"That's not in my job description!" - Dear Prudence

[MissRose]

I've done many things that were not in my listed job description when I hired into the company I am at now.  That included: working unfavorable shifts and days, doing extra work when understaffed, learning how to do another group's type of contacts in addition to my normal ones, doing 3 different types of customer contacts, sometimes waiting up to an hour to take my lunch when its very busy, etc.  I could go on and on here.

I know when I first was in the working world and did not like a particular project I was assigned to do.  A manager pulled me aside and let me know she wasn't happy with us having to do it either but she was powerless as the client wanted it done by our group.  I learned a valuable lesson about having to do many things I did not like to do that day.

In today's working world, people do need to get used to getting by with lesser staff, and having to learn more things, plus do a few job duties outside of the current job description.  I know when I look at job postings on my company's internal site, they often list "other duties as needed" or similar wording especially for the lower level jobs.

[Winterlight]

I think this falls into the "other duties as assigned" category. I also think that her attitude needs some adjusting.

[CharlieBraun]

This was a learning experience for her.  She's likely fairly young and still learning the corporate culture.  Her manager corrected her, and hopefully she won't do that again.  I think calling it a career-ending move is a bit OTT.

I can guarantee that in my part of the working world, it would indeed be career-ending.  At this firm, where we have literally thousands of applications put in for each entry level position (starting with campus recruiting and cumlinating in eight-interview Super Days, twice a year,) we would not hestitate to cap someone out at wherever they were, when they refused to obey a directive like this one.  We weren't asking her to reconcile derivative balances against future options and calls; we were asking her to fetch lunch. 

If you can't follow directions to fetch lunch without a step-by-step diagram and interval training, then yes, your career with us has ended.

The icing, of course, is the LW's smug option that she/he had merely schooled their work superiors in boundaries.  In and of itself: career ender.

[ettiquit]

This was a learning experience for her.  She's likely fairly young and still learning the corporate culture.  Her manager corrected her, and hopefully she won't do that again.  I think calling it a career-ending move is a bit OTT.

I can guarantee that in my part of the working world, it would indeed be career-ending.  At this firm, where we have literally thousands of applications put in for each entry level position (starting with campus recruiting and cumlinating in eight-interview Super Days, twice a year,) we would not hestitate to cap someone out at wherever they were, when they refused to obey a directive like this one.  We weren't asking her to reconcile derivative balances against future options and calls; we were asking her to fetch lunch. 

If you can't follow directions to fetch lunch without a step-by-step diagram and interval training, then yes, your career with us has ended.

The icing, of course, is the LW's smug option that she/he had merely schooled their work superiors in boundaries.  In and of itself: career ender.

I was speaking generally - not in relation to your specific field/company.  Obviously we're going to draw from our personal experiences when forming our opinion about things like this.  My own experiences with companies I've worked for are clearly vastly different than your own.  The LW would most likely survive in my company, but not yours.  And of course we have no idea what industry/field the LW is in, so at this point it's all conjecture anyway.

[Nika]

If the LW worked at my office, we would not have fired him/her.  However, it would have been considered a career-ending move. And that person would have been counseled-out at their next review...if not sooner.

The sandwich waving was at the very least, rude; the word "insubordinate" would become part of the LW's lexicon in short order.  I might even, as part of the "other duties as assigned," require that the LW write out the word "insubordinate" and its definition by hand.

I think it might be in order to view what the LW wrote regarding the overall situation with a very large grain o'salt, insofar as the casting of the situation as being onerous on poor little bottom-of-the-pole.

I am curious -- would you really do the bolded? I understand that you work in a very competitive industry, but that just seems... I don't know, kind of mean spirited.

[Flora Louise]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

[CharlieBraun]

If the LW worked at my office, we would not have fired him/her.  However, it would have been considered a career-ending move. And that person would have been counseled-out at their next review...if not sooner.

The sandwich waving was at the very least, rude; the word "insubordinate" would become part of the LW's lexicon in short order.  I might even, as part of the "other duties as assigned," require that the LW write out the word "insubordinate" and its definition by hand.

I think it might be in order to view what the LW wrote regarding the overall situation with a very large grain o'salt, insofar as the casting of the situation as being onerous on poor little bottom-of-the-pole.

I am curious -- would you really do the bolded? I understand that you work in a very competitive industry, but that just seems... I don't know, kind of mean spirited.

I'd be using the word in my discussions with her, and ensure that she knew the definition under our corporate guidelines.  We have entire educational modules on items like these (little Web based educational tools) that, in essence, take the function of "writing it out," and she'd be assigned that module.  So the answer is, yes and no.  By the end of whatever day we'd had our coaching discussion, she would be able to define the word, be able to use the word "insubordinate" correctly in a sentence, and have a clear understanding of why we were taking the time to educate her on the concept.

However, if she had been with us for less than 90 days, we'd really just be giving her a severance and walking her out the door.  And again, if it was less than 90 days, we'd also be contacting the college recruitment office from her university and let them know, because they put on seminars both on how to get the job, and how to keep it, and real-life situations like these tend to end up as teaching tools.

[Hillia]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

Actually, the company I work for does this. We are a large national company. A few years ago I saw that one of my coworkers had screwed up pretty badly, creating a mess that management was scrambling to fix.  I had some available time, so I offered to help and spent several weekends working on a team to correct teh problem.  Within a few months, I was being given supervisory tasks, and a few months after that, the supervisory title and salary.  I have received very nice bonuses and raises since then.  Others on my team have had similar experiences.  It's the people who 'front load' the karma wagon, trusting the company to recognize and do right by them, who have gotten ahead in this environment.

[CharlieBraun]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

Well, again, speaking from this part of the world - yes, we highly reward the team effort and the "little" chores.  The people who get laid off are the ones who consistently refused these smaller assignments.

There isn't any room for anyone who isn't willing to do any task to forward an assignment or the overall work environment.  Two weeks ago, I was in our HQ office and one of the senior managing partners was picking up cupcakes for a farewell party.  ETA:  He was picking them up himself, not sending someone to get them.

[Moray]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

Mine. I work for a large multi-national corporation that has been the leader in their field since 1946. I started off here as a cubicle-dwelling customer service drone. My willingness to contribute to a positive environment and take on additional tasks led to me being rapidly shoved up the ladder. Because of my eagerness to do what I was asked, I was noticed by the higher ups and given additional projects relating to the financial side of our business. I am now the National Accounts, Accounts Receivables Manager. Everything we do financially with that division goes through me, and me alone. I'm 25 and I only have an Associate's Degree (which I got while working here). Obviously, my aptitude for this type of work factored heavily into my promotion, but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I would never have gotten this opportunity if I hadn't been willing to do things like fetch lunch or man the front desk.

[TOLady]

Since my workstation is quite close to one of our more scenic boardrooms, I am often tasked with getting a last-minute lunch for a meeting running over. Many of other admins take umbrage at being asked to do so and are quite grumpy about it and it shows.

At my most recent review - which I aced BTW  - one of the things my Director pointed out was that I was willing and able to go above and beyond the normal specs of my job description and that clients (and all the other management) had noticed.

In any case - in these fiscally restrictive times, it's very unusual to have catered lunches (government agency). One client actual emailed after and said that she had been very impressed that I very politely offered her coffee, tea or water when she met for a meeting that my Director was running a bit late for.

Call me an old-fashioned type of admin, but I just thought I was being polite!

[WillyNilly]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

Absolutely!  In plenty of companies doing the little extra things are the only way for a low totem pole employee to get any face time with the upper management. If you are seen, smiling, being helpful, always at the ready to help out well, you are seen.  And if you prove you can bring in lunch with a smile and with efficiency, well next time when they need someone to greet clients, maybe they will remember how pleasant you were.  And then after greeting clients, you are the one selected to be a point person for a large event.  And then when a coordinator position opens up, you are someone who has proved to be a team player, a smiling face, a helpful set of hands, and they move you up because if you can do it, you can probably train, or at least a good example for the next generation of hires on how to do it.

[Cami]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

POD

Many years ago (as in more than 2 decades ago), I was at an interview at a university. I do not drink coffee, so when they asked if I wanted a cup, I declined. They then asked if I would be willing to get them coffee. I was simply surprised at the request since, if nothing else, asking your guest to serve you was the opposite of good etiquette. I blurted out, "Why?"  To my astonishment, the interview panel burst out laughing in response.

They told me I was the first woman to ask that question. They further told me that the MEN being interviewed for the job all asked "Why?" and refused to do it, but the women did not, even when they were obviously upset and feeling diminished by the request.  They went on to explain that they were looking at the rates of advancement within the university for non-faculty staff positions which indicated that women did not rise as often or as fast as men and were considering one reason being that women were more willing to do jobs below their pay grade which made those in power view them as less deserving of promotions. (BTW -- I was offered that job and declined since it was clear that women had a harder time advancing than men.)

Also, in my experience, the people who are willing to do these little chores are very soon relegated to being seen as "little chore" people and are cut off from opportunities for advancement. And yes, they're often the first people let go because the little chores are not necessary and anyone can do them, so the person currently holding that job is totally expendable.

[CharlieBraun]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

Absolutely!  In plenty of companies doing the little extra things are the only way for a low totem pole employee to get any face time with the upper management. If you are seen, smiling, being helpful, always at the ready to help out well, you are seen.  And if you prove you can bring in lunch with a smile and with efficiency, well next time when they need someone to greet clients, maybe they will remember how pleasant you were.  And then after greeting clients, you are the one selected to be a point person for a large event.  And then when a coordinator position opens up, you are someone who has proved to be a team player, a smiling face, a helpful set of hands, and they move you up because if you can do it, you can probably train, or at least a good example for the next generation of hires on how to do it.

Exactly. The LW missed a very valuable opportunity to get face time with upper management and be remembered in a positive fashion.  As this is the first impression that she has made with almost everyone at that level - that of a sour face and a sandwich wave - her glaring lack of esprit de corps will be very hard to overcome.

Yup.  LW sure schooled the executive suite.

[Hillia]

Are there actually companies out there that reward and promote "team players?" I've never come across any. Usually, the people who are willing to do these little chores are the first folks laid off.

Mine.  I work for a large national company.  The way we are set up is that my team handles several clients, with each team member being 100% responsible for 1 client.  A few years ago. one team member had totally botched his client's work, creating a mess that managment was scrambling to correct.  His client had been very specific that he was never to touch their work again, and he was refusing to work weekends anyway unless he got comp time off during the week.  It was a quiet time for my client, so I offered to help.  I spent several weekends working with a team correcting the issues.  Within a few weeks, I was given supervisory tasks, and a few months later, was promoted to supervisor with appropriate raise.  I have seen the same cause and effect in operation with other teammates.

Mr. 'I don't work weekends'?  He's still there.  His reputation spread among our clients (who are all loosely connected) and none of them will allow him anywhere near their work.  He gets no raises, no bonuses, and is used solely for the most boring types of redundant reports and busywork.  The only reason he hasn't been fired is because he's a member of a protected class and has threatened to sue many times, and our HR dept are chicken.