Am I overthinking this or am I being sidelined (work situation)?

[ShitStrategy]

I don't really know what I'm asking, I've just got a really bad feeling about a work scenario (I have posted about it before but under a variety of names).

In a recent restructure I was promised (in an email from the CEO) a director level role working with clients in a specialist/strategic capacity, distributing the lower level work down to the central teams. There was a whole load of debate about my title but that got resolved through workplace consultation, when HR backed me up.

As things are evolving, however, I'm finding that I'm being pulled into lower level tasks which is what I thought I would be using the teams for; I've been added to the email distribution list of one of the managers at a lower level, so I'm getting emails as though they are my manager when I'm supposed to be in the tier above; little comments are creeping out from my line manager where he treats me like one of the consultants; etc etc.

In my original role I was at director level but in a very tiny team. Since his email promising me the world, describing the high level nature of my new job and a director role, the CEO has gone very quiet.

My new boss seems to want to use me for emergency cover, doing loads of grunt work while we're short staffed, and is messing me around on my job description (I've drafted and submitted it with no response).

So I can't talk to him; the only manager I could rely on has left; HR will only tell me to talk to my line manager, and although I'm "mates" with someone on the board he is flaky plus he can't really help me.

I feel like I'm heading down a slippery slope to a role I didn't sign up for, and I don't know what to do. Am I reading too much into it these perceived transgressions, am I projecting?!

By way of a maudlin update, fuck all has changed. I've had a meeting with the new boss and he's finally submitted my revised job description to HR, but he's done nothing about the distribution list (I reminded him twice and offered to do it myself, but he insisted he would do it).

Plus I'm expected to cover the core work of a previous consultant who walked out, because there's no other mug to do it.

Saying I'm a bit fed up is an understatement, but at the same time I don't see how I can refuse to "muck in".

Make the changes to the dist list yourself and CC the manager in - no further discussion required.

I would then request a meeting with a rep from HR and the relevant manager where I'd go through the remit of your actual job (using the approved job description that was submitted to HR) stating that you're happy to help but as the tasks are outside/in addition to your agreed duties this needs to be time limited and they need to actively recruit a replacement for the consultant that left. I would suggest putting a limit of 6 weeks in place. If they haven't resolved/begun to resolve their recruitment issues by then it's their problem. I'd get it all minuted up and distributed to both of them and CC the CEO.
I think this is really shitty behaviour on their behalf, backfilling the consultant will cost money so they're looking to get something for nothing by getting you to bail them out.

Thanks Lairy, yes I can sort the distribution list myself - I was reluctant to overstep, as it were, because my boss kept saying he will instigate it. But if he hasn't, I'll do it.

And I also think I should get in touch with HR. If only to say I'm not happy with how things are panning out. I like the 6 week limit idea...

Oh damn name change fail. Last post was me.

I get why you'd be reluctant but it sounds like you're pretty senior so it's time to take control of your own fate; clearly they aren't playing nicely so you shouldn't have to either.
You're not overstepping at all!

Yes. I DO need to control my own destiny don't I!

I'm so accustomed to being this easygoing person who is generous and helpful, but underneath I'm developing a bit of a rage. Reading the "mansplaining" thread and pondering on the covert sexism that is rife in this company, I'm getting to the point of getting arsey for a change.

An old colleague who is an absolute bellend and well known for being an arsehole, seems to got himself a very nice senior position by doing piss all for 5 years apart from wind everyone up. I reckon I'll have me some of that action.

Well (and this is a very recent transformation for me too) I reckon the first bit is keeping to the facts; you're not "whining" or making a mountain out of a molehill if you're simply stating the facts.
In your case the facts are your job title and description - that's been approved by the relevant people and submitted to HR in doing so they've agreed that is your role. The stuff you are doing falls outside of that description so you can be fairly conciliatory with offering to help but the time limit shows you're not willing to be pissed about indefinitely. (My new-ish ball breaker attitude feels 6 weeks is too generous tbh).
Please update us!

I will...need to find a bit of inner strength to say, hang on a minute - this isn't what I thought I was signing up for, don't treat me like a nobody and try to blend me back in with with the masses. I worked with a big name in our industry, he rated me in the senior role I was in and so did anyone who knows me well. I am good, I am worth it and I earned my job title so let me deliver it.

And now I have this awful feeling they'll direct me to the bit in my contract that says I am obligated to undertake "any additional duties specified by my line manager as required..."

Hmm, I'd maybe speak to acas about that just to get it cleared up and so you've a riposte in your back pocket. I'm not sure "additional duties" is working an entirely different job to that agreed by your CEO, HR and line manager?

Hmm, I'd maybe speak to acas about that just to get it cleared up and so you've a riposte in your back pocket. I'm not sure "additional duties" is working an entirely different job to that agreed by your CEO, HR and line manager?

I spent an hour compiling a terse but articulate email to HR explaining my misgivings and my fears of going backwards in my career 10 years.

Before I could send it I answered a call to a colleague who said blimey, are you alright - you sound dreadful? I said I'd call her back and promptly burst into great stupid sobbing tears.

Went and composed myself by hanging the washing out, but I still feel hopeless about it. I'll have to find another job, but I liked the one I had before they went and fucked it all up. I'm not going to get them to change their perception am I?

Oh dear, poor you. I think you need to move away from expressing your misgivings and fears to them though as (to put it bluntly) they don't care; which really will just make (and perhaps already has) you feel crap.

This is why I said about sticking to the facts; remove the emotional attachment as you'll be much more concise.
Open a calendar invite or if you prefer an email, leave the "To" field blank at the mo.
Paste a copy of the baselined version of your job description in.
Then type something along the lines of:

As you are aware my role has recently changed. I'd like a meeting / I am writing this email (delete as appropriate) to discuss my continuing participation in/support of X team. As you can see from the job description attached these duties are in addition to the agreed description of my new role. I appreciate the team are under resourced and whilst I am happy to help out on an ad-hoc basis I would like to time limit this help to 6 weeks. My new role is challenging and requires my full attention. I believe 6 weeks is enough time for you to make other arrangements for the team's support; I would therefore like to state that my support to the team will stop on Tuesday 6th August. If no response received by COB Friday 28th June I will assume my proposal is acceptable therefore if you have any issues or concerns please do not hesitate to let me know.

Then go away, make a cuppa/have 10 mins, go back and re read to make sure you're happy and clear on your intent (and correct typos) and send to the manager(s) copying HR in.
Then phone ACAS to get a clear steer on what is reasonable additional duties as per that line in your contract. If they query your email or use that bit back at you you will have a riposte ready for them.

Remember you're not asking their permission, you're telling them that you need to be able to do your job that they've all agreed to. You're marking clear boundaries.

That's brilliant @Lairydea, thank you so much for taking the time to devise that for me!

I have buried myself in work tasks today and tried to think positive, I also had a call from my new boss who was at great pains to reassure me again that the situation is only temporary, and bigging up my official job which will build over the coming months. I think he might have had a heads up from my other colleague that I sounded a bit "off" about things, so fair play to him, he tried to resolve my worries without drawing direct attention to them. He also confirmed that my position would be properly introduced at the next meeting, alongside another individual at my level who is coming across with me from yet another dept. That has made me feel a lot better, it will be properly explained that I'm in a senior role, but helping out for a few weeks!

And I've been invited to a couple of management events that I thought I'd been excluded from, so I don't feel quite so forgotten about.

Christ I sound so neeeedy, how embarrassing!

I am keeping your email in reserve, its perfect so I'll have it to fall back on in case matter deteriorate again. Right now, I'm feeling a bit better and more hopeful. Fingers crossed!

I'm so glad they've reassured you! Hope that is the end of it and you can crack on in your new role!! Best of luck with everything.

Thanks so much. I admitted that I was feeling a bit anxious about the direction of things and he was very sympathetic, so that's a good sign.

Thanks again x

You've has some brilliant advice but wanted to add when I've been in the "jostling for terf" periods at work - normally as a result of restructure, change etc - I create my space / role by just getting on with doing the job I want and dont wait for the permission or agreement of those who I dont directly report to.

You've been told by the CEO what your role should be - crack on with it. If your manager has a problem then they need to raise it with the CEO.

And I completely agree with the other posters asking what a man would do in these circumstances. They certainly wouldn't be doing anything which they didn't think was part of their new role. Forget being nice or worrying about what other people think of your role / title etc.

You're right Ruby - I'm not going to get pissy about helping the lower ranks while they get staffed up and as my own case load builds, but I am going to show that I can do the job the CEO set out for me - and do it really bloody well.

Great advice. I would add that assertive doesn't need to be loud or rude. It means calmly stating your position in an adult fashion, focussing on the facts (not emotions).

You say that you are a cheerful person with charm! Lucky you.Chances are that people like you and are open to what you say. Use that inter-personal skill to set out the problem (for the company) of you not being able to focus on your proper job; wanting to clarify (for the benefit of the company) how and when this will be resolved so that you can move on with your work.

GOOD LUCK!!

Thanks Table, especially reminding me to keep emotions out of it (as Lairy said as well). I get so caught up in the "it's not fair" mindset that I get angry, and that's no good to me is it.

I just need to stay focused, be the easy going good egg with a sense of humour that I've always been, but ensure they don't walk all over me whilst I'm busy being nice.

FFS. I'm a rubbish name changer, McSwoon is a name I chose for a different post (about fainting - I'm totes hilaire). So all those posts are me. 😎

I’m so glad you feel more positive today.

I will add them at there’s nothing wrong with your helping at a lower level coming in the form of signposting. For example ‘Shit, just photocopy 20 of these for me and bring them to the meeting’. ‘Actually we generally do our own admin while we’re short staffed, but Colin the office manager can show you how and is always happy to help in a crunch’