Feeling Frustrated with New Reporting Demands at Work – How Should I Handle This?

Hello all,

I have been working with an organization for the past 2 years as an HR and Account Executive. However, after these 2 years, my boss requested that I report to him daily via email regarding my daily activities. This was quite disheartening as I had always worked with full dedication. I spent 2 years working with the same commitment. Nevertheless, I complied with his directive.

After my boss reviewed my daily task lists for a week and realized the volume of work I was handling, he instructed me to switch to sending weekly reports on my achievements, similar to how developers or team leads report.

I am feeling very frustrated. As many of you know, our tasks are heavily dependent on reporting and follow-up. How can I demonstrate weekly what I have accomplished? Given my responsibilities and tasks, should I simply state that I updated employee details as an achievement?

I am truly upset and frustrated. What should be my course of action?

Looking forward to your comments.

Thanks,
Nikita

Your frustration stems from your different perception. It is also a result of the inertia that your mind had previously enjoyed. However, all that your management has done is to enforce something that other team members are also expected to do, even if they work in different sections. Please demonstrate to him the extent of your follow-up, including how many times you have followed up, etc.

Lastly, please remember that the boss is always right. Keep this rule in mind for as long as you continue working in India!

Regards,
Dinesh V Divekar

Dear Ms. Nikita,

Whatever Mr. Dinesh has suggested can also be considered because your boss may be trying to evaluate your capabilities, stress, and patience levels. At this juncture, you need to perform and prove yourself rather than reacting. Never allow negative thoughts to occupy your mind because this will only make you think negatively and react without applying logic. Everyone has skills, talents, preferences, abilities, etc. It's time to evaluate "what you are capable of."

Never Let Yourself Down

Please follow systematic procedures at the workplace. This will help you complete your job with ease. Be an observer and learn to develop patience—that will define "who you are."

With profound regards.

Dear friends,

Thanks for the wonderful advice and for interpreting the situation correctly.

In fact, it is a very 'touching' piece, as evident in the following quote:

"Now when he read my each day task list for one week and came to know that I'm doing so much work, he came to me and said, 'Don't send me a daily report, just start sending me a weekly report on what you achieved in a week, similar to what developers or team leads send.'"

However, I am really shocked and surprised at the reaction and response of Riddhi Verma.

Instead of feeling happy that she has such an appreciative and kind boss (who, of course, initially seemed apprehensive about her capabilities and performance), she is complaining!!

Dear Riddhi Verma, I too would suggest that you do not attribute any "intention" behind your boss's actions; rather, realize that he is now convinced of your performance and potential. Hence, he is giving you the liberty to give him just a weekly report instead of a daily report.

It shows his trust in you.

Kindly do not misunderstand such gestures.

Warm regards.

Hi Dinesh,

Thanks for your kind advice. You know, sometimes in emotions, we think wrong, but we feel that we are right. However, as you said, the boss is always right, so now I know what I have to do.

Thanks a lot for your advice.

Regards,
Riddhi

Hi Raj, I'm a very emotional girl, and I take this office as my second home, so I just reacted like that, but I got your point. Thank you so much for your reply.

Thanks,
Riddhi

Dear Ms. Nikita,

Whatever Mr. Dinesh has suggested can also be considered because your boss may be trying to evaluate your capabilities, stress, and patience levels. At this juncture, you need to perform and prove yourself rather than reacting. Never allow negative thoughts to occupy your mind because this will only make you think negatively and react without applying logic. Everyone has skills, talents, preferences, abilities, etc. It's time to evaluate "what you are capable of." Never let yourself down. Please follow systematic procedures at the workplace. This will help you complete your job with ease. Be an observer and learn to develop patience; that will define "who you are."

With profound regards.

Hello skhadir,

Thanks for your motivating words. After reading all the comments, now I know that I have to prove myself again. I was a little hurt because I have proved myself in the last two years, but again I have to do it, so I will. Part of the job :) and really, thanks a lot for your advice.

Thanks,
Riddhi

Hi Raj, I'm a very emotional girl, and I take this office as my second home, so I just reacted like that. But I got your point. Thank you so much for your reply.

Thanks,
Riddhi

And Raj, one more thing. You know he came to me because he knows how honest and dedicated I am towards his company. He knew that if he asked me to send the report, I would feel bad. That's why he did it like that.

Each day when I was writing the report, I was losing my dedication, and then I came to cite HR for the right suggestion. :)

Regards,
Riddhi

I think you have to see the other side of the coin. He is supposed to be happy with your work, and he doesn't want a daily report. He will be satisfied with a weekly report. So go ahead. I wish you the best of luck.

Life is all about challenges. Don't take it personally; it will make a positive impact on your career. This will help you work more systematically. Probably, this may be one of his ways of assessing your performance. You should not be frustrated by that.

Regards,
Subhashree
HR Officer

Dear Nikita,

With due respect to all those that have given you excellent suggestions and comments, I will raise a few questions to get the scenario clarified.

Is your boss new, or have you been working for him for the past 2 years? What do you mean by "It was really a hurtful feeling because I used to work with full dedication every time, and I spent 2 years with the same feeling"?

Has the boss asked for a daily report from all his subordinates or just you? Has the company introduced any new policies? Is the firm experiencing any problems?

How is your relationship with the boss? If he is not a new boss, why did you not ask him why he wanted a daily report suddenly? Had you asked, he might have explained to you.

Have a nice day.

Regards,
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK.

PS: You can see my profile at

I can absolutely understand the whole conversation, and many people here have given good inputs. It is appreciable the way you have taken them. I would like to share that at times I have also felt emotional turbulences in work life, and I assume that it happens with many of us; only the nature of issues changes. With practice, we can regulate our emotional intensities. If you get time, start reading on emotional intelligence. And for now, enjoy your work... things will follow... :)

Regards.