To think it's crazy to expect people to take on management responsibilities for no extra pay/benefits ?

[bobandbrenda]

Small firm. Boss has decided to restructure the teams, and wants several people to step up to be team leaders with management responsibilities. He says there'll be no extra pay and seems to think this is normal/reasonable. AIBU to think it's neither? Wondered if anyone else has been in a similar position

Make sure you never join the public sector.

It's private sector

Very normal OP
and it will look good on your cv

Just don’t volunteer.

Oh yes. Is it a ‘valuable development opportunity’ ? 🙄

Well yes, it is.

Do it for 6 months then ask for a payrise, pointing out your contribution.

If it's declined, go elsewhere with a CV full of your team manager experience. Breaking into line management at a new employer is nearly impossible, they almost always want experience.

Anyone who intends to progress and increase earnings would be a fool to turn it down.

Brilliant idea!

He's not exactly waiting for people to volunteer. He's pulling people into meetings, placing significant pressure on them and dismissing any concerns they raise. This includes very junior people who in my view shouldn't be expected to take on this type of responsibility at such an early stage (profession where the early years can be very stressful with a steep learning curve just getting to grips with the basic job). Just wondered how common this is

He's also saying he may have to recruit externally and then "consider the size of the team" (despite saying no money for pay rises for internal people stepping up to the new role).

Yep, I'm public sector and this has happened to me in the last month. Sudden line management responsibilities (I've never been a line manager), for a temp person who I had no say in hiring, on a 'temporary basis' until they fill another position who will line manage them. Although I've now been told this week the vacant position won't be filled as they havnt had enough good applicants, as the pay is too poor. So I'm expected to line manage for god knows how long. But don't worry, it's a 'great development opportunity' for me.

I'm handling it via my union, but still, it shouldn't be happening. But it does, pretty much everywhere. Ultimately if you're not happy you vote with your feet and leave.

If this is a small firm
there can’t be many employees
so who will all these new managers be managing?!

It's medium size I suppose. Teams will be around 8

And how many teams?

Not where I work…nope…no way! That would be a promotion or secondment.

I've done this a few times in my early career. On the one hand you're being asked to take on a role with more responsibility, but equally (and apologies if I'm wrong), you don't yet have the experience that people usually pay more for. I would do it for 3 - 6 months, ask for decent training if possible, read a few books on management and leadership, perhaps look at project management as well... and start to build your CV. At your next performance review, you'll be in a much better position to say that you've done "A", achieved "B", brought in £x extra or saved £y as a result of your actions - in other words, you'll be able to do what you can't do now - actually demonstrate your value as a manager. It's a much better position to be in. Also, you'll be able to move firms and command a much higher salary.

Sometimes you need to invest in yourself by taking these small steps.

Came here to say that

Very common in my job. Basically if someone isn't working out as a team lead the additional tasks can be removed and they can move sideways with less embarrassment all-round.
If you officially promote someone and/or increase their pay, it's a total nightmare to fix, if it turns out that they actually can't handle the additional responsibility, or are just terrible at managing people.
Usually people get a performance related bonus to reflect the additional responsibility if it's going well, until it's made official.

It depends. Yes, technically you could be given additional responsibility without having relevant experience but then there has to be a clear development plan and targets in place. One of my colleagues ended up "promoted" to management and was told that she needs to "prove herself" in order to receive compensation. She spent 6 months trying to get some firm objectives in place and ended up being completely demotivated and leaving the business as owners were no help and just kept repeating that she needs to prove herself.

Public sector happens a lot.

At my school they advertised "voluntary" opportunities to step up to SLT level and then after six months all of those who'd volunteered were asked to apply for a very limited number of positions.

There was significant fall out.