in reply to Insubordination or Exploitation?

There is nothing wrong with politely informing your superiors that they are asking you to do tasks that you are not being paid to do, not within the job you were hired for, and not qualified for. Turn it around on them...ask them if they would go fix the copy machine if one of the VPs asked them to. The last word of your title is 'Administrator' not 'Developer' or 'Programmer'...

Even if you want to do it, do you want to be accountable for it? As you've already stated, you don't have a spec and that spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Period, end of story.

I'd just say something to the effect that, "I can't do this. It isn't part of the job I was hired for. I have enough to do for the job I *was* hired for. If you want to transfer me into a development position, we can talk"

Here's another thought...does your company have a development team? Why weren't they assigned this? Could it be because of the lack of a spec?

update: minor typos corrected

/\/\averick
perl -l -e "eval pack('h*','072796e6470272f2c5f2c5166756279636b672');"

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Insubordination or Exploitation?
by Silicon Cactus (Scribe) on Mar 26, 2002 at 18:41 UTC

    "I can't do this. It isn't part of the job I was hired for. I have enough to do for the job I *was* hired for. I you want to transfer me into a development position, we can talk"

    Unfortunately, I think this might be construed as insubordination. Not willing to do something, even outside your job spec, is viewed by our non-tech IT support Director as heresy/mutiny- I may end up doing this though.

    Yes our IT department has SEVERAL development teams. However, my supe and her manager will are loathe to ask for development help because then the project won't be 'theirs'. Yes, I do realise this is ridiculous, and and a heap of political garbage, but it is leaving me with a very very cold feeling.

[reply]
      If you can't talk to your bosses rationally and reasonably then it's going to be trouble. Not performing tasks which are not your responsibility isn't insubordination...if these tasks were part of your job description then it would be. If they can't see that, then the fault isn't on you, it's on them.

      If you do as they ask and it doesn't come out *perfect* (remember you have no spec, and you still have to do your normal job too) there is going to be trouble.

      If you do as they ask and it does come out perfect, you've set yourself up to get *more* things like this in the future, until you hit paragraph #2.

      Brush up your resume...if they aren't going to listen to you, then you may have to find another job. Good bosses do exist.

      Good luck and don't loose heart...this has happened to others before...

      /\/\averick
      perl -l -e "eval pack('h*','072796e6470272f2c5f2c5166756279636b672');"

[reply]
      However, my supe and her manager will are loathe to ask for development help because then the project won't be 'theirs'.

      Can you hear the alarm bells ringing? Run, do not walk, run very fast away from this. You are being a pawn in a much higher level political power game. I am sure your direct management is looking for a quick and dirty (and no cost) solution to a IT problem, and when you have implemented it (at no additional cost to your unit), your management will then use this as ammunition to shoot at the development group(s), and thusly get more glory, power and budget to their empire.

      Start looking around for another job. Maybe the development teams need a keen developer. I would suggest it would be much better to find another employer that does not play such stupid and childish games. And I haven't even started on issues like lack of a proper spec, expecting you to take on more and more responsibilities for no additional pay, and the rest of the sorry tale.

[reply]

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