How far is too far -The worst thing your boss would make you do?

[woodlandswow]

An interesting thought and also an eye opener? How far is too far..

Today my boss asked me as a groom to clean her boots as an extra yard job. I politely said this wasn't my job and she scoffed so got me thinking.. unreasonable or just deal with it?!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

If that had been a quick wipe over at a show, it might have been considered to be reasonable but as a yard job, definitely unreasonable imo.
Well done for standing up for yourself!

 

[Red-1]

I would not have questioned cleaning boots. Seems reasonable to me. Just a job that needs doing, especially if it is before a show.

Having said that I have done some extreme jobs where, for example, I have had to clean vomit.... grapple with violent people who are HIV positive and Hep. positive, while they have uncapped used needles, in public toilets.... Not least dealing with bodies that have been dead for however long (you open the letter box and the flies fly out)... or telling people that loved ones have died.... Or being first on scene at a serious RTC....Or stand still for hours in inclement weather in inadequate clothing...

Cleaning boots would not really be a worry!

I would say enjoy your job, all aspects of it.

 

[pansymouse]

I don't think it was a particularly unreasonable request assuming they were riding boots.

 

[BBP]

Good question (although I would have cleaned riding boots, but drawn the line at other shoes).

Worst thing my boss did at one of my grooming jobs was stand by and do nothing when a drunken obnoxious farrier with a reputation for violence hit one of his top horses hard with a rasp totally unnecessarily and then verbally abused me in front of a crowd of people for trying to protect the horse, calling me a ********** dumb English b****. Boss said nothing and then expected me to go to a remote yard with no other people around whilst same farrier shod a few of his other horses. (This was on US hunter jumper show circuit, the guy was the only farrier option so everyone was scared to upset him, he used to kick dogs and beat up his wife but no-one would say a word to him).

 

[Rowreach]

Crikey. Cleaning boots, brushing muddy jackets - all part of the job. Do you think it's beneath you?

 

[ycbm]

If you are paid for the day and have time spare, you should do whatever tasks are in your capability that are legal that she asks you to do. And yes I do mean mop her floors, unless you are prepared not to be paid for the time you have spare after doing your 'official' duties. If you want to pick and choose you need to be on a zero hours contract.


Worst job I've ever been asked to do? Cover for a pregnant woman and use my skills to work her out of her job while she was off. I refused and left.

 

[woodlandswow]

to be honest I was surprised as have worked for many riders from Badminton winners to British Team members and never once been asked to do that - maybe ive just been lucky!

 

[ihatework]

I suppose in general ‘one’ would hope the boss might clean their own boots. For no other reason than a bit of etiquette/courtesy to staff (if that makes sense, not sure I’m explaining that well). I have also groomed top flight and never been asked to clean boots.

That said, if I was asked I would and wouldn’t think twice. I certainly wouldn’t say no. You are being paid for your time and at the end of the day is cleaning a pair of boots a big deal?

If I had a groom that turned around and refused to do a menial task I’m not sure they would be my groom for long, it’s an attitude I don’t have much time for in general

 

[southerncomfort]

If I had time I personally wouldn't have had a problem with it.

 

[wingedhorse]

I think it depends, if you were in the middle of cleaning tack, or had spare available time and were riding boots seems reasonable.

I keep a number of pairs of long riding boots in the tack room, if I had a groom and were cleaning saddles and bridles regularly I cant see why they wouldn’t clean boots too.

On the otherhand, if you had a full day of work to do already, weren’t cleaning tack that day, and it was an unwarranted extra I’d see why might be a bit annoying.

I generally think if you employ a groom, once they have done the daily tasks, there is some flexibility as to what extras they do e.g. weeding / field maintenance / yard maintenance / yard laundry / anything else.

I've done allsorts of jobs cheerfully including toilet cleaning!

 

[windand rain]

Some of the replies surprise me there was a recent report that riding grooms were a scarse commodity and should be valued. Demonstrates exactly why to me these are people to be valued not treated like servants. I would never ask anyone to do any job I wasnt prepared to do myself even if I waas paying them. The attitude still seems to be that a groom is a dogsbody who should do every task the employer can think of. Would I clean boots yes if I was asked nicely but not as a part of my contracted job.

 

[Polos Mum]

I work in an office and if I have spare time I'd find it completely reasonable to do jobs that aren't in my 'job description' - drive to shop to top up tea bag supplies, do other peoples shredding, parking cars for senior people, making tea, binding reports for other people etc. etc. I think they are paying me to be there I might as well do something useful. TBH if they want to pay me my salary to do menial tasks more fool them.
I'm not sure it's a groom vs. other role thing, more of an age thing (I am old and not precious). Other people do those jobs too when they aren't busy so it's not that they aren't prepared to do them - just who's free on any particular day.

 

[ycbm]

Grooms are a scarce commodity, surely, because they aren't paid enough for a tough physical job? Not because they might have to clean boots or even toilets are part of their job?

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Some of the replies surprise me there was a recent report that riding grooms were a scarse commodity and should be valued. Demonstrates exactly why to me these are people to be valued not treated like servants. I would never ask anyone to do any job I wasnt prepared to do myself even if I waas paying them. The attitude still seems to be that a groom is a dogsbody who should do every task the employer can think of. Would I clean boots yes if I was asked nicely but not as a part of my contracted job.

I agree with this. It’s not really about jobs being beneath you but if you are employed for a certain job that you’ve trained for and spent years developing skills I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect that’s the job you will do. Likewise at work I would take exception if I was asked to clean the loo when that is not what I’m employed to do. I’d help out in an emergency of course but not as a matter of expectation. I’ve had plenty of jobs doing this so it not beneath me I used to clean over 30 commode pots a day at a care home.

I think it also comes down to how good your relationship is with your employer or manager, some you know will take advantage and you need to nip it in the bud others you know you’d go that extra mile for because they respect and value your work.

 

[Red-1]

I work in an office and if I have spare time I'd find it completely reasonable to do jobs that aren't in my 'job description' - drive to shop to top up tea bag supplies, do other peoples shredding, parking cars for senior people, making tea, binding reports for other people etc. etc. I think they are paying me to be there I might as well do something useful. TBH if they want to pay me my salary to do menial tasks more fool them.
I'm not sure it's a groom vs. other role thing, more of an age thing (I am old and not precious). Other people do those jobs too when they aren't busy so it's not that they aren't prepared to do them - just who's free on any particular day.

See, this is me too. I now work in a school and everyone knuckles down and does whatever needs doing. We were short staffed at lunchtime the other day and I saw the headteacher in a borrowed lunchtime supervisor pinny serving lunches. Everyone is the same.

I find that getting involved and realising that everything is a team effort and getting on with it is far more enjoyable than being a jobsworth.

I am "just" a TA, but have also been a school governor for over a year now, that is unpaid but gives a load more job satisfaction. I have been a driver, photographer, cleaner, dinnerlady, whatever needs doing. I prefer to be busy.

To be honest I am completely bewildered at what the issue is with cleaning riding boots. I would also be happy to clean the yard toilet. It is a team effort.

I have also been a film extra and in those roles you have no idea what role you will be doing. In the last one I spent the day on a council tip, we flicked the dead rats out of the way of the place we would be repetitively walking over with a big stick. That was later shown on DCI banks. If we had been prissy about the work then the filming would not have got done.

Last year I did a spell with the Fire Service, going into vulnerable people's homes to give fire advice and fit smoke detectors (also safeguarding). During that time I also made tea, fixed a curtain rail, fetched washing in (it was going to rain before the carer got back)... not my duty but all to the good.

Does the boss of OP and some others have particularly fungal feet or something?

I also wonder if it is age related.

Most of my job contracts have given at the end that I was to do "any other duties that are within my capability" or some such wording.

I actually get a buzz from giving good service.

 

[ihatework]

See, this is me too. I now work in a school and everyone knuckles down and does whatever needs doing. We were short staffed at lunchtime the other day and I saw the headteacher in a borrowed lunchtime supervisor pinny serving lunches. Everyone is the same.

I find that getting involved and realising that everything is a team effort and getting on with it is far more enjoyable than being a jobsworth.

I am "just" a TA, but have also been a school governor for over a year now, that is unpaid but gives a load more job satisfaction. I have been a driver, photographer, cleaner, dinnerlady, whatever needs doing. I prefer to be busy.

To be honest I am completely bewildered at what the issue is with cleaning riding boots. I would also be happy to clean the yard toilet. It is a team effort.

I have also been a film extra and in those roles you have no idea what role you will be doing. In the last one I spent the day on a council tip, we flicked the dead rats out of the way of the place we would be repetitively walking over with a big stick. That was later shown on DCI banks. If we had been prissy about the work then the filming would not have got done.

Last year I did a spell with the Fire Service, going into vulnerable people's homes to give fire advice and fit smoke detectors (also safeguarding). During that time I also made tea, fixed a curtain rail, fetched washing in (it was going to rain before the carer got back)... not my duty but all to the good.

Does the boss of OP and some others have particularly fungal feet or something?

I also wonder if it is age related.

Most of my job contracts have given at the end that I was to do "any other duties that are within my capability" or some such wording.

I actually get a buzz from giving good service.

Too right. I’m exactly the same mentality.
I’m a consultant with a very specific skill set. Only last week a whole heap of documentation needed to go to archive on an important deadline. My clients office manager was ill and my administrator was tied up with something else. I spent the day removing staples and indexing documents. Possibly the best paid admin role ever, and so not in my remit, but it needed doing so I did it!

 

[meleeka]

We have a couple of staff in our business and my view is that we are paying them so If they’ve run out of things to do we’ll find them something, even if it’s not in their job description. That could be anything from cleaning the workshop to filing.

 

[ycbm]

I agree with this. It’s not really about jobs being beneath you but if you are employed for a certain job that you’ve trained for and spent years developing skills I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect that’s the job you will do. Likewise at work I would take exception if I was asked to clean the loo when that is not what I’m employed to do. I’d help out in an emergency of course but not as a matter of expectation. I’ve had plenty of jobs doing this so it not beneath me I used to clean over 30 commode pots a day at a care home.

So if this groom had fifteen minutes to spare and nothing which required their 'years of training and skill development' and was in the job description (like shoveling horse shyt), should they simply have been allowed to lean against a wall watching the world go by for that time, or should they earn their pay by doing something, anything, useful?


I think we should all start declaring our age on this one. I'll bet it's age related, like people are suggesting.

 

[fairyclare]

I would not have questioned cleaning boots. Seems reasonable to me. Just a job that needs doing, especially if it is before a show.

Having said that I have done some extreme jobs where, for example, I have had to clean vomit.... grapple with violent people who are HIV positive and Hep. positive, while they have uncapped used needles, in public toilets.... Not least dealing with bodies that have been dead for however long (you open the letter box and the flies fly out)... or telling people that loved ones have died.... Or being first on scene at a serious RTC....Or stand still for hours in inclement weather in inadequate clothing...

Cleaning boots would not really be a worry!

I would say enjoy your job, all aspects of it.

Red-1 sounds like we do or have done the same job, I am still doing it

 

[Polos Mum]

From the title I was expecting something along the lines of .....
- killing trapped rats with a shovel not a gun
- not giving water in a riding school to make the ponies easier to ride
- over rugging to sweat off fat
- competing lame horses high on bute / steroids
- rapping show jumpers etc.

the ethical dilemmas that we know go on but would be hard to do.

 

[woodlandswow]

As previosuly mentioned - i have groomed for all kinds of riders for 6 seasons in different countries round the world. I am not afraid of hard work or any jobs and I too have been very happy to clean toilets/fix fencing/plumbing/digging out drains all different kinds of jobs, however do think there needs to be a line drawn from personal belongings to the yard/equine jobs. otherwise when does it stop.
Of course if we were in a rush and the hand was needed i would nip in, however in a busy afternoon when said boss was on her way home and leaving me with a long list of jobs it was slightly pushing the line.
I feel the older posters will feel this is an age gap thing - but playing devils advocate - isnt it time attitude towards grooms changed?!
(now im running for cover!)

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I'd have happily cleaned the boots as long as I had time. Have done far worse as a groom including working daily in -10 weather with no heating, cleaning toilets when an office manager and one year while in a corparate role, wrapped all my bosses wife's Christmas gifts. All jobs either needed to be done or I had nothing else to do and would rather have been busy that sit around doing nothing.

If cleaning boots as groom is the worst thing you've been asked to do you are very lucky

 

[Red-1]

Red-1 sounds like we do or have done the same job, I am still doing it

I was happily one of the last to slip through on the "Old Pension" and left at 25 years. Of course, that is a reduced pension, hence film extra, TA, Fire service, Equestrian teaching...

BUT, I do like to be busy, so it is all to the good.

 

[Red-1]

I feel the older posters will feel this is an age gap thing - but playing devils advocate - isnt it time attitude towards grooms changed?!
(now im running for cover!)

I do think this is a age related thing, and I don't think this is a groom related thing.

In your example, however, I would count riding boots as equestrian equipment anyway, unless said boots were fashion boots?

Many examples given have not been to do with grooms.

I think it is an attitude towards work thing.

 

[SOS]

I have done some part time work as a groom, and cleaned boots almost daily, as well as cleaning the yard toilet. Other jobs I have turned up and been asked to do were wash the lorry, paint fencing, watch the child for half an hour etc. All I have done without question as I am being paid for my time. Even in my now ‘professional, skilled’ job on a down day we are expected to clean the kitchen and/or toilet. I am definitely in the young age bracket.

One thing if they expect you to do it in your unpaid time or you don’t have enough time, in that case explain why but hell, if they were paying me to clean flip-flops I would.

On a side note I find cleaning boots quite satisfying!

 

[gallopingby]

Sounds more like an attitude to the boss or job.

Either you muck in or think about a new job? I don't think it matters what the job is, if it needs doing and you have time to carry out the task then as a team player its helpful to do it.

Plenty 'bosses' prepared to do whatever is required to help out staff in an emergency, those that aren't/don't usually find themselves with a high staff turnover and this equally applies to employees including grooms! Maybe you'd like an assistant then you too could delegate to them.

Interestingly you say you've worked for six seasons with different people, is this six different jobs? Maybe its time you moved on again. No point staying if you're aren't enjoying a job.

I think you'll find that cheerful, experienced, well qualified grooms are in short supply and are paid accordingly. Aspiring types with little real horse sense certainly struggle - there's also the option of an inside job!

 

[Sallyfinn]

I'm a hospital consultant, an obstetrician and gynaecologist. I have a rather "specific skilll set" too! When I am not operating or seeing patients in clinic I have no problem with making beds, the tea, or washing up. I've even spent an hour cleaning the labour ward bathrooms and loos once. When I'm paid to be at work I'll work! It makes the world go round. And who wants to stand about looking like a lemon? I'm 42.

 

[tristar]

well done sal!

 

[redredruby]

I'm a hospital consultant, an obstetrician and gynaecologist. I have a rather "specific skilll set" too! When I am not operating or seeing patients in clinic I have no problem with making beds, the tea, or washing up. I've even spent an hour cleaning the labour ward bathrooms and loos once. When I'm paid to be at work I'll work! It makes the world go round. And who wants to stand about looking like a lemon? I'm 42.

Whilst that is very nice, it doesn't sound like the best use of your time for the benefit of the patients. Surely it would be better for a consultant to have spent that hour keeping up to date with latest research, contributing to hospital / government policy etc