What if my manager asks me to complete a task which is someone else’s job?

[cherrycola66]

My manager recently asked me to complete a pretty lengthy task, this is not my job role, it is someone else’s who is working but is snowed under with work; however she asked me as she knew I would do it. I am part time working 3 short days per week, I agreed I would complete this task once I have completed my own job roles first, she is now annoyed because it’s been over a week and I haven’t completed this, to which my reply was I was doing her a favour by doing someone else’s job role, I need to ensure my job is complete first and I’m doing my best, she isn’t happy with this as she says she is within her rights to ask me to complete any other role and it is infact in my contract - along those lines. Would I be wrong to argue this and state I no longer want to do this task, especially with the added pressure and attitude (wouldn’t say this) when there are others in the company who are there more than I am, therefore have more time to complete this.

I think you would be reasonable to ask whether your own role or this additional task should be the priority and then do whichever one your manager says is most important. If it suits you you could offer to do overtime to complete both.

Is there a clause in your contract / job description that says "and any other tasks commensurate with the role" or similar... usually there is, to cover this kind of thing.

Ask her which she would like you to prioritise if you don't have enough time to do everything.

You should be asking what should be prioritized. Your job is to do your usual tasks and any other tasks reasonably asked of you. That includes ad hoc helping out like this.

If your manager wants you to do the other job in priority to your own "normal" job, then that's their prerogative and you should follow reasonable instructions and catch up with your normal job within normal hours in later days/weeks.

If they expect you to do it AND your usual job, all within your normal hours, or unpaid overtime etc., then that's not reasonable.

So even if they asked for example to go out of office into the kitchen and wash all the staffs lunch plates, I would have to do this?

If it’s reasonable request, yes

I agree with other comments. You should ask which tasks are priority. You’ve already agreed to do that task and although you have other things to do, you should ask which ones are important. I know it’s annoying to do other people’s work, but it’s you who will look good if you do it. Also, if you’ll need favors from your manager in the future, she will be more likely to do that for you as you do favors for her. It counts towards everything. Don’t be spiteful. Remember if she needs it, it’s important for her and someone else is asking. It’s nice to be able to rely on people.

You use your initiative and prioritise, if you can’t, ask. But you do it, yes. Well, I would.

Have they ever asked you or anyone else to do this? Or are you all supposed to clean up your own mess?

It’s normal for tasks to be allocated according to business need. If this was more of a priority than your tasks (and providing you weren’t being asked to do something that is completely beyond your skillset or pay grade) then your manager should have made that clear and asked you to pause your normal work.

“Any other reasonable management request” is how it’s covered in our contract

It amazes me how many people don’t think it applies to them.

What do you think happens if you go off sick?

So if your manager asked you to suddenly go and start fixing computers when you have no experience - it’s not reasonable

If you are admin skilled and you’re asked to do an admin task which usually sits with someone else - reasonable

Totally normal. Our cleaner is off on long term sick. We've all pitched in when we've been able to to cover their work, including senior management. Not one person would say it's not in their job description so they aren't doing it.

As a manager, your attitude doesn't come across too well I'm afraid. I'd not be impressed if you were one of my team and had not carried out a reasonable direct request.

You agreed with your manager that you would start the other task when you have finished your daily tasks - is that right? She can ask you to do other similar tasks. She must understand that you work part time and if you agreed that it’s important that you do your own job in a timely fashion - when does she think you have the capacity to take on other work? What takes priority?

Pretty much all job contracts state that you can be asked to do other jobs that aren’t specifically in your job description.

If your manager has asked you to do X then that’s what you should be doing. If X means you can’t do Y, then you need to speak to her about that, not just refuse altogether.

agree, ask how to prioritise however i feel
it is always good to take on other roles, good for your cv!
string to your bow

I do whatever my boss asks of me! If she says I need you to do x and I have to do y every day, I'd say will I complete y first then focus on x, or would you like me to complete x first as a priority?

Do people really only work to their job description? That blows my mind.

In my organisation, we do what is needed. It really doesn't matter whose job it is at the end of the day as we're a team. Yes, sometimes to help someone else out and I have to re-prioritise my own work but there's nothing wrong with it.

I am senior management, and if one of my direct reports was like this, it would be a red flag, and they'd unlikely progress further.

I would expect people in my team to support others so we can get stuff done, ensuring everyone is working to capacity and flexing resources where required. I’d think all the ‘it’s not my job’ moaning was pretty pathetic tbh.

Agreed. Your boss has asked you to carry out a task, and you’re complaining because someone else normally does it?

Have you genuinely never been asked to work out of the standard before? Do you do a very regimented/basic role?

The usual thing to do would be to say “no problem. When is it needed by?” If the deadline clashes with one of your usual responsibilities, this is followed up by either “I can do that, but would need to push responsibility A back, is that going to be an issue?” Or “Ok, A is also needed by then, which would you rather I prioritise?”

You don’t just unilaterally decide that only your standard responsibilities take priority without looking at the bigger business picture.

It depends what it is and how far departed it is from your usual role as well as whether you actually have time. I don't think it's unusual to pick up things if someone else cannot do it and I think I would be annoyed if I asked you to do something and you said you'd do it and then and a week later it hadn't been done. Did you make clear you might not have time for a week?

Surely you just help out with whatever’s needed? I don’t understand why you wouldn’t, just ask which your manager would like you to do first then do it.

You are not doing your manager a favour. Your manager has assigned a task to you and you haven’t done it. You should have asked for clarification regarding priorities.