1 definition by Oli CC
Jobsworth's have evolved from the formerly limited scope of their disorder. Often a low-ranking member of staff, a jobsworth will follow procedure and dictat to the letter, believing their responsibility to be all-encompassing and of potentially international importance. This only refers to cases where that instruction has come from their line manager; any other request will be met with a dismissive 'not in my job description' or will require confirmation, in writing, before it can be done. A jobsworth always seeks to cover his/her own arse and as such will record and minute every request or job done, and will always have a trail of evidence for the most menial to the most important of tasks, though responsibility will never lead back to them.
Jobsworth behaviour can also maniest itself in someone more senior who anally keeps to script on every task and project, often based around analysis and control of other people's work Risk Management, Issue Analysis for example), and who uses the phrase "As we have discussed" and "Further to our conversation yesterday, you agreed...", copying in their and your manager 'for reference' when in reality it's to cover their back should anything go wrong, thus meaning they will not take any responsibility and you'll be left looking like a mug.
Jobsworth behaviour can also maniest itself in someone more senior who anally keeps to script on every task and project, often based around analysis and control of other people's work Risk Management, Issue Analysis for example), and who uses the phrase "As we have discussed" and "Further to our conversation yesterday, you agreed...", copying in their and your manager 'for reference' when in reality it's to cover their back should anything go wrong, thus meaning they will not take any responsibility and you'll be left looking like a mug.
"If you follow the email trail below, you will note that I asked my colleague to complete the letter by Thursday, and to send it on that day. You will also note that I followed up this email on the Friday with a further mail, and although there was an email to me on the Friday afternoon stating that the letter would not be ready, I had left the office to go to cake-making and French-embroidery class, so did not receive it in good time. It was in any case not my responisbility as you will have seen from the email trail."
"The frigging jobsworth totally stitched me up. He pulled up some long email trail but didn't even mention that I'd told the jobbo twat on Thursday I wouldn't be able to finish it in time because of the accident with the lawnmower"
"The frigging jobsworth totally stitched me up. He pulled up some long email trail but didn't even mention that I'd told the jobbo twat on Thursday I wouldn't be able to finish it in time because of the accident with the lawnmower"
by Oli CC February 3, 2009