They’re Dot-Conning Themselves
My company uses sharing portals to keep track of our various projects. To be added to these portals, you need to either be invited or ask and be granted permission.
For the project in this case, the ONLY person who can grant permission is my manager, who is on vacation. I know this is a terrible setup but that’s how it is. On Thursday, he sent a mass email saying that anyone needing access to this portal will have to wait until he returns on Monday. [Employee #1] reached out to me via email on Friday.
Employee #1: “Hey, I need access to [Project] portal.”
Me: “Hi, [Employee #1], unfortunately, only [Manager] has this ability. He will be back on Monday.”
Employee #1: “I need access today.”
Me: “I cannot grant access. I’m sorry.”
A few minutes later, I got an email from [Employee #2] with [Employee #1] cc’d in.
Employee #2: “Hey, [My Name]. [Employee #1] is asking for access to the project. I understand that [Manager] is out of office, so could you help?”
Me: “Hello, [Employee #2]. As I just told [Employee #1], only [Manager] has the ability to grant access. I do apologize for the inconvenience, but there is nothing I can do.
A few minutes later, another email came in, this time from [Employee #1]’s supervisor.
Supervisor: “[My Name]. Please add [Employee #1] to the project.”
Me: “Hello, [Supervisor]. Please see the attached email conversations. I have already told [Employee #1] and [Employee #2] that only [Manager] can grant access. There is nothing I can do.”
Nothing else was said about access.
When [Manager] returned, I relayed the conversation and asked him to do it ASAP. He came back to say that [Employee #1] already had access and could not understand why he couldn’t get in. We all got together, [Employee #1] brought his computer and an arrogant expression.
Manager: “So, can you just open the portal there?”
Employee #1: “I don’t have access! I asked [My Name], and she wouldn’t do it.”
Manager: “Right, she can’t. That’s what my email said. Did you read it?”
Employee #1: “Um … well, yes.”
Manager: *Looking at [Employee #2] and [Supervisor].* “Did you?”
Employee 2: “Yeah…”
Supervisor: “Yes, but—”
Manager: “So why did you hound her for something you were told she couldn’t do?”
Employee #1: “I… I needed in.”
Manager: “Open the portal.”
Employee #1: “I can’t! Look!”
He clicks a saved link and turns his computer around.
Manager: “Websites end in dot-com, not dot-con.”
[Employee #1] changed that one letter and suddenly everything was right.
Employee #1: “Sorry. [Manager].”
Manager: “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to her. I think all of you owe her an apology.”
I got three mumbled apologies, and they all shuffled out of the room. [Manager] agreed that I should have the ability to add people and told IT to change it.
