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Original poster

Work Gripe: Petty Manager or petty me ?

18 replies

Kaloo20 · 02/10/2006 15:05

I received this on Friday. I'm livid, I feel he's been petty. I had completely forgotten I owed him the money and personally I wouldn't dream of asking for ?2 back from anyone.
Please help me put this in perspective. At the moment I feel like forwarding it to the whole company mailing list (by mistake of course!). I worked all day and half the night to fix a crashed email server, and he never thanked me - ever.

Hi xxx,
Yesterday was an expensive day for me so I'm making a point today of calling in all my debtors, and I'm afraid, that (albeit for a very small amount) that means I need to request some money back from you.
Basically, I've got a note that you owe me ?2-something (we can just call it ?2 if you like) for the shortfall between the ?60 I gave you as reimbursement from for the taxi you caught home during the early hours of 23rd Aug and the loose change that you had at the time after I visited the bank and drew the money out for you.
I'd appreciate it if you could address this today if at all possible (and apologies for not reminding you earlier).

Thanks,

Nick Bateman
Technology Services Manager

OP posts:

CreepyCrawlyCarmenere · 02/10/2006 15:07

& such a knob, write him a cheque for it, and put it in a handmade thankyou card that costs more than £2.

anniediv · 02/10/2006 15:08

No, I would give it back in 1p pieces.

Cappuccino · 02/10/2006 15:09

i think it's reasonably written, polite

he could be v strapped; makes it clear he's not singling you out

why is one bit in bold?

Original poster

Kaloo20 · 02/10/2006 15:20

The bold was added by me to show he does actually acknowledge I was there half the night too (until 3.00am actually and I was back in the office at 10.00am the next morning).

Stupidly I was so stunned by the email I paid him immediately but dh thinks I should have paid it by postal order and made him wait until tomorrow when I get paid.

He actually did have an ulterior motive. He called me into an unscheduled "catch up" meeting on Friday about an hour after I paid him and gave me 2 weeks notice. - it's OK I'm a contractor so I knew I'd be leaving but we had previously agreed on the end of the month and he changed it. I was entitled to a months notice as I get paid monthly but he told me his budget wouldn't stretch to keep me another month.

... and he knows that in 4 weeks time I'm doing a charity cycle through Vietnam and therefore him ending the contract at the end of October would have been a neat finish for us all instead of the middle of the month. Now I'm left without work for two weeks before I take two weeks off to raise money for charity. He has known about the time I needed off since April so he's got no excuse.

God how I hate these small minded beaucratic middle managers - he is one of the worst I have ever worked for.

rant over -

I also hate petty people. He could have at least asked for the money to my face.

OP posts:

CreepyCrawlyCarmenere · 02/10/2006 15:29

Better off out of there are the words that spring to my mind.

Twiglett · 02/10/2006 15:33

no ... I actually think you are being incredibly petty

you owe him the money

so you pay him

how do you know he doesn't have huge debts .. you don't know his personal circumstances at all

its fair enough to have forgotten to pay back money owed .. but you don't have the right to take umbrage when you are so politely reminded

CreepyCrawlyCarmenere · 02/10/2006 15:45

I think that he is being petty and socially awkward. He could have said in a casual friendly manner, 'hey don't you owe me a couple of quid?' or something polite. That email was not polite imo.

BlueBeetle · 02/10/2006 15:47

I agree with Twiglett I'm afraid !

It is awkward asking for money back - I always think people should remmeber that they owe me - and the onus should be on them to pay it back asap - not the onus on me to ask iykwim. I would send an email rather than ask face to face ! Sorry !

Marina · 02/10/2006 15:56

It's a rather ornate and indirect way of reminding you that you owe him £2 (is that right?), but not rude.

I agree that on the surface of it, it seems petty, but also agree with Twiglett and others that you don't know what that £2 might mean to him (yes, I know, but you never know) and how many other people owe him money.

If his job requires him often to advance people taxi fares (for example), then if everyone on the team forgot trivial amounts, it might mount up rather to rather a lot.

I once had to chase a largish team of people for a previously agreed £3 each for some jointly sent flowers. Quite a few of them clearly thought that it was "only £3" and were a bit sarcastic about being reminded...but I had paid £42 for the flowers in total. Just trying out a hypothetical explanation for his seeming pettiness...

Original poster

Kaloo20 · 02/10/2006 16:52

Well so far it looks pretty even between petty manager and petty me ...

lol at "socially awkward" that sums him up beautifully.

OP posts:

SueW · 02/10/2006 18:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 02/10/2006 18:12

i think you should have the post removed as it has his name on it

edam · 02/10/2006 18:14

Yes, do get the OP deleted, not fair to put his real name (and a bit daft on your part too since anyone from your field of work could identify you from those details).

Personally if someone who worked for me owned me £2 and I'd just sacked them, I'd let it go. But it is reasonable of him to ask for the money back - and I can see why people might hide behind email, chasing people for money they owe you can be embarrassing (unfair, as it should really be the other way round but somehow isn't.). But I understand why this put the tin lid on it for you when you are alreadyaggrieved.

Now off to get those splinters out of my behind - this fence-sitting is painful.

Philomena · 02/10/2006 18:29

With regard to the period of notice - you aren't necessarily entitled to the same period of notice as your pay period. Are you sure you are entitled to notice as a contractor?

Tortington · 02/10/2006 18:38

i had someone ask me for 20p on friday - nope actually i tell a lie - i gave him money for a butty from tesco and he took it out the change with a " took that 20p"

i was gobsmacked because of the amount of times i bring goodies and cakes in - that tight fuck never buys anything. however i am the bigger person - literally due to cakes.

anyway - with your situation - yes he needs his money back - but asking via e-mail - what a knob jockey.

wartywarthog · 02/10/2006 22:38

i'm with marina on this one. i don't think it's a rude email.

i think you should get your op deleted. it's not fair to post his name.

hatwoman · 02/10/2006 23:00

"calling in all my debtors" indicates that he's in eth type of situation Marina describes where a load of people owe him - possibly equally small amounts - leaving him the choice of writing all the debts off or chasing all of them. if I'd received this email, i'd be a bit suprised but quite embarrassed that I'd forgotten

porpoise · 02/10/2006 23:27

er...wasn't NIck Bateman Nasty Nick in BB1?

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