When your boss/supervisors ask if you are available...

[Corporate Thug]

...do you just take it as they are TELLING you in a nice way to do something? I always get these emails that say "are you available to cover this/do this/help with this etc...what am I supposed to say? "No, I'm busy?"

 

[Ns1]

1 level above me:
"I don't really have the bandwidth for that right now"

2+ levels above me:
"yes boss"

 

[Juddog]

If you're out at a client site doing billable work, or you're home sick, or you're on vacation, you're not available. Otherwise you're available.

 

[MotionMan]

...do you just take it as they are TELLING you in a nice way to do something? I always get these emails that say "are you available to cover this/do this/help with this etc...what am I supposed to say? "No, I'm busy?"

With my boss, it is an honest question seeking an honest answer.

Made me think of this, of course:

MotionMan

 

[shortylickens]

At Hynix and Tektronix, that was just a polite way of giving me an order. Civilians have a real problem with leadership and followership, so language is always softened.

 

[xBiffx]

When your boss/supervisors ask if you are available...

Say nothing, file sexual harassment charges and then take take their job when they get fired. It's none of their business if you are in a relationship or not and they shouldn't be asking anyways.

^_^

 

[blackdogdeek]

If you're out at a client site doing billable work, or you're home sick, or you're on vacation, you're not available. Otherwise you're available.

you forgot in hospital or dead.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

My boss was in the navy. He just tells me if he needs me to do something outside of my usual duties. Having said that, regular travel and unplanned overtime was part of the job description when I signed up.

 

[JulesMaximus]

...do you just take it as they are TELLING you in a nice way to do something? I always get these emails that say "are you available to cover this/do this/help with this etc...what am I supposed to say? "No, I'm busy?"

It is a rhetorical question. My boss does this to me ALL THE TIME!!! He calls me up and say, "hey, Jules, you got a minute?"

Just suck it up and handle his/her request.

 

[Juddog]

you forgot in hospital or dead.

I thought that would be classified in the "you're home sick".

Other things covered by "sick":
* Taking the day off to go golfing, fishing, rock concert, dead in a ditch, etc.

 

[blackdogdeek]

I thought that would be classified in the "you're home sick".

Other things covered by "sick":
* Taking the day off to go golfing, fishing, rock concert, dead in a ditch, etc.

how about hungover on superbowl monday?

 

[MrColin]

If you simply answer "yes," will it be safe to assume they think they have already assigned the task to you? "no I'm busy" probably not an optimal answer ever. I would provide some specific reason I couldn't do something at a particular time. Most of the time I would probably answer "sure I got it," because I'm stupid like that.

 

[xanis]

"I'm pretty swamped right now with ________. I'll keep you updated, though."

The only exception is if the CEO asks me to do something, in which case I make time.

 

[CountZero]

My manager or his manager I'd give an honest assessment but would likely lean towards trying to fit it in if it was a short term assignment.

Higher than that probably take it on and if it overloads me try to off load other stuff.

If your job treats you as a trusted asset that is completing tasks there is no reason you shouldn't be able to just say you don't have the time to do it. Only a crappy manager would be pissed off by that.

 

[WelshBloke]

...do you just take it as they are TELLING you in a nice way to do something? I always get these emails that say "are you available to cover this/do this/help with this etc...what am I supposed to say? "No, I'm busy?"

Thats what I usually say.

 

[Jeff7]

I hate that sort of language.
"When you have time" = Get to it right the hell now.
"Are you available?" = Yes, you're available.
"Did you finish this?" = You didn't do this. Why?


I'm there to do a job. If you're my direct superior, and part of your job is giving me instructions, then give me instructions. Don't try to "soften" it. If you say "when you've got time," I don't like finding out that you weren't speaking in a manner that properly conveyed what you wanted.

 

[jupiter57]

/ATOT/ "I don't have time to work the register, I'm making the Fries!" /ATOT/

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

When I hear this stuff, that usually means 40hr/week --> 60hr/week.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

what am I supposed to say? "No, I'm busy?"

Yes, that's what you say. If you're not busy enough that you can drop everything you're doing to focus on something else it doesn't take a genius manager to think "Gee, I need to increase this guys workload or get rid of him entirely".

 

[xSauronx]

1 level above me:
"I don't really have the bandwidth for that right now"

2+ levels above me:
"yes boss"

pretty much. if the office troll asks me and im busy i tell her its not happening

if the boss sends an email, its happening, and possibly getting priority

 

[Red Squirrel]

When I was in IT, the boss would never ask, he would tell. He would come in "drop all tools I need you to do this" it was always something very insignificant such as creating an account for someone that starts in 2 weeks, but we learned to just go with it. If you delayed by even 1 minute he'd get really mad. Sometimes he'd even be contradicting. He'd barge in "GO DO THIS NOW!" but you get up and then he'd go "WHERE ARE YOU GOING I'M NOT DONE!". So glad I don't work there anymore.

At my current job, the boss just sends it to our group email and one of us will take ownership and do it.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Yes, that's what you say. If you're not busy enough that you can drop everything you're doing to focus on something else it doesn't take a genius manager to think "Gee, I need to increase this guys workload or get rid of him entirely".

It's one of those things.
"No, I'm busy" - employee has bad attitude / is unco-operative / lacks team spirit
"Sure, no problem" - employee must have too little to do / employee is awesome!

Stay late - employee is damn dedicated! / employee is bloody inefficient

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Hell no! I'm known far and wide as having a bad attitude by everyone except those I work with.