Looking for a word to describe the burden of initiating a task

Question

I'm trying to find a specific word to describe the act of putting the burden of initiating a task upon the person who has an interest in it.

Whereas delegating is giving the task to someone else--a subordinate, for example, what is a word which describes handing the burden of initiating a task to another person?

An example: if someone wants afavor from me, but I am busy and have minimal interest, I might ask the person in question to email me about the specifics of that favor. Instead of having to write it down, I have the other person write it down, I receive the specifics in an email, and the becomes part of my workflow.

Answer 1

If you are looking for a one-word answer I would suggest Onus.

The onus is the responsibility for something. It carries a connotation of the burden being placed upon someone. So, I would say:

I will do this, but the onus is on you to get it started.

Answer 2

I very much like contributor David M's answer.

As for a slightly less erudite, yet still quite accurate, expression, as it applies to the scenario you've painted for us, "passing the buck" pretty much sums up what you, as the buck passer, are doing.

President Harry Truman is said to have had an engraved sign on his desk. It read,

"The buck stops here."

In other words, even if he surmised someone was attempting to put the onus on him for something, he would refuse to "pass the buck" to someone else, particularly if he deemed the matter something which only he could or should handle.