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

conniegirl said:
A great many jobs require you to work unpaid overtime.

Heck I work in R&D and it has always been in the contract of every job I’ve had that you are expected from time to time to do unpaid overtime to get the job done. It’s all part of having a salaried position
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Perhaps I should have said "unpaid overtime regularly"...and grooms don't (generally) earn a huge amount either. Essentially, if the OP had a light afternoon and this job was to fill the time, I would see that as fine. I don't think it's something that should take her into overtime though!
 
redredruby said:
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
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As they gradually lose respect from the nurses and support workers who have sweat dripping from them , barely able to keep up with the task at hand let alone the 10 other things the junior doctors have asked them to do, which they have said yes too because in a hospital you work as a team. At least we all should anyway.
When you have had sweat pouring from you as you try to please the needs of many and rush past a doctor, with their feet on their desk, enjoying their 4th Costa of the shift... and they ask you to take these bloods to the lab for them?!! Then you can say " they should be doing something more contributing".

Hats off to you Sallyfinn I'm sure you are well respected by your colleagues :)
 
woodlandswow said:
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!)
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No, it's not an age thing, I think it was an unreasonable request, especially after reading your further details - and I am in my 60s!
i agree that employees should not be lounging around twiddling their thumbs when there is work to be done but it would be a very unusual yard where there was nothing left to do except personal care for the 'boss'. Some of the examples given describe tasks which fall within the job description or were done on a purely voluntary basis, which is a different matter altogether.
 
I’m a teacher and at the last parents evening I arrived at my designated table, with a group of parents in the waiting area seats opposite, to find my table full of half eaten biscuits, chewed food, snotty tissues etc.. so I had to play cleaner first, before sitting down to greet the parents (who seemed to be quite shocked by the state of the place)

Not in my job description, but needs must!
 
I find it amusing that some people are suggesting it is an age related thing....:rolleyes3:

I'll do most things asked of me at work unless I think it is a bad/dangerous/morally corrupt thing to do, but generally I will offer an alternative at the same to try to achieve the same 'goal' at the end of it.

The only tasks that I have flat refused to do were h&s tasks that I was not trained for.
 
My groom cleans my tack, harness, boots, even horsey clothing, when requested. Never thought she’d consider it an issue- in the summer it’s quite a large part of her job. Up there with my worst requests was putting the eyeballs back in a dead pug (without gloves). Long story :p
 
I find it rather telling the “worked for many people over 6 years” post.

Good grooms who work well in a team tend to get asked to stay year round or get invited back every season dependant on the yard set up.

Heck I haven’t been a groom in over 7years but still get the occasional call asking if I can come back for a season, or even just cover one show (I can help with the latter but not the former)
 
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HashRouge said:
Perhaps I should have said "unpaid overtime regularly"...and grooms don't (generally) earn a huge amount either. Essentially, if the OP had a light afternoon and this job was to fill the time, I would see that as fine. I don't think it's something that should take her into overtime though!
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Having done both jobs I don’t think there is actually a difference between unpaid over time as a groom and unpaid overtime in a salaried positions.
TBH I’ve done more unpaid over time in R&D then I ever did as a groom.
 
redredruby said:
An important factor in good team work is appropriate resource management. Cleaning toilets and making cups of tea hardly seems the most effective use of a consultants skills.
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It's surprising the change that seeing the boss cheerfully mucking in can make to a workplace. If part of your job is leading the team, then it is time well spent, as is taking the time to get to know people, asking after their families, a bit of sympathy etc. etc.

That way, the next time you delegate something, you'll do so to someone who wants to please you, and isn't afraid to come back with a question if/when they hit a problem.

Nobody is above good old fashioned leadership.
 
The only thing I have ever refused to do at work was cleaning the urinals at a well known childrens' adventure holiday centre. I was happy to clean the ladies, but boys' loos are a special class of horrid.
 
Maybe the boss knows that if you aren't given a specific list of jobs nothing gets done hence why she left you a long list of instructions? You could turn this round by listing to her your plans for the afternoon at break time to show you are planning to get on and work?
And theres no reason you should be annoyed the boss was going home and leaving you to work in your paid time as that is what she pays you to do.
 
Most people will be asked to things that are not part of their job description. Most people will have a clause in their job description that says that the list is not exhaustive & they can be asked to do work at a similar level that is within their capabilities.

Ifor you are unhappy with being asked to clean the boots then explain why to your boss, however if they need someone who is willing to clean boots then you may find yourself made redundant & replaced by someone who is willing to do the tasks.
 
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SO1 said:
Most people will be asked to things that are not part of their job description. Most people will have a clause in their job description that says that the list is not exhaustive & they can be asked to do work at a similar level that is within their capabilities.

Ifor you are unhappy with being asked to clean the boots then explain why to your boss, however if they need someone who is willing to clean boots then you may find yourself made redundant & replaced by someone who is willing to do the tasks.
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Likewise a good employee may leave for a job where her skills are better recognised and respected.
 
I'm surprised there are so many doormats on HHO...self respect anyone? :P A lot of you are also making sweeping judgements about the OPs abilities/capacity to work etc when you have no idea of what they are.

I'm not surprised that grooms have some of the worst working conditions in the country if people are still willing to accept that the job title of 'groom' actually translates to 'serf', and put up with being treated as such. Along with the expectation that they be grateful for poor pay, hard work and grotty accommodation graciously handed down from on high in the case of SOME (not all) employers.

Especially given the subsequent updates I think it was a totally unreasonable request - a groom should not be a valet/personal maid or subject to random whims of their employers. It smacks of the days when secretaries were expected to organise their (male) bosses dry cleaning. And just for the record, I'm nearly 50, managerial level and happy to muck in. I also wouldn't dream of asking any of my team to clean my shoes if they had a few minutes spare in their day...
 
SpottyMare said:
I'm surprised there are so many doormats on HHO...self respect anyone? :P A lot of you are also making sweeping judgements about the OPs abilities/capacity to work etc when you have no idea of what they are.

I'm not surprised that grooms have some of the worst working conditions in the country if people are still willing to accept that the job title of 'groom' actually translates to 'serf', and put up with being treated as such. Along with the expectation that they be grateful for poor pay, hard work and grotty accommodation graciously handed down from on high in the case of SOME (not all) employers.

Especially given the subsequent updates I think it was a totally unreasonable request - a groom should not be a valet/personal maid or subject to random whims of their employers. It smacks of the days when secretaries were expected to organise their (male) bosses dry cleaning. And just for the record, I'm nearly 50, managerial level and happy to muck in. I also wouldn't dream of asking any of my team to clean my shoes if they had a few minutes spare in their day...
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I am having a laugh (good job im not crying!) at all the assumptions about how many jobs ive been in and my capabilities - i knew it would be a can of worms to open. And im not going to waste my time defending myself to a bunch of randomers!
 
woodlandswow said:
I am having a laugh (good job im not crying!) at all the assumptions about how many jobs ive been in and my capabilities - i knew it would be a can of worms to open. And im not going to waste my time defending myself to a bunch of randomers!
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Well don’t ask a bunch of randomers their opinions then lol.

Despite my earlier post. There’s nothing wrong with setting boundaries as to what you will and won’t do
 
redredruby said:
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
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You are absolutely right. In the ideal world someone who could feasibly be paid £250 per hour from the public purse shouldn't be spending their time making beds.

But that's assuming we operate in the perfect world, and not in the middle of a crisis where there is a massive shortage of nurses and healthcare assistants, and we've gone and halved those pesky overpaid admin staff.

Those working on wards will be overstretched, exhausted and struggling to get through their jobs. A gesture from a senior member of staff to say 'we are all in it together' will go a long way. I think it's a really kind and generous attitude to have.

To add, I'm in legal / corporate finance with a specific skill set too and I've spent hours in the hospitals helping with rostering and safe staffing levels due to the staffing crisis, or helping to get staff into hospitals in the snow. Would also make a bed if I was asked to.





*Sf apologies if I've made lots of assumptions that you work in the NHS, and bank / agency rates etc, I'm writing from my experience so your Trust might be different.
 
As an ex professional groom, no, its not your job to clean boots. A groom looks after horses, saddlery, the yard, feeding, exercising, grooming,, maybe, and only maybe, poopicking a field.
The personal clothing of your employer is their responsibility. Well done for standing your ground. Mention that you won't do their ironing either.
 
woodlandswow said:
im not going to waste my time defending myself to a bunch of randomers!
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I am a former international event groom, and I don't recall my employers ever asking me to look after their own kit. I offered to clean boots while we were in the lorry on the way to events/between phases at competitions, because the rider was driving the lorry/doing his job at the time, but it was never expected. It's not part of the job, although I would have done it without question, because I didn't mind, and it needed doing. I'm no doormat, but I don't really see it as important in the grand scale of things.

I do feel that you've rather let yourself down by that last comment. Calling people names, when you asked them for opinions in the first place, isn't really cool - no matter whether you liked the opinions or not.
 
pennyturner said:
The only thing I have ever refused to do at work was cleaning the urinals at a well known childrens' adventure holiday centre. I was happy to clean the ladies, but boys' loos are a special class of horrid.
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Ha Ha, I used to be a supermarket cleaner, and I know exactly what you mean! ;)

Happily for me, the deputy manager was so embarrassed at the state of the male EMPLOYEES toilets that he would go in before me and get rid of the worst :D
 
SpottyMare said:
It smacks of the days when secretaries were expected to organise their (male) bosses dry cleaning....
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There are plenty of secretaries and PAs who take pride in facilitating their boss's ability to focus 100% on their task of managing a business, who are happy to sort out the dry cleaning of business suits, ordering flowers for the partner's birthday and anything else that helps if they have time around more onerous duties. Bigger companies have people/service companies employed to provide those services to senior members of staff. In smaller companies the PA does it.
 
to be honest i think it is how you feel, i am sure there are things i would feel put upon to do, not my job and that i just don`t want to do,that is how i am, and if that is how you feel it is your right to your own interpretation of how you should be used within your own employment.
 
SpottyMare said:
I'm surprised there are so many doormats on HHO...self respect anyone? :P A lot of you are also making sweeping judgements about the OPs abilities/capacity to work etc when you have no idea of what they are.

I'm not surprised that grooms have some of the worst working conditions in the country if people are still willing to accept that the job title of 'groom' actually translates to 'serf', and put up with being treated as such. Along with the expectation that they be grateful for poor pay, hard work and grotty accommodation graciously handed down from on high in the case of SOME (not all) employers.

Especially given the subsequent updates I think it was a totally unreasonable request - a groom should not be a valet/personal maid or subject to random whims of their employers. It smacks of the days when secretaries were expected to organise their (male) bosses dry cleaning. And just for the record, I'm nearly 50, managerial level and happy to muck in. I also wouldn't dream of asking any of my team to clean my shoes if they had a few minutes spare in their day...
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But I think it is entirely representational of how you view yourself and your world as to weather you don't enjoy stuff because you perceive it as being a 'serf' or weather you just see yourself as a team member and enjoy doing whatever you can to make the job work.

I used to be employed as a receptionist by an equine vet when in my early 20s, and yes, I went to the shop to buy his razors or whatever else he needed. I don't recollect him having dry cleaning, but it would not have been an issue.

To my eyes he needed to have razors, and he could either go and buy them himself and do no vet work (which was after all what paid my wages) or I could go and buy them and he could do vet work and cover the reception, earning wages for me too :-)

I actually think it is because I have a strong sense of inner self respect that the different 'surprise' facets of any role are an enjoyable change rather than being seen as a put down serf.
 
For me it depends on how it was asked and the circumstance to be honest. I see no problem with “I’m a bit busy so could you clean my boots when you get a chance?”, it’s not a massive job and if it means everyone can go home earlier then why not. If it was “oi you, groom, clean my boots” whilst your boss was sunning herself in a deck chair or something then that’s different.

Personally, I have no issue running errands or doing jobs for people if it helps as a whole.

I also think whether people are prepared to do things or not is an individual thing, not an age thing.
 
As an Ex-Groom, I was never asked to clean anything that wasn't horse related, but if I had been asked I probably would have. It takes a few minutes and if I wasn't busy I don't see the issue.

I'm no pushover but with the perks I got with the job (the education I got from my amazing YM and YO which was and still is absolutely invaluable, doing my horse and riding my horse in work time, free lessons with visiting instructors, able to use the arena's without charge, VERY cheap livery, decent wages that were above minimum wage, and an incredibly fair work environment) I would gladly polish a pair of boots without complaint. It's a two way thing and I suppose it all depends on if your work take the piss out of you regularly...
 
Red-1 said:
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.
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Just to say I LOVE your approach to life Red - If I could find someone that has half your attitude to work my business would run a lot better.
 
My boss is asking me to work .... its not acceptable, its not clever and its not funny. I am using this forum less and less because of him and I am very angry about it! It's the worst ever :(
 
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