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Post Info TOPIC: How to deal with asshat at work?
Maat


Kenneth Cole

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How to deal with asshat at work?
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This guy at work's assistant just left and he keeps trying to delegate work to me. I am not an assistant. I don't report to him; I work parallel to him, but hold a lesser ranking, if that makes sense. We just work on the same projects in different capacities.


The first time it happened, he was replying to an e-mail request from someone else in our company for copies of something. He told this person (and copied me) that Maat would handle it. I wrote back to him telling him he needed to forward this request to an assistant. He replied saying it was his assistant's last day and could I handle it? I replied that then the next in line would be another assistant. Later in the day, I ran into the supervisor of the assistants and asked her who was filling in until Mr. Asshat had an assistant. I then mentioned that he needed help and was asking me to copy stuff for him, which I could not do. If I was going to take on extra responsibility, it would come from my manager and focus on my areas of specialtise. The supervisor of assistants told me that she was really sorry and she would have somebody handle it. She also said she would talk to him and explain the process of what to do when you are without an assistant. She told me to just forward anything like that to her and not even reply to him.


I know I should take comfort in that, but he has done this to me 2 more times today, one of the times copying in someone else saying I would do something for them. I just feel like now that he has told someone I would do something, I have some responsibility in getting it done, even if I don't do it myself. I don't want to be considered the person who dropped the ball even though these things are not my responsibility. People really need the things they are asking for and I don't want them to be affected by the conflict between me and this guy.


I'm so frustrated. I have no idea what gives this guy the idea he can delegate to me. What can I do to stop this or at least stop caring so much about it?



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Elle


Hermes

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I would reply to the email and CC it the the supervisor of assistants, say something like "Mrs. Supervisor is in the process of delegating Susie Assistant's duties.  She will be able to help you find someone who is available to help you XYZ and other projects until someone new takes the position."  Thanks, Maat


If possible, I'd go directly to the person Mr. Asshat volunteered you to and explain the situation.  Just let them know that what they need done will get done by someone, Mr. Asshat just didn't realize the process and Mrs. Supervisor is working on it and will let them know who is available to help.


That way Mr. Asshat is put in his place, Mrs. Supervisor can see what's going on, and you cover your ass as far as this other person is concerned by making sure that the project gets done, even if you aren't the one to do it.



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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
Maat


Kenneth Cole

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Posts: 401
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Thanks, Elle! That is so perfect. I saved that in my e-mail and am ready to use it. He didn't do anything today. I mean, he did refer to someone as a radical lesbian, but he didn't try to delegate work to me. I think he may be a misogynist.


LOL! My friend just told me when he said he didn't have an assistant, could I just do it? that I should have told him, "Hmm...does that mean I can contact you to do my work when I don't have an assistant? Because I don't have one right now and I have a bunch of stuff that needs filing."



-- Edited by Maat at 21:11, 2006-03-30

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