Colleague wants her job back

How unprofessional of her to approach you like this. No wonder a promotion is not suiting her.

I would not let yourself be dragged into a discussion about this with her, as a manager myself I would be very unhappy indeed if I found out my team members were having private conversations about swapping their jobs. If she is unhappy she needs to raise it with her manager and not involve you.

A nice and to the point reply so there is issues with her not understanding you thoughts on the suggestion. 😊

Sad.
Don't please anyone unless they give you the same respect and care and remuneration back.

Another response

YANBU. That's a genuinely awkward thing for her to have put on you directly.
She's allowed to regret her decision and find her new role stressful — that's a normal, human thing to feel. But telling you, specifically, that she wants to swap back into your job isn't venting, it's floating a proposal that would require you to give up something you've said you love. That's a different category of conversation, and she should know that, which makes it a bit of a strange thing to raise so casually with the person it directly affects.
You're not obligated to manage her regret, and you're definitely not obligated to treat "could we swap?" as a reasonable ask just because she's unhappy. You worked for that promotion, you're thriving in it, and wanting to keep the job you earned isn't selfish — it would be a strange thing to feel guilty about.
If she raises it again, it's fair to be direct rather than just uncomfortable: something like "I really love this role and have no interest in giving it up — if you're finding things tough, that's probably worth raising with [manager/HR] rather than with me." That draws the line clearly and also correctly redirects her to the people who actually have the power to do anything about her situation, which isn't you.

Er the answer is fuck off and tough shit - cheeky fucking bitch.

@PrincessHoneysuckle Definitely speak to HR - actually, put it in writing while her comments are fresh in your mind.

She really shouldn't offer her job to you as a "swap", and who knows what she might shit-stir now you've <ahem> politely refused. 😁

Put it in writing today. Cover your back.

I think you could say very kindly and honestly that asking for such a move probably wouldn’t work well for her. Employers work on a cycle of spears promotions and exits. Not liking a job is a signal to look upwards or outside the firm, not downwards. She’d be signaling unhappiness, which sends the wrong message. Can she aim for further career progression?

Eeerrr the employer may have something to say about who has what job considering they pay them

You've done nothing wrong. You applied for the role, earned the promotion, and by the sounds of it you're doing well and enjoying it. You shouldn't feel guilty because someone else regrets their career decision.
Hopefully it was just her venting rather than a genuine expectation, but I can completely understand why you'd rather she had that conversation with a friend, her manager, or someone else, not with the person whose job she's talking about taking back.

people pleaser employees are an employers dream. I’ve known so many people take on promotions without a rise , some just to get a more fancy job title.

THIS. Talk to your line manager and let them know about this conversation. She needs to leave you alone

Depends. If you want her job go for it OR ask for a trial for one month.

Absolutely not. Unless you are interested in the promotion. I can't think management would allow this anyway. Watch out fof her. She sounds like a manipulator out for herself.

How come shes not on more than you then?

"No, sorry, I'm happy with my current role."

Done :).

Totally understand her wanting to ask you, because if that proposal would suit you too, then you'd both win. But as you really like your role and are happy in it, you just need to gently decline, and keep declining any time it comes up without leaving any wiggle room for misinterpretation - especially if she mentions it to management.

So you’re both teachers. Which means that you have a shed load of protections here. It might be worth talking this through with your union rep to understand whether this has reached the threshold for a grievance. Meanwhile document everything in case it turns into something more.

I think it's fine to ask once. It would suit some people well, and then you could have a discussion about, is this actually possible, what paperwork would be needed, is any training required, how will it affect pay, etc? before making a final, informed decision.

But as you said no, that's the end of the discussion. She needs to work out how to live with her decision, be it ask for more support, look for other job vacancies or whatever else.

Going on about how she doesn't enjoy it isn't likely to sell it to anyone else, either.

She left the original job……which is now your job…..doesn’t like her new job…..and wants the old one back?!
How are people so bloody entitled in life…….straight answer is ‘NO’! Enough said!

nobody said the NMW shouldn't be increased? The issue is what happens when the NMW is increased but the roles above them aren't, which is what should happen in an ideal world. The poster you quoted literally said that.

I agree it's an issue. My friend works as a supervisor in a shop, while NMW has gone up every year for the staff under him, his wage hasn't increased, to the extent he's now getting paid 6p an hour more, which for the extra responsibility is pointless.

If you worked in a shop full time for minimum wage you'd earn about £26500. Starting salary for an ambulance paramedic is only two grand more. Yes it would go up slightly every year but still, there's a huge difference between a job that is literally 'life or death,'.

Most people don't take on extra roles and responsibility for fun - the extra money is the main selling point. At some point if there is no extra money (or a minuscule amount) people are going to say fuck it, why bother.

And a big hell no to that .

It's a good thing that she told you. I would appreciate the honesty. It's better than plotting behind your back.

The answer is still no, of course.

Oh yes, I took a wonderful promotion and hated it. I wouldn't have asked to go back but I did look for a way out. I think it is a chance you take when changing jobs.