WWYD?

[AnybodyNobody]

Been employed for 2.5 yrs, work is very busy and boss has just recruited someone to assist me. All good, except boss wants me to hand over the majority of my work to new person - all the bits of my job that I like!

Boss keeps saying it's going to free me up for other stuff (is being a bit vague about what other stuff is) and wants me to supervise the new person's work.

New person is working less hours and getting paid slightly more per annum than me!

I don't want to give up the bits I enjoy most and don't want to supervise anyone either, especially if they're earning more than me.
Saying that, it's not about the money, I'm happy with what I earn. I just feel I don't want to be supervising someone who earns more than me.

I have a good relationship with the boss and they have no complaints about my work, so I am disappointed to have to hand over the bits I like doing.

How would you approach this?

I would arrange a meeting with your boss and ask them to clarify your new role. It's not unusual to drop the actual work when you become a manager - your colleague will be doing the work and you will be overseeing. However, that doesn't seem to be what is happening here. If you are really busy at work, it would make more sense that new colleague would be sharing the work, rather than taking it all from you. But you need to ask your boss. You (and we) don't have enough information to guess what is going on here.
The salary difference is a red flag. How do you know the new colleague will be earning more then you? Once armed with the information about your new role (ie. will you be the manager of this new colleague) you can judge whether it's appropriate to ask for a pay rise. Don't go in there immediately demanding a pay rise until you understand what the situation is. From your post I'd be worried that this new colleague is going to take your work and then you'll be made redundant. But hopefully not - I might be reading too much into the situation. You need to have a friendly, but serious chat with your boss.

I’d be pissed off if I was in your position and it would be about the money. I’d be speaking to my boss ASAP to ask what the next few months are looking like for me

Yeah, I feel like an assumption has been made that I'll supervise this person. I am not really interested in having to check another person's work.

I get sight of contracts in my job so that's how I know the details.

It sounds very odd and I'd want to clarify what's going on.

I'm glad nobody thinks I'm being petulant about this.
I mentioned my concerns to the boss last week, who seemed surprised I had a problem with it & basically just kept saying it would free me up - but for what FGS?!

This was before I'd had sight of the new person's contract, so I'm even more disgruntled now! 🤨

I think you should just say that you recall he said this would free you up but you're wondering what for as you're happy doing what you're doing and wondering what he has in mind

If it is management type role then that makes sense but I am not sure that's what's happening (maybe need to RTFT again)

And check your responsibilities against your contract. Are you supervising or officially line managing. Are you responsible for their performance. Are you paid to line manage. What happens if this person is rubbish, are you responsible?

A lot to find out...