sharing anything with him once he misses a couple of meetings and just say he obviously didn’t have time to be involved.

Wanker!

In future, if you're asking for feedback give a deadline. Send out a call for final feedback on the morning of the due date. If feedback is provided after the deadline, call it out. "Unfortunately, despite reminders, you have provided feedback well past the time when it can be actioned. The due date for feedback was XXX. Whilst your feedback will be considered, where relevant, on future projects, due to the lateness of submission it cannot be incorporated in the current project. Going forward, I ask that you respect clearly communicated deadlines for feedback"

This is the only way to proceed. There is a pattern. That you can reference if he pushes back. Be clear, initially you didnt mind the very late feedback, but as it has now become a pattern, despite non attendance at xyz meetings, this is now an issue.

Options for next time, especially given he’s peer:

1. The moment you start work - ‘Kevin, first draft and comments are due 5pm UK on Friday for review and agreement at the following Tuesday’s meeting.’
2. Kevin, final review of the submission is due Thursday - please add comments by Wednesday and find time to discuss any concerns
3. If he pulls a stunt 4pm the day of submission again - Many thanks, Kevin. We’re up against the clock here - can you incorporate those points into a new draft in the next 30 minutes?’ - wait for crickets and ‘of course not’ to which you then say ‘let’s note for possible future engagements then to explore as they’re not material enough for now’

"David, this would have been a useful input 2 weeks ago, as it is we are ready to submit documents to client. Please consider providing your feedback in a more timely manner in future if you expect it to be actioned"

He'll be really ambitious- people who feel they have to tear others down in order to rise are scum, spike him if you possibly can, he won't stop.

Yes, ideally you want to stop it even getting to the point where he can send a snotty fault finding email at 4pm. At the start, can you say to management that Kevin would be better being released from the project as twice now he's attended no meetings and contributed nothing till the too-late email, which is counter-productive and spoils the impression for the client. If you can’t get that agreed, say to him specifically he's not to do it, and email him every time he misses a meeting to express your concern that he's not sharing feedback with you in a timely way.

Every company seems to have a few of these guys. My favourite was the one who was too busy to contribute anything - anything at all - to a group project which was being presented to the CEO. Not one word of his was on the slides nor was he there to offer one edit. But he kindly offered to do the presentation.

You'd love to reply "I love that you think these comments would be useful the day it is due. Bless your heart"

I reached a stage when working for Royal and Sun alliance when my response cc everyone and his dog in would have been 'thanks for that Nigel, but that's been signed off by the stakeholders as per procedures. I am happy to talk through the system of stakeholder buy in, but given the fact you didn't attend or contribute to the quote process perhaps it would be useful for you to come along next time to see how it actually works "

Or my fave when not getting a response " well I'll tell x (the CEO at the time) why £x million is walking out the door because you haven't done your job".

Yep that's why RSA 5 years ago the oldest company in the UK founded in 1710 no longer exists, middle management had to blackmail colleagues to actually do their jobs

Can you not put in a deadline for feedback?

Absolutely this! Call him out!

Is he picking up on something important that was missed?

I went to see them last year after seeing their clips all over social media.

They played Hackney empire then but I think it’s a much bigger tour now. They were really funny.

Op - some valuable advice here. Please take it. If you continue to passively Eyeroll, he not only continues but ramps it up, as he knows you are a pushover. His behaviour is a pattern. Treat it as such before he damages your reputation and career.

What does he actually do? Does he have a purpose in the company? Is he another owner of a bullshit job?

This.
Don't let him get away with it.
This is the kind of idiot who gets promoted over the people who actually do these work, due to thier "insight" and "clear communication".
Well done on your project!