How would YOU handle this?

12 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 11,2022 at 5:26PM UTC

   This is really difficult subject. Has she always made errors or is it a new thing? There could be something going on. Personally if it’s happening all the time I would ask them for a chat. Make it relaxed at first, explain that you’re stressed and having to do double the amount of work. Ask her where she is struggling as she clearly is and offer help. That way it’s not all negative. I would personally speak with her, gentle approach at first :) good luck

2. Patricia ThomasNovember 11,2022 at 7:28PM UTC

   Tough spot for you to be in, but if nothing changes, nothing changes. She is content to do sloppy work and let you fix it. Make it uncomfortable for her to continue in her present error-filled way, and she will have to change it. Good luck!

3. AnonymousNovember 11,2022 at 8:24PM UTC

   Send it to your supervisor to send it to her supervisor to do correctly. Your job isn't to correct her mistakes

4. AnonymousNovember 12,2022 at 1:06AM UTC

   It's not your role to point out areas for improvement. That is your boss's job. If there are people who waste your time with their errors work with your boss to include a rejection stage if there are errors you should be able to send the purchase order back for corrections. After a few rejections that would slow her work down and she will improve her attention to detail trust me.

5. Dinora MacedoNovember 12,2022 at 1:53AM UTC

   Is is the same type of error every time? Is there a process that she can reference? You could call them up to see if they know what they need to do. Can their step be automated to avoid errors? Explain them the importance of having accurate data.

6. AnonymousNovember 12,2022 at 10:09AM UTC

   You should log and take screenshots of the errors and consolidate them. If you send the consolidated catches it would give her a chance to review them or you can offer her an opportunity when she has time to go over them, so if it still continues you can not only tell her but show her that it is a pattern. If it becomes disruptive to your work, you also have evidence for hr and the next hire up so no one can accuse you of lieing

7. AnonymousNovember 14,2022 at 8:41PM UTC

   higher

8. AnonymousNovember 12,2022 at 9:03PM UTC

   This manager will continue to submit erroneous purchase orders as long as you correct them and clean up her work. Rather than negotiating with her to get clarification, reject her purchase orders and attach a note that says: can’t submit in its current format, return to me once corrected. This is really sloppy work of the manager’s part and a total waste of your time. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

9. AnonymousNovember 14,2022 at 2:50PM UTC

   I'd save her mistakes and give them back for review once a week. If things she needs to order are delayed due to her mistakes, so be it.

   Warn her when you give her the next one back to clarify that going forward you don't have the bandwidth to come get corrections individually and you will bring hers to her weekly to amend mistakes (her choice of day). I'd put it in an email and CC your boss so they know this is

   1 - an ongoing issue

   2 - you have taken steps to address it

   3 - this is the way you are going to work on these PO's going forward.

   If it's a problem for the manager, she'll clean up her work. If it's a problem for your boss, they'll let you know.

10. AnonymousNovember 14,2022 at 3:19PM UTC

    I send things back with a note that “this needs to be corrected”. I stop making corrections/changes (or dealing with fuzzy issues). After I fix something the first time and let them know what to do differently in the future. I have found that if they aren’t required to do it correctly, they will continue to be lazy and do the minimum or what they want. If it keeps going back to them, when they complain I have the backup saying yes, they submitted, I returned for them to correct these items - for as many times as possible, and I keep detailed notes

11. AnonymousNovember 14,2022 at 6:31PM UTC

    So, at the beginning of this year, a friend of mine made a resolution to stop doing other people’s work for them - and she meant situations like this.

    I would channel “Work Leah” (this is what we call this strategy, haha), and return what needs to be corrected, and say: “X is incorrect. Please fix it and return, then it will be processed.” My guess is, this person will learn very quickly, because it will be on her if she doesn’t get it back to you in a reasonable amount of time. If she doesn’t, it’s not your problem - you did your job, and you’re setting boundaries/expectations, while not doing her work for her and still covering your own butt. If it hasn’t been returned with corrections after a few days, I’ve also employed the “check in email,” and at this point, you can cc your (or her) manager, so they also see what’s going on.

12. AnonymousNovember 26,2022 at 1:47PM UTC

    Short-termI agree with the people who said send it back saying this needs to be corrected. Allow the person to try to fix it. Once they get practice in making it right, they might make the mistake less often or be attentive. You can cc your boss if needed. If you want you could even tell your boss beforehand that you have noticed a consistent error from a person and you are going to try to address the issue by asking the person to correct their mistakes. Long-termYou said consistent errors. To clarify is it the exact same error each time or different errors each time? What is the most common error in general? Do your standard operating procedures (SOPs) address the issue? If not, could you update the SOP? That might impress your boss. You could also start sending out a Purchasing Tips email at whatever interval makes sense for your organization. Highlight one tip each email, include graphics. These actions will make you seem proactive.