I really need help with this work problem
April 5, 2018 1:27 PM Subscribe
I am stuck working with someone incompetent on a project with a tight deadline. I am 7 months pregnant and this project is supposed to be delivered before I go on maternity leave (8 weeks from now). I am emotional, angry and stressed. This basic situation is as follows: I am a software developer and this person, let's call him Bob, is the business analyst who provides the documented requirements I have to implement. If this isn't your industry, it's kind of like this: I'm a builder, and this person is give me shite blueprints. I have said directly to him, several times, your blueprints are shite; change them. They haven't improved. I have also communicated this to: my manager, my upper manager, his manager. Nevertheless, I keep getting shite blueprints. What now?
How crappy is his work? Missing screen mockups. Failure to account for all paths through the application. Obvious situations not anticipated. Poor understanding of how the application currently works. Poor understanding of how good web applications work in general. Poor grammar and spelling. I refuse to feel sorry for him because, to remedy this, all he mainly has to do is spend some time playing with the application, looking at previous examples of requirements written for the application, and asking his colleagues (fellow BAs, not developers) for help and advice.
Am I sure it's crappy? Yes - my direct and upper managers have agreed with me. My colleagues agree with me. And I'm not the only one to complain about this person - there are two others I know of. Also, we had to go back through the SDCL twice for the last release because of him - once because he forgot to include a certain requirement and the second time because he missed testing some scenarios that ended up having bugs. These things should not happen. Ever.
Ok, back to the blueprint/builder analogy.
Possible solutions:
1) I tell him, step by step, over many back and forths, at considerable effort and stress to me, how to fix his blueprints so that they are good. This is what he wants. This makes everyone's life easier. Except mine. I shouldn't have to do this. I'm not a blueprint designer. I haven't been trained as such. I don't even completely trust my ability to do this. And I don't want to shoulder the blame for any design oversights. Not to mention, I'm a hugely pregnant lady who seriously has no more f*cks to give about you and your incompetence.
2) This person gets fired. I get a competent person to work with. YAY! This is what I want. But I can't make it happen, obviously.
3) I follow his blueprints as much to the letter as possible, thus producing crap that I am ashamed of. It doesn't make it into production before I go on mat leave, because people finally realize what crap it is. Then, I go on leave and let everyone else deal with the fallout. I am strongly considering this option now, although it leaves me very unhappy. Because I am proud of my application and my work.
4) I leave work early for medical reasons. I'm bipolar II and this seems to be causing some hypomania for me. I've talked to my psychiatrist. We agreed I could start taking my benzo again to see if that helps. But, she's already said that removing the stressor is the other option, and all I need to do is let her know and she'll fill out the forms to get me off work.
I'm sorry if this is scattered and unclear; I'm trying to be calm and detached, but I've been dealing with this person and his sub-par work for over two months and I've just had enough. Please help.
How crappy is his work? Missing screen mockups. Failure to account for all paths through the application. Obvious situations not anticipated. Poor understanding of how the application currently works. Poor understanding of how good web applications work in general. Poor grammar and spelling. I refuse to feel sorry for him because, to remedy this, all he mainly has to do is spend some time playing with the application, looking at previous examples of requirements written for the application, and asking his colleagues (fellow BAs, not developers) for help and advice.
Am I sure it's crappy? Yes - my direct and upper managers have agreed with me. My colleagues agree with me. And I'm not the only one to complain about this person - there are two others I know of. Also, we had to go back through the SDCL twice for the last release because of him - once because he forgot to include a certain requirement and the second time because he missed testing some scenarios that ended up having bugs. These things should not happen. Ever.
Ok, back to the blueprint/builder analogy.
Possible solutions:
1) I tell him, step by step, over many back and forths, at considerable effort and stress to me, how to fix his blueprints so that they are good. This is what he wants. This makes everyone's life easier. Except mine. I shouldn't have to do this. I'm not a blueprint designer. I haven't been trained as such. I don't even completely trust my ability to do this. And I don't want to shoulder the blame for any design oversights. Not to mention, I'm a hugely pregnant lady who seriously has no more f*cks to give about you and your incompetence.
2) This person gets fired. I get a competent person to work with. YAY! This is what I want. But I can't make it happen, obviously.
3) I follow his blueprints as much to the letter as possible, thus producing crap that I am ashamed of. It doesn't make it into production before I go on mat leave, because people finally realize what crap it is. Then, I go on leave and let everyone else deal with the fallout. I am strongly considering this option now, although it leaves me very unhappy. Because I am proud of my application and my work.
4) I leave work early for medical reasons. I'm bipolar II and this seems to be causing some hypomania for me. I've talked to my psychiatrist. We agreed I could start taking my benzo again to see if that helps. But, she's already said that removing the stressor is the other option, and all I need to do is let her know and she'll fill out the forms to get me off work.
I'm sorry if this is scattered and unclear; I'm trying to be calm and detached, but I've been dealing with this person and his sub-par work for over two months and I've just had enough. Please help.
If it won't cause a huge financial burden for you, I would SO go for option 4. Screw it. Let other people deal with this idiot.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:39 PM on April 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:39 PM on April 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
Tell your managers that you are forced to leave this undone if you do not get X from Bob up to Y standards by Z date.
posted by kapers at 1:41 PM on April 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by kapers at 1:41 PM on April 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
Can you afford the work leave?
If so I would propose this, though it's a bit of a gamble so you need to be willing to find other employment on the other side of your mat leave if it comes down to it: take the spec to whoever is your next up in chain of command. Say, "we know how this ends, and I am not able to take on the out of scope labor to pre-emptively fix it yet again, and I have serious concerns about not fixing it and having the same old same old occur while I am out on this leave that is obviously coming up for me. What are we going to do differently this time?" Don't say but let your body language express "and going forward in the future".
Wait for an answer. Do not offer any solutions. Explain you need to know what the plan is because time is short and the usual solution is not an option. Give them a day or two, even, to figure it out internally.
And if they do not offer you a solution, execute the early leave. Put the entire bullshit problem in their hands, and don't say it out loud but don't deny that the problem is the reason you're taking early leave. Hopefully, by the time you come back (if you decide to), this will have become a problem they can't just blow off because there's no you to wrangle it. And if it's not, you can find somewhere to go that understands there are better ways to do this work.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:45 PM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
If so I would propose this, though it's a bit of a gamble so you need to be willing to find other employment on the other side of your mat leave if it comes down to it: take the spec to whoever is your next up in chain of command. Say, "we know how this ends, and I am not able to take on the out of scope labor to pre-emptively fix it yet again, and I have serious concerns about not fixing it and having the same old same old occur while I am out on this leave that is obviously coming up for me. What are we going to do differently this time?" Don't say but let your body language express "and going forward in the future".
Wait for an answer. Do not offer any solutions. Explain you need to know what the plan is because time is short and the usual solution is not an option. Give them a day or two, even, to figure it out internally.
And if they do not offer you a solution, execute the early leave. Put the entire bullshit problem in their hands, and don't say it out loud but don't deny that the problem is the reason you're taking early leave. Hopefully, by the time you come back (if you decide to), this will have become a problem they can't just blow off because there's no you to wrangle it. And if it's not, you can find somewhere to go that understands there are better ways to do this work.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:45 PM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
The good news is, you’re up against the very definition of a hard deadline. At some point this will stop being your problem and you’ll have a little human to raise instead and it will recede well into the distance. Option 3 seems the most likely, bolstered by you pushing back hard on his inadequacies, not even attempting work that hasn’t been properly briefed, and continuing to feedback clearly to your managers so that there can never be any doubt why the product fails to be delivered on time.
That said, if taking time off to preserve the health and well-being of you and your baby is an option, just do it. As much as you love your application, you don’t owe your health to this company that can’t provide you with an adequate support team. Being a new mum will be stressful and tiring enough without going into it already emotionally exhausted.
posted by penguin pie at 1:48 PM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
That said, if taking time off to preserve the health and well-being of you and your baby is an option, just do it. As much as you love your application, you don’t owe your health to this company that can’t provide you with an adequate support team. Being a new mum will be stressful and tiring enough without going into it already emotionally exhausted.
posted by penguin pie at 1:48 PM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
These things shouldn't happen, but at the same time I think the reason other people might not be treating it as an emergency is that woefully incomplete requirements and poor communication are, in some workplaces, just... well, kind of normal. They shouldn't be normal. I wish they weren't normal. If you don't have any more fucks to give, then don't give any fucks. My team has said in our last *dozen* retros at least that we can't keep accepting work with the level of requirements we keep getting from our BAs, and we've tried to complain to management who just says that it's our responsibility to keep bringing it up in retro. You can't fix management refusing to do any managing. It sucks, but I think everybody seems to be making it clear that #3 is the option you're supposed to be taking.
It's not that you can't be proud of your work. You can. But you have to let go some level of control, here: You want to be proud of your own work, and you are working on a team you're not proud of. Do what you can to set things up so that you can work with better people in future; don't spend your time trying to fix things here with a team that tolerates this sort of thing. Work that meets the requirements you were actually given and is turned in on time is good work. If the requirements were wrong or the testing goes wrong, that is not your responsibility and not your thing to feel guilty over. You don't own the whole finished product, just the work you actually do. Do that work well.
posted by Sequence at 1:48 PM on April 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's not that you can't be proud of your work. You can. But you have to let go some level of control, here: You want to be proud of your own work, and you are working on a team you're not proud of. Do what you can to set things up so that you can work with better people in future; don't spend your time trying to fix things here with a team that tolerates this sort of thing. Work that meets the requirements you were actually given and is turned in on time is good work. If the requirements were wrong or the testing goes wrong, that is not your responsibility and not your thing to feel guilty over. You don't own the whole finished product, just the work you actually do. Do that work well.
posted by Sequence at 1:48 PM on April 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
The only thing I can suggest is to switch from focusing on the poor quality of his work, to highlighting the effect it's having in a clear, dispassionate, hard-to-argue-with way.
I assume there's some kind of plan/schedule for the project, and this should all be changing to accommodate the problems. So draw up a new version with extra steps to iterate over poorly-documented features, request additional blueprints, consult more people, etc, and with later delivery dates that show it won't go into production before your leave.
You should also include positive, constructive suggestions for measures that would remove steps and speed up delivery, but with strict deadlines for when those changes would have to happen by.
Don't even mention specific people (including yourself) if possible, keep it all about tasks and roles, write like you're describing machinery and keep it all very succinct.
Ultimately, this may not make any difference to what gets accomplished, and may be taken badly by some, but as much as anything it sounds like you need to start getting yourself into a frame of mind where you can walk away with it unfinished rather than allowing your mental health to suffer.
posted by malevolent at 1:53 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I assume there's some kind of plan/schedule for the project, and this should all be changing to accommodate the problems. So draw up a new version with extra steps to iterate over poorly-documented features, request additional blueprints, consult more people, etc, and with later delivery dates that show it won't go into production before your leave.
You should also include positive, constructive suggestions for measures that would remove steps and speed up delivery, but with strict deadlines for when those changes would have to happen by.
Don't even mention specific people (including yourself) if possible, keep it all about tasks and roles, write like you're describing machinery and keep it all very succinct.
Ultimately, this may not make any difference to what gets accomplished, and may be taken badly by some, but as much as anything it sounds like you need to start getting yourself into a frame of mind where you can walk away with it unfinished rather than allowing your mental health to suffer.
posted by malevolent at 1:53 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Don't take unnecessary meds while pregnant for this guy. NO.
#4.
Be well. Go on maternity leave early.
posted by jbenben at 2:06 PM on April 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
#4.
Be well. Go on maternity leave early.
posted by jbenben at 2:06 PM on April 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
What is your relationship like with your manager? Could you draw up a list of questions/issues from the incomplete requirements and say "Could you follow up on this for me while I am actually doing the work that I am supposed to do?"
This puts some pressure on people up the chain, who also don't want extra work, but who have some more power to do something about it.
posted by bashos_frog at 2:08 PM on April 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
This puts some pressure on people up the chain, who also don't want extra work, but who have some more power to do something about it.
posted by bashos_frog at 2:08 PM on April 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
Love bashos_frog's plan. Also consider things like, "if this is a shambles when I go on leave, who's problem will it become?"
posted by advicepig at 2:09 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 2:09 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I feel like there is a possibility that you could reject these requirements on quality grounds without having to take on the task of teaching Bob his job. For example, just moving the card back into the story design column (or whatever) with a comment like "needs mockup." (At my employer we have a story template which is handy for this, because it's a document you can point to without having to explain everything to the requester.) Don't allow yourself to be talked into the idea that rejecting inadequate inputs somehow makes you responsible for them.
posted by enn at 2:12 PM on April 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by enn at 2:12 PM on April 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Oh man... do I feel for you. Been there, have the scars to prove it. It's maddening. My solution is to ask really, really specific questions, and give assumptions I will make if they're not answered by a date, and cc everybody and anybody so there's visibility. Something like this:
me: Bob, what do you want to do when this [very specific thing] happens? In order to get this finished by [whatever date] I need to have an answer by [date that is actually 2-3 days before you really need the answer]. Otherwise, I'm going to go ahead and do X, Y and Z in this situation cc: your manager, bob's manager and anyone else who has a say in the project you're working on including QA, etc.
Note that X,Y,Z is a solution that you think is best for this situation and can be reasonably accomplished in the time given. Basically, what is the best possible solution for *you* here? Propose that. This solution you propose may even be that something doesn't get done because [reasons]. Thats ok, propose it anyway, but mention the reasons if thats the case. And make darn sure you have all the right people cc'd on this email. CYA, so to speak.
Bob: ... [no response]
me: [1 day before deadline] Bob, just following up on my previous email. As noted, if I dont have concrete instructions on what to do [when specific thing happens] defined by [date] I'm going to do X,Y,Z. Please let me know before [date] if there is another avenue you feel I should be pursuing. cc: same people as before
Assuming no response, then go ahead and implement X,Y,Z. You've covered your butt, and been proactive in coming up with your own solution to a problem. No, you shouldn't have to do this, but the system isn't perfect. And it's ok to send many of these above emails, each for their own unanswered question. And start looking for a new job while you're at it, because this one isn't working for you and sacrificing your health isn't worth it. Or, re-reading the question, just go on leave if you can afford it. That sounds like the best option to me personally, but doesn't have to be the only solution.
posted by cgg at 2:19 PM on April 5, 2018
me: Bob, what do you want to do when this [very specific thing] happens? In order to get this finished by [whatever date] I need to have an answer by [date that is actually 2-3 days before you really need the answer]. Otherwise, I'm going to go ahead and do X, Y and Z in this situation cc: your manager, bob's manager and anyone else who has a say in the project you're working on including QA, etc.
Note that X,Y,Z is a solution that you think is best for this situation and can be reasonably accomplished in the time given. Basically, what is the best possible solution for *you* here? Propose that. This solution you propose may even be that something doesn't get done because [reasons]. Thats ok, propose it anyway, but mention the reasons if thats the case. And make darn sure you have all the right people cc'd on this email. CYA, so to speak.
Bob: ... [no response]
me: [1 day before deadline] Bob, just following up on my previous email. As noted, if I dont have concrete instructions on what to do [when specific thing happens] defined by [date] I'm going to do X,Y,Z. Please let me know before [date] if there is another avenue you feel I should be pursuing. cc: same people as before
Assuming no response, then go ahead and implement X,Y,Z. You've covered your butt, and been proactive in coming up with your own solution to a problem. No, you shouldn't have to do this, but the system isn't perfect. And it's ok to send many of these above emails, each for their own unanswered question. And start looking for a new job while you're at it, because this one isn't working for you and sacrificing your health isn't worth it. Or, re-reading the question, just go on leave if you can afford it. That sounds like the best option to me personally, but doesn't have to be the only solution.
posted by cgg at 2:19 PM on April 5, 2018
Response by poster: I feel like there is a possibility that you could reject these requirements on quality grounds without having to take on the task of teaching Bob his job.
Yes, you would think so, but I've done this several times and it's not working. It seems to cause him to think "Oh, so if you reject them, you must know the good quality option is - just tell me what it is and I'll put it in the document and send it back to the business for approval."
In fact, just prior to writing my question we had a meeting where he did exactly that. I feel tricked - it was supposed to be a meeting with my boss and some business resources so that we could communicate our concerns directly with the business instead of being restricted to going through Bob. Instead, my boss didn't show up, it turns out the business wasn't invited, and it ended up being me, Bob, and my colleague. He tried to use the meeting to pick our brains to fill in the holes in his requirements before taking them back to the business for their sign-off.
posted by kitcat at 2:21 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, you would think so, but I've done this several times and it's not working. It seems to cause him to think "Oh, so if you reject them, you must know the good quality option is - just tell me what it is and I'll put it in the document and send it back to the business for approval."
In fact, just prior to writing my question we had a meeting where he did exactly that. I feel tricked - it was supposed to be a meeting with my boss and some business resources so that we could communicate our concerns directly with the business instead of being restricted to going through Bob. Instead, my boss didn't show up, it turns out the business wasn't invited, and it ended up being me, Bob, and my colleague. He tried to use the meeting to pick our brains to fill in the holes in his requirements before taking them back to the business for their sign-off.
posted by kitcat at 2:21 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I mean to me it sounds like they’re asking a non-ux person to do a ux job. It makes sense that he doesn’t know how to do it and needs support. I think that you’re not going to single-handedly fix this serious underlying organizational gap and it’s just going to hurt you. I’d say just take your leave early. You didn’t cause this and you can’t fix it so best to get out of its way.
posted by bleep at 2:35 PM on April 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by bleep at 2:35 PM on April 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Please take an early leave. This asshole is not worth your health, your baby’s health, flooding yourself and your kid with stress hormones or exposing them to meds that are counterindicated for pregnancy. I know that tech is a field that cultivates employee stress and puts a ridiculous amount of importance on itself as a competitive, intense workplace, but please try to reassess this. It really, really, really isn’t worth it.
posted by moonlight on vermont at 2:37 PM on April 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by moonlight on vermont at 2:37 PM on April 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
#4.
That being said.. I'm having the same issue but the other way, my BA team is having issues with a specific developer (who is the lead for his team) sending stuff back. The issue we have is that the needs in his requiremetns seem to change daily. We have asked for clear and specific documentation from him HOW he wants the stories written, and he will not provide. As an example, depending on the story, he either doesn't want us to solution it for him (which is normal) or he will not accept the story without us doing the majority of solutioning. Some days he wants to talk for an hour with the BA telling them what they did right/wrong, others he just wants to tell us we are not doing our job.
So - the longer answer for me at least, is to document a single story that he wrote and show him what you need. Give him some hightlights like "Need to know what to do in both a pass and fail condition" etc.. and then if he doens't provide, take that to management, and drop it on thier desk and let them handle it...
posted by niteHawk at 2:38 PM on April 5, 2018
That being said.. I'm having the same issue but the other way, my BA team is having issues with a specific developer (who is the lead for his team) sending stuff back. The issue we have is that the needs in his requiremetns seem to change daily. We have asked for clear and specific documentation from him HOW he wants the stories written, and he will not provide. As an example, depending on the story, he either doesn't want us to solution it for him (which is normal) or he will not accept the story without us doing the majority of solutioning. Some days he wants to talk for an hour with the BA telling them what they did right/wrong, others he just wants to tell us we are not doing our job.
So - the longer answer for me at least, is to document a single story that he wrote and show him what you need. Give him some hightlights like "Need to know what to do in both a pass and fail condition" etc.. and then if he doens't provide, take that to management, and drop it on thier desk and let them handle it...
posted by niteHawk at 2:38 PM on April 5, 2018
Ugh. This is the worst. And this is exactly what managers are for. They are there to remove obstacles and take care of conversations that allow you to do your job so that you can reflect well on your team.
If this is not happening, then it's now no longer your problem, it's your manager's problem. Especially since you're about to be gone. A plan to cover your work while you are out is important enough, let alone to handle this specific dumpster fire project. You say your managers agree with you, but what are they DOING about it? Someone else needs to step in, and Bob's manager and your manager need to figure. this. out. so you can get on with it.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 2:44 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
If this is not happening, then it's now no longer your problem, it's your manager's problem. Especially since you're about to be gone. A plan to cover your work while you are out is important enough, let alone to handle this specific dumpster fire project. You say your managers agree with you, but what are they DOING about it? Someone else needs to step in, and Bob's manager and your manager need to figure. this. out. so you can get on with it.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 2:44 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Wow, thanks you guys. Being able to write this all out and then be validated that I don't deserve to have to put up with this makes me feel a lot better. I might just leave early. I may need another question for this, but if you think this is the right move and you have any tips on how to do it gracefully and professionally, I would appreciate hearing them.
posted by kitcat at 2:54 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by kitcat at 2:54 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't know how to get your project back on track! But I do know how I went on maternity leave early. I was put on bedrest, so I called my boss and I said "Bad news...I am on bedrest. I can do some work from home to help transition my work but I have to be on maternity leave in the next two days." Then the HR process took over for the leave, etc. (I am in Canada so this may not be quite as easy, but there must be a process!) My doctor faxed them a note and that was it.
If your doctor is ready to send a note saying that you have a health condition that requires that you go on maternity leave as of date XX/XX/XXXX then I don't think you have to be that graceful. Pregnancy is a time that health things go belly up.
The only caution I would have is before you kick off the process be sure you understand what the impact will be on a) money/vacation/insurance b) short term disability or top-up payments c) maternity benefits and d) return date, like will this mean you are in the US and you only get 12 weeks and so you will have to go back at 4 weeks? Because that would suck (this happened to a relative of mine who was incapacitated).
posted by warriorqueen at 3:16 PM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
If your doctor is ready to send a note saying that you have a health condition that requires that you go on maternity leave as of date XX/XX/XXXX then I don't think you have to be that graceful. Pregnancy is a time that health things go belly up.
The only caution I would have is before you kick off the process be sure you understand what the impact will be on a) money/vacation/insurance b) short term disability or top-up payments c) maternity benefits and d) return date, like will this mean you are in the US and you only get 12 weeks and so you will have to go back at 4 weeks? Because that would suck (this happened to a relative of mine who was incapacitated).
posted by warriorqueen at 3:16 PM on April 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, I'm in Canada too. So for me I think it would mean 2 months of disability plus the 12 months of mat. We are very lucky.
posted by kitcat at 3:22 PM on April 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by kitcat at 3:22 PM on April 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
I am stuck working with someone incompetent on a project with a tight deadline. I am 7 months pregnant and
I got this far before thinking you should tell them (your manager, and anyone else up the chain from you--NOT coworkers responsible for details), "I need X details/resources to complete this project before I leave," and let it sit in their basket.
It is their job, not yours, to make sure you have the resources you need to move the project to its next stage. Your job is to work with the resources you have, and inform them of what else you need.
DO NOT take responsibility for Bob's lack of skill, effort, basic competence or whatever other reason he's got for not getting you what you asked for. Try not to feel cheated that you lost what should've been a useful business meeting while he tried to get you to tell him what his job was... eh, maybe he's feeling overwhelmed and needed some things spelled out in a face-to-face meeting. That's fine... but not your problem. If he needs more than that... also not your problem. You have informed all the requisite people; by all means, inform them again - but once you've done that, it's back to "not your problem."
Your problem, very soon, is going to be a squalling bundle of human who will take ALL YOUR BRAINZ for several months. Don't go into that by working yourself into panic and guilt over work that someone else was supposed to be fixing.
You should be in the "wrap up these parts to hand over to someone else" stage. Mention to your manager, "because I don't have Resource X yet, I am not sure this will be completed before I leave. Who's in line to take over for me?" Don't let them dodge with, "but you were going to finish that... we don't have anyone..." Tell them you need a backup person, because even if you have all the perfect pieces tomorrow, there is no guarantee you can get it finished in time, and not have any last-minute complications.
Pregnancy is unpredictable. You could twist your ankle and have to leave tomorrow. You could (cross fingers NO) go into labor early. Any company expecting a more-than-6-months pregnant person to "definitely finish this thing before going on leave" is guilty of horrible bad planning.
This is, again, Not Your Problem. Focus on what's important, which is not "covering for Bob's inadequacies."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:28 PM on April 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
I got this far before thinking you should tell them (your manager, and anyone else up the chain from you--NOT coworkers responsible for details), "I need X details/resources to complete this project before I leave," and let it sit in their basket.
It is their job, not yours, to make sure you have the resources you need to move the project to its next stage. Your job is to work with the resources you have, and inform them of what else you need.
DO NOT take responsibility for Bob's lack of skill, effort, basic competence or whatever other reason he's got for not getting you what you asked for. Try not to feel cheated that you lost what should've been a useful business meeting while he tried to get you to tell him what his job was... eh, maybe he's feeling overwhelmed and needed some things spelled out in a face-to-face meeting. That's fine... but not your problem. If he needs more than that... also not your problem. You have informed all the requisite people; by all means, inform them again - but once you've done that, it's back to "not your problem."
Your problem, very soon, is going to be a squalling bundle of human who will take ALL YOUR BRAINZ for several months. Don't go into that by working yourself into panic and guilt over work that someone else was supposed to be fixing.
You should be in the "wrap up these parts to hand over to someone else" stage. Mention to your manager, "because I don't have Resource X yet, I am not sure this will be completed before I leave. Who's in line to take over for me?" Don't let them dodge with, "but you were going to finish that... we don't have anyone..." Tell them you need a backup person, because even if you have all the perfect pieces tomorrow, there is no guarantee you can get it finished in time, and not have any last-minute complications.
Pregnancy is unpredictable. You could twist your ankle and have to leave tomorrow. You could (cross fingers NO) go into labor early. Any company expecting a more-than-6-months pregnant person to "definitely finish this thing before going on leave" is guilty of horrible bad planning.
This is, again, Not Your Problem. Focus on what's important, which is not "covering for Bob's inadequacies."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 3:28 PM on April 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
This absolutely isn't your problem. But I think I would add a possible solution to your list:
5) Schedule a meeting with the Business Analyst, key stakeholders and your and his management to address the deficiencies.
"I've noticed a number of deficiencies in the Requirements Document that are going to affect the end quality of the product we're building. I don't have much time before I leave for maternity leave. I propose we schedule a meeting to discuss and correct these deficiencies."
Yes, this solution shifts some of the burden to you. You'll need to come with a list of deficiencies. I wouldn't criticize this person directly during the meeting. But I think you can cloak it in a need to get the project done on a short timeframe, and it puts the issue on everyone's to do list in a very direct way. It also doesn't shift the budren completely to you. It just points out that you see some issues, and that everyone needs to get on board with fixing them, or they're going to end up with a bad product.
posted by cnc at 3:42 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
5) Schedule a meeting with the Business Analyst, key stakeholders and your and his management to address the deficiencies.
"I've noticed a number of deficiencies in the Requirements Document that are going to affect the end quality of the product we're building. I don't have much time before I leave for maternity leave. I propose we schedule a meeting to discuss and correct these deficiencies."
Yes, this solution shifts some of the burden to you. You'll need to come with a list of deficiencies. I wouldn't criticize this person directly during the meeting. But I think you can cloak it in a need to get the project done on a short timeframe, and it puts the issue on everyone's to do list in a very direct way. It also doesn't shift the budren completely to you. It just points out that you see some issues, and that everyone needs to get on board with fixing them, or they're going to end up with a bad product.
posted by cnc at 3:42 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Your boss is the person fucking this up. Bob is incompetent but the fact that your boss is doing nothing to correct the situation is the bigger miss. I would sit down with your manager and ask them, precisely, what they are going to do about the situation. Instead of bouncing work back to Bob, I would bounce it back to your boss. Your boss not showing up to meetings and leaving you high and dry to deal with Bob is beyond irresponsible.
Now, if you are concerned that you might actually get retaliated against for escalating in this way, it might be best just to take door number 4 and exit early. But I think your anger is slightly misplaced. Bob is frustrating and incompetent, sure, but your management is really failing you, and I think that's the bigger problem. How are you supposed to do good work at a company where your manager just lets you sit in a failing situation with no remedy?
posted by ch1x0r at 3:52 PM on April 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
Now, if you are concerned that you might actually get retaliated against for escalating in this way, it might be best just to take door number 4 and exit early. But I think your anger is slightly misplaced. Bob is frustrating and incompetent, sure, but your management is really failing you, and I think that's the bigger problem. How are you supposed to do good work at a company where your manager just lets you sit in a failing situation with no remedy?
posted by ch1x0r at 3:52 PM on April 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
Speaking solely as a person who had a baby a year ago, take the early leave. Do you everything you can to make this a peaceful, joyous time.
posted by ewok_academy at 5:46 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ewok_academy at 5:46 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have a professional job where I care a lot about my reputation and I've also had two babies in the past five years, and for both pregnancies, my biggest regret is letting myself get sucked into being responsible for major projects/deliverables that were supposed to wrap up a week or two before my due date. The demands that pregnancy puts on your body make it a lot harder to deal with stress and the chronic day-in day-out stress of rushing against the clock to finish something is particularly hard.
In retrospect, if I had the opportunity to go out on medical leave early and avoid that end-of-the-third-trimester work crunch? I'd take it in a heartbeat. Especially if your maternity leave is going to be 12 months long - no one is going to remember (or remember with strong feelings) how you went out 8 weeks early.
In terms of reputational risk, #3 sounds much worse than #4, and you'll have a lot of extra emotional and physical misery on top of it. I can't imagine why you'd choose that - take the medical leave and run!
posted by iminurmefi at 6:25 PM on April 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
In retrospect, if I had the opportunity to go out on medical leave early and avoid that end-of-the-third-trimester work crunch? I'd take it in a heartbeat. Especially if your maternity leave is going to be 12 months long - no one is going to remember (or remember with strong feelings) how you went out 8 weeks early.
In terms of reputational risk, #3 sounds much worse than #4, and you'll have a lot of extra emotional and physical misery on top of it. I can't imagine why you'd choose that - take the medical leave and run!
posted by iminurmefi at 6:25 PM on April 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
I’ve been in your situation. Leave.
posted by jeffamaphone at 6:32 PM on April 5, 2018
posted by jeffamaphone at 6:32 PM on April 5, 2018
Ch1x0r said it all.
Your boss is the problem, not your cow-irker. That you were left high and dry in the meeting with no support indicates to me lack of respect on your boss' part for the work that you are doing or a total clueless incompetence on what his job entails.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:00 PM on April 5, 2018
Your boss is the problem, not your cow-irker. That you were left high and dry in the meeting with no support indicates to me lack of respect on your boss' part for the work that you are doing or a total clueless incompetence on what his job entails.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:00 PM on April 5, 2018
To answer your question about how to leave professionally, I would say seething like "Unfortunately I have been advised by my medical professionals that I need to take my leave early as of X date (you could add due to fillintheblank ie. to protect my health, to ensure a healthy pregnancy, etc. But you definitely don't have to explain specifics as far as I understand). How can we move forward on making a succession plan and getting things organized for x date?" (ie. Your record of employment, if you have short term disability benefits, etc.). If you get push back, you can revert to the mefi favourite, Sorry that won't be possible. My last day is effective as of X date. Don't be afraid to rope your HR people in to help you, especially since it's a medical issue and is a protected status in most provinces.
I'm not sure if you will be using EI for medical benefits for early leave or maternity benefits but will add this just in case. You don't need to fill out weekly reports for mat leave, but you will for medical leave. It's a pain, but good to know in advance if you are using that route. You don't have to submit your medical certificate to apply for EI, but keep it handy and safe as Service Canada can ask to see it any time.
I'm just finishing up being on medical leave through EI, if you have any questions feel free to memail me and I would be happy to help. Best wishes to you and your family.
posted by snowysoul at 8:00 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure if you will be using EI for medical benefits for early leave or maternity benefits but will add this just in case. You don't need to fill out weekly reports for mat leave, but you will for medical leave. It's a pain, but good to know in advance if you are using that route. You don't have to submit your medical certificate to apply for EI, but keep it handy and safe as Service Canada can ask to see it any time.
I'm just finishing up being on medical leave through EI, if you have any questions feel free to memail me and I would be happy to help. Best wishes to you and your family.
posted by snowysoul at 8:00 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Oh, so if you reject them, you must know the good quality option is - just tell me what it is and I'll put it in the document and send it back to the business for approval."
Excellent. Go to your boss and say something like the following...
He's asking me to do this work for him, and I'm happy to -- after all, I want the project to be done, and done well. But this will take a lot of my time, so I'll be getting significantly less development work done while I help him.
So, I see three options:
1. I help him, which means I'll finish less of the project before I go on leave, but the quality of what I do get done will be better because the requirements will be better. The deadline will be missed.
2. I work using the requirements as-is, so I'll get more done, but the quality of my work will reflect the quality of his requirements. The deadline may seem to be achieved, but the work won't really be done, because of the changes that will be required.
3. I work on something else until I go on leave, something where the requirements are in better shape, and you assign someone else to work with him on this project, someone who doesn't have a hard stop for scheduled leave like I do.
Do you see any other options? Which option so you want me to pursue?
...then whichever your boss directs you to do, document it in a follow up email to "confirm" the direction.
posted by davejay at 12:25 AM on April 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Excellent. Go to your boss and say something like the following...
He's asking me to do this work for him, and I'm happy to -- after all, I want the project to be done, and done well. But this will take a lot of my time, so I'll be getting significantly less development work done while I help him.
So, I see three options:
1. I help him, which means I'll finish less of the project before I go on leave, but the quality of what I do get done will be better because the requirements will be better. The deadline will be missed.
2. I work using the requirements as-is, so I'll get more done, but the quality of my work will reflect the quality of his requirements. The deadline may seem to be achieved, but the work won't really be done, because of the changes that will be required.
3. I work on something else until I go on leave, something where the requirements are in better shape, and you assign someone else to work with him on this project, someone who doesn't have a hard stop for scheduled leave like I do.
Do you see any other options? Which option so you want me to pursue?
...then whichever your boss directs you to do, document it in a follow up email to "confirm" the direction.
posted by davejay at 12:25 AM on April 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
You don't list "ignore blueprints and build something that makes sense" as an option, and I get that that's not ideal, but is it really beneath consideration? It will leave other people to deal with cleanup just like 3, the malicious compliance option, but at least they'll be doing that with something that works and is coherent.
posted by thelonius at 3:28 AM on April 6, 2018
posted by thelonius at 3:28 AM on April 6, 2018
Another option is just very professionally and consistently communicating the limitations and issues to your boss, and maybe your boss's boss, and then doing whatever they want. You don't have to stress. Very soon, this won't be your problem. You can just keep showing up, keep being stalled by this problem, keep raising it to the attention of the people who can solve it, and keep following their advice whatever that may be. It may be that the best use of your time, in their eyes, is to keep hand-holding this guy since someone apparently has to do it. I agree your boss is screwing up, so it's good that others are aware of your efforts here.
At this point, I would probably not use deadlines like "I have to get info by Date if I'm going to finish." You don't know when you'll go into labor or have to go on bed rest. Just say things like "a typical build takes 4-8 weeks, and we're 6 weeks out from my estimated date of departure" (which should be at least 2 weeks before your due date).
posted by salvia at 4:13 AM on April 6, 2018
At this point, I would probably not use deadlines like "I have to get info by Date if I'm going to finish." You don't know when you'll go into labor or have to go on bed rest. Just say things like "a typical build takes 4-8 weeks, and we're 6 weeks out from my estimated date of departure" (which should be at least 2 weeks before your due date).
posted by salvia at 4:13 AM on April 6, 2018
If this isn't the definition of a time to gain full, righteous, guilt-free satisfaction from the "I don't need this shit" option, I don't know what would be...
Having been the non-carrying partner in 2 pregnancies which finished with very sudden high blood pressure related complications, I would strongly throw my voice into the chorus behind option 4, and making it asap.
Even if your work were going to suddenly call in B.A. Wunderkind whilst giving you a bucket of rotten fruit and putting Bob in a pillory, taking the time and finding the headspace to focus on the imminent tiny complication landing in your life would still yield vastly more positive impact for you down the line.
Courage, congratulations and fingers crossed for a safe and smooth arrival.
posted by protorp at 4:51 AM on April 6, 2018
Having been the non-carrying partner in 2 pregnancies which finished with very sudden high blood pressure related complications, I would strongly throw my voice into the chorus behind option 4, and making it asap.
Even if your work were going to suddenly call in B.A. Wunderkind whilst giving you a bucket of rotten fruit and putting Bob in a pillory, taking the time and finding the headspace to focus on the imminent tiny complication landing in your life would still yield vastly more positive impact for you down the line.
Courage, congratulations and fingers crossed for a safe and smooth arrival.
posted by protorp at 4:51 AM on April 6, 2018
You wrote this update:
I feel tricked - it was supposed to be a meeting with my boss and some business resources so that we could communicate our concerns directly with the business instead of being restricted to going through Bob. Instead, my boss didn't show up, it turns out the business wasn't invited, and it ended up being me, Bob, and my colleague. He tried to use the meeting to pick our brains to fill in the holes in his requirements before taking them back to the business for their sign-off.
Which makes it clear your boss is the real problem here. Your boss is telling business stakeholders he can't control or fix the work output of Bob, who reports to him. Your boss is so ill equipped to manage the situation he was going to complain to business stakeholders that he can't get the correct work out of his own direct report??
I have been in almost the exact same situation recently--minus the pregnancy. Your best bet is to take early leave and force this not-your-problem onto the boss.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 5:43 AM on April 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
I feel tricked - it was supposed to be a meeting with my boss and some business resources so that we could communicate our concerns directly with the business instead of being restricted to going through Bob. Instead, my boss didn't show up, it turns out the business wasn't invited, and it ended up being me, Bob, and my colleague. He tried to use the meeting to pick our brains to fill in the holes in his requirements before taking them back to the business for their sign-off.
Which makes it clear your boss is the real problem here. Your boss is telling business stakeholders he can't control or fix the work output of Bob, who reports to him. Your boss is so ill equipped to manage the situation he was going to complain to business stakeholders that he can't get the correct work out of his own direct report??
I have been in almost the exact same situation recently--minus the pregnancy. Your best bet is to take early leave and force this not-your-problem onto the boss.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 5:43 AM on April 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Agree that this is the manager's problem, not your problem.
Except it's not even clear the manager sees it as a problem! The manager knows this person is incompetent. They have made a decision, at least for now, not to fire this person and replace them with someone more competent; that would cost the business money and time, and your manager's judgment is that the improvement in the product isn't worth that cost.
So I vote for option 3). Yeah, it sucks to feel yourself associated with bad product. But the decision to produce a bad product isn't yours, it's your manager's. So I think you should let go of the shame. You're a craftsperson, you work with the materials you're supplied, and you're doing the best job you can with those materials. No shame in that.
posted by escabeche at 5:48 AM on April 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Except it's not even clear the manager sees it as a problem! The manager knows this person is incompetent. They have made a decision, at least for now, not to fire this person and replace them with someone more competent; that would cost the business money and time, and your manager's judgment is that the improvement in the product isn't worth that cost.
So I vote for option 3). Yeah, it sucks to feel yourself associated with bad product. But the decision to produce a bad product isn't yours, it's your manager's. So I think you should let go of the shame. You're a craftsperson, you work with the materials you're supplied, and you're doing the best job you can with those materials. No shame in that.
posted by escabeche at 5:48 AM on April 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I would talk to my manager, in a meeting with a written agenda, stating I am not going to be able to complete this project in a timely manner, or with acceptable quality because I am unable to get adequate work from the BA. I do not want to do substandard work. It is not reasonable for me to do my parts of the work as well as the BA's. I am concerned that this project will damage my reputation here at xYZ Corp. I need assistance resolving this dilemma; I cannot resolve it on my own.
You will need clear, convincing, copious documentation of the Bob's work and lack of quality.
I was the manager who had to deal with a persistently incompetent staff member, who'd been passed from manager to manager for years, who all other staff complained bitterly about. As soon as a manager begins the disciplinary process, people get feelings and it can make a bad situation a lot worse. You push back by declining to cover for him, declining to do his work, and making your manager be accountable for the consequences. If manager won't give you clear written policy, go on leave.
posted by theora55 at 6:26 AM on April 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
You will need clear, convincing, copious documentation of the Bob's work and lack of quality.
I was the manager who had to deal with a persistently incompetent staff member, who'd been passed from manager to manager for years, who all other staff complained bitterly about. As soon as a manager begins the disciplinary process, people get feelings and it can make a bad situation a lot worse. You push back by declining to cover for him, declining to do his work, and making your manager be accountable for the consequences. If manager won't give you clear written policy, go on leave.
posted by theora55 at 6:26 AM on April 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Take the leave if it's right for you, BUT I don't agree with others that this will somehow solve the Bob or the management problem-- or the problem that you get so invested in the success of a work project (one that others seem not to care about) that it effects your health. All those problems will be there waiting for you when you're back.
However, you come first and you have important life stuff to focus on now, so if leaving is what you need now, then do that.
I do think this would be a good time to practice detaching somewhat from work problems. I know it's hard as a perfectionist and someone who cares about doing good work, and it's incredibly frustrating to work on a mismanaged project, but if your management doesn't care to address the problem, then you don't need to either.
Me, I'd be realistic with management about what you need, and that if you don't get it, you will have to hand this off undone. Then I'd focus on tidying stuff up for hand-off, and preparing for my upcoming life changes.
posted by kapers at 6:51 AM on April 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
However, you come first and you have important life stuff to focus on now, so if leaving is what you need now, then do that.
I do think this would be a good time to practice detaching somewhat from work problems. I know it's hard as a perfectionist and someone who cares about doing good work, and it's incredibly frustrating to work on a mismanaged project, but if your management doesn't care to address the problem, then you don't need to either.
Me, I'd be realistic with management about what you need, and that if you don't get it, you will have to hand this off undone. Then I'd focus on tidying stuff up for hand-off, and preparing for my upcoming life changes.
posted by kapers at 6:51 AM on April 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
Having been in a similar situation, I would have jumped on the option to leave early if at all possible. But when you do leave (early or otherwise) please make sure you turn off work email on your phone and don't check it for a very long time. Enjoy bonding with your baby, take the time to heal mentally and physically, and don't let that work stress rear it's ugly head.
posted by galvanized unicorn at 8:14 AM on April 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by galvanized unicorn at 8:14 AM on April 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
Go on leave and protect yourself and your own health. These other people can sort out their own crap. You are responsible for yourself.
posted by rpfields at 8:10 PM on April 6, 2018
posted by rpfields at 8:10 PM on April 6, 2018
when you return from leave, if these shenanigans are still going on, you should tell your boss you are happy to guide Bob in making superb blueprints for x% increase in your salary.
posted by WeekendJen at 8:59 AM on April 9, 2018
posted by WeekendJen at 8:59 AM on April 9, 2018
Response by poster: So many of you took the time to offer very good advice - I thank you. For now, I've decided to stay on, knowing that I can tap out at any time if I feel like it's all too much. A couple things have happened that make things a little more bearable:
1) A fellow java developer has been added to the project so that it's not all on my shoulders
2) My favorite database developer is also now on the project
3) We now have direct access to the business (the stakeholders) and don't have to communicate with Bob anymore
4) We are now jointly responsible for the gathering the requirements and proposing the design, which is bullshit and highly unusual, but c'est la vie and at least we can ignore Bob.
Finally, I sent an email to my boss and upper manager saying that I cannot allow myself to undergo stress now, at the end of my pregnancy, that I believe the deadline is unrealistic, and that I will not be working any overtime. I have basically washed my hands of the deadline and told them so. My boss insists that we will meet the deadline - but he's living in a fantasy world and I'm not going to allow that to be my problem. He responded to my email that at the beginning of May, they will transition the major responsibility over to my colleague so that in my last few weeks I just have a minor support role. I would feel sorry for my colleague, except that he 'plays the game' more willingly than I do, has managerial aspirations, is younger than me and doesn't have any kids yet. Different life priorities, and if he wants to push back, that's his choice.
Meanwhile, my boss is avoiding me and asking my other teammates to do tasks that he would normally ask me to do...I assume because he's pretty well scared of me at this point (my colleague confirmed as much) - which suits me just fine. If I don't have to deal with him or Bob for the next two months, I will be a pretty happy camper!
posted by kitcat at 2:38 PM on April 11, 2018 [5 favorites]
1) A fellow java developer has been added to the project so that it's not all on my shoulders
2) My favorite database developer is also now on the project
3) We now have direct access to the business (the stakeholders) and don't have to communicate with Bob anymore
4) We are now jointly responsible for the gathering the requirements and proposing the design, which is bullshit and highly unusual, but c'est la vie and at least we can ignore Bob.
Finally, I sent an email to my boss and upper manager saying that I cannot allow myself to undergo stress now, at the end of my pregnancy, that I believe the deadline is unrealistic, and that I will not be working any overtime. I have basically washed my hands of the deadline and told them so. My boss insists that we will meet the deadline - but he's living in a fantasy world and I'm not going to allow that to be my problem. He responded to my email that at the beginning of May, they will transition the major responsibility over to my colleague so that in my last few weeks I just have a minor support role. I would feel sorry for my colleague, except that he 'plays the game' more willingly than I do, has managerial aspirations, is younger than me and doesn't have any kids yet. Different life priorities, and if he wants to push back, that's his choice.
Meanwhile, my boss is avoiding me and asking my other teammates to do tasks that he would normally ask me to do...I assume because he's pretty well scared of me at this point (my colleague confirmed as much) - which suits me just fine. If I don't have to deal with him or Bob for the next two months, I will be a pretty happy camper!
posted by kitcat at 2:38 PM on April 11, 2018 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: I have another update. I just found out Bob has been basically demoted! He won't be a business analyst any longer (so no more creating blueprints), just a tester. Which is weird because we don't have dedicated testers, but who cares. He's an awful tester too, but that doesn't affect my job directly. Now we will likely get someone competent.
posted by kitcat at 12:47 PM on April 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by kitcat at 12:47 PM on April 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
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If they say that you need to fix them, then you say what you wrote under #1 (the part about this not being your job and not something you have been trained to do, not the part about being a hugely pregnant lady, etc.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:37 PM on April 5, 2018 [19 favorites]