Would You Do What Your Boss/Supervisor Ask You To Do .....
By Muelitz
@Muelitz (1592)
Canada
July 27, 2008 8:47pm CST
Would you follow the order of your boss or supervisor if it is no longer part of your job description. For arguments sake, lets assume that you signed a contract with a specific job description and there is NO mention of the clause "And other duties that may be assigned". The job description you signed for includes only the following 1. assemble computers 2. install software 3. deliver equipment 4. orient users on how to use a computer.
Now lets say you were able to finish your job early and you have nothing else to do but you still have an hour before you punch out. Your supervisor asks you if you can go to the canteen and buy him a sandwich and coffee, would you do it or would you say no and tell him that it is not part of your job description?
Just Curious,
SFC
Just Curious,
SFC6 people like this
16 responses
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
28 Jul 08
Hi Muelitz,
If my boss ask me to go and get food for him/her I will do it as a favour but if it was a demand I would not and then I'll tell them its not part of the contract fetching food for emplyers. I used to be a supervisor an I have never told my staff to do anything other then their contracted job.
Tamara
4 people like this
@welikemoney (383)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I would probably do it because that's just the type of person that I am. Sometimes going out of your way (going the extra mile...going above and beyond...etc.) really works out for you in the end :)
3 people like this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
28 Jul 08
well, if it is still within my office hours and i am still getting paid for it, i don't mind doing a favour for the boss... but if it is already outside my office hour and the boss asks me to do this, i might refuse... especially if he/she already done it too often... it really depends on the situations and my mood as well... take care and have a nice day...
2 people like this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
28 Jul 08
Hi Muelitz,
I will do it when I have nothing to do but next time, I will be pretending to be busy especially if I will not go to the canteen..LOL!
I have not tried that before...Oftentimes, I will also go to the canteen for getting some food and my boss will asked me to also get something for her, but I have tried when she will just asked me if I will go to the canteen and if I will tell her no, she will look for another person to do her a favor..
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
28 Jul 08
This is a very difficult situation. A boss should be more professional towards his subordinates.Do not pamper your boss by becoming his obedient servant and be made to run errand to cater for his personal interest. It is a treat to your intelligence. During working hours it should be strictly a boss and an employee relationship and beyond office hours, it will be happy hours and can be something like a cordial friends where no related works is involved in conversations or activities.
@pheonixstar1982 (2307)
• United States
28 Jul 08
If it was that i would do it if i still got paid for it. My boss has this bad habit though of asking me to do things he is supposed to be doing and i finally got fed up with it and turned to him and said "Isn't that your job??" After that he stopped asking me.
3 people like this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
Well if you are comfortable doing it then perhaps you could give in to their request but if you feel strongly that its not your job doing it anymore then maybe you could refused that respectfully with your supervisor. I don't think that they as the management can used that as a ground for you as subordinate to be penalized for not following that order or request. But, if you are comfortable with following the request then maybe you can follow it as a special/personal favor.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jul 08
muelitz my boss at the library a few years back used to ask'
me to take letters to the post office, and also buy bagels'for the bunch and I got a charge out of it as it was easier
than just shelving books. so yes I would go to the canteen for
the boss and bring him his sandwich and coffee as I would like
to keep my job.
1 person likes this
@Elixiress (3878)
•
28 Jul 08
I would do it. If I have nothing else to do at work then I will get bored and I hate being bored. So if the boss was going to give me something to occupy my time then I would take the opportunity. However if I still had work to do and he/she was asking me to things then I would decline and explain that I already have several tasks to do.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I think I'd do it, but only for something to do. I never could handle just sitting and waiting at work. That always made me so sleepy I could barely hold my eyes open!
Maybe I'd say something like, "Since my work is all caught up and I have nothing else to do right now, sure, I'll go get you a sandwich and coffee."
Hopefully, then, my boss would not get the idea that I'm available to do this whenever he/she feels the need for something from the canteen!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I should also mention that the way the request is made is very important. You said "what if he asked". That's very different than if he demanded!
If he/she demanded that I do it, I would say no. If he/she asked, I wouldn't have a problem with it.
1 person likes this
@yenwie84 (1344)
• Malaysia
28 Jul 08
I would definitely do what my superior wants me to do. I work under him or her,so I think I must obey his or her order. I don't see there is any benefits if I don't follow his or her order. I will follow and do what he or she wants me to do but of course there are limitations. If he or she wants me to do some things that are far out from my boundary,definitely I will say "NO".
@lloydmarie (36)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
i'll do it if i have the time, but not always. it depends on how he/she ask me. it will be a relief too, walking around and breathing fresh air, stress buster.
1 person likes this
@buggles64 (2709)
• United States
10 Jan 11
I would definitely do something my boss asked me to do even if it wasn't in my job description because it shows that I am flexible and willing to help. It also helps to show the initiative. Even by saving your boss time, helps to benefit the company if he had pressing work to do.
@littleowl (7157)
•
30 Jul 08
Knowing me I expect I would go and do it just so I didn't get bored and that would pass the time your friend littleowl
@atv818 (1980)
• United Arab Emirates
18 Apr 10
Doing favors for your boss is okay provided that they are not degrading in nature like asking you to wash his car, clean the toilet or massage his feet. You may laugh at my examples but these happened to my colleague and it became an office controversy.
Asking you to buy food is fine. Do it with a smile because sometimes this will go a long way in building rapport. If this is not agreeable to you, then sorry to say that you need to change jobs because saying no to your boss most of the time is not a good tune to their ear. Unfortunately, since they are the boss, they call the shots. If you cannot move up, then move out.
Good luck!
