Whats the most unreasonable request you've received from a boss?

I have received a request to update our network diagram in Visio. The ENTIRE network! The unreasonable part comes in where they require that the whole thing be printable on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper as opposed to on the plotter... -_- I have worked on this all day and will be finishing up tomorrow. I warned them though that there is just too much detail (Yes, they wanted it to be as detailed as possible) to fit on a single sheet and be legible but they insist. Request came to my boss from his boss. My boss in turn tasked me with this. I am going to finish it and give them what they asked for despite the warning. Is this unreasonable and what types of request have you all gotten that were just as ridiculous?

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Comments

sratakhin

Why do you consider this request unreasonable? I did a complete map of our network a year ago. Granted, we only have about 60 switches so it wasn't too difficult, but still.

kohr-ah

Our CEO asked me to serve coffee and water to the executives visiting our office. (This was 4 years ago). Only asked me to do that once.

Akaricloud

When I was working Desktop Support I was told to check every computer we supported manually with a specific virus removal tool by hand. Needless to say with 500+ computers and one person this wasn't going to happen(given the stipulations).

Essendon

That's not too bad, atleast you didnt have to get up from your chair. When I did Desktop Support a few years ago, I checked and matched the asset tags of about 1000 desktops/laptops/monitors spread over 3 sites. I was part of a team of 3 doing this job of a total of 3000 devices.

spicy ahi

My network team (three people) was asked on a Thursday by the head of the NOC to flip our 12 racks of network equipment that weekend. Not just the equipment, no, that'd be to easy. He literally wanted us to turn all of the racks and their contents 180 degrees. All because the rack on the end of the row as facing the direction he wanted. I sat there with my jaw dropped, while one coworker was laughing because he thought it was a joke. Our lead told the NOC head he was an idiot and it wasn't happening.

CodeBlox

sratakhin wrote: »

Why do you consider this request unreasonable? I did a complete map of our network a year ago. Granted, we only have about 60 switches so it wasn't too difficult, but still.

I have already mentioned that it will NOT all fit on such a paper size... We definitely have way more than 60 switches and mapping the entire thing out on a larger scale is not a problem.

eansdad

Where to start...

They took our work vans away then asked us to sign a waiver of liability to use our own vehicle.

Was asked to hook up an iPad/AppleTV setup to an ELMO/projector setup. Wouldn't have been to bad if the ELMO had an HDMI connector.

Told not to set static IPs on switches since "they aren't needed"...This was from an assistant superintendent who supposedly had a CCNA. Same guy asked "Why do we need security" after telling us to leave the APs open.

Everyday seems like something ridicules comes down the chain.

Zorodzai

Having a regional manager expect me to carry his bags when I went to collect him from the airport. To think I was actually doing him a favour dropping him off.....

TechGuy215

When I had my first job as a level 1 Help Desk, the manager taksed me with completeing a full physical asset inventory (collecting serial numbers, model numbers, asset tags, and locations). This was because the previous employee tasked with keeping the inventory up-to-date got lazy and stopped asset tagging new product. I literally had to scour through 1000's of assets, documenting everything, on top of that I was then asked to create a excel spreadsheet and populate that with my findings. Needeless to say, after days of crawling underdesks, through dusty storage areas, and interupting end-users to gather this information it was probably one of the crapiest/unreasonable request I ever had.

neo9006

I am surprised they still use Visio. I have not used that in years. Reminds me of yesterday doing some work at my job, the engineers did not go out to the field to check the route and of course it is blocked off and I am having all kinds of problems. This current project is all messed up we are working on. I will be glad when it is over.

cyberguypr

My old boss would call us up and say "I need a quote for (insert product with the most convoluted licensing scheme here) within the next 10 minutes. I'm running to a meeting and need it now." Once you told him the vendor was away, busy, or otherwise engaged he would flip. This happened so many times that it became the norm. I so do not miss that job.

Blackout

I was asked to throw sandbags in 105 degree heat for 8 hours, I threw 800 Sandbags, for a demonstration of a machine our company was promoting. I couldn't even move my arms the next day.
The second one was I was asked to paint the inside of one of our old buildings, the kicker was that our IT department was standing up three new sites while I was painting.

neo9006

Wow it sounds like the engineer I work for. He does not flip out but does things till the last second. I had to wait 45 minutes the other day for him to get things ready for what I needed to do for him. I am so use to him waiting till the last second for everything. I expect it now which is quite sad.

Iristheangel

@Neo - Visio is still pretty industry standard for developing network and systems diagrams. I'm sure there are alternatives but all the companies I've worked at utilized Visio for all diagrams

Zartanasaurus

neo9006 wrote: »

Wow it sounds like the engineer I work for. He does not flip out but does things till the last second. I had to wait 45 minutes the other day for him to get things ready for what I needed to do for him. I am so use to him waiting till the last second for everything. I expect it now which is quite sad.

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neo9006

Its good to know that is still being used. I got use to using AutoCad for everything back in the day. Microstation is not too bad. Thanks Zart I needed a laugh today.

N2IT

Dress up like Santa Claus and give out gifts to 500 employees.

Blackout

N2IT wrote: »

Dress up like Santa Claus and give out gifts to 500 employees.

I honestly laughed out loud.

Iristheangel

N2IT wrote: »

Dress up like Santa Claus and give out gifts to 500 employees.

Pictures or it didn't happen :P

neo9006

N2IT did you hand out bonus checks when you were giving out the presents or coal? LOL.

tayro12

I remember 2 instances

1: Was on the 1st day on the job post signing the contract - was asked to sing (Karaoke) in front of everyone in the office (since they are having a farewell party for someone that same day), two of the employees are my Batch-mates in college and i they just smiled at me while I'm singing

2: Was asked to be on 2 different client location to complete "planned" upgrade activity, with a 5 minute time difference. (upgrade takes at least an hour to complete) had to ran back and forth on both sites.

SteveLord

N2IT wrote: »

Dress up like Santa Claus and give out gifts to 500 employees.

Could this be anymore appropriate?

While I can't think of anything specific, it usually falls along the lines of the boss wanting some kind of pet project done, but a technical issue makes it near impossible that it is not worth your time to even research it.

Sometimes higher ups just don't like "It can't be done" or "It's not as easy as it sounds" for an answer. It's not that you're outright refusing to do it, it's just other projects should be the focus. Especially when one of those projects is a product replacing the one that your boss wants you to do something with. It is always a challenge to explain yourself without them assuming you're just lazy or being insubordinate.

colemic

#n2itftw

alkgmone

This happened when I was doing helpdesk few years back from an internal customer. A lady walks up to the helpdesk window and says she spilled water or coffee on her laptop. I happened to be at the desk for that day, so I told her OK, we can replace the keyboard. When she pulled out the laptop she had a small bag full of EACH KEY from her keyboard . She literately took every SINGLE key out thinking that we could put them back!

I just had this LOOK on my face

and I could not help but take a picture of it. Gave her another laptop and told her if this happen next time, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE KEYS OUT.

I kinda miss those days hahaha...

PS. I don't where the picture, but I find I will share it

bryguy

I worked 3rd shift at a NOC, and they decided that in order to cut costs, that they'd do away with the janitorial staff. So, while we weren't compiling various reports from the day prior and monitoring WUG, we also had to mop the floors, clean the windows, and scrub the toliets... Fantastic.

CodeBlox

Finished up the work today... Lets just say that there is A LOT going on in the diagram haha. It's all readable too. Some minor things were left out due to a lack of real estate.

dedwcomp

I had a HR director demand that I delete an email from the inbox of 30 or so employees who had already read a scathing indictment regarding abuse of power directed at a manager. Needless to say I had to refuse.

cyberguypr

^^ Not a team player I see. HAHA!

Cpl.Klinger

I had a district manager ask me one if I could string 75-80' of phone wire through the ceiling in order to keep our credit card reader running once when our router went belly up. Sorry boss, I'm not running wire for a temporary fix through at least 3 bulkheads across a drop ceiling. Not happening. He began to say something about being prepared for it to happen again and I said "Well, if store support had listened to me 3 months ago when the router started feigning death we wouldn't be in this situation losing money and pi**ing off customers. Maybe next time you can help me with that?"

Fast forward a few months. I come in to work, and the phones are out. Our Nortel PBX has gone to the great bit bucket in the sky. Nortel didn't make it anymore and did not support them in the field anyway. I have backup documentation to support my findings including the Technical TS Manual. We needed a new system and fast. I call up the DM, and drop the news, and ask "If I get a little fresh on the phone with Store Support about what we need, will you be there to back me up. Without phones, we are weak. We lose the credit systems, and have no phones, we are dead." I get a pledge of full support, which he delivered on. Never 2nd guessed me again as long as I had sound reasoning for my opinion.

Krones

It all started with we need you to oversee the build out of the data room in our new office. It was a bit nerve wracking considering I was an intern with two months at the company and had no data room experience, let alone construction experience. And I mean from the ground up. Measuring the room to make sure inrow coolers would fit, etc. It's a decent size room 16 cabinets with a hot aisle containment system. That was great until it quickly became we need you to serve as a point of contact and coordinate with all the contractors and get us moved into the new office ASAP. And I mean everything in the new office. From ordering trashcans, stocking shelves, coordinating construction crews, etc.

I just try to keep a positive attitude and do what I can to help as I am just thankful to have a job. We recently moved into the new office which is a huge milestone. (took five months since they put me on as a point of contact). Hopefully, I can now focus on my technical skills once things settle down a bit with the building or they hire an office manager. I don't have a specialized skillset and would probably rate myself at beginning helpdesk with a junior system admin title.

TLDR: My bosses task me with executive assistant / office manager / maintenance / handyman duties when I am supposed to be a junior system administrator or at least attempting to become a competent helpdesk / field technician.