4 ms·

I was thinking the same thing. How many times can I say no to a difficult task before they let me go?

by atum47 3y ago

jjav 3y ago
I used to never say no and I worked 18 hour days. Not great. I started to say no but that does piss people off. Not so great either. Now, unless it's completely ridiculous request, I never say no. I say something like "Happy to help! Sounds like this might take about an hour, I can pencil in that time for this project next week Thursday afternoon, looking forward to it!" If they insist it's for tomorrow I'll include in the discussion whoever needed me today and let them know there is a higher priority request. Let them fight it out. Turns out people are quick to ask for my time ASAP, but if they learn they have to confront someone else to negotiate for it, those requests die down. Or if it truly was so urgent, no problem, we'll rearrange.
- throwway120385 3y ago
  I get a lot of mileage out of "I'm happy to help but first I need to let my manager know that you've asked me to do this." Usually the request dies about 15 minutes after.
crossroadsguy 3y ago
When the lay-off happened at the workplace both the kinds of people - the "slaves" and the "it's 5pm, see you tomorrow, toodles.. nope, haven't got 5 minutes" - were laid off together, indiscriminately. So that's there.
xetplan 3y ago
I use to be in this situation but found a much better job. My hard work is actually appreciated now even though it is not as much work as my previous job. Pretty sure the business strategy at my old job was to keep giving more work until the person quit or figured out a way to handle it. If you said no, you weren't going to be the one progressing. I stayed to my breaking point, didn't over stay, but so glad I left. I like difficult tasks, completing difficult tasks is really fulfilling to me. I just don't like impossible situations.

4 ms·

I was thinking the same thing. How many times can I say no to a difficult task before they let me go?

by atum47 3y ago

I was thinking the same thing. How many times can I say no to a difficult task before they let me go?

jjav 3y ago
I used to never say no and I worked 18 hour days. Not great. I started to say no but that does piss people off. Not so great either. Now, unless it's completely ridiculous request, I never say no. I say something like "Happy to help! Sounds like this might take about an hour, I can pencil in that time for this project next week Thursday afternoon, looking forward to it!" If they insist it's for tomorrow I'll include in the discussion whoever needed me today and let them know there is a higher priority request. Let them fight it out. Turns out people are quick to ask for my time ASAP, but if they learn they have to confront someone else to negotiate for it, those requests die down. Or if it truly was so urgent, no problem, we'll rearrange.
- throwway120385 3y ago
  I get a lot of mileage out of "I'm happy to help but first I need to let my manager know that you've asked me to do this." Usually the request dies about 15 minutes after.
crossroadsguy 3y ago
When the lay-off happened at the workplace both the kinds of people - the "slaves" and the "it's 5pm, see you tomorrow, toodles.. nope, haven't got 5 minutes" - were laid off together, indiscriminately. So that's there.
xetplan 3y ago
I use to be in this situation but found a much better job. My hard work is actually appreciated now even though it is not as much work as my previous job. Pretty sure the business strategy at my old job was to keep giving more work until the person quit or figured out a way to handle it. If you said no, you weren't going to be the one progressing. I stayed to my breaking point, didn't over stay, but so glad I left. I like difficult tasks, completing difficult tasks is really fulfilling to me. I just don't like impossible situations.