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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To consider leaving my job

19 replies

pigpanda · 29/08/2021 16:36

Name changed as outing.

I currently work as a low level manager on a 0.5 contract with the other 0.5 being an analyst. When I got the role I was told I would be the manager for 2.5 days as a whole. Stupidly I presumed that this meant it was a job share which it turned out not to be.

Since I got the role I have been the manager full time, I have been expected to do exactly as the other managers do and put in the same amount of hours etc. I'm also expected to travel and cover all their holidays which they tend to take together!!

A few weeks ago I brought this up to my line manager and asked for a rethink of the role and to either be made into a full time manager or for my role to be more strictly defined.
For context full time managers get about 10k more a year than I do and an extra 13 days holiday.
This was denied but I was told to speak up if I felt I was being asked to do too much. Fast forward to last week and once again I was the only manager in therefore managing about 25 people and all their workloads myself. I spoke to my line manager to explain it was overwhelming and I couldn't also get my own work done at the same time. Her response was that I was doing a great job and to carry on the good work.

We have also found out recently that we need to look at alternative childcare arrangements so I asked for flexible working to have 1 day a week off (again for context it is something some of the other managers do and I then look after their team for them - I was asking for a day they weren't off) I was told no and to think of the stress I would put on other people and that even if it was authorised they would take a full day off my managers side not the analysts one!

I'm so fed up and stressed. I am thinking of just saying 'fuck this' and walking away. However we would then be very very tight in money!

AIBU to feel this way?

OP posts:

WhiteChocolateRose · 29/08/2021 16:39

Sounds like they are taking the mickey. You’ve clearly got the skills to find another role so if I were you I would be out of there!

WeAreTheHeroes · 29/08/2021 16:40

YANBU to feel this way at all. Update your CV and start job hunting asap. What was the reason your request to be made a FT manager was denied?

notnowbernadette · 29/08/2021 16:40

It sounds like looking for a new job would be a good plan as they appear to be taking you for granted. I'd try hard to find a job before you quit to avoid the financial uncertainty. Is that an option?

PumpkinPie2016 · 29/08/2021 17:01

YANBU it sounds like the need and want a full time manager but don't want to pay for one!

Don't leave without something to go to. Keep doing your best and get job hunting.

girlmom21 · 29/08/2021 17:10

YANBU. You're doing a full time job on a part time wage from what I can gauge!

Babyroobs · 29/08/2021 17:11

It sounds like dropping a day would not be a great solution if you can't cope with the current workload. They are taking the piss though absolutely. I would look for something else but wait until you have another job before you leave.

Eralos · 29/08/2021 17:16

Find another job then leave l. Why would you leave without another job if you think money would be tight?

maddening · 29/08/2021 17:21

Do you work more than 2.5 days at the moment then? How much above your hours are you doing?

In a ft management position I expect to do around 5-10 hours per week over my ft hours so pt I would expect to do 2.5-5 hours over per week.

newnortherner111 · 29/08/2021 17:36

If you handed in your notice, do you think they would offer you something to stay, say extra money?

Original poster

pigpanda · 29/08/2021 18:16

@maddening

Do you work more than 2.5 days at the moment then? How much above your hours are you doing?

In a ft management position I expect to do around 5-10 hours per week over my ft hours so pt I would expect to do 2.5-5 hours over per week.

Basically I manage the team/teams, attend the management meetings, manage the teams workload and do the engagement side of things full time. I then end up working evenings and weekends getting my personal workload done.

I theory I should only manage on those 2.5 days and the other 2.5 days I should become an analyst only doing the work nothing extra

OP posts:

maddening · 30/08/2021 11:50

Ah, completely misunderstood, so you work 5 days, 2.5 as a manager and 2.5 as an analyst?
Yes, if more than 50% or your time in work is doing management and you are only being remunerated as if you are doing it for 50% of your time then this is unfair.

I would apply for another ft management job and leave.

lanthanum · 30/08/2021 12:19

Can you suggest that your time is blocked, so that you know which days you are a manager and which days you are an analyst? Then be ruthless about saying no to any management tasks on your analyst days (unless they offer to pay you more on those days).
You also need to keep referring back to the "speak up if you feel you're being asked to do too much". There was no point in them saying that if they're not listening when you do.

But ultimately, yes, look for a new job. If you tell them that you're looking for full-time work at manager level, they might realise they need to stop exploiting you and change something if they want to keep you. (On the other hand, you get some companies who do not take kindly to people looking to leave, in which case you may be best not saying anything.)

Reflections2021 · 30/08/2021 12:27

Look for a new job, it’s a candidate market right now. Once found, leave your current job. Turn the situation into a positive, motivation to find a job that gives appropriate reward and recognition for the job that you do. Also, with the current situation you may find opportunities that are more flexible in terms of remote working, and possibly hours.

QueenHofScotland · 30/08/2021 13:03

No YANBU - however, in my experience it never works being a part time manager in the same location as a lower role. You are always viewed by your colleagues as a manager and they will come to you in that capacity.

I have done it in the past - worked 2.5 and did some extra hours in a less senior role. I had to just plan time into my diary for the work that needed to be done at the lower salary. But didn’t expect it necessarily to be as clear cut that I would be a manager certain days and a lower grade the others. This might work in an environment such as retail if there is another manager present, or where you aren’t responsible for a team that has no other manager.

In the service where I worked there were only two managers including me - if I was in the office and something came up that required a manager then I was happy to deal with that - even if it was on a day where I should technically not have been there in my capacity as a manager.

There is no doubt that the service benefited from me working extra hours as a manager but I was happy with the arrangement at the time as it was me who had asked for the extra hours at the lower salary (there were posts available at that grade, not at the managers grade)

QueenHofScotland · 30/08/2021 13:07

Just to add - it worked for me because I was planning time into my diary to do my work. Just in the same way I planned time for all of my work. I wasn’t working evenings and weekends to catch up because of my two roles

Original poster

pigpanda · 30/08/2021 14:05

Thanks all. It really is getting me down working all hours just to keep up.

I know in October I have 2 weeks where I will be the only manager in so will be responsible for everyone and I'm dreading it!

OP posts:

billy1966 · 30/08/2021 14:47

Start looking for a job immediately.

Tell them you are not accepting the work load in October.
What can they do?

Stand up for yourself.
They are taking the piss.

Stop allowing them to.
You are clearly highly capable.
Tell them it is NOT acceptable and you are NOT accepting it.

Take a week's sick leave to recuperate.

RandomMess · 30/08/2021 14:54

I would start working to rule and only do the amount of analyst work you have time for.

Keep everything in writing. Including the meetings you have already had, iterate what you are currently doing and that you don't have enough time to do the other work and you being treated less fairly than the other managers.

When you are given deadlines push back and say you can't meet them and why etc.

QueenHofScotland · 31/08/2021 09:12

@pigpanda

Thanks all. It really is getting me down working all hours just to keep up.

I know in October I have 2 weeks where I will be the only manager in so will be responsible for everyone and I'm dreading it!

You need to point out that there won’t be a manager covering for 2.5 days per week - if they want you to cover them you need to ask for cover for your other job. Or be clear that the work won’t be getting done

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