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mlm668
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« on: July 07, 2008, 06:50:39 pm » |
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I'm back from vacation today and it has been one irritation after another. First I was called at home while on vacation with a question that could and should have been asked days before I left. Then I had another missed call in the middle of the week that I was told was because they needed to ask where some form was. I keep a desk book, they should have looked there first - and apparently did after I didn't answer because it was on the wrong shelf when I got back. And then to top it off, I come in to find that things that could and should have really waited were done and things that should have been done weren't (expense reports being reviewed and sent to Corporate - not done and now two weeks old because they were initially submitted before I left but not sent received here for review until I was gone). And now instead of simply turning stuff over to me to pick up and run with that I know what to do, my supervisor. who is my backup, is holding on to it and doing it wrong. She has no problem doing admin stuff to help out her favorites but is pitching a fit about taking over the Corporate and HR stuff so I can take on more work that our client wants me to take on. I was already annoyed by that before my leave and I'm doubly so now that I'm back and finding all this stuff that didn't get done. AUUGGHH!!! It just makes me more determined to seek another job. I know its like this most places, but even when I worked for a small, family owned company where I was pretty much the only one who knew how things should be done, I wasn't bothered on vacation unless it was something that absolutely couldn't wait (and in 8 years that might have been twice). I'm getting so sick of a supervisor that doesn't want to be an admin but picks and chooses the admin work she will do and leaving me to clean up her messes when she doesn't do it right. Michelle  |
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gee4
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« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2008, 07:09:21 pm » |
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Doesn't sound like a good day.
I had to cover for my colleague while she was off but she didn't have half the stuff to do while I was off.
I guess what you should have done was a kind of handover so that everyone doing a piece of your job was clear on what was expected. Also your line manager should have also been made aware who held responsibility for each task.
Under no circumstances should you have been contacted. These days I never answer my mobile unless I know the caller or number. Even so, if you were called on a landline, who had your number and who gave out permission for you to be contacted? Does HR not have a policy where private information is withheld?
The best thing you can do is never answer a phone whilst on holiday unless you know the caller or can identify the number. It is even better when you are out of the country and too expensive to reply!
Make it clear the next time you are away that you are not to be contacted. I would also note all the things that should have been done that weren't and vice versa. Then there is no confusion the next time.
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mlm668
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« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2008, 08:15:53 pm » |
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That's the kicker of it all, my supervisor (or line manager as you call it) was the one backing me up. She is the one who called me while I was out too. A lot of what I do, I took over from her and one other person. I was asked to document the processes so there is a desk book and really only one task really had to be done (one she used to do). As far as the contact info, I had to give "emergency" contact info last month because our client ran into an issue where they had a true emergency and the list was out of date. I wasn't happy about it, but wasn't given a choice. And I didn't answer the first couple of calls, but she kept calling and by the second answered call, she had to have known by the tone of my voice I was very annoyed. Michelle |
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gee4
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« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2008, 08:59:25 pm » |
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I could have forgiven a subordinate, but not a line manager. Out of order in my book. As I said if I had been on holiday and out of the country it would have been too expensive to answer a call on a mobile phone.
I guess we live and learn.
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spitfire78
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« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2008, 09:33:41 pm » |
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Yes, but what can you really do when it is your supervisor? You don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter really. If your supervisor wants your emergency contact number, you have to provide it. If they use it while you are on vacation, what recourse do you really have? The only thing I know of, which you are already doing it seems, is to look for another job. I sympathize with you - it's a tough spot to be in.
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gee4
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« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2008, 10:53:41 pm » |
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I do not believe that she called you for an emergency. As I said I was on holiday recently. No one would have got me as I was out of the country. These people take advantage. Did she ask you to be on call or on standby? No. Then you were on vacation and have the right for your private contact nos not to be used. Sorry I totally disagree with this. You are not a manager or a director so you do have a say in how your private details are handled.
I have stopped looking now for another job. Things have improved and I am taking on new projects. They know my potential - it's a case of either be jealous of my abilities or use me to my full potential.
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peaches2160
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« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2008, 11:45:57 pm » |
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I seem to get called everytime I am off. Not by my boss, but by another admin. I don't really have a back up, so when I'm out that's it. Next time, don't answer the phone.
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spitfire78
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« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2008, 04:49:20 pm » |
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I must admit that I am very difficult to reach when not at work. I do not have an answering machine at home, so if I am not there - no answer. I do have a cell phone, but only carry it for use in an emergency. So, it is generally turned off and no one at work has the number anyway.
There was one time last year when I was on vacation and one of my areas that I order for was jumping up and down wondering if I had completed an order for them before I left. Because they were so insistent, my supervisor called me but did not find me home (for which she later told me - GOOD FOR YOU!). Of course, the order had been done, the materials arrived on time, and everyone was happy.
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msmarieh
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« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2008, 07:20:35 pm » |
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I rarely get called when I am on vacation, but I have no problem with it. My philosophy is that I would rather someone took 30 seconds out of my day to get an answer than spend 3 hours searching fruitlessly for information.
This presumes however that they don't abuse the privilege. If I were called often, I would make them rescind that day as a vacation day and change it back to a work day.
Marie
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mlm668
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« Reply #9 on: July 09, 2008, 09:54:24 pm » |
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The last two days have been better. Yesterday when I got in, I was going over some things that needed to be done with our manager. When he asked about one item, I told him I had no information on it. My supervisor had yet to show up or call in and neither of us knew what she had done on this project or if she was going to be out so he called her. After that, I mentioned the other minor irritations. I remained as diplomatic as I could about them because I did understand that they had a very large project dumped in their lap last week and that took up most of their time because of the rush to get it up and running so quickly. My biggest "gripe" I guess was the expense reports because if they are submitted late, the employee gets hit with late charges that are next to impossible to have removed. When she finally did get here, I heard his door close so I can only assume he addressed the issues with her but I do know her coming in so late without calling to say she'd be late was the biggest issue because he was very annoyed about it when we were meeting. I expected some fallout but by early afternoon, she was in my office like normal taking a break from her work and visiting with me. Today, I've made a point of taking back some of the tasks I would normally do that she has been doing. As they've come up, I asked her where they stand and then offered to take over from there (ie: you do part A like normally and I'll do B,C,D&E). On the upside, I have a champion in one of our client managers who wants me to take on two large tasks and is pushing to have my bosses remove the part of my job I get most irritated by to make room for it. I'm crossing my fingers because if that happens, I will be doing fewer admin tasks and more of the tasks I can make a routine out of. Michelle |
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raindance
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Fingers crossed for you, Michelle.
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geminigirl
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Completely off-topic but ...
Gee - really glad that things are improving for you at work. What changed, do you think? Perhaps that you were away so they missed having you around and getting on with things? A case of Not knowing what you have until it's gone?
But - great stuff, glad things are on the up!
Now, on topic - I've only been called twice, I think, whilst on holiday ... neither of which were particularly urgent or too irksome so that they couldn't wait until I got back, but I do wish that Away from Work means Away from Work!! Thankfully I've never been in the reverse situation where I've had to call someone while they're on leave - although I've been asked to, but dealt with The Situation myself and so not had to bother them...
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