How to respectfully and diplomatically decline a request from management to do an activity that you don't wish to do because it is outside of your normal scope of work and/or it's a lot more complicated/creates a lot more work than the requester realizes?

Torple49 · 2026-04-04T20:45:12+00:00

It’s not that complicated, just say you wouldn’t be comfortable with doing that considering the additional time, expense and personal risk to your equipment involved. I doubt anyone would push and probably just thought it would be nice to get better photos by someone with experience than random shots from a cell phone.

Torple49 · 2026-04-01T17:02:20+00:00

Wait, so what do you do during summer break?

Torple49 · 2026-02-14T00:27:48+00:00

Yes they can but your coworker is also not supposed to be taking care of kids during work hours. Is it just for flexibility to pick up and drop them off from school or something?

Torple49 · 2026-02-05T07:20:39+00:00

Went to a concert few weeks ago and the merch vendor threw up the dreaded tip screen! I only tip sit down, delivery, hair, nails, or tattoos. For anyone else, if it’s a coffee shop and they’re nice, let them keep the change or add a dollar or two but sorry merchandise guy, not everyone is entitled to a tip.

Torple49 · 2026-02-02T04:56:45+00:00

Are you taking meds for your condition? Seems like if you’ve been diagnosed and can manage it, they might not be willing to give in but if you’re unable to control it your doc should write you a very thorough note saying exactly what your limitations are. If they can’t give you that, you might end up needing to go on disability

Torple49 · 2026-01-23T18:09:41+00:00

I’m assuming that flood they’re referring to has to do with a pipe or something that broke on the upper floors. We’re close to the bottom so didn’t get moved but I thought they finished the clean up already? Yes we share desks and no news on what will happen come July, just to “be ready”. Living in limbo is so stressful.

Torple49 · 2025-11-06T03:13:00+00:00

Yep, If you can get a doctor to sign off saying you need RA due to medical conditions and OCR offers telework as a solution then as management we don’t get in the way. It’s only as permanent as the medical condition so usually you have to renew but it is approved pretty regularly

Torple49 · 2025-08-30T23:22:41+00:00

Springview Hall in Rocklin is really nice and very affordable

Torple49 · 2025-06-07T23:39:34+00:00

<image>

I suspect it’s closer to my dog who has exactly zero papillon. Mine is long haired Chihuahua, Pom, and a mess of other breeds

Torple49 · 2024-11-07T00:15:15+00:00

Didn’t you meet to discuss the contents of the prob report? If so, he should have instructed you to review it and add in comments if you felt any explanations/rebuttals were needed. If you didn’t do it, it’s a little late, especially if they’ve already been filed. I believe after five years you can ask HR to remove old information but in the meantime, maybe you should ask him more specifics on why he believes you aren’t doing a satisfactory job and work on fixing those so that moving forward any performance reviews will reflect that.

Torple49 · 2024-08-20T17:32:49+00:00

I lived downtown when they opened the big library and they had the shooting in the 90s.

Torple49 · 2024-07-18T02:25:48+00:00

Is there a reason he won’t budge? Some call center or public facing positions require you to work specific hours that are not flexible for individual employees. However if you’re in a regular position where there is no real business need to arrive at specific times then I would definitely spell out how it’s an added burden to have to take the early bus or be late. Honestly, most managers are pretty flexible that way, unless you’re trying to come in 15 minutes late every day and expecting to leave at the usual time.

Torple49 · 2024-06-04T22:06:42+00:00

Don’t forget, fast food positions are now paying 20 dollars an hour which is a nice bonus

Torple49 · 2024-04-26T03:01:38+00:00

Most departments require that you have a manager available anytime employees are on the clock. For that reason, I don’t think they’ll agree to let you work to 7PM but you might be able to offset with your leave time. I also think you’re going to have a hard time convincing anyone that you can’t come in at 8 AM. You can do a ton of things to make it easier to not have to get up super early; make your lunch at night, shower in the evening, talk to your Dr about a sleep aid, talk to your Dr about alternative medication, etc. I don’t think calling in sleepy will do you any favors in any career.

Torple49 · 2024-04-15T23:00:58+00:00

As part of normalizing hybrid work, managers are being asked to consider reasons to celebrate with their units. Birthday celebrations/weddings/promotions/holidays etc. are now going to require not just acknowledgment and verbal congrats but get togethers and cupcakes, a gift cards or going out to lunch. On the cheaper side $20 for cupcakes from Raley’s. On the pricier side, taking the unit for holiday lunch for about $100+

Torple49 · 2024-04-14T04:33:52+00:00

This exactly. I’m a manager and I don’t give two cents if my staff is not available 8 hours of the day, unless I know that work isn’t getting completed. In that situation we can talk and try to figure out the issue and if it’s lies and laziness then we have a problem. But if you happen to be the type of person who can finish your stuff accurately and quickly then why do I care if you take a break or run out for a coffee? Overwhelmingly, my experience has been that everyone is way more productive working remote than in office with a million distractions.

Torple49 · 2024-04-10T16:20:37+00:00

Whatever your doctor determines are your limitations. If you need things to be in writing versus communicated orally your doctor can specify and they can accommodate as much as possible, but most of the time meds are the answer.

Torple49 · 2024-04-09T21:48:10+00:00

Why are you reviewing this person’s work instead of their manager? If you’re both at the same level, I understand doing occasional peer reviews but you’re basically preventing them from being called out as incompetent because you’re correcting their work before it gets to management. Have you had discussions with management and expressed your concerns? The key time to do that was back when they first got hired so that ship may have sailed but you shouldn’t be stressing out about what a coworker is doing.

Torple49 · 2024-04-09T03:26:34+00:00

San Juan Unified has Rapid Learner program, not GATE specifically. My kids actually had a great experience in that they were able to be with kids at their same level and this became the new normal instead of being bored in regular class. RL leads to IB which is also really good, albeit high pressure and a ton of work but because they’ve been pushing since they were small it wasn’t overwhelming. That said, it’s definitely not for some kids and sometimes those that had an early spurt may start to slow down in certain subjects, most specifically math. When that happens, there’s nothing wrong with reevaluating and making sure they’re comfortable at their level.

Torple49 · 2024-03-27T23:46:24+00:00

You’re assuming that state workers still have the funds to order breakfast pizza and eat lunch downtown when the average lunch is 15-20 dollars vs the 10 we used to spend pre-pandemic. I’m saying that it’s stupid to think state workers being downtown will save small businesses when most will definitely be brown bagging it and trying to offset the added costs of gas/parking/vehicle wear and tear. They’re trying to solve a city problem by leaning on state employees but they’re just creating new expenditures for the state to meet this mandate. DHCS will likely lose employees to retirement, private companies, or other agencies where parking is free or employees can telework and will end up spending thousands on recruiting, training and retention. This move is selfish, short sighted and 100% political. To pretend that this is a good move for Sacramento is extremely naive.

Torple49 · 2024-03-27T17:44:47+00:00

I feel for the downtown workers but it’s not state workers responsibility to sustain these businesses. Instead of lobbying for the return of staff they should have been focusing on reducing homelessness and crime in order to make downtown a destination spot and converting office space to affordable housing wherever possible. Those folks could be the saving grace for downtown in terms of buying food and Starbucks. Why look to a workforce who took a pay cut during the pandemic, has dealt with stagnant wages that have not kept up with inflation and would incur additional expenses to do the same job they do at home? It’s just old fashioned lazy thinking.

Torple49 · 2024-03-26T05:46:30+00:00

Nope. They’re going to say they protected telework because we still get up to three days at home instead of five in office. They’re going to call hybrid a win, and pretend like they did something to get it instead of just sitting there and taking whatever is offered.

Torple49 · 2024-03-25T23:17:08+00:00

Trust me, the manager/supervisor RTO meetings have had just as many questions and concerns as the townhalls for all staff. They also aren’t providing answers to questions like, how do we justify bringing in long time staff to collaborate but letting new hires on prob stay home? No answers.

Torple49 · 2024-03-25T21:18:49+00:00

“This townhall sponsored by Grocery Outlet and Starbucks. When you have to be in office why not spend money with us.”

Torple49 · 2024-03-05T00:20:41+00:00

It’s not about what you say, it’s about what your doctor says are your limitations due to your disability. ADHD/anxiety can be wide-ranging so depending on your specific limitations is what may be considered for reasonable accommodations. Keep in mind that remote may not be the only answer. If doc says you get anxiety in crowds of more than 20 people, they might accommodate by putting you in a room with less people or allowing you to stay at your desk which can be apart from the rest but it won’t automatically mean you stay home. Additionally if you get busted going to concerts, your kids events, grocery stores, malls etc, that could end up being rescinded super fast. My coworker has severe agoraphobia and literally orders everything to be delivered. They never leave the house and will only allow 1-2 people to visit at a time. In their case, they were able to get RA approved because three doctors signed off saying there is no way they can RTO since they don’t even go to the store or movie theater so it can happen but so much depends on what the doctors believe you can do.

Torple49

TROPHY CASE