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This definitely depends on the situation. Are you working on a live all-hands-on-deck engagement with this manager? Sometimes it’s just implied that no one will really have plans because we’re sprinting on a hot project. In that situation, I’d get the work done.
If this is a random manager asking you to format a deck for them before tomorrow, I’d tell them you don’t have time and leave it at that.
It’s the latter
I would state “the earliest I can get to this is tomorrow morning” and keep your evening plans. Set boundaries and that will teach your manager to manage and schedule better. You don’t need to explain what your plans are but let it be known that you also have a schedule that you need to maintain.
I once had a manager (non public accounting) who had a nasty habit of when she was leaving would stop by my desk on her way out would ask me what I am working on and then always assign me work at 5pm I guess with the expectation that I would stay late year round. I got tired of this and made sure going forward, I am "always" using the bathroom at 5pm when she was leaving so she wouldn't see me on her way out.
Genius level
Public accounting is so toxic my god
EY2, managers who do that should be fired into the sun
Pro
Due tomorrow means due at 5pm unless otherwise stated. Keep your plans tonight and work on it tomorrow
Set boundaries and stick to them. Easier said than done, but once you do you’ll realize how you lived the way you did before doing so.
Chief
That’s terrible office culture. Yes we work a lot of hours but you should at least be able to pick it. If you hit your hours then make plans and stick with them. Sorry, I have dinner and movie plans with my SO. You get what you tolerate! I’ve done this many times and it’s been fine but even if it isn’t I would leave. Too many PA firms looking for people to put up with this BS. Leaders need to stop treating their employees like they were treated, times have changed and if they don’t like it then another firm will take them.
If this is an exception, then just knock out as much as you can tonight and then after your plans. Of this is a normal occurrence, then you might want to have a serious convo
Thr joys of public accounting. What were you expecting during your time there? It's unfortunate but par for the course. You can always pivot to industry!
“Your poor planning does not constitute an emergency on my end, will have this for you tomorrow morning”. Respected the hell out of the senior that said this to a request like that from our SM
Wow, I do not have the guts to say that. Big props to that person.
That is quite annoying and presumptuous of the manager, and is maybe worth a conversation about when you generally work during the day and that you have plans you cannot cancel.
However, in PA the expectation is that hours will not be limited to 9 to 5, which means you should have 3-4 hours available to work either after 4 at night or early in the morning.
As now a senior manager, I can not stress enough how many times staff have left projects lingering and didn’t take ownership that causes fire drill deadlines. If you don’t want surprises, take ownership of your clients and get ahead of it if you think it’s your manager that is causing this. You will quickly realize clients come out of left field with immediate requests and, depending on the importance of the client or the task, we are expected to meet their expectations. Can you push back? Yes. But at the end of the day this is client service and it will be up to the main contact to manage the relationship so they don’t leave
Tell your manager you are only working until x. So you can work on it for an hour or two today. You can continue tomorrow at a set time. Just communicate. I would never expect my staff to cancel their plans. Even if we are all working from home, our office hours are only until 5:30pm therefore I don’t expect my staff to answer or work after that time. Some people like to start later and work later, if they can get it done than great, otherwise tomorrow is another day.
It’s a completely different story if they miss an internal deadline because they procrastinated and they have to fix something because our meeting is tomorrow.
How long have you been at your firm? If it’s only been a week, you may not have much power to push back, but if you’ve been there 6+ months, then communicate your evening plans. Let them know you have pre-arranged plans and ask if you could have until EOD tomorrow. If not EOD, then mid day. Make them tell you “I need it by in the morning” if they really do need it by the next morning.
I had a manager who used to do this, and then would sit on reviewing the work once I sent it over. Then magically we’d need to “work on this over the weekend” because they didn’t review until Friday afternoon. I had to cancel plans often and it was creating issues with my spouse. I started pushing back on manager-created deadlines and it helped a lot. However these were deadlines made up by my manager, and not dictated by the client or a filing deadline. It helps to know what kind of deadline you’re dealing with.
Probably worthwhile pointing out that just because a manager requests something be done now, and they review it a week later, is not necessarily because the manager is being unreasonable or exhibiting poor planning. For example, a client might want to know preliminary results of a substantive procedure. Someone performing the work and not identifying any issues can offer a preliminary perspective that things look fine, pending a manager review which might identify small follow-ups, etc. However, with no eyes on it at all, leaves the audit team open to significant risk if there is pressure from the client. However, if the manager is requesting something be done urgently, with no good reason, and with no real intention to review any time soon, is problematic.
Tell him to relax. We’re not doctors. I’d stick with your plans and then do what you reasonably can after.
If they don’t like your answer then simply claim that you feel a little under the weather and have lost your sense of taste and smell and enjoy the next 5 days off.
My client does this to me :(
Just leave PA. So glad I left for a 30% raise too. Only thing I miss is nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Just say you have a commitment at X time and can push it as far as you can before you log off.
I would say have the conversation and set boundaries that are reasonable. Like sure during interim it may be expected to go over a little, but I usually have plans Tuesday & Thursday & Friday for example, or whatever it may be. If aside from that there’s one off you can make judgement call if you are fine to work or say no sorry.
Email reply “Sorry fam”. Then set outlook automatic reply “[Your name] is out of office until tomorrow morning, please reach out to [manager name] for any pressing matters on this engagement. Thank you” and end scene
Sounds like the manager has poor time management skills. Our tax partner told me prior to her retirement there are usually no tax emergencies that cannot wait until tomorrow.
Rising Star
What line of work are you in? Some groups are just like this, but you should know that going into it and the compensation also generally reflects the additional burden.
Just do it tomorrow. Who cares. They won’t look at it tomorrow AM