Feeling Pressured to Take on Extra Duties at Work? How to Handle Unfair Office Orders

I work in XXX as a Credit Support Officer. My Branch Manager has issued an office order instructing me to perform a job that is not part of my defined role, responsibility, or Key Result Area (KRA). We are scored on KRA and given CDS marks that are essential for a job promotion. Now, the Branch Manager is forcing me to do work that is part of branch operations, which will negatively affect my CDS.

My queries are:

1) Can I defy the office order?
2) If yes, what should be my response? How should I approach the issue?

Instead of simply saying "no" to non-KRA work, would it be better if you submitted an application for the revision of the KRAs and requested to include the non-KRA work as part of your assigned KRAs as well?

If you outright refuse the Branch Manager, they may perceive it as defiance, and you could risk falling out of their favor. Therefore, it is crucial to handle this matter tactfully.

There is a Hindi proverb that goes, "saap bhi mare aur laathi bhi naa tute," which suggests finding a way to maintain a good relationship with the Branch Manager while also eliminating the non-KRA work.

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

As pointed out by Divekar Sir, defiance of the office order amounts to insubordination with its unpalatable consequences. The work allotted that falls outside the existing KRAs is not a sufficient justification for not doing it. The absence of the KRA is rectifiable during the mid-term review and may be due anytime now as half the year is fast finishing off. Hence, it is not a worthy reason to avoid the work.

Due to the current pandemic situation, the business scenario has changed a lot, and the way things are done has undergone a tremendous transformation.

Flexibility in Managerial Responsibilities

One of the qualities being looked for in assigning managerial responsibilities is the flexibility or ability to adjust to the change. So for all these reasons, it is better to adapt to the changed requirements and make the best out of the situation.

Yes, sir. Please don't deny the instructions of the new work. For every promotion, the employee's overall performance in all the different job tasks is considered. Therefore, it is advisable to follow the new job tasks regardless of the career points already gained. Your good performance is already recorded and reported. Now, the management is testing your loyalty and commitment towards work in the company. This is part and parcel of the HR process.

Suppose the above suggestion is wrong and followed. Nothing harmful will be done to your career graph. You can approach the legal cell of your company for redressal.

All the best.

I understand your frustration. However, please confirm what percentage is non-KRA work compared to total KRA work. If it is up to 10%, then be flexible and accept it. If you grumble, your boss may notice and may create problems for you elsewhere.

Discussing with Your Boss

By the way, why not sit with the boss and discuss this matter? Find out whether any trade-off is possible, i.e., for accepting the non-KRA work, see if he is willing to reduce some of your other work.

Looking at the Positive Side

Also, look at the positive side of doing the work. When you are involved in some work, you will understand the intricacies of it. You may make mistakes, but those errors will educate you. In the future, when you become an officer, this exposure could prove beneficial.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar