Just got a loaded question via email.

[NuclearNed]

I have a coworker (a contractor) who has been told by the dept head to do something she thinks is going to cause her a lot of unnecessary work. I've been brought in as a mediator and given a specific task to accomplish in regards to this, so we've been discussing the situation via email. She just sent this to me:

It appears to be a culture issue where blind obedience outweighs good corporate stewardship???

In your opinion, is this a company stand or a department stand?

There's no chance I'm answering that.

 

[Platypus]

Ask her for 10 bucks for your party

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
I have a coworker (a contractor) who has been told by the dept head to do something she thinks is going to cause her a lot of unnecessary work. I've been brought in as a mediator and given a specific task to accomplish in regards to this, so we've been discussing the situation via email. She just sent this to me:

It appears to be a culture issue where blind obedience outweighs good corporate stewardship???

In your opinion, is this a company stand or a department stand?

There's no chance I'm answering that.

Tell her to do what she's told.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
I have a coworker (a contractor) who has been told by the dept head to do something she thinks is going to cause her a lot of unnecessary work. I've been brought in as a mediator and given a specific task to accomplish in regards to this, so we've been discussing the situation via email. She just sent this to me:

It appears to be a culture issue where blind obedience outweighs good corporate stewardship???

In your opinion, is this a company stand or a department stand?

There's no chance I'm answering that.

Tell her to do what she's told.

I more or less have. Considering that she's a contractor, its hard for me to believe how much resistance she is putting up.

 

[Juddog]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Ask her for 10 bucks for your party

Tell her to bring YOU the ribs this time, then say "how you like them apples?"?

 

[Capt Caveman]

If she's a contractor, tell if to do what she's told if she wants to continue working or provide feedback to the dept head on a better solution to the issue. Then send her an invoice for $10.

 

[moshquerade]

a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

Company culture issue - everyone does as told and doesn't question anything

edit - same as inviting people over for a house-warming lunch and charging them $10 each. People don't do that at my company but it's part of the company culture at his.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

"There isn't room for argument"

sounds like a good retort.

 

[Steve]

Tell her to give back your DVDs or else...

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

Blackwater?

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Steve
Tell her to give back your DVDs or else...

Wrong coworker, and I got my DVDs back safe and sound long ago.

 

[nakedfrog]

"I think this would be better discussed at the meeting next week."

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

Blackwater?

No

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

Hmm...you work for Y12?

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

Hmm...you work for Y12?

no

NFS

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Tell her that if she doesn't get to work the only stand she may be considering will be a hot dog stand.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i recently had a coworker who behaved the same way. women trying to climb the corporate ladder seem to be so difficult to work with... she eventually got sick of not doing things her way and left the project on bad terms...

i wouldnt mince words or beat around the bush with her. just reiterate what she needs to do and leave it at that.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

Hmm...you work for Y12?

no

NFS

Ah, ya'll are the company that had that uranium spill a little ways back. You've got a lot of riled up sociology students at the University pretty pissed off, even still. Not that it matters what sociology students think.

 

[Jhill]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Tell her that if she doesn't get to work the only stand she may be considering will be a hot dog stand.

LOL

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: moshquerade
a culture issue? what does that mean? sex/race card pulled?

I think she is referring to the overall culture of the company. Due to the nature of our work, there is a certain mindset that exists throughout. Think military. Basically, she's been given an order, but somehow thinks there is room for argument. There isn't.

Hmm...you work for Y12?

no

NFS

Ah, ya'll are the company that had that uranium spill a little ways back. You've got a lot of riled up sociology students at the University pretty pissed off, even still. Not that it matters what sociology students think.

I'm not in a position to defend the company, but lets just say that things aren't always what they seem, especially when irresponsible reporters print a story without getting their facts straight.

 

[torpid]

Is she right that the work is unnecessary or is it merely an inefficient approach to a necessary task? There's quite a difference, IMO.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
I'm not in a position to defend the company, but lets just say that things aren't always what they seem, especially when irresponsible reporters print a story without getting their facts straight.

I'm sure. You have no idea how stressful my day is with the 'Sunshine Law' case going on downstairs. I've had my words twisted by reporters in ways I didn't think twistable.

Edit: I'm now done hijacking the thread.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: torpid
Is she right that the work is unnecessary or is it merely an inefficient approach to a necessary task? There's quite a difference, IMO.

We have a problem reporting system. It is a database with a client app that allows our users (and us) to report any IT-related problems. This app allows us to track problems from when they are first reported to their final resolution. Like most applications, it has its share of problems, but it serves a useful purpose.

The contractor doesn't like the app, so she is storing nearly identical information in a spreadsheet on her hard drive. She has been given the "get in line or else..."