My Question of the Day for 09 July 2010 – UPDATED
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My Question of the Day: Todd works for a very non-conventional company, where personal and professional seem to cross more often than to which he’s accustomed. For example, his supervisor, Gordon, expects that Todd will socialize with him and other employees after hours, and Gordon has a habit of calling Todd at home or on his cell during his off-time to discuss things he’d like Todd to do when he’s next at work.
It was very difficult for Todd to adjust to all this when he first started working for the company, but the salary, hours and benefits are amazing, including free, catered lunch daily, a car service to and from his home and 30 days of vacation each year. Now that Todd has been with the company for several months, he’s learned to live with the relaxed environment.
One evening, during his four-day vacation and while he is at a family outing at his oldest brother’s home, Todd’s cellphone rings. He looks at the display and sees that it’s Gordon. There’s a lull in the family activities, so Todd decides to take the call. Gordon has had a brainstorm, and he wants to share it with Todd before he forgets. After sharing his new idea, Gordon asks Todd to implement it when he comes back to work from his vacation. Todd agrees to make it happen, ends the call and dashes across the lawn to play soccer with his nephews?
About two weeks later, Todd is at work and Gordon storms into his office with a scowl on his face. Todd is shocked and can’t imagine why Gordon is so angr. Gordon launches into a tirade about how Todd has cost the company several thousand dollars because he didn’t implement Gordon’s idea as Gordon had asked him to. At first Todd is confused and doesn’t know what Gordon is talking about, and then he remembers the phone conversation with Gordon while he (Todd) was on vacation. Gordon tells Todd they both have to meet with the company president about this situation, so Todd follows Gordon out of the office.
When they’re in the company president’s office, Gordon is allowed to speak first since he is Todd’s boss. Gordon lays the entire blame on Todd, never mentioning how and when he informed Todd of the task. Todd is livid, but he keeps his face calm, and he doesn’t interrupt Gordon’s version of the incident. When the company president asks Todd for his version of the incident, Todd is torn about what he should say. Should he explain that Gordon called him during his vacation time, but didn’t follow up with any kind of email or memo as a reminder, or should he just take the blame, even though he believes Gordon is in the wrong, since Todd knows he has to continue to work under Gordon? After some thought, Todd begins to explain his version of the incident…
Who do you think is in the wrong?
(this question inspired by @nurkirk; thanks!)
My 2 Cents: They should both share part of the blame. Gordon should have followed up with an email, and Todd should have set himself some sort of reminder. Gordon shouldn’t have called Todd during his vacation, and Todd should have let the call go to voice mail if he was aware that Gordon might be calling about work-related stuff. Since neither of them seem to have used good judgment, it’s unfortunate for Todd that Gordon is the boss and the President will probably defer to Gordon, since Todd did take the call and failed to complete the assignment.
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Sucks to be Todd but he knows the work environment and it’s expectations. The onus fell on him and he failed to deliver.
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LikeDislikeI completely agree with Sheri. Todd can explain the situation, but ultimately he took responsibility for the project and it was up to him to fulfill that promise. It’s not Gordon’s responsibility to follow up — although a good boss would. And a good company president would recognize that fact; regardless of when the project was assigned, letting it fall through the cracks is not good for business. I’d imagine Gordon’s going to hear a few words, too.
If Todd had a problem with the blending of personal and work life, he should have made this clear. Maybe that’s an expectation for such a generous vacation policy. Who knows? But Todd cannot take the assignment, forget about it because he was on vacation, and then expect that he isn’t to blame. That’s just unprofessional.
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LikeDislikeIf I were Todd I’d just tell the truth and see what happens. I think that Gordon is wrong for his unprofessionalism, but Todd got that part after a while. He’ll just have to see what happens.
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LikeDislikeThey’re both wrong…the boss shouldn’t call on vacation, and Todd shouldn’t have picked up. Once he picked up, he was on the hook for remembering it. On some level, Todd should have drawn the lines even earlier with regard to when he takes calls.
He should have explained how he took that call, and admitted responsibility for dropping the ball. There are mitigating circumstances, and he should only be warned, not raked over the coals.
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LikeDislikeUnfortunately, Todd should have written this down or made a note of it but obvious aside Gordon should not have been contacting him during vacation time. i understand business is fast paced these days and “vacation” is pretty much not a vacation but some things should be respected and not following up with his team member was irresponsible.
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LikeDislikeSorry this one is all on Todd. Whether or not he was on vacation he took the call and thus the responsibility. He needs to explain that he took the call while on vacation and completely forgot. And then apologize!
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LikeDislikeJust tell the company prez that Gordon called him while he was on vacation and that he totally forgot about it. Take his lumps but also let him know that he’s not the only one at fault here.
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LikeDislikeA. this is what voice mail is FOR
Todd has to swallow this L. He took the call and Accepted the responsibility to make that happen.
Sounds like excuses otherwise.
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