the way it works is that if things aren't under control in a short period, then yes, it escalates up the ladder until enough resources are put on the task.
and yes, many a time I stayed around for a while after the initial crisis to make sure things ran smoothly. several years I was on call for new years processing and just stayed (48 hours in one case) until it was finished to make sure everything went smoothly. And, like I said before, that was just stupid telephone bills and in the case of new years processing, irs forms.
Sara
"I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell." - Harry Truman