Why do I have to do her job?

A couple of weeks ago, department XYZ sent a few requests to hire some employees. Since we use an electronic request form, departments have the ability to add an employment instance (concurrent to any existing instances) or terminate a current instance by replacing it with this new one.

So, department XYZ sent these requests but they should all have been an addition to other instances that were currently active. Instead, XYZ representative terminated all existing jobs.

Friday came around for departments to process their payroll for the current pay period and noticed that certain employees were no longer showing. We got all the phone calls and figured the error. We told the other departments to contact XYZ and tell them to fix the error by submitting a corrective action request. I spoke to XYZ as well and she was very receptive and apologetic.

So far, all corrections have been going well. I have not heard one single issue about XYZ (being rude, not helpful) until today. I called Witch from department ABC to tell her that we could not process a paycheck for her employee yet because XYZ had not sent a correction request yet. I asked if XYZ had been contacted and she said yes. So I suggested for her to call them again, otherwise the employee would not get a check tomorrow.

Witch, from department ABC, freaked out (in lack of a better term). “Why do I have to do her job? Why do I have to tell her what to do? I have no power over her and department XYZ! Why did you call me if it’s something that XYZ needs to do? I don’t work there!” And she went on and on. I tried to explain that it was up to all departments involved to contact XYZ and notify her. That’s what we agreed on… Witch started again “Well, I called XYZ before and she wouldn’t help. She said that she hired the employee and the employee never mentioned that he worked at ABC so she couldn’t help me. I have no power at XYZ, I can’t tell them what to do. This makes no sense. You’re calling me by mistake. I don’t have to do this, it’s their fault they have to fix it!” I tried again by insisting that the way to get this resolved is for ABC to call XYZ. And she started again…. More frustrated/angry/rude as the conversation went on.

I had to end it so I told her I would do her a favor and contact XYZ to inquire about the status of this request. Witch, believe it or not, started AGAIN! All I could say was “ABC, I don’t agree with you but that’s ok. I’ll contact XYZ and let’s see where we go from there, ok?” Instead of saying “Ok HR, thank you!” no, she tried to insert one last “I don’t feel like I have to do her job!” At the moment, I cut her off and said “Ok Witch, I’m copying you on the email. Thanks.” She responded “Thanks, bye!”

XYZ still has not submitted the corrective action request.