Current Events > Should I report this guy?

(+) Yeah! (+)

We have 2 doormen watching the building until 7 PM. At 6 PM, we close the back door because that is policy.

A couple weeks ago, this one newer tenant tried to open the back door at around 8 PM, but couldn't because we already locked it for the night. So the tenant pressed the intercom button which pages me. To be nice, I went downstairs to manually let him in. I let him know right then and there that there's no way to remotely open the door, I have to leave the desk unattended, walk downstairs and let him in. Meanwhile if someone needs to ask a doorman a question, I won't be there to answer until I return.

It's important to mention that, even though I told him I have to manually let him in, I did not tell him that he can't do it again. This is because, while it's extremely inconvenient for me, it is NOT against the rules for him to do what he did. I can't tell him that he cannot do something if he isn't breaking the rules. But no big deal, he got the signal that it's inconvenient so he won't do it again...right?

Next day, he does it again. Once again, I let him know there's only one doorman at this hour, I have to stop what I'm doing (usually nothing, but he doesn't need to know what) and let him in. But again, I don't tell him that he CAN'T do it. I just give signals that he's pissing me off. Did he get the message this time?

Nope, day 3 he is paging me at the intercom again. Keep in mind, while the back door is locked, he could easily walk around and access the front door, which is unlocked at all times. So it's not like he has no choice. So far he has asked me to let him in 10 or 11 times now, does not give a shit that I have to inconveniently walk down and let him in, he's missing all of my signals and knows that he could walk in the front door instead.

My options:

• Tell him he should not come in this way anymore after 6 PM. As a doorman, I have no authority to tell people what to do unless it's against the rules, like loitering or illegal activities. Not comfortable with this option, as he isn't breaking the rules.
• Let the building manager know. I thought about this, but even know this guy is pissing me off, I do feel like I'm going a BIT too far by going with this option.
• Keep giving signals like normal and hope for the best. Not sure what's up with this guy, but he is missing every signal that I want him to stop.

What would you do if you were me, CE?

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Make sure to save some work for right at 6pm, maybe schedule a phone call or something. Next time he buzzes reply over the intercom "I'm sorry but I currently cannot leave my desk, please come around to the front door, thank you."

See what he does.

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If something happens while you are letting him in is it your ass on the line?

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The_Hat posted...

Make sure to save some work for right at 6pm, maybe schedule a phone call or something. Next time he buzzes reply over the intercom "I'm sorry but I currently cannot leave my desk, please come around to the front door, thank you."

See what he does.

This isn't a bad option either.

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i'd say option 2 if he isn't learning the mechanics of the door situation.
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Jesus christ, man. Communicate and use your words to tell him not to do it. Quit this passive aggressive baby shit.

The_Hat posted...

Make sure to save some work for right at 6pm, maybe schedule a phone call or something. Next time he buzzes reply over the intercom "I'm sorry but I currently cannot leave my desk, please come around to the front door, thank you."

See what he does.

This is a really good idea. I very rarely have anything to do as a doorman, but if I could think of something to do right when he asks me to let him in, that would be prefect.

IfGodCouldDie posted...

If something happens while you are letting him in is it your ass on the line?

Yes. However, there are other circumstances where they expect me to leave the desk, such as when I have to use the restroom. It's actually kind of a joke that they only have 1 doorman on site after 7 PM.

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Chunkey Simmons posted...

Yes. However, there are other circumstances where they expect me to leave the desk, such as when I have to use the restroom. It's actually kind of a joke that they only have 1 doorman on site after 7 PM.

Then if the suggestion you were given doesn't work, speak to the building manager.

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CommonStar posted...

Jesus christ, man. Communicate and use your words to tell him not to do it. Quit this passive aggressive baby shit.

You're preaching to the choir. If you've seen my previous topics, you would know I've been FIRED many times for opening my mouth. Some examples:

• Told someone to fuck off when they called me the N word (when I worked in retail). Got fired. CE said it was my fault and I was in the wrong.
• Used to work at a hotel. Owner of the hotel was treating me like shit. Told him "don't talk to me that way". I didn't care that he owned the building I was working at. Fired. Again, when I told CE they blamed me for it, even thought the owner was in the wrong.
• Told my boss "that's not my fucking job" when she kept assigning me her subordinate's shit. Asked her nicely at first, but she ignored me, so I cussed at her. Got fired because her feelings were hurt. Once again, no one took my side of that story.

I am not passive aggressive. If anything, my big mouth has gotten me into trouble at former jobs. I'm VERY assertive, almost aggressive.

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Don't answer it and pretend you were in the restroom, maybe?

Alternatively, explain to him that you are personally held accountable should anything happen while you are away from your position and you'd rather he use the front because using the back and leaving your position could lead to your termination should something happen.
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Slayer_22 posted...

Don't answer it and pretend you were in the restroom, maybe?

Alternatively, explain to him that you are personally held accountable should anything happen while you are away from your position and you'd rather he use the front because using the back and leaving your position could lead to your termination should something happen.

i LOVE the idea of explaining it could affect my job.

pretending im in the restroom is a good idea too, but then i would have to listen to the pager go off for like 5 minutes straight. then people around me will ask "why aren't you answering that?"

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Put a sign on the door in the back outside you will not be let in after a certain hour

Chunkey Simmons posted...

You're preaching to the choir. If you've seen my previous topics, you would know I've been FIRED many times for opening my mouth. Some examples:

* Told someone to fuck off when they called me the N word (when I worked in retail). Got fired. CE said it was my fault and I was in the wrong.
* Used to work at a hotel. Owner of the hotel was treating me like shit. Told him "don't talk to me that way". I didn't care that he owned the building I was working at. Fired. Again, when I told CE they blamed me for it, even thought the owner was in the wrong.
* Told my boss "that's not my fucking job" when she kept assigning me her subordinate's shit. Asked her nicely at first, but she ignored me, so I cussed at her. Got fired because her feelings were hurt. Once again, no one took my side of that story.
I am not passive aggressive. If anything, my big mouth has gotten me into trouble at former jobs. I'm VERY assertive, almost aggressive.

Oh my god dude. At least the first two is for the best. No point in working in a place if the management isn't going to defend your honor or respect you. The last one, you really could stand to learn to negotiate to get what you want. This is the perfect scenario for you to practice negotiation and persuasion without insane escalation.


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CADE FOSTER posted...

Put a sign on the door in the back outside you will not be let in after a certain hour

This

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Chunkey Simmons posted...

i LOVE the idea of explaining it could affect my job.

pretending im in the restroom is a good idea too, but then i would have to listen to the pager go off for like 5 minutes straight. then people around me will ask "why aren't you answering that?"

If the former doesn't work, do the latter lol.
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CADE FOSTER posted...

Put a sign on the door in the back outside you will not be let in after a certain hour

I REALLY wish that i could, but we have a "no signs" policy at work. One of the doormen was even written up for putting up a "No Public Restrooms" sign in the front lobby.

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Just say Bro we lock this door after 6PM every night, can you please start using the front door at these hours?

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Heavy_D_Forever posted...

Just say Bro we lock this door after 6PM every night, can you please start using the front door at these hours?

Like I said, I haven't done this already because I have no authority to tell people what to do unless it's against the rules, like loitering or illegal activities. He's not really breaking any rules. He's just being an ass and missing all of the signals that I want him to stop.

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Looks like you can't control his actions at this point.

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I have great news guys

I saw that asshat use the buzzer to page me at the back door once again. I was so close to giving in, but I tried one of the ideas that you guys suggested to me. I pretended I needed to go to the bathroom and just left the desk. When I came back, he was no longer at the door.

Hell yeah!
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Chunkey Simmons posted...

I have great news guys

I saw that asshat use the buzzer to page me at the back door once again. I was so close to giving in, but I tried one of the ideas that you guys suggested to me. I pretended I needed to go to the bathroom and just left the desk. When I came back, he was no longer at the door.

Hell yeah!

Great!

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Just mention every time "hey, you know the front door is open at all times, right?"

He'll get the message eventually.

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Here's a crazy idea. Stop letting him in the back door. When he calls you on the intercom, tell him to go to the front door and hang up.

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Tag in case of future updates.

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Gotta tell him my guy, he thinks thats part of your job because youre in uniform

So, something bad happened at the job. Can't go in a specifics yet, I'll have to see how it plays out in the next couple days.
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16-BITTER posted...

Tag

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I suggest you get confrontational with him while being aggressive and assertive.
Please share the results.

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Tag

Chunkey Simmons posted...

If anything, my big mouth has gotten me into trouble at former jobs. I'm VERY assertive, almost aggressive.

Confrontation is a clear problem in a workplace, so management often takes a 'scorched earth' policy in many places. It's better to have a plausible deflection in place instead.

This is especially true if you're at a cluster fuck workplace with multiple managers on site pulling you in 3 directions at once because they lack any coordination and all believe that THEY are the most important person.

Using the excuse of doing something for a customer, or needing a trip to the restroom(within reasonable limits), is often enough to deflect their attention onto some other employee.

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Chunkey Simmons posted...

So, something bad happened at the job. Can't go in a specifics yet, I'll have to see how it plays out in the next couple days.

Did you tell him to do something anatomically improbable?

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DuneMan posted...

Chunkey Simmons posted...

If anything, my big mouth has gotten me into trouble at former jobs. I'm VERY assertive, almost aggressive.

Confrontation is a clear problem in a workplace, so management often takes a 'scorched earth' policy in many places. It's better to have a plausible deflection in place instead.

This is especially true if you're at a cluster fuck workplace with multiple managers on site pulling you in 3 directions at once because they lack any coordination and all believe that THEY are the most important person.

Using the excuse of doing something for a customer, or needing a trip to the restroom(within reasonable limits), is often enough to deflect their attention onto some other employee.

From my experiences you are absolutely right. Lots of jobs I've had will be around the bush rather than be assertive when it comes to doing your job. That job I got fired from for saying "that's not my fucking job"? That lady didn't directly fire me for that reason, she gave me 3 random write ups for unrelated bullshit reasons like being 1 minute late from break. Communication when it comes to accountability is extremely poor.
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"report him"? For what? Your mistake?

You already answered the question.

Chunkey Simmons posted...

I did not tell him that he can't do it again

You could have asked him not to do it again.

think, ricky. think.

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I have a crazy suggestion.

Quit bitching and do your fucking job when somebody needs to be let in, doorman.

Bring it up to your boss and ask for their advice.

Trying to social engineer this person into behaving how you want, without explicitly communicating what you want is a bad strategy IMO.

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So, is it just that you are upset about having to do your job?

If they are allowed to use the back door, then it is your job to open it, get over it.

joe40001 posted...

Bring it up to your boss and ask for their advice.

Trying to social engineer this person into behaving how you want, without explicitly communicating what you want is a bad strategy IMO.

Agree with this. See what your boss says.

Me personally, I would probably have told the dude "You're allowed to come in this door but it's usually locked at 6 PM. So anytime after 6 you will have to buzz us to let you in. While I will try to come when you buzz to let you in I can't promise I'm not busy helping someone else so there may be a little bit of a wait. The front door is always unlocked though so you don't have to deal with the hassle of waiting on someone else."

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Gotta love all the internet tough guys ITT giving TC a hard time, who probably work as pencil-pushers at OfficeCo Inc.

TC I probably would just ask your manager and be upfront to them, provided that you have that kind of professional relationship with them.

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I don't have much advice beyond what you've done already but I'm sorry that you keep getting im these no win situations at work. It's good that you are trying to exercise some self awareness!

So your complaining about opening a door while working as a doorman? While youre just sitting around anyway doing nothing?

Tag

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realnifty1 posted...

So, is it just that you are upset about having to do your job?

If they are allowed to use the back door, then it is your job to open it, get over it.

If you had any ounce of reading comprehension you'd realize that the guy is preventing him from doing his job.
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One_Day_Remains posted...

If you had any ounce of reading comprehension you'd realize that the guy is preventing him from doing his job.

If TC's job includes opening the back door after hours, then that's part of his job and he should take it up with management.

So far as I'm reading, especially here:

Chunkey Simmons posted...

it is NOT against the rules for him to do what he did

This is key.

That said, if it's not your job to answer back door buzzers, then you are free to ignore it guilt-free.

I know exactly what you're doing TC. I work with clients in my job, and when they request things that are a huge pain in the ass, I absolutely do everything in my power to dissuade them from doing it without actually telling them they can't do it. It's rookie stuff. But ultimately, if the client (or in this case, your guy) is insistent, then you have to do it until you get management to create a policy disallowing it (or making it someone else's job).

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JACKBUTTMOMMY posted...

As stated, being away from the desk at that time prevents him from handling his duties.

His duty is to answer the back door too.

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