Administrator. Scenario 3 of 13. Security and saying no

Can I borrow your login?

Marcus, a senior colleague, stops you on your way to lunch. His access to the finance system has expired, and he needs to send one invoice before a 1pm deadline.

"Just give me your password," he says. "It'll take two minutes, and you can change it afterwards."

What is the best call?

Give him the password and change it as soon as you are back.

Not the best call

Whatever is done with your login is recorded as done by you. Sharing a password almost always breaks IT policy, and "he is senior" will not be an excuse. Marcus being in a hurry does not make it your risk to take.

Say you cannot share your password, and offer to send the invoice yourself now, before lunch.

Good call

You have said no to the method and yes to the problem. Marcus gets his invoice sent on time, the record shows who really did it, and lunch is ten minutes late. Refusing and helping is stronger than refusing alone.

Say you need to think about it, and keep out of his way until after one o'clock.

Not the best call

Avoiding the conversation feels easier than saying no, but Marcus is left without an answer and misses his deadline. A clear, polite no with another way forward is kinder than silence.

Could be better

Better than handing over the password, but everything he does is still under your name and you are not there to see it. If you are going to log in anyway, stay and send it yourself.

The principle

You can say no to a senior person when the request breaks a rule that protects you both. Say no to the method, and offer another way to solve their problem.