Work scenario, am I in the wrong or do I have a valid point?

So a little backstory, I work for a small independent fibre to the home internet firm as an customer installations engineer.

There are 3 of us who do these customer installs, which can take 2 hours to complete, however one of these guys is often sent off to do other jobs, which means there are only 2 reliable install engineers, myself and this other guy.

The company has recently expanded their network to the street where I live, and they have already taken orders by several of my neighbors, and their installations are due within the next 4 weeks.

I had a discussion with my boss yesterday, bringing up my concerns about me personally doing the installation at several houses on my street (including next door neighbor's both sides)

My concerns being that if I personally do the installs, I become the local person to pester if they have slow speeds, it stops working or they flat out just don't like it / have a problem with the company.

I'm not comfortable with the very real possibility that every time I step out to hang out the washing or walk to the car, I'll get confronted by neighbors having internet issues or customer service problems (which are not common, but do happen)

My boss kind of shrugged it off with a bit of an attitude about it and said he will see what he can do, but no promises.

Was I in the right to bring this up? Or should I just shut up and get on as it is my job after all.

I think that's a fair enough reason you've given why you'd prefer not to do it. I can definitely see your reasonings happening for real if you happened to install it.

Do you not run the risk of your workmates mentioning that you work for the company anyway though?

I can totally see why you would have that worry and mention it to your boss. I mean, people would pester you with this stuff if they knew that was your line of work and you hadn't installed their connection or worked for another provider! So of course chances are that they may bother you, if you're the one who's installed it. People are strawberry floating dumb.

Possible solution: any chance you could swap with your co-worker without your boss knowing?

It sounds like you have a good point. Being the "IT guy" is annoying when it's family members, it would be bloody awful if the neighbours started doing it, especially if they are complaining.

Use it as an opportunity to snoop around your neighbours houses.

Dual wrote:Use it as an opportunity to snoop around your neighbours houses.

Dual wrote:Use it as an opportunity to install sexy hidden cams in your neighbours houses.

I work for a big retailer, not doing anything customer facing, it's all up end in the supply chain, and I still get complaints from anyone and everyone I know when they've had some bad customer service in store. Like I'm in a position to do anything about it. :lol:

There's no way to avoid this.

I get your concern, but surely this is a risk of working for any smaller local firm?People will always get wind that you work there.

I make a point of not telling my neighbours who I work for, especially as I know one of them is one of our customers.

But think of the underwear drawers you'll be able to rifle through, Hulo :toot:

This is a clear conflict of interest and your company should do whatever possible to not put you in such a situation, particularly as it has very clear potential consequences.

If you just act really creepy and weird whilst installing, no one will ask you stuff later.

1. Don't look anyone in the eye, even when talking to them
2. Do a big gooseberry fool and don't flush
3. Keep scratching yourself inappropriately
4. Just keep asking for more and more glasses of water, like every 5 minutes, don't drink it just leave the glasses around everywhere.
5. Breath loudly through your mouth.

Also, when you see people later, if they do ask you stuff, act as if it was a completely different person that installed it, and you have no idea what they're talking about.

All I can think of is that episode of White Gold where he sells a dodgy conservatory to the neighbours across the street

Yeah, you were right to do this, for the very reasons you stated. You would be hounded every time something went wrong.

Lime wrote:act as if it was a completely different person that installed it, and you have no idea what they're talking about.

"Ahh you are thinking of my twin brother. Sorry I don't have his number, we fell out years ago after he strawberry floated up my broadband installation and I refuse to talk to him"

Thanks for the advice, some very good suggestions here! I'm having a meeting about it in a minute.

Hulohot wrote:Thanks for the advice, some very good suggestions here! I'm having a meeting about it in a minute.

Underwear drawer rifler confirmed.

Preezy wrote:
Hulohot wrote:Thanks for the advice, some very good suggestions here! I'm having a meeting about it in a minute.

Underwear drawer rifler confirmed.

As long as he gives us all a link to the webcams then I don't mind if he takes some underwear from his neighbours.

Lime wrote:If you just act really creepy and weird whilst installing, no one will ask you stuff later.

1. Don't look anyone in the eye, even when talking to them
2. Do a big gooseberry fool and don't flush
3. Keep scratching yourself inappropriately
4. Just keep asking for more and more glasses of water, like every 5 minutes, don't drink it just leave the glasses around everywhere.
5. Breath loudly through your mouth.

Also, when you see people later, if they do ask you stuff, act as if it was a completely different person that installed it, and you have no idea what they're talking about.

I like this. Especially no.4.

As others have said, I think you’re being perfectly reasonable.

If your boss does insist that you do the installations, fit a hidden wireless router in each house, then leech their connections.

Work scenario, am I in the wrong or do I have a valid point?

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