To turn down a promotion?

[BadLuck2023]

Hi all,

I have been covering my boss while she has been off due to having a long term illness. (6 months so far). The director of the company I work for has offered me a promotion to take over my bosses role, she will be given another position when she returns.

The director says Im doing a really good job which is nice, however I am so bloody stressed. Between making sure multiple projects stay on track and dealing with staffing issues and people problems, I think Im going to have to say no. The director won't be happy but I can see whats happened to my current peers in this role. One has started smoking again, another has started to lose her hair and the others marriage has broken down.

I just feel bad letting the director down

YANBU but maybe you should sit down with the director and say I’m thinking of turning it down because of these reasons, and maybe go armed with some suggestions as to how things can be improved? What is it that’s causing so much stress OP?

It’s just a job, do not accept something you’re unhappy with just to keep your boss happy. They’d replace you in a heartbeat if they had too!

Do you even want to continue covering the director for the past 6 months? Or are you just doing it to keep the peace… please tell me you’re getting extra pay for this

The stress is im constantly short staffed and the staff I do have are not experienced at all. They are all at junior level. Honestly some days I enjoy it but my weekends are always ruined due to the stress. I cant turn off work. My SO is getting sick of me complaining about it and to be honest I can't blame him. Im getting 5% increase of my salary...

5% isn’t worth this

Have you told your boss the issues you’re facing

I have. He says he has a plan in place which at the time I thought sounded ok... But after another stressful week I honestly don't think I can do this. One of the men I work with who has been doing it for years has said its the most stressful its been in decades because of the recent turnover. Every team is hurting right now

I’d turn it down then and speak to my boss and say that after x date I want to go back to my own job

I don’t blame you for turning it down but what are your plans in general for your career? Is this a company you would likely to progress with in general or is it just a job and you don’t have a long term career plan in mind in your current role? I think the answer to this question is important because once you turn down the promotion it’s difficult to convince people that you want to progress further if that’s your intention.

You could say you are happy to stay acting up a bit longer to try to get the right structure in place below you, but that if that doesn't materialise and if the pay doesn't go up you would rather return to your old job. Boss won't like it but you're there so you and your family can have a good life outside work, your life isn't to work.

5% pay increase then take off tax. Absolutely not worth the stress.

But I would be VERY clear with your director that you appreciate the offer but having thought about it and been in the role for 6 months you can't see yourself taking on that level of stress given the huge understaffing issues and a very small pay increase. It is not in your best interests.

Slightly different take...you are currently doing the job anyway.

Can you try ask him if the role can be defined.

Tell him, stepping up for 5% isn't attractive given the current situation but if the x, y, z parts of the role could be moved to another area etc.

Say that the role needs to be rightsized. That you currently have a 40 hour week but a 60 hour workload etc.

It's worth having a full discussion.

I am interested in moving up within the company, however this isnt the only avenue and my department is the "pressure point" within the business.

Honestly ive even started joking with my peers that itd be more preferable driving into a tree than driving into work. So I think I have to turn it down.

The director acknowledged its a really difficult job, he wants to split the role up to make it more manageable but that won't happen for a couple years unfortunately.

Would you accept the stress for 10%, 15%….?
Or would you take the role at 4 days a week?
Are there any benefits you could negotiate that would make the role more acceptable?

@BadLuck2023 "The director acknowledged its a really difficult job, he wants to split the role up to make it more manageable but that won't happen for a couple years unfortunately."

Well if you say no, he'll need to find a solution pretty quickly! If you know that he has already a plan in place for splitting the role, then surely this is the time for him to implement it? Never mind something happening in "a couple of years" - within the next couple of months he might be looking for someone to replace you as well.

He's the one with the problem, which puts you in a strong bargaining position. Depending on what your own career plans are, you could spell out which tasks you would accept (Tasks A, B and C) and which you wouldn't be willing to take on (X, Y and Z) and that he'll have to find someone else to do (as per the plan that you already think that he has) and also what your salary increase needs to be. Hint - it's not a 5% increase; ask for 25% and see what he comes back with.