Engineer Asks Reddit For Advice After Being "More Assertive" With Her Boss And Refusing To Share Study Materials With Her Coworkers

"Do I have to do everything around here?"

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• March 26, 2023

Being assertive in the workplace is admirable and necessary at times. But sometimes, being too bold with your boss can land you in trouble.

Reddit user u/Fit-Mood-6073 recently posted a story in the AITA (Am I The A**hole?) subreddit about a recent experience she had at work. The OP explained that she works as an engineer in a highly-respected company.

The company recently hired some new employees, some of which were 25 years ahead of the OP in the field. The Redditor says they are expected to spend around a year studying for a difficult certification exam, and the OP had recently passed the test by spending many nights and weekends creating study materials for herself.

The newer, "more seasoned" engineers were in a new specialty but did not seem keen to return to studying. So, the OP's supervisor asked her to share some of her personal materials and lead some study sessions for the new employees.

The Redditor says that although she respects her colleagues, she feels they should have to put in as much work as she did. So, she jokingly replied to her boss, "Do I have to do everything around here?"

Now the OP is concerned that she may have overstepped and messed up with her boss. Keep scrolling to see what happened and how people reacted.

The OP asked if she is an a**hole for not sharing her study materials with her coworkers.

The OP's supervisor asked her to share her personal materials and lead some study sessions for new employees.

The OP is glad she asserted herself, but now she is worried that she didn't make the right move.

The OP made all of her study materials on her own time with her own money.

The Redditor later posted an update saying she had come to a compromise with her boss.

Here's how people reacted.

"Unless you made the stuff on company time, you are not obligated to share, even when your boss asks."

"No thanks."

"If they don't put in effort, their problem."

"Sucks to be them."

You might get the blame if they don't do well.

"You might want to reconsider your approach here, despite your reasons being understandable."

"It may be bad for your career."

"They are not entitled to your notes."

"They would be useless to people who don't want to study them."

Remember to "act your wage."

"That should not be your problem."

NAH.

"You should start training them by telling them to create their own materials."

"You are being taken advantage of."

"High five for speaking up for yourself."

"NTA, but you f'ed up with your boss."

YTA.

What's your take on this situation? Do you think the OP should have taken a different approach with her boss, or was her reaction understandable?

It can be a fine line between being assertive and being disrespectful. But we don't think the OP had any bad intentions here.

We would love to hear your opinions on this. You can share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

Stephanie