I have been relatively fortunate in my entire work history such that there is little I have been asked to do where I was unwilling or unable to do.
However, as my responsibilities have increased throughout my career, so also have I become accountable to more things. I draw clear distinctions between roles where I am making a recommendation, where I am responsible for completing the task and where I am requiring to take on accountability for the outcome.
On one glaring occasion at one company I worked for, there was one particular position I was being asked to assist with filling. It was not hire for my direct team, and therefore I was not (nor should I have been) the deciding party.
After rounds of interviews, I made my recommendation. It was in sync with the other reviewers, so I did not believe there would be any issue in the hire, as we were all in agreement.
Until I got a message from “above” asking me to change my notes on a different candidate to reflect that that person was my choice instead.
Call it idealism, but I would rather quit than have to lie for someone else.
I was pressured to “give them another shot” and “mentor them” so that I would be able to change my recommendation, which I did not, but they simply hired them anyway (and then Un-hired them later.)
The key here is that the boss showed that they had no respect for me as a person at this point by ostensibly asking for my recommendation by really wanting me to reiterate theirs.
Since I am not comfortable with lying, especially where there is no arguably “good” point (all this would – and did – do is hurt a company by putting an inexperienced person in a position they were unsuited for) it made me lose respect for my boss and also start to dislike my job.
Originally Posted: https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-worst-or-even-funny-or-awkward-thing-a-boss-has-ever-asked-you-to-do-for-your-job
Originally Posted On: 2016-01-30