Hello,
So like 6 months ago I had the stuff that I was doing transferred to a coworker since the jobs became more specific to our departments and what I was doing was more related to her department. Ok, so ever since, I taught her how to do it all and she did learn it well.. but every week since then she has been asking me to do part of it.. Everyday is a different thing to do and she asks me like twice a week to do those day’s things. In the beginning she said how its just not working for her that she is having issues. She could easily go to my manager (she and her are good friends) and ask her for help with it. She hasn’t. Eventually after 1.5 months, she did it on her own. But once again like for the past 4 months I have been doing these things again…. I don’t know if my manager knows that I am helping her with these things.. Not only has she asked me to help her with these two, but now daily she asks for me to do part of the others. Again, she says it didn;t work for her.. so to please do it..
There had been a couple of occasions that I was pretty busy, so it took me longer to do her things.. and she would message me after some time to ask if I was done with them yet.. I said no, sorry my computer is being slow… which is true.
Two weeks ago this happened again, so I was annoyed and told her.. to please fix her stuff because not only is my computer being slow but I don’t want to delay her with her stuff. She said blahblahblah that yeah she will try to fix it.
And again the next week came and she continues.. I purposely started delaying her stuff so she gets the point that I have my own things to do.. which she has no idea of.. and also have asked her to please fix part of the stuff that I had to do for her daily. Now the past two days.. I was delaying it a lot.. so she was like pleasee.. and other dumb excuses..
I am thinking of making an appt with my manager to talk about this.. if she knows about it. I don’t know what to say and not really complaining but I mean.. her job is not mine.. and I hardly speak to my manager but my coworker and my manager are good friends.. not only that but she has her own manager who could help her with her problems and also do her stuff for her. Help! should I speak to my manager or not even complain..
✅ Answers
? Best Answer
In the future be strong, know what is expected of you and know what is not expected of you. Training is expected, helping her a few times after training is fine. Doing her work for 4 months is not what you are paid to do. You do not need to be apologizing to her. You do not need to be making excuses to her. You need to speak more directly on these issues. If you are a weak employee, the company suffers. If you have issues like this again and keep having to go to the manager for help, it doesn’t make you look good. You should be able to handle something like this on your own. The manager should NOT have to step in to tell two people to do the work they are paid to do.
Do not go to the manager yet. Leave it alone. Next time she asks you to do something tell her, “I can’t do that, I have my own work to do.” Do not make excuses or say sorry, or give her a long explanation. You do not need to explain yourself to her, she has her work, you have your own work. It’s as simple as that. If she keeps asking you again and again, tell her, “I can’t do that. I need to ask you to stop calling and asking me to do that, I have my own work to do and you are interrupting my work.” If she seems bitter, like she may complain to the manager about you being unhelpful, then let the manager know but be concise. “So-and-so has spent the last 4 months calling me daily asking me for help on work that I’ve already trained her to do 6 months ago. She has been calling me repeatedly and interrupting my work, I’ve already helped her x times so I asked her to stop calling me and interrupting my work. She may come to you and complain.” You may add in that it seems like she’s trying to push her workload on you, and she seems unwilling to try or learn.
– Chosen by Asker
You need to be more direct with her. Telling her “to please fix” her stuff is not direct. You need to say, “I will not do your work for you because I have my own work to do.” Never assume that implying something is enough. By asking her to fix something you are not being direct. You have to be clear and direct with her. If she continues after you have straight told her you will not do her work, then you can talk to a manager.
Before going to the manager, have a talk with her and tell her you cannot keep up her job and yours also. Just refuse to take her work. As long as you are doing it for her then she will not try to do it on her own. She is taking advantage of you, plus she is getting credit for the work you do for her.
She may be your friend, but you just have to tell her you cannot do it. If she continues, then go to your manager, and let her know about your workload. There may be some hard feelings but she will just have to get over it. It’s not fair you to keep bailing her out.
She has trained you to be her assistant very well.
She has you so well trained, you don’t even know how to say no.
Learn to say, “I’m sorry but I can’t help you with that. I’m very busy.”
The fact that you keep accepting her excuses is your fault.
She knows eventually you’ve do it, because that’s how she has trained you.
Learn to say, “I’m sorry but I can’t help you with that. I’m very busy.”
Dear Lizzie,
All you need to say is that you are sorry, but you are too busy. If she asks again, repeat. When someone at work brings you work that is not yours, refuse delivery.