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?