Structure changes - what would you do?

[Muppet7410]

I've worked for a company for 15 years, my role has evolved over the years and I've progressed etc. I'm not a manager but I'm senior with direct reportees.

A reportee I recruited 5 years ago has progressed and last year before I went on mat leave his job role changed and he no longer reported to me. I was pleased for him as he is bright, a hard worker and it was well deserved.

The company is continuing to grow and there are a series of departmental changes happening, lots of new roles being initiated and lines of reporting changes. I recognise the need for this and support it. The changes don't affect what I do however it will change who I report to. A new role is being created who I will report to. They are only accepting internal applicants to begin with, I'm not applying as parts of the role don't suit me but the person I recruited a few years ago is applying and has an interview arranged. I support his interest but this will make him my line manager but I'm afraid this makes me uncomfortable and doesn't sit right with me. I don't know whether to raise my concerns, hand my notice in or just run with it. Any advice on what to do in this situation would be appreciated.

Well you obviously can't try to ruin things for him by saying you feel uncomfortable! Why would you hand in your notice?? I'd just see what happens. If you don't go for the job then you can't complain about who gets it.

Why does it make you uncomfortable? You yourself have said that he’s a hard worker and his progression thus far has been deserved.

In my experience, at more senior levels, line management is merely a formality. If he does get the job then have a chat with him about your concerns... I don’t think resigning is the answer under these circumstances

I absolutely wouldn't want to ruin his opportunity. I don't want to apply for the role as it is has a sales/ market focus whereas my heart is with customer service. I'm wonder if it's worth considering asking if we can split the department and I head customer service and he heads sales. Maybe I just role with it and don't rock the boat. I don't feel like there's a place for me since returning from mat leave.

Little things make me feel uncomfortable like him knowing my salary, him doing my appraisal, me asking him to approve my holidays when it used to be the other way round. It makes me feel a bit of a dickhead tbh.

Well, really, if you don’t want to apply for the job, you feeling “uncomfortable” about someone else getting it is really your problem. You certainly shouldn’t be asking them to change the structure to suit you.

ug i know what you mean.

I am currently job hunting for similar reasons. New job created in the structure between me and the CEX and a peer has been successful in getting it.

I dont want to work for the peer; although we are friendly, and 1 month in my conviction deepens every week.

I gave feedback to the process, as did other peers who feel the same way, but they went ahead anyway (as is their right).

So I am job hunting... what can you do.

PS you are a manager - if you have direct reports..

I don't know whether to raise my concerns

The problem is the concerns are out of your employer's hands, they are to do with your ego. While it is perfectly understandable why you feel as you do, you have no concerns about his competence just that the power shift has moved from you to him if he secures the role.

I totally get it as it has happened to me before so I sympathise and I struggled with it too, but no one will split a department to soothe your ego I'm afraid.