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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not want to take this job.

234 replies

Pinkjenny · 17/04/2012 16:29

I am a HR Manager. Well, was. I was made redundant in December from my part time HM role, and as you can imagine, there aren't exactly an abundance of part time roles around.

Anyway, I applied for a role at a local University, 6 months maternity cover, earning less full time than I was earning part time previously. I went for the role thinking I would give full time a shot, and whilst it is less than ideal (ds is 2yo at nursery and dd is 4yo at school). I thought I would put dd in after school club three times a week and use the role as a way to see how we get on as a family with me working full time. Despite the low salary, I thought the payoff was the fact that it is five minutes away.

I went for the interview, it was a panel interview, comprising of the person I would report into, her boss and a random. The lady the role would be reporting into (let's call her Jean) just didn't like me, I could tell. She was openly sneering at some of the things I said, so I was amazed when Jean's boss called me later that day to offer me the role. I was slightly confused as to why she was making the call rather than Jean, but hey ho.

I received the contract today, and I had to ring Jean as the salary was wrong and there was no reference to start or finish time.

Jean was perfectly nice on the phone, but seemed to be trying to put me off. I asked about the salary, she said, 'Its not wrong, it's the bottom of the banding' and I explained that I had been offered the mid point of the banding because of my experience. She went off to check and said, 'Mmm, you're out of work (and?) but I suppose you were offered that in recognition of your experience. Yes I am prepared to honour it.' Which is good of her. Not.

After we had established that the flexitime policy didnt extend to start time, she then said, 'there is one other thing, I want to be really honest with you, we have put your postcode into the system and you don't qualify for a car park pass. You would have to drop your children off and then get a bus to work. In 45 minutes.'

Right. I was very nice back, and told her I would come back to her, but she was blatantly trying to put me off!

Dunno what to do now.

OP posts:
dreamingbohemian · 19/04/2012 16:00

It's really just a way of saying non-academic. It doesn't mean you do admin, but that you are admin.

My mother was head of communications for a top university, she was still admin because she didn't teach or do research.

mirry2 · 19/04/2012 16:09

Why is admin such a dirty word? This is insulting to all those people out there who do it. What do you want to be called instead? A strategist? A Human Resourcer?

KatieMiddleton · 19/04/2012 16:23

Don't be silly mirry. It's not insulting anyone. It's just saying it's a different job.

I get ya dreaming :)

Anyhoo I'm not interested in an HR bunfight. You can play nicely amongst yourselves while I get to go and be an HR Consultant who is doing nothing strategic at all Wink

mirry2 · 19/04/2012 16:28

'the function is not just to do what they're told' - and that's not insulting to admin staff? Hmm

KatieMiddleton · 19/04/2012 16:30

Whatever.

Now I really do have to go.

Original poster
Pinkjenny · 19/04/2012 16:42

Kate - I'm in the NW but thanks for the thought. I have no idea how long the walk would be - will do it Monday and see.

OP posts:
WilsonFrickett · 19/04/2012 17:35

Katie in my earlier post I touched on this - many academics think anything non-academic in a uni is 'adminstrative' and it's caused untold problems for the highly capable professional women I know who work in what would be considered a professional function elsewhere. Academics don't always view them like that.

ifeelloved · 19/04/2012 18:22

I like the take the job and destroy jean attitude. Not your fault if she's shit and feels threatened.

TheFarSide · 19/04/2012 18:34

It's a shame that admin has become a dirty word.

ifeelloved · 19/04/2012 18:38

Damn Sad. I wouldn't go for it now. Now I'd invoice your dh for cleaning, cooking, childcare etc etc Grin

FeeltheBeeranddoitanyway · 19/04/2012 19:54

"AuntieBulgaria Thu 19-Apr-12 15:15:33
What strikes me is you're getting an pretty dire first hand experience of how they do HR there."

have to say this was going through my mind too. conscious tho that you're having to make rather difficult decision OP and that I should just really step away from the computer :-)

What does your GUT say?

Bogeyface · 19/04/2012 20:45

OP

You havent said, what are you planning to do to deal with your DH's frankly shitty attitude towards you and money?

Bogeyface · 19/04/2012 20:45

argggh...effing tab

meant to add

Because it looks to me like you are thinking of caving because of his pressure, and that doesnt sit right with me :(

Original poster
Pinkjenny · 19/04/2012 20:46

My GUT says three things:

  1. This is showing them in a very rigid, bureaucratic light.
  2. I went for this job for sheer convenience, that was all it had going for it.
  3. BUT I really want my new kitchen.
OP posts:
Original poster
Pinkjenny · 19/04/2012 20:47

Bogey - after ten years, I have given up. He will never change.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 19/04/2012 20:49

He might not, but that doesnt mean that you shouldnt. You dont have to accept his behaviour.

RandomMess · 19/04/2012 20:56

I would look into the cost of booking a mini cab - if it's a daily booking etc they often come in at a reasonable price.

Original poster
Pinkjenny · 19/04/2012 20:57

It's a bit like talking to a brick wall. He has said that he doesn't think the train thing is a good idea. Which is something. I think he just keeps thinking it's only six months.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 19/04/2012 21:02

Why can't he help out with the nursery run etc if he's so desperate for you to be earning?

marriedinwhite · 19/04/2012 21:08

Academic staff and students won't be in during the summer holidays and there will be loads of parking.

They will have paid the cost of advertising, they will have spent time interviewing, they will need someone in post quite quickly. I am an HR manager at a university. I would send an e-mail tomorrow and say that you accepted the job because you were offered a parking space and if it isn't available it isn't a workable option for you in the context of quality of life, unless they are prepared to allow you to work slightly shorter hours to accommodate the extra time travelling - for a full time salary of course. I would add how disappointed you are due to the loss of the opportunity but be very clear about the reasons why you accepted it in the first place.

janelikesjam · 19/04/2012 21:18

It depends if the car parking is a deal-breaker for you. If it is, it is. Did they actually offer it to you as part of contract at the interview, or was it a post- discussion item?

You say in your original post job is only 5 minutes away - you could get a taxi?

OTOH, sometimes it is necessary to iron some things out and they might be accommodating, which is good. OTOH, are they being a nightmare to deal with and its not a way you like to do business... your call.

Original poster
Pinkjenny · 19/04/2012 21:29

It was part of the job offer conversation. She said that car parking was an issue, but that they would put it through as special circumstances. She has assured me today that she has tried everything and that is not going to be possible. I do feel a bit sorry for her, but unless I can find somewhere to park nearby if it can't be on campus, I am turning it down. It's just not a workable role otherwise.

My new kitchen will have to wait. I will just put up with doorless cupboards and exposed plaster from the rewire while dh counts his savings

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinkjenny · 19/04/2012 21:30

Random - he has to leave the house at 6.50am.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 19/04/2012 21:31

Ask you dh to pay the mini cab fees for you Smile

stressheaderic · 19/04/2012 21:44

DH and jean sound like they would get on great.

If it's the NW uni I'm thinking of, parking is an utter mare.
I wouldn't be faffing about with planes, trains and automobiles AND getting two little ones ready just to get there and have a dog's life all day from Queen Jean.

My kitchen is shit. I work part time and don't care. Sanity wins, every time.