November 2014 Moms
JustJainey
member
Options
So upset...
JustJainey
member
Today my boss asked me to do a favour for my coworker which would result in my needing to work nine and a half hours straight tomorrow without a break.
My coworker can do the task but my boss would prefer she remain in the office tomorrow so there is enough staff present.
I said, no. She said it would be helpful and when I asked if she was telling me I had to do it? And she said no, but it would be helpful. About half an hour later she asked me to come to her office where she proceeded to talk to me about my decision, which she characterized as not being "helpful" and that I was not being a "team player".
She further said that it was occasionally necessary in our field of work to have extended hours with no break. I told her I understood that (in fact I've already done so this week) and that I did it where necessary to do my own work, but wouldn't voluntarily do it where it wasn't reasonable (ie. someone else could do it)
She then told me that my choosing not to do so for others and only on my own work would affect how she thought of me and how she approached me in the future. I asked what she meant by that and she wouldn't clarify, only that again I wasn't being "helpful".
I told her I was having difficulty working those types of hours right now and while I was doing it when necessary, I felt wrecked and often could only go home and sleep. I also suggested that it violated the Labour Law and suggested we talk to Human Resources.
She then started to talk about other "issues" she had been noticing with my work. The "stress" I was exhibiting (although she acknowledged that my work had been stressful recently) and so on. We got into a verbal debate which didn't lead to any resolution. So, I left her office.
I'm so upset. Not sure if I want to talk to HR and make it an "issue". I'm starting two week vacation after tomorrow and then she will be on vacation after that. So we won't even see each other again until September. But, I also don't want this to come up again.
My coworker can do the task but my boss would prefer she remain in the office tomorrow so there is enough staff present.
I said, no. She said it would be helpful and when I asked if she was telling me I had to do it? And she said no, but it would be helpful. About half an hour later she asked me to come to her office where she proceeded to talk to me about my decision, which she characterized as not being "helpful" and that I was not being a "team player".
She further said that it was occasionally necessary in our field of work to have extended hours with no break. I told her I understood that (in fact I've already done so this week) and that I did it where necessary to do my own work, but wouldn't voluntarily do it where it wasn't reasonable (ie. someone else could do it)
She then told me that my choosing not to do so for others and only on my own work would affect how she thought of me and how she approached me in the future. I asked what she meant by that and she wouldn't clarify, only that again I wasn't being "helpful".
I told her I was having difficulty working those types of hours right now and while I was doing it when necessary, I felt wrecked and often could only go home and sleep. I also suggested that it violated the Labour Law and suggested we talk to Human Resources.
She then started to talk about other "issues" she had been noticing with my work. The "stress" I was exhibiting (although she acknowledged that my work had been stressful recently) and so on. We got into a verbal debate which didn't lead to any resolution. So, I left her office.
I'm so upset. Not sure if I want to talk to HR and make it an "issue". I'm starting two week vacation after tomorrow and then she will be on vacation after that. So we won't even see each other again until September. But, I also don't want this to come up again.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: So upset...
N14 Nov. Siggy: CELEBRATION!
As for what to do... Do you think the few weeks away from each other will truly help? Or do you think you should nip it in the bud and just go to HR? I am inclined to go with the latter, but who knows, it might make this person worse.
Definitely protect yourself so that HR knows the issue. Later on it'll be your word against hers. She sounds like a real treat.
my happy boy
Int your case I would go to HR she shouldn't have given you a "choice" and then react negatively towards your decision when you chose opposite of what she wanted.
If I were you, I would: 1) write a follow-up email to the boss recounting the conversation, reiterating that you have done everything required for your job but are physically unable (you have to make that clear so she can't deny knowing it later) to do what she asked and stating very clearly that you were surprised that she mentioned other "issues" only after you declined this request, and that you would have expected any other issues to have been brought up previously, and then 2) Meet with HR and then write HR a follow-up email to document the meeting.
If they demote you, deny you a promotion, or fire you after this, you'll do much better if you've been documenting from the beginning.