The Official "WWWD?" Thread

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I received a phone call this morning from a colleague, telling me that my boss delegated a big report to me. No word of this from my boss. I'm really getting sick and tired of finding out second- and third-hand that there's something I'm supposed to be doing. Am I wrong to be annoyed by this?

No, you aren't wrong to be annoyed. The boss should be telling you directly.

Exactly.

I wouldn't worry about doing the "big report" until you are actually told to do it. And, of course, be given enough time to do it. Wouldn't it be terrible if you've already gotten another job offer and left before it got done?

Or is this colleague telling you now the official chain of command and you're expected to "get on it"? If so, I'd be mighty tempted to tell PHB that that is not acceptable. But that's just me and you're much better off listening to what Windsor and Lavabe tell you to do ;)

[Lavabe]

Just a few questions, Arkie:
1) Isn't your boss still on his two-week vacation? Is he delegating you to do a specific task while he is on vacation? Not saying it's acceptable, but just trying to figure out what's going on.
2) Does St. Louis have a place where you can rent Tervurens?
3) How has Boss responded to AI?

[ArkieDukie]

Just a few questions, Arkie:
1) Isn't your boss still on his two-week vacation? Is he delegating you to do a specific task while he is on vacation? Not saying it's acceptable, but just trying to figure out what's going on.
2) Does St. Louis have a place where you can rent Tervurens?
3) How has Boss responded to AI?

1) Boss is at a conference this week. He's delegating something that is due in late October. I had to do most of this report last year, too, I just think it would be nice to hear it first hand. Of course, one of the few things I've heard about first hand was the lab restructuring, and that was via email.
2) Maybe I should look into that.
3) Crickets. Remember, I'm not even sure that he knows AI was contacted. I received a response from PPI, sent it to AI, and they backed off. Regardless, I'm sure he's not happy about the situation.

[lawgrad91]

Rescued from page 3.

Midget Perver, uh, Prosecutor, who is now the Official Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the office, went home at lunchtime yesterday, then called back and said his allergies had made his tummy hurt, so he was taking sick leave for the remainder of the afternoon.

DD? I know allergies and tummy aren't your specialties, but is this a common thing for 50 year old men?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Rescued from page 3.

Midget Perver, uh, Prosecutor, who is now the Official Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the office, went home at lunchtime yesterday, then called back and said his allergies had made his tummy hurt, so he was taking sick leave for the remainder of the afternoon.

DD? I know allergies and tummy aren't your specialties, but is this a common thing for 50 year old men?

He was allergic to working any more and was sick to his stomach!

[DukieInKansas]

Rescued from page 3.

Midget Perver, uh, Prosecutor, who is now the Official Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the office, went home at lunchtime yesterday, then called back and said his allergies had made his tummy hurt, so he was taking sick leave for the remainder of the afternoon.

DD? I know allergies and tummy aren't your specialties, but is this a common thing for 50 year old men?

He was allergic to working any more and was sick to his stomach!

Put an MD after his name. I think Ozzie has the correct response.

I guess he could be an PhD - psychiatrist vs psychologist. No drugs dispensed - probably a PhD.

[lawgrad91]

Rescued from page 3.

Midget Perver, uh, Prosecutor, who is now the Official Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the office, went home at lunchtime yesterday, then called back and said his allergies had made his tummy hurt, so he was taking sick leave for the remainder of the afternoon.

DD? I know allergies and tummy aren't your specialties, but is this a common thing for 50 year old men?

He was allergic to working any more and was sick to his stomach!

Put an MD after his name. I think Ozzie has the correct response.

I guess he could be an PhD - psychiatrist vs psychologist. No drugs dispensed - probably a PhD.

Yep, Ozzie called it. He's allergic to working at least one afternoon a week.

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I don't buy it. He's a slacker, bless his heart. It still begs the question, "WWWD about it?"
Love, Ima

[windsor]

Yup - the dreaded work allergy rearing its ugly head! Probably an allergy to Misdemeanors as well.

Windsor might suggest to him he be checked out by a specialists, as allergies that severe might be a sign of an autoimmune diseases ....

[devildeac]

Rescued from page 3.

Midget Perver, uh, Prosecutor, who is now the Official Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the office, went home at lunchtime yesterday, then called back and said his allergies had made his tummy hurt, so he was taking sick leave for the remainder of the afternoon.

DD? I know allergies and tummy aren't your specialties, but is this a common thing for 50 year old men?

He was allergic to working any more and was sick to his stomach!

I think Ozzie nailed it.

[ArkieDukie]

Rescued from page 3.

Midget Perver, uh, Prosecutor, who is now the Official Misdemeanor Prosecutor for the office, went home at lunchtime yesterday, then called back and said his allergies had made his tummy hurt, so he was taking sick leave for the remainder of the afternoon.

DD? I know allergies and tummy aren't your specialties, but is this a common thing for 50 year old men?

Maybe he has some sort of food allergy? My niece, who is lactose intolerant, has some major stomach issues if she consumes dairy products. With that being said, if MP has this type of food allergy, why would he knowingly consume something that makes him sick? I think this puts us back at Ozzie's answer.

[ArkieDukie]

Here's another one for windsor: as you know, I was left off our lab's most prestigious project because my boss is ticked at me. However, he has recently assigned me work related to the big project. It's pretty much secretarial work IMO (the scut work I'm learning Perl in order to automate). Along with most of my other work assignments, these are given to me as outlook tasks. I really want to start declining the scut work that's related to the big cancer grant. NuBarbie should be doing it IMO. Why should I spend 2.5 hrs (as I did today) doing secretarial work for a project that isn't paying my salary and put off working on projects that I should be working on? At least, that's how I view it. Windsor et al, what do you think?

[Lavabe]

Yup - the dreaded work allergy rearing its ugly head! Probably an allergy to Misdemeanors as well.

Windsor might suggest to him he be checked out by a specialists, as allergies that severe might be a sign of an autoimmune diseases ....

I think the only specialists he knows are Drs. Seuss, Zhivago, Spock, McCoy, and Phil. He might also know Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

[windsor]

Here's another one for windsor: as you know, I was left off our lab's most prestigious project because my boss is ticked at me. However, he has recently assigned me work related to the big project. It's pretty much secretarial work IMO (the scut work I'm learning Perl in order to automate). Along with most of my other work assignments, these are given to me as outlook tasks. I really want to start declining the scut work that's related to the big cancer grant. NuBarbie should be doing it IMO. Why should I spend 2.5 hrs (as I did today) doing secretarial work for a project that isn't paying my salary and put off working on projects that I should be working on? At least, that's how I view it. Windsor et al, what do you think?

You could try declining one...and see what happens - include a reason (the other projects) and see what happens. If it hits the fan, then you'll have to do it...just do it slowllllly. "Oh, did you need that right away...I had to complete "xyz" for project 'abc'" or respond with "I won't be able to do this until ____, I need to complete xyz first".

It is the sour the milk theory. Make it too burdensome to wait for you.

[ArkieDukie]

Here's another one for windsor: as you know, I was left off our lab's most prestigious project because my boss is ticked at me. However, he has recently assigned me work related to the big project. It's pretty much secretarial work IMO (the scut work I'm learning Perl in order to automate). Along with most of my other work assignments, these are given to me as outlook tasks. I really want to start declining the scut work that's related to the big cancer grant. NuBarbie should be doing it IMO. Why should I spend 2.5 hrs (as I did today) doing secretarial work for a project that isn't paying my salary and put off working on projects that I should be working on? At least, that's how I view it. Windsor et al, what do you think?

You could try declining one...and see what happens - include a reason (the other projects) and see what happens. If it hits the fan, then you'll have to do it...just do it slowllllly. "Oh, did you need that right away...I had to complete "xyz" for project 'abc'" or respond with "I won't be able to do this until ____, I need to complete xyz first".

It is the sour the milk theory. Make it too burdensome to wait for you.

Great idea, windsor. Thanks! That's exactly what I'll do.

[Turk]

Wow, tasks just plopped on your plate via outlook with no choice or input from you? Never heard of that in all my born days; seems rude and almost passive-aggressive to me. In any case, Windsor nailed it. In addition to just declining, the other tactic to consider is to reassign it to NuBarbie, with the same justification: "I'm busy with x, y, z which we all agree is what I'm supposed to work on. I think she can handle this one until I free up some time." (which would be 'never' or maybe insert DDeac's road sign here). Make sure you pick your test task well - it should be a truly menial and tedious chore that you wouldn't be embarrassed presenting to an outsider (e.g. HR when you turn in your notice) as evidence that you work with a dysfunctional bunch of morons and lying backstabbers.

Oh yeah, and enjoy your team lunch: drinks, apps, the most expensive entree, dessert, etc. Laugh at all the stupid jokes and boring jury duty stories. And take the leftovers home too. You're a short-timer - you get to do what you want!!

[Very Duke Blue]

Oh yeah, and enjoy your team lunch: drinks, apps, the most expensive entree, dessert, etc. Laugh at all the stupid jokes and boring jury duty stories. And take the leftovers home too. You're a short-timer - you get to do what you want!!

I like what you said Turk. Especially "the most expensive entree".

[ArkieDukie]

Oh yeah, and enjoy your team lunch: drinks, apps, the most expensive entree, dessert, etc. Laugh at all the stupid jokes and boring jury duty stories. And take the leftovers home too. You're a short-timer - you get to do what you want!!

I like what you said Turk. Especially "the most expensive entree".

It's a buffet, unfortunately, which means I can't pull that stunt. It's a good buffet, though.

[DevilAlumna]

Along with most of my other work assignments, these are given to me as outlook tasks.

This, coupled with the email telling you your work duties, raises red flags for me. At the 'borg, this level of documentation is usually the beginning of the end for an employee that is being managed out. It's really really really hard to fire someone for cause, so it all has to be documented - it allows for the manager to then say things like, "I asked so-and-so to do this by then, and s/he didn't do it until some later time, and without telling me in advance it would be late, nor why it was late."

About the only way to fight it is to be even MORE anal in documenting back the other direction -- "Bossman, you asked me to do 1,2 & 3, but didn't give me deadlines or priorities. I understand my work objectives to be a, b and c, and I have until X-date to complete related tasks. Could you please confirm how 1,2 & 3 meet those objectives? If they don't, please clarify my new objectives, prioritize them with my existing ones (or tell me which ones to drop), and reiterate your new date expectations given this new work."

Good luck - hope you're outta there soon!!!

[lawgrad91]

Here's another one for windsor: as you know, I was left off our lab's most prestigious project because my boss is ticked at me. However, he has recently assigned me work related to the big project. It's pretty much secretarial work IMO (the scut work I'm learning Perl in order to automate). Along with most of my other work assignments, these are given to me as outlook tasks. I really want to start declining the scut work that's related to the big cancer grant. NuBarbie should be doing it IMO. Why should I spend 2.5 hrs (as I did today) doing secretarial work for a project that isn't paying my salary and put off working on projects that I should be working on? At least, that's how I view it. Windsor et al, what do you think?

You could try declining one...and see what happens - include a reason (the other projects) and see what happens. If it hits the fan, then you'll have to do it...just do it slowllllly. "Oh, did you need that right away...I had to complete "xyz" for project 'abc'" or respond with "I won't be able to do this until ____, I need to complete xyz first".

It is the sour the milk theory. Make it too burdensome to wait for you.

BTW, Midget Perv isn't allergic to anything, except work. We've had enough boring office lunches to know that he doesn't have any food allergies of note. Besides, if he did have a food allergy, one would think he wouldn't keep foods he was allergic to at home, but that's where he went for lunch.

Too bad you have a buffet tomorrow. Go, eat a lot, and exercise it off later. Get all the food out of the PHB you can.