Tell Me If You Think This Is Weird:
My friend, a part-time office intern at a prominent university, begins his work day at 9 a.m.
The other day, when he walked in about 10 minutes early, he opened his Outlook. An alert came up, saying his supervisor had scheduled a meeting with him that morning from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. So he thought he was either a mistake or ridiculous, seeing as he *starts* at 9 and shouldn’t even be there at 8:45.
She came out: “Did you get my alert?”
Him: “Yes, but I was confused since I don’t start until 9.”
Boss: “Oh.” {walks back into office}
Right on the dot at 9 a.m., Friend went to scheduled meeting. Boss said he’d been unprofessional and she couldn’t believe his response. He should’ve come in early, she said. But he didn’t know about the meeting until that morning.
Weird? Not weird? Have you experienced any weird business interactions like this?
Filed under 9-5, communication |
7 Responses to “Tell Me If You Think This Is Weird:”
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Yes, that is weird. But did she schedule the meeting that morning, or was it something scheduled ahead of time (where he would have known to come in early that day)?
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have a meeting that starts earlier than you usually come in, but you should be given more notice. I probably just would have gone into the boss’ office as soon as I saw the memo though (not waited til 9).
Weird, unless she had scheduled it in advance. But since he was there 10 minutes early, he probably should have just gone in anyway
It’s totally bizarre that his manager would have scheduled something for before he was supposed to arrive — especially since it sounds like she put it on his calendar the night before. I agree with sjean though, since he DID happen to get there early, he should have gone to the meeting. It’s totally fine to say, “I was confused because I don’t usually come in until 9am;” but I also think it was rude to not just say something simple like, “Would it be ok to hold off until 9am to give me a few minutes to get situated, or would you like to start the meeting now?”
It’s always tricky balancing your desire to speak up for yourself/not be a pushover and the need to be respectful to a manager…
It is very strange. sounds like his boss is on a power trip, unless of course she scheduled it with some warning. I also agree with sjean and Kim, I would have gone into the meetnig if I was there.
As for the boss scheduling the meeting before 9am, I honestly don’t think its that strange. I’ve had scatterbrained bosses before and they’ve done silly things that would equate to that. She may have simply forgotten he started later than she does. Or she may have had it on her calendar thinking he knew, and sent out the invitation a little too late.
If she thought he reacted unprofessionally (based on what he said) I think it was either because she was embarrassed and caught off guard, or she is a little uptight. I don’t think a part-time intern could be expected to “just know” to come in for this meeting when he wasn’t informed of it in advance.
Now, if he had a blackberry he’d have no excuse, lol. (Which is why I’m GLAD I don’t have one for work!!)
This has happened to me before, but the meeting scheduler never acted like a jerk because we all have flex hours. One time a meeting was scheduled while I was driving to work for 15 minutes later. I think this boss shouldn’t have been a jerk to that person, but whatever, it is an internship that he will leave anyway. As long as he knows he acted professionally I think it’s okay.
Hmmn. Good thoughts, everyone! I’m glad for fresh perspectives because I have a hard time removing my friend from my point of view.
He agreed he could’ve gone into the meeting, and we both agreed his supervisor is strange.