Work awkward after a misunderstanding
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Anonymous
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Not sure how to act around two colleagues after a situation that happened recently.
I have one coworker and a boss, we share a space and each have separate responsibilities before we turn over the shared space to the next group if we are short on time. My tasks often take longer, but aren’t all 100% necessary to accomplish before turning over to the next group. (Think emptying out a paper trash can that’s only 1/4 full, not adding a new ream to the printer when there’s still half a ream left, etc.) The other day we were running late and everyone else was done and the next group was waiting. I was finishing up one of these less important tasks when my boss stormed in and told me “we need to get out of here” and “let’s go”. So I stopped and went to gather my things. We all meet at a computer and log out together, only my boss who was the one rushing me was still back in the office. The other group was waiting to go in. All of a sudden here he comes, yelling at me that I was a slacker and left him to do the tasks himself. I explained I thought when he said we needed to get out of here and let’s go, that he wanted me to stop. He told me in a condescending way that he would have never meant that, he just wanted me to hurry up with the task. Apparently he and the other group reported me to our shared department head, and I was called into her office where I explained the miscommunication from my boss and how I must have misinterpreted my boss in the moment. All was fine in the end and the DH understood my point of view. But now I have this other group and my own boss who seemingly conspired again me for a miscommunication. I have to see them daily and now it feels so weird. The other group looks at me like I’m some joke, and my boss has been a jerk since. I just want this all to go away. Help! |
Anonymous
| You need to keep track of time better with hard stops like that. If you know you can't finish something, get clear direction- get out of the room on time or finish something? |
Anonymous
We were all on a conference call that went over. It ended, and as fast as I tried, I just couldn’t get my tasks done before everyone else. It’s never happened before in the three years I’ve been here. |
Anonymous
| If everyone was done but you, you should have asked your other coworker for a hand. "hey Jane. Since the meeting ran late I'm not sure if I'm going to get all my tasks done. Since you're done, do you mind giving me a quick hand?". In the future, if you know you have a conference call towards the end of your time, make sure the tasks are being done earlier. But honestly, I can't imagine how many things you really have to do in a shared setting like this. Everyone's stuff should be organized so that cleaning up takes minimal time. |
Anonymous
OK if this is a one-time thing and they called you into HR then they are ridiculous Did you mention this to HR "yelling at me that I was a slacker and left him to do the tasks himself."? I hope you got that part documented and that you are looking for a new job. Don't be awkward. Now if he ever says "Let's go!" to you, you can cheerily and snarkily ask- Let's Go, chop-chop? Or Let's Go GTFoutta here? Which One? |
Anonymous
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So you are all hoteling, but only have the space from start time to end time...then what happens next? You all leave or go somewhere else?
And this other dept stands in the hall until you empty the trash and stuff? Do you work less than 8 hours? Is it a shift? Sounds awful, particularly that they AND your boss reported you to HR. Unless you love this job, wow, no way for me. |
Anonymous
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Apparently he and the other group reported me to our shared department head
Absurd. |
Anonymous
It sounds like there is more going on than this one time thing. |
Anonymous
I don’t want to give away identifying info and it’s a very niche scientific field. We leave and the next group comes in, much like shift work. I wasn’t reported to HR, we really don’t have HR. I was reported to our shared department head. But yes, the next group stands outside in a small reception area until we vacate. As I said, certain things are mandatory when turning over the room, but above all else are the directions of my boss, which I clearly misunderstood. I’ve never had issue with my boss or this group before, although my boss is a bit of a chauvinist jerk at times. |
Anonymous
| You said your tasks often take longer, so could that be the problem? Are they frequently done before you? |
Anonymous
It’s never a problem, just this once! Which is why it’s so insane. I always allow myself enough time, but this time the conference call ran over so I got a late start. |
Anonymous
| I worked with a boss who was like that. The toxicity gets tiring. It sounds like a non-issue that your boss turned into an issue to make himself look good. I wouldn't worry about it. |
Anonymous
+1 You can look for a new job because he sounds like a treat. Or just ignore it all and it will be old news. Just don't forget. That's one strike. And then, if there are shift issues, dummy department head needs to look at the process and smooth it over. This sounds like an unfortunate one-off but he showed his true colors. |
Anonymous
| If you notice a late conference call, can you do some of the cleaning tasks before the call? |
Anonymous
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All of this sounds so petty and I feel like all of you - the boss, you, the department head, the people starting the next “shift” — are grossly overreacting to what is basically a one time thing that wasn’t that important in the first place.
You don’t know how to act? Act like you always did, except if you liked your boss before, now you don’t because you realize he’s a jerk. But don’t give it away that you don’t like him; just continue to do your job as best you can for however long you work there. |