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Refusing to do the mysterious other duties as required

BB2021

Probably been posted before. Am being asked to do tasks that are in another department (Customer services) not speaking to customers! Small blessing. For a long time I have been working in some sort of support capacity for this department but its an extra I was asked to about 20% of my time was allocated to it. My main role is as a Researcher basically one step down from analyst . Now they are pushing me to do 50 % in one dept and 50% in the other which I did not agree with. It is taking the **** imo. Is it doomed to failure to start saying I am sticking to my job description? Have tried negotiating it does not work .

Any opinions?

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Jim2007

I would expect that a lot depends on if you are already working to full capacity on something that is of significant value to the company or not. If you are then it will probably be accepted, but if you have a lot of free capacity and work that needs to get done is not being done, you can expect they will seek an alternative solution that may not involve you.

Flinty997

If you don't like the work its time to look for something else.

NiceFella

Firstly, how long have you been working there?

And when did they begin asking you to help in another capacity?

Job descriptions these days will usually have the line "you will have the main responsibilities of but not confined to the following". (Meaning they can ask you to clean the jacks if need be).

Do you remember if this was in your role description?

I would be mainly concerned if your main responsibilities are suffering from over extending yourself in ad hoc responsibilities. If this is the case you can of course let them know this. I wouldn't be staying late in any circumstances. Life is too short.

BB2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119211672#Comment_119211672

i don't know what to say. You can not be asked to " clean the jacks ". Next time I will ask my labrador as it has more brains than the average respondant on boards.

BB2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119211562#Comment_119211562

Go away you fool

BB2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119211562#Comment_119211562

Honestly, what sort of loser posts a response like that

mickdw

You are not painting yourself in a great light here after only 4 post. Pretty confrontational I'd imagine. By the sounds of things' your negotiation would go something along the lines of .... I'm right.

BB2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221925#Comment_119221925

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221890#Comment_119221890

This is what i find interesting about the sad middle aged men on boards who come on here to cast judgements on someone asking what is a technical question. You don't have the knowledge or experience to answer a genuine question so you come up " if you do not like it get a new job." ****

NSAman

I feel someone may be looking for a new job soon.

BB2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221936#Comment_119221936

Proof of it is they come out of the wood work on posts like this to stick the boot in. I have other job offers...

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221930#Comment_119221930

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119211672#Comment_119211672

You specifically asked "Is it doomed to failure to start saying I am sticking to my job description?".

NiceFella gave you a on-topic reply which addressed the key issue regarding whether or not it's doomed to failure, which is how long you have been there. If the less than 1 year, then yes, it is doomed to failure: you are on probation and are not a good fit with the company culture. If you are there less than 2 years, and are pretty replaceable, then I suspect it's also doomed: the departments can easily enough be re-arranged so that your current position is redundant, at no cash-cost to the employer. If longer, then as Jim007 said, it depends on your value.

It sounds like your problem is that you are being asked to do tasks in another department. And there's a whiff from your post that you don't like it because that department is Customer Services, and you feel that as a Researcher (not just a researcher!), this is beneath you. If that's right, then you need to get-the-fcúk-over it: bottom line is that CS is the most-important part of most companies, even if it least glamorous.

Oh - and cleaning the jacks is pretty damn important, too. Filthy facilities will put you out of business quickly enough. However it's a specialist task (need to understand use of the chemicals + equipment used), so probably not reasonable to ask generalist staff to do it. Even though they should be well-able for it.

fritzelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221936#Comment_119221936

One way or another

raclle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221930#Comment_119221930

Says the immature youth of today

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221889#Comment_119221889

You really can be asked to clean the jacks? why couldn't you

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221889#Comment_119221889

Lol. With a response and attitude like this it seems pretty obvious they’re trying to get rid of you- the easy and cheap way. Can’t say I blame them!

newmember2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119222012#Comment_119222012

It'll be funny if you go in on Monday and you're asked to clean the jacks...

NiceFella

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221889#Comment_119221889

Ask the labrador then, see what he says. If a clearly hyperbolic statement is what you took from the post then you need to have a bit more humility.

It's obvious what I was saying, that if you are not there that long you have little bargaining power in the situation.

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221936#Comment_119221936

They'll bring their personality along again so it won't go well there either.

[Deleted User]

If your contract contains any kind of phrase like "and any other duties you may be assigned as required" (and most do) then yes, they can ask you to help out in other areas, such as customer service.

In saying that, not every condition of your employment has to be in writing in your contract. There are such things as "implied terms" which are still binding, if it is the custom and practice of the workplace.

You can refuse. Once your realise that doing so will raise a distinct possibility that you will not be retained after your probation period if there less than 12 months or if already permanent, they will find another way to "manage you out".

It's your choice. Maybe moving on will be the best for you, as given your attitude, it most likely is doomed.

...Ghost...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221930#Comment_119221930

Your big drama queen dilemma is not what anyone with half a brain would call technical. Maybe that's why they want you to spent half your time in another department, or maybe they just don't like your entitled attitude of snot nosed researcher sniffing the bums of the big cheese analysts.

Here's some genuine advice. Have yourself a gluten free Snickers and a beaker of almond milk before sending your CV off to a few dozen other companies....because you won't be lasting lost where you are unless you don the plunger with a smile on your face.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221889#Comment_119221889

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221890#Comment_119221890

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221896#Comment_119221896

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221930#Comment_119221930

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221939#Comment_119221939

If you are even remotely like this in real life, then my guess would be your are being managed out.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119221960#Comment_119221960

I don't normally agree with you, but that post was mighty fine.

bsloepro

I find some of the replies hard to comprehend with the level of detail given by the OP.

One side of the argument could be - you have a job, count yourself lucky, suck it up and if you don’t like it “find another job”

other side of the story could involve someone in a skilled position they have worked hard for, trained, gone to college etc, or just generally invested in a career. They might possibly have spent a considerable amount of time interviewing for this job along with others. They could have got a couple of offers and spent time deciding which option ties in more with their career, and chosen one with a job description that was suitable for their career progression. I could understand not being too happy.

what do you think a tradesman would do if you asked them to clean the jacks.

some of the replies in this thread could look equally as obnoxious as what some of you are claiming the OP is, depending…..

OP i would say depending on the HR set up of the company, your role, how replaceable you are etc will go a long way in determining the outcome, if you have leverage you have negotiating power. A job description from hiring time would be useful too.

if your career driven and there is not enough work of the type you want to do where you are then for your own progress it may be time to move on. If there is enough of what you want to do then you’d be justified enough in asking why you’re not doing it.

Flinty997

You could look at it as being "managed" out. They give you work you don't want to do so you will leave.

Mrs OBumble

what do you think a tradesman would do if you asked them to clean the jacks.

Clean them, and bill you at the usual hourly rate they charge for work they do.

bucketybuck

OP sounds like he is barely house trained, can't clean the jacks if you don't know how to use them.