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Is this a demotion?

16 replies

champagnecyclist · 27/04/2017 15:43

I have been in a job (public sector) for a couple of years. Have always reported into the same person, a head of a fairly large department. That person is quite powerful/influential for various reasons.

Recently I was informed that someone new will be brought in, a new post will be created between myself and my current line manager. The new person will line manage me.

The reasons given for this are that my current line manager is taking more on so won't have capacity to line manage me, and the person coming in has a skill set/remit I can work with.

Instinctively, it feels to me like an extra layer has just been added between me and the top of the tree. Am I being unreasonable? I don't seem to have any choice, it was presented as a done deal.

OP posts:
TheSnowFairy · 27/04/2017 18:16

Not a demotion but I would have been annoyed at not having the chance to apply.

gamerwidow · 27/04/2017 18:22

Fairly common it I also would have wanted the chance to apply for the role.

champagnecyclist · 27/04/2017 19:15

It isn't a new role, was never a vacancy, the person has been transferred from another team, keeping their role, but line managing me.

So it's common? I'm already working above my role but they won't pay for the grade I'm working to. The new manager is at the grade above so essentially I had considered this person a peer.

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 27/04/2017 19:25

Not a demotion no. We're going through similar - lots of reporting arrangements being changed.

Out2pasture · 27/04/2017 19:30

where I worked it was called restructuring

bigchris · 27/04/2017 19:31

It sounds crap
Where's the development opportunities Sad

champagnecyclist · 27/04/2017 19:42

My current boss is very ambitious, I think the whole thing is being arranged to give her development opportunities.

OP posts:
EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 27/04/2017 19:48

If the new position is above you then surely they can assume the work that you're doing above your grade. Happy days, so long as you make sure you don't continue to do unpaid work beyond your remit.

Ginmakesitallok · 27/04/2017 19:49

If you think you're working above your grade ask for your job description to be reviewed and regraded

champagnecyclist · 28/04/2017 07:28

I did Gin, they agreed it's work at the grade above but said there's no funding to pay for it. I've noticed there is funding for quite a lot of other posts/promotions though.

OP posts:
UppityHumpty · 28/04/2017 09:46

Sounds like your old manager is being promoted, and this new one is taking on her old role perhaps as a promotion. It doesn't seem like a demotion for you, more of a promotion for them.

Tbh I would be unhappy if I was told there were no promotions for me, but that both my line manager and someone else has got promotions. Are your skills transferrable? Can you apply to the private sector - if so, do, and then try to negotiate when you have a confirmed offer.

Ginmakesitallok · 28/04/2017 13:23

Have you spoken with your union rep re the regrading? They can't say you are working at a higher grade but not pay for it! Did it go through a formal rebanding?

maggiethemagpie · 28/04/2017 15:30

I have had this happen to me OP and it is absolutely crap. They promoted my colleague to be my manager a couple of years ago and as a result, the role that I do (along with one other person) has definitely got a lot less responsibility than before. There's still the same amount of work, so the best/most developmental stuff gets creamed off and we're left with the scraps. Legally, it's not a demotion so no grounds for a complaint but in real terms it effectively is. My colleague and i are now looking for jobs elsewhere.....

daisychain01 · 28/04/2017 18:48

They can't say you are working at a higher grade but not pay for it

A lot of companies nowadays do not support in-role promotions. If your job description is a "Paperclip Administrator" but you take on extra tasks which significantly extend that role, it is rare that the Paperclip Admin JD is regraded by HR. The only way you can gain a promotion is to apply for a new role at your target grade.

They will welcone the fact you are doing more work and can juatify why they don't need to change that nice arrangement Sad

champagnecyclist · 29/04/2017 00:14

Thank you Maggie and Daisy good to know I'm not alone. I think it's time to at least look around, as my skill set is pretty transferable.

OP posts:
Asmoto · 29/04/2017 00:22

This happened to me in the private sector - a manager of intermediate grade was inserted between me and my then manager (who was several grades above me) - it was part of a restructure where the span of control for my original manager was significantly widened.

I actually found it beneficial, as the lower grade manager had more time to devote to his direct reports, so more development opportunities came our way, but my responsibilities didn't diminish as a result of the change.

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