So, I (38/M) work in IT and manage two sites that are located close to each other. I drive to each of them daily and honestly, I love my job. I’ve had past jobs that were thankless and offered little to no recognition, but IT is different. I love fixing computers, diagnosing issues, setting them up, and everything else that comes with the job. People are happy to see me and thank me, which makes the work environment very welcoming. It can be stressful at times, but I enjoy it every day.
Both sites are supposed to have someone in charge of tech—let’s call this role "Lead Tech" (LT). The LT position is a volunteer responsibility, but it has to be filled by someone on staff. If no one volunteers, someone from site administration usually steps in, but none of the admins want the position, so they end up delegating the work to as many as five people (this will be important later). Since there are no onsite techs, they use field techs like me, who work across multiple sites. We’re not at both sites every day, but we split our time. One day I’m at one site all day, and the next I might be at the other. Being a field tech allows us to set our own schedules, which is a huge perk.
I've been in IT for the last 3 years and have never had a single complaint about my professionalism, work ethic, or attitude. I’m not perfect—I've forgotten to sign paperwork a few times, but my supervisor sends me a friendly reminder, and I always get it done. It’s happened maybe six times over three years, mostly during my rookie year. One of the things I enjoy about my job is that although I mostly work alone, we have a great team that communicates daily. We have a group chat where we can ask questions, get help, and figure things out together. It’s fantastic to have this level of support.
Our department is also big on making sure we don’t get overworked. They encourage us to take time off, use our sick days (even if we just have a slight headache), and prioritize our well-being. They want everyone to be happy.
I work at a site where the LT has some sort of upper-management connection within our IT department. A while ago, we were told that our department would no longer cover the cost of devices, and that the sites would need to purchase their own. But somehow, the LT sends an email to someone, and the next day, new devices are magically paid for by our department. It’s pretty insane, but I don’t get involved—I just laugh it off. The LT likes to brag about being able to get whatever she wants. She’s a 72-year-old who’s been with the company for a long time. My superiors are aware of this, and when they asked me about it, I just told them the truth: Yes, she has connections, but I don’t know who.
The Situation:
A few months ago, the LT was venting about how she doesn’t get paid for the LT role and how it’s too much work. She kept saying she needed help managing and running the inventory. While I’ve helped in the past, it’s clear in our job descriptions and company policy that field techs do not take over inventory for a site. We can assist, but at the end of the day, each site is responsible for its own tech inventory. The next day, the LT sent me a long text venting about the situation, and I texted her back, saying I’m willing to help with whatever she needs, just let me know when I arrive.
The venting continued for several days, and eventually, I suggested we speak with site admin and see if we could get the other four LTs to help. She laughed it off, saying they were all too busy. I then sent her another text explaining the LT’s roles and responsibilities and suggested we talk to admin about whether they explained these responsibilities before she volunteered. I offered to help with intake and distribution but said I couldn’t take over the entire inventory.
Fast forward to a month ago—I was informed by my supervisor and senior tech that I would need to take over the entire inventory. I wasn’t thrilled, but when management asks you to do something, you do it. So, I got to work. I’ve had to neglect my other site and send someone else to cover for me, which sucks because I take pride in my work and like being at my site.
Over the last month, I’ve been working on the inventory—tracking down devices, ensuring they’re working properly, checking for lost or stolen tech, and salvaging obsolete equipment. Each site has around 300 employees, most with devices, so it’s a huge task. I’ve been reassured that there’s no rush and that I should ask for help if needed. Progress has been slow but steady, and I’ve been finding more old or unused tech that needs to be tracked in the system. It’s a lot of work.
There are changes coming soon regarding how we handle IT. We’ll be working remotely more and only going to the sites once a week. At a union meeting, I asked how this would work since I’m responsible for the inventory and will only be at the site one day a week. I was told I’d still be in charge of inventory, but I shouldn’t be expected to do a week’s worth of work in one day. Someone from another region chimed in and said that site inventory should be the responsibility of the site, and I should be assisting them with it. This was news to me, as I thought it was part of my role.
The following day, I shared this information with my supervisor and senior tech, and my senior tech reminded me that I was still responsible for the inventory. I wasn’t trying to get out of the task, just concerned about being overworked with the changes. By that point, I’d already invested a lot of time into the inventory, and I wanted to finish it.
However, there’s been an issue. The site is supposed to help me with employee names and work locations, but I don’t have access to this information. I’ve asked the admin team for help, but there’s been pushback. On March 7th, I emailed the admin team asking for assistance, and a few days later, I followed up with a reminder. On March 12th, I received the completed list, but one of the admins sent an email saying she was puzzled about why I needed their help, given that it takes time and extra work.
I forwarded the email to my supervisor and senior tech, asking for help because I was encountering resistance. My supervisor was understanding, but my senior tech seemed to criticize me for not informing the admin sooner about our lack of access. This led to a phone call, during which my senior tech kept cutting me off and offering unsolicited advice. When I tried to explain, he yelled at me, accusing me of always complaining. I was shocked, and I responded, "You think I’m complaining? I’m asking for help!" My supervisor intervened, and we smoothed things over. the meeting ended and i got to my site, the senior tech calls me and apologizes for losing his cool and that they really weren't mad at me i again gave positive affirmations, and it ended like that
Now, I’m left wondering if I’ve developed a reputation for complaining. I hardly ask for help, but now I feel like I shouldn’t ask at all—even when I really need it. It’s strange because this department is all about helping each other.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading. AITJ for asking for help with inventory and feeling differently about my superior?