To take the promotion?

[autumnalrain]

Background: From mid December 2019 I was hired as a Maternity Cover in a Publishing role. This was my first full-time work in Publishing, but I had done up to a year of relevant Freelance work prior to that. During that freelance work, I also took industry-recognised courses to accelerate my understanding and desirability to employers/clients. The woman on maternity leave had worked for the Company for 3 years prior to her leave. From my understanding she hasn't taken any of the additional courses and she hasn’t worked in Publishing prior to this role as she changed careers. So technically she is more experienced based on years in this position and familiarity of the Company’s way of doing things, but not necessarily more competent in this skillbase if that makes sense?

Current Situation: The role officially ended 29th January 2021. But three week prior to that I was informed that a new role was being advertised. This role is basically a level above the maternity cover I was doing. The two roles have to work together for various tasks and the new role pays slightly more (we’re talking £3-4k) and has more responsibilities. However the new role is not ‘senior’ to the maternity role per-se because both roles still have to report to the same manager.

The role did specify that it required 2 years experience in a similar position but my colleague still encouraged me to apply because I had 13 months experience, 12 months freelance experience, and additional certificates/qualifications. I tailored my CV and spent days coming up with the perfect cover letter. I didn’t take this lightly because I knew it was being offered to both internal and external candidates. I got an interview, and again I put my heart and soul into it. I’m over the moon that on Thursday I was offered the position.

Dilemma: Anyway, yesterday (friday) I received an email from my work saying that the woman I covered maternity for is disappointed she didn't get the role (I didn't know for sure that she applied but assumed she would) and is disputing it with HR. The HR manager has asked me if I would be willing to agree to a job share. So basically we would share the responsibility of both the maternity role and the new role.

AIBU to not want to share the new role with her? I want to make it clear that I have no issues with her as a person (she's been pleasant from the brief times I have met her). I also empathise that being turned down for a job is not a nice experience. However, I was offered the job based on my application, and went through the (tedious) motions of the process as did all the external candidates so it's not like I got any privileges. I got the job fair and square based on my suitability. I feel like she has guilted them into asking me to a job share. The hiring manager has said it's completely up to me which if I’m honest I find annoying. Because now the blood is on my hands if I say no and because we will have to work together it might be awkward.

So WWYD? Would you accept the job share to keep the peace? Or stand your ground and take the original offer?

I think you should throw it back to the manager. What a cop out. They’re paid to hire and fire, the buck stops on their desk. Just say that recruitment decisions are above your pay grade, it’s over to them.

Alternatively - and this would be my preference - just say no.

In this situation, does a candidate have any power at all? They surely can just decide that the only thing on offer now is a job share.
I would still definitely say that I had applied for, been offered and accepted a full time position and would want to have the position as advertised, but as they would seem to have all the power I would be very nice about it (and then start applying elsewhere).

I'm very disappointed that my lottery ticket didn't win yesterday. Will the actual winner be sharing with me?

I wouldn't agree to this, but what I'd find worrying is an HR department who don't have the balls to do their job. So if she kicks off more, we'll they just get rid of you too placate her? But what kind of relationship could you have with a job sharer who is only there because they had a tantrum about not getting the job? And what happens the next time this colleague complains about you? In your shoes I'd stand my ground. You competed fair and square. If that doesn't mean anything to them, you might want to consider if this is a good place to work.

That's shit of them to put you in that position. They are paid to make the recruitment decisions and to take responsibility for them, not throw it back on you to 'be nice'!
We've all been turned down for jobs, sometimes ones we know we could have done, or really wanted. It's part of life.
Tell them you wish to accept the offer made to you and that presumably if HR felt anything was amiss with the process they would act accordingly. That's their problem to fix, not yours. I would also contact HR to ask them to confirm that this woman will not be told you were asked to job share and refused. That would be really unacceptable.

it makes no sense whatsoever for 2 people to jobshare 2 roles.

Do you each do one job each mon-wed then swap and do the other job each wed-fri?

Or are you having to decide how to share out the pooled tasks of both jobs between you? In which case somehow the tasks need dividing into 2 roles, and the company should have a reason for how they have already decided that.

Take the job you applied for at the rate you applied for. If the other person would like a parallel pay rise she can negotiate that with HR without involving your role.

As PPs have mentioned, this was a competition based on interview and open to internal and external candidates.
Who is to say that the other lady even came no2 on that panel to put her in line for that post had you turned it down ? Absolutely do not share. It is a separate role to what your competitor was in so it is not like she has been made redundant.

@MySocalledLoaf I don't think I have power. I think they posed it as a suggestion if I would be willing to do it. But worded it in a way that makes me feel awkward as they decided to tell me how disappointed she is etc.

Stand your ground. They wouldn't have even asked a man this question.

Take the job or you could find yourself doing the more responsible parts of the job share for half the pay rise. Either way it’s not going to be easy if this person resents you but it could get very messy sharing it.

If there is an HR issue with maternity law then let them sort it out.

@chillied I think they wanted to pool all tasks and then divide the responsibilities in half. Which sounds tedious !

Please accept the role. You have been so
Committed to it and done so well. My gut tells me they created this role now to keep you. I think it was always meant for you.

I feel for the person on maternity. I have been there when a role i waited years to come up did-whilst i was on maternity leave. However, i accepted that it was the wrong time for me and it really sucked but that other options would come along. It also meant i could go part time in the existing role. But thats life i am afraid. That situation is one you can empathise over but it isn't your responsibility to fix or even HRs really. When you go on maternity you know there is a risk your cover might outperform you.

You don't know what her next steps might be. So don't try to pre empt. You sound very
Professional and sensitive. I am sure you will handle it well. You don't know for sure whether she has real beef and if so with who or if she is just chancing her arm.

Congratulations again

I would question the ethics and competency of the employer given that they have even asked you to consider this. They offered you a job and are now in effect asking you to accept a demotion.
In simple terms, there was a vacancy, you applied and were interviewed along with other candidates through a fair and reasonable process, you are the successful candidate and you would like to take up the role you have been offered.
The other colleague's acceptance of this situation and their resulting disappointment is not your responsibility.
Congratulations on your promotion!

"Any tips if her mood is sour and how to stay professional?"

Just treat her as you would any other colleague. Her issue should not be with you, it's with the situation, so just be her friend.

No way. Do not agree to the job share. Stand you ground and say you would prefer it under the original premise that it was a sole role.

She's clearly put out. But that's not your problem. They sound like the kind of company who are too scared to stand up to her.

I wouldn’t take a job share of it meant I’d have to give up 1500! You’ll end up getting maybe £60 a month extra of you. Crew that. If you don’t want to job share say No.

Don't agree to the job share. I bet you anything that she will go on maternity leave again very soon. They should never have asked you

I agree with everyone that you should take the role on your own. Just a question though did they say anything what would happen if you said no to the 'job share'? They could change the job specification so the other ladies role incorporates some of what you were due to do and change the offer still as it hasn't been formally signed. So I would personally question what HR would do if you didn't want to share it and would this have any impact still on the offer.

Imagine trying to divvy up the two roles with a woman who wanted the one she didn’t get, and has shown herself prepared to complain. Ugh.
‘I’ve considered it and I would prefer to accept the original offer for the job as advertised. I don’t feel jobsharing would be the best outcome which is presumably part of why it wasn’t advertised that way’

Why a bizarre suggestion. How in earth would this work? And if the other person was unhappy about any other aspects of the share, does she get to complain to HR and they change things around again in line with her requirements?

[quote autumnalrain]@MagnoliaBeige This is what my mum said. She said a male wouldn't even take another second to think about it and out right refuse. Its just awkward though because I would have to work with her and I'm sure she will be annoyed that her maternity cover got the role she wanted.[/quote]
Never mind that, nobody would ever suggest such a ridiculous thing to a man!

That's ridiculous. If they had wanted two balanced roles - why didnt they give her a pay rise and increase duties then advertise an identical role.

I'd take the job and say no to job share.

I have some experience of job sharing and its not easy, even if the job sharer does perform as expected. In this situation I would wonder if I am going to be constantly picking up the slack for someone with a young child at home. What happens when the kid gets sick or she wants to get away exactly at 5pm and there is extra work to do? She elected to take a maternity break, with all that entails, and now she wants to throw her toys out of the pram because she missed her chance. Hard lines.

How was the suggestion to job share made to you? In writing/by email/ or verbally? I would also make sure there is a paper trail of how the company/HR has behaved in a rather underhand way in case of repercussions.

I would carefully craft a response to the effect that your choice is to take the full time role as advertised, and for which you have received a formal offer.

I imagine they haven't yet told her? So she shouldn't know you turned the suggestion down. I think 'I feel I have been put in a very unfair position. I would like to take the position as it was originally offered although I value x's skills and recognise she has a similar skill set - I hope she can also gain promotion in due course. To be honest people at my place who don't get internal promotions always leave.

did they say anything what would happen if you said no to the 'job share'? They could change the job specification so the other ladies role incorporates some of what you were due to do and change the offer still as it hasn't been formally signed. So I would personally question what HR would do if you didn't want to share it and would this have any impact still on the offer.

It is very important that you look into this!

It isn't really a job share, it is a fudge and it will be a total nightmare in practice.

I once applied for an internal promotion that everyone on the team including me expected would go to one of my colleagues because she had more experience in that specific area. I out performed her in interview (perhaps because she was complacent, but who knows). When I took the promotion it was fine, I told her that I was surprised to get it and we worked together with no problems.

I agree that HR should not have asked you to do this.