Does this merit a pay rise

[CaramelEmporium]

I have had a proposal put to me by my manager - essentially that the maternity cover of a current colleague that goes off soon will report into me rather than our manager. I currently have no reportees. Does that merit asking for a pay rise for the additional responsibility? There is little scope for career progression (and I am happy in current rule/situation) so it's hard to see there's any benefit to me
other than more stress! Private sector if that is a factor.

How much more work will it involve? I can't imagine it would be much. Why you?

Propose it! You don't ask, you don't get. Having someone report into you is extra work and extra responsibility if you're doing it properly. The worst that can happen is that they say no and you all carry on as you were. I say this as a Head of HR.

Why me? Because geographically it works, manager is too busy and has too many direct reports so is looking to offload. Difficult to quantify how much extra work but clearly some if my manager thinks it's a solution to her problem. I would be expected to be the escalation point for colleague's portfolio of clients.

I doubt taking line management responsibility for one member of staff will warrant a pay rise.

If you're not happy about and there is no benefit in terms of progression then say no. I do a job where I am constantly being lumbered with 'stuff' for no extra remuneration. It's just not worth it and I say no a lot.

You're probably right Tammy that it doesn't but it irks. There's been lots of restructuring over a couple of years and effectively I'm being asked to do a role that previously would have been a higher grade but that no longer exists. I work hard and I am conscientious and have picked up extra responsibilities over the last year or so for nothing and this just feels like one step too far for no gain to me.

I think it's different from being lumbered with extra 'stuff'. Extra 'stuff' isn't necessarily a higher level of responsibility, just more work. Line management involves more responsibility. It's not just about how much actual time that takes up (although usually more than people think), it's about things like problems being escalated, and taking responsibility for dealing with performance/absence/other issues as they crop up. Line managing one person isn't a huge big deal, but I would certainly be asking for that additional responsibility to be reflected in pay.

I would ask if he was also proposing a temporary uplift in pay, but not refuse the work as getting line management experience is important so you are getting some personal benefit from the arrangement too

Could you use it as an opportunity to ask for more money? Make a list of all the extra responsibilities you have taken on over the last couple of years for no extra gain. A bloke would have no problem in asking what's in it for him!

I completely understand that it irks but it seems to be the nature of the beast these days. You're not alone!

Thanks Flowery, that's food for thought, I need to probe a bit and the think what questions to ask about my manager's expectations.

Ask if you will be expected to carry out a formal appraisal while you are managing them, and would you be expected to deal with any disciplinary matters, performance issues etc. All of the above is extra responsibility and might well deserve a pay rise, or at least a temporary supplement.

If you don't ask, you don't get, but establish first what is expected of you.