Changed job, keep being asked to do things related to my old job

[PakkaMakka]

I went for and got an internal job. Same general department but very different role, different job title, different management chain etc. My previous role was one where recruitment is a (national) issue and we had some people unexpectedly leave, so before I went my manager and their seniors were trying to negotiate me taking certain pieces of work with me because they hadn't manage to fill my post. I had to put my foot down not to, and tbh I think the only reason it was accepted was due to a combination of me taking annual leave and having some external training days in my induction which meant I physically wasn't there to do what would be needed.

I'm two weeks into my new job and my old manager keeps emailing me and copying in my new manager with requests for me to do things relating to my old job, eg to take part in meetings so I can be there to explain projects etc.

My previous job is one where working unpaid overtime isn't unusual, and before I finished I worked excessive hours for weeks, so that I could tie up as many loose ends as possible and provide very detailed handovers. I know (from seeing other staff coming and going) that I went further than most in doing so. I feel a bit of a victim of my own success, if I'd done a worse job they wouldn't be asking!

The requests are coming due to a combination of my job not being filled and work I had been in charge of being handed over to staff who don't really have the time, so it's an easier thing for the manager just to think 'oh we'll get pakka on it as they know it so well' and other (senior) people agreeing because with my knowledge, I'm the 'best person for it'. There is a degree of risk/impact to the public if things aren't done properly.

The AIBU part is that my new job can allow me the time to do it, because the new job is a slower pace (currently, will ramp up) and my new boss is accommodating. So in theory I'm in the same company, we're all ultimately working to the same goal, and they can allow me the time without feeling too pressured. However, mentally I wanted to make a clean break and I'm feeling resentful that these requests are coming. I left my job for a reason. The requests are worded in a way that I don't get the impression I can say no (Hi X we need Pakka to do Y, I can see they're free on that date...) . Also I feel like the slower pace of new job should be for me to enjoy when I start, not to be filled in to help out my old team.

I can't decide whether I should suck it up for the sake of professionalism/workplace relationships, or whether I should push back on it, or if this risks sounding petty.

AIBU to be annoyed and consider pushing back against this?

Ask for a cut off date for the handover

That’s disgraceful of your old manager. You need to be speaking to your new manager and letting her/him know that you don’t have the capacity nor do you think it’s appropriate given that you did an excellent handover. If it comes to it, arrange plenty of shadowing opportunities in your new role so you’re just not available.

The slower pace of your new job isn’t for you to enjoy, no!
It’s not for your new role to balance you doing too many hours for your old one.
As long as you’re only working your hours in new role it’s perfectly reasonable that this move is phased.
I would however tell your manager that you’re worried the reliance on you will mean you’re fucked over with work when you ramp up.

That's outrageous. If you had left the company completely they wouldn't be able to do this, so they shouldn't be doing it while you're in a completely unrelated role/department. You sound like you did everything possible to ensure a smooth handover prior to leaving the position, and it should be left at that.

Very difficult situation, they are being unfair. Pp have given good advice about agreeing an end date and explaining to your new manager.

Fill in your diary, make the entry’s private so you know what it is but everyone else just sees “not available”. It doesn’t matter what it’s for, just block your diary.

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@Testina when I say slower paced, I mean the ability to have the headspace to do my new job with some actual planning time, and to have an induction, and to take lunchbreaks. What makes you say that isn't for me to enjoy? It is what an external candidate coming in would get.
There is no official agreement for a phased move, I worked the full notice period in my old job before moving, and even then the date was extended as they were hoping someone could start before i finished. I could understand if I'd moved quickly but it was as long a process as it would be for an external candidate, ie months not weeks.

@CockSpadget that's my thought re if I'd left completely, though I have a feeling the answer from those who are nervous about the gap I've left would be 'but you haven't left the company' which is why I wondered if I should tolerate more with it being internal.

I'm managing someone in a very similar position, we have negotiated with HR a very clear cut off date for her to stop.working on her old stuff and a temporary pay rise until that date comes into effect. Get HR involved and get it in writing.

@Crazylazydayz I will have to check my diary settings and see if I can make things private, that's a good idea. I do have project work to do (ie not all meetings) so I suppose I wouldn't be unreasonable to actually put that in my diary and show that i do have other work to be doing, even if I'm not doing something with a set time/location (ie a meeting or at another site)

I've always ended up having to do some of my old job with the new one and it is unreasonable. With my last old boss he really thought I would continue indefinitely. It only stopped when I stopped over delivering in my new job. My old boss didnt even have the grace to thank me. Bosses do not care who does it and will take advantage.

When I change jobs again I'm not doing it.

@HangOnToYourself my job required a new contract so I had a very clear official cut off date agreed for one job to end and the new one to start.. The trouble is no one seems likely to honour it while my last job is still vacant and that could be the case for months.

This is astoundingly common where I work.

can you speak to your current manager about it & say it’s too much?

that’s worked with various degrees of success at my place.

the people who just get on with it are just asked to keep doing it.

My previous job is one where working unpaid overtime isn't unusual, and before I finished I worked excessive hours for weeks

Depending on your role, seniority and contract, it may be that this was very unwise
As for having more time in your new role until it "ramps up", how will you fit in more work if the old manager still expects you to fill in?

I see you worked your notice so have already given an "end date"; therefore, remembering that the previous job remaining unfilled isn't your problem, the only answer is to say no

But you haven’t moved externally, you have moved internally so why wouldn’t the organisation make use of that. It is a benefit in supporting career development through internal moves. As your new roles ramps up, you will naturally have less capacity for the old tasks and I expect that the request will tail off. No you don’t have the right to sit about with time on your hands in the meantime.

I've got to be honest, if I sidestepped/stepped up into a different arm of our department I'd have to be flat out to refuse to help my previous manager. It would land like a lead balloon because we're all meant to be striving for the same thing even if our specific roles are defined very differently.

Personally, I think you'd be burning bridges if you did anything other than express concern to your new manager that the old manager's reliance on you is precarious at best because of XYZ projects about to ramp up and you're concerned they're setting themselves up for much harder adjustment in the near future.

Best of luck with it though, I don't envy you being in this position at all.

Discuss with your current manager. If they want you to take it on, then agree either what pieces of work in your new role you won't complete, or will complete with delayed completion dates. Make clear you are not doing any more u paid overtime in addition to what you do already

My old job were shocking for this, if you got a temporary secondment they would basically expected you to do the 2 jobs. Even if you got a permanent role internally they'd try and get you to take your caseload with you (which sometimes could take years to complete!) Unfortunately the only way it stopped, every time, was when the new manager kicked off and said that the person works for new team now, and they need to concentrate on new role, and not on doing old role. Otherwise if the new manager was happy to let them carry on (or just ineffective) then the old team got away with it due to the 'get away' clause about 'occasional other jobs according to business need' (or various wording) that's in most contracts.

So yeah I agree with blocking out the majority of your calendar as busy, and bringing up with your new manager every time you speak with them. Even if you don't have targets yet, if they ask, have you had a chance to read x say no, I really want to but every time I start I get a new email from old team telling me to do Y. If anyone asks 'how are you getting on?' overegg it and say, actually I'm really stressed, I was looking forward to getting stuck into new role but I'm constantly getting bombarded with emails and work from old role and I feel like I'm trying to do two jobs at once.

I do have project work to do ... so I suppose I wouldn't be unreasonable to actually put that in my diary and show that i do have other work to be doing

But why would you need to, when it's so clear there's already been a cut-off date?
You said "no one seems likely to honour it", but then they won't as long as you keep accepting the work

I never quite get why folk seem unwilling to say no to unreasonable demands even with a job they're currently in, but now you've left - even though it's an internal move - the solution really is in your own hands

Have you spoken to your new manger about this yet? What do they think?

Thanks for the opinions. I will speak to my current manager. Fwiw my role isn't considered senior, just an understaffed profession. One of the reasons I was leaving was to avoid burnout. I felt I had front loaded the handover to avoid being in this position.
I wouldn't have an issue giving advice to my old manager, it's being relied on as though I'm still part of the team. If there was someone doing my job and I was helping them out id be less concerned. I think the reason i feel so uncomfortable is that if no one else is dealing with it then 'simple' tasks that I'm asked to do will be opening a can of worms.

@Aprilx where did I say I was sitting about with time on my hands? I think your idea of work and mine are very different. My old job was of the type where a good day meant having time to go for a wee when you wanted one!

Next time you get an email about it, say "Happy to help, but can we draw a line in the sand that this is the last time so I can focus on my new role."

It shouldn't matter whether you haven't left the company imo, you've worked a full official notice, given a comprehensive handover and left the role completely. That is the equivalent of leaving the company.
While ever they can use you to fill in, or assist in the previous role (without paying for the privilege) they will, and won't rush to fill the vacancy officially.

I think the reason i feel so uncomfortable is that if no one else is dealing with it then 'simple' tasks that I'm asked to do will be opening a can of worms

Do you mean that doing them will lead to even more being loaded onto you, or that them only being partly done will cause problems for the old team?

Either way, since you're not senior how do you feel about getting the blame if that happens - and this for a job you're no longer in and for which you should be carrying no responsibility at all?

@Puzzledandpissedoff I think it's because id be put in a difficult position - essentially, representing the company to external people while technically not being in the correct job to do so - and because ethically if I realise something is a mess (because no one is doing the work in my absence) I would need to do something about it, which theoretically would be flagging it up to those responsible (ie my old management chain) but in reality would mean worrying about the impact and probably doing it myself because no one else was there to do it.

It isn't anything against my old manager, I know he's doing this out of desperation re staffing, but that feeling of never really feeling you can switch off was a big reason for leaving.

It's this along, with feeling down about being in a situation after I did my best to avoid it, including pushing my start date back to try and accommodate.

This thread has been helpful to articulate why the requests have made me feel so uncomfortable, so I feel more justified in speaking to my new manager about finding a compromise in drawing a line under it.

You said in your OP that you had the time to help out your old dept, then you should. You do still work for the same company. I really can't understand the comment such as if you'd left the company you wouldn't do it, because you haven't. However raise you concerns re fronting a project and being responsible for work for which you are no longer the line manager. Tel them it doesnt make good business sense and they really need someone to take control and responsibility in that dept or mistake will be made etc. You can also give them a personal reason, that you beginning to feel burnt out in that role, and that you are wanting to give your all to the new position. But don't just refuse because it's not on your job description anymore.

Unless you have taken a pay cut. Then of course they can't expect you to be performing roles out of your pay grade.

Sorry - I didn't read before posting - loads of typos