I realize it sucks that the university doesn’t allocate enough budget money to offer the library a full range of support staff including numerous paraprofessionals, but the kid was hired specifically to work for me. That means I get first dibs on his 5 hours a day and I’ve got a stack of stuff that needs to be done. I am considering hanging a sign on his cube that says: Student X’s supervisor is ZPG Zealot. Do not give him work unless you clear it with her first. I think that’s polite enough, since it seems to be problem with a lot of people. Thoughts?
Sounds passive aggressive. Why not just talk to the people who are giving him work that shouldn’t be?
This is an excellent opportunity to show some of the mentorship that a good manager does, and teach him how to manage non-priority requests. That’s a valuable skill that will serve him well through his career. Why would you put a sign on his desk as if he doesn’t have a mouth to speak with? Make him responsibilities clear, and empower her to make the appropriate decisions. Be reassuring, and help him see how his work fits in to the big picture.
I’d say something like “Bobby, I’ve noticed that you’ve been picking up a lot of tasks from the reserve desk. I really appreciate the enthusiasm and gumption you are showing, and it’s clear that you are a hard worker. Right now, I really want to concentrate on Project X, because I think your filing skills will be absolutely essential to our plan to mine Uranium from the moon. Just the other day Dr. Brain came in and commented on how helpful the files were. So for the moment, I’d like to to really focus on putting your best work into Project X, and hold off on other requests. I’ve talked to the reserve desk, and they know that Project X is your main task. If they do ask you take on additional tasks, I am going to ask you to have them speak with me first so that we can see where this fits in. And I know you have been really enjoying some of the work you’ve been doing for the reserve desk, so I’ve set aside two hours on Thursday where you can get trained with them on Mad Reserve Desk Skillz. Does that sound good?”
I like to have things out in the open and in writing (and several of the poachers have already had the talk, they just weren’t listening). The sign would be the step before sending out email memo’s informing specific people that they are not to give Student X work without clearing it with me because he does have a full schedule of things to be done.
Can you bill the other groups for the work this person’s doing? If you’re paying for five hours a day and only getting three… do you use a billing code system?
If he has a full schedule of work to be done for you, why is he doing work for other people? Sounds like a kid who doesn’t have his priorities straight. Time for someone like YOU to straighten him out.
Let others give him work. And if he ever has any free time, he can do it. If not, TOO BAD FOR THEM.
No, there isn’t a billing code system that would be applicable here. This is at a public university and we are all the same department.
Or a 'nad shot. 'Nad shots are always funny.
It’s the kid’s first job beyond fast food and I think he’s doing excellent. Unfortunately, I also think he was aware that there were people that didn’t want him to be hired, so he’s trying to do everything perfect and please everybody. I have no complaints over what he’s doing, but I am reaching the point where I feel the need to be less than diplomatic toward some of my coworkers in regard to him. I suspect I shall have to brush up on all the HR approved ways of saying TOO BAD FOR THEM.
“So if you could just…go ahead…and stop pissing me off, that would be great.”
And since it’s a library, first ask “What’s the capital of Thailand?”
Should’ve seen it coming.
I hope your note idea works, but people who can ignore what you tell them can also “not see” a note. Or take it down. Or assume that it can’t possibly refer to them.
Yeah, if in-person chats aren’t enough, a note’s sure not going to make a difference. I say tell the worker that he is to do your stuff and come up with a suitably polite refusal for him to say if anyone tries to get him more work.
A note, you may feel that his position is secure but if he knows that there were people that didn’t want him hired (how did that come out? That’s only going to make things more awkward.) then being new and a student worker, he’s not going to know how much office political capital you have or are willing to spend on his behalf should drier times appear later on so he’s naturally going to play ball with as many people as possible.
Tell the kid to tell people who give him assignments to run everything through you. I am in a support situation and that is what my boss tells me to do. You are the boss so you can decide what has priority.
Just give him a line. “I would be glad to do your assignment but please run it by ZPG Zealot first as she is my supervisor.”
Right. Did the sign our big boss put in the bathroom that said
If you sprinkle
When you tinkle
Please be neat
And wipe the seat
stop someone from christening the seat? No, no it didn’t.
So she started following us into the bathroom to see who it was.
Back when I was temping in the mid 90s that is what I tended to say if someone who was not my boss was asking me to do some project. Of course I was in my 40s and not a kid.
That’s when the OP writes up a hardcopy memo and takes it around to the worst offenders, and gets them to sign it.
I did the same when I was temping in my twenties.
What if his name is Donald?