Work cover when I'm not in

[Ladyk79]

Hi all,

Looking for some advise. I started a new job about a year and a half ago. The employer agreed I could work 4 days and a colleague would cover for day 5.

Said colleague is now leaving the company and the manger has advised that there will be no cover on day 5 (even when her replacement is on board) and no one will cover when I am on leave. I will have to pick up the work upon my return.

Does anyone know if this is right?

I love the job I do but feel the manager is very unsupotive, doesn't listen when I talk. When I started the role he went on leave for 2 weeks and told me to "figure it out" if I had any questions. He makes me feel like if ask for help or guidance I am being an inconvenience.

When going through my development plan he seems to pick at really little things which contradict what he says and does, thus marking me down, but in the same breathe says things like i kniw if i ask anything of you, you get it done. He doesnt seem to have time for me to respond. Historically my development reviews have been great.

I have worked for the company for 18 years and this was an internal move. My record has been immaculate.

I didn't think a company could expect 5 days work done in 4 and provide no cover. I'm going to be spending my leave worrying about what I'm going to come back to.

Does any one know what the law is around this and have any advise?

It's causing me a lot of anxiety that I'm not sleeping. He knows I worry about work and says things like well if this impacts your work there will be an issue rather than okay let's work through this.

Perfectly normal. When i go on leave (civil service) no one picks up my work, and for people who work part time, again no one touches their work on their day off they just carry on when they are back in the office.

I wouldn't want anyone touching my work when i'm off, just put OOO that it will br dealt with on return

I think it depends on what your role is? What will the consequences be if you're on holiday for 2 weeks and no one is doing your role, will things fall apart? Will other people and business be effected?

I'm no expert - at all - on employment law but I wouldn't have thought there's a legal requirement for cover when you're off per se.

When going through my development plan he seems to pick at really little things which contradict what he says and does, thus marking me down
Has he always been like this or is it a more recent attitude?

Depends what role you have? Could just mean some work takes longer to complete rather than you having to do more in your 4 days.

It's not that unusual to not be covered when you are off, but if they are expecting an extra day's worth of work from you (possibly not as presumably the person covering up to now had their own work as well and wasn't just doing yours on the 5th day?) Then I'd be wary of that.

Are you getting paid for 4 days or 5 days? If you’re only getting paid for 4 days they can’t expect you to do 5 days work. If they want you to do 5 days work then they will need to pay you for 5 days.

If your getting pains for 4 days, then surely it can be left until you get back, like those who work 5 days don’t generally work at the weekend. What time do you have, does it require a presence 5 days a week?

Agree that it totally depends what your role is, when I am on leave no one does my job .... I just sort things out when I return but although it can be a tough couple of days when I get back I'm not having to deal with sick patients calling for appointments or anything like that.

@PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn it is a customer support role, so if they have any issues with the system I help resolve the problem.

He has always been like this, I have been working for him for a year and a half. Prior to that I was in role with same company for 17 years with no issues on my performance what so ever.

@Papayamya the person covering me had capacity to cover my work on the 5th day, this was agreed on my interview. No she is leaving my manager has decided her replacement will not support day 5 and I will have cover that work when I’m back in.

I don't think anyone here believes your performance is not up to scratch.

The reason I asked if he's been more harsh with you lately is because I wondered if it's part of a new pattern to manage you out of your role but it doesn't sound like it is. So that's good :)

So far, it doesnt sound as if hes done anything wrong but I think you're right to be wary though that not having anyone do the 5th day of work doesn't lead to accusations of a decline in performance. From the sounds , it doesn't seem like this would increase your workload too much so probably reasonable. See how it goes.

I'd be more concerned that you don't get moaned at after a holiday that things are taking time to resolve because of a case build up while you've been away. If you think it will take longer to clear the backlog after a holiday then flag it up in an email now just so that they're aware (don't complain, just state) and keep a copy for your personal records.

Any issues in the future you can address them sensibly and can always revisit the topic of having holiday cover in place. I wouldn't make a deal out of cover for the 5th working day (unless he makes an issue of it first).

You come across very conscientious, are you a perfectionist and do you tend to get anxious about work usually?

@PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn thank you for your comments. The thought of being managed out of the business has crossed my mind (He has mentioned "between these four walls xyz was managed out of the business").

He kind of inherited this part of the business and I feel he doesn't really want it if I'm totally honest lol.

I will do as you say and express my thoughts in writing, I do think it will have an impact on what we deliver to our customers.

I never suffered work anxiety until starting this role but yes I do like to deliver and try to action everything asap. I know when I'm a customer how I feel when my issue is taking time to resolve.

@Donra I'm paid for 4 days and made it clear in the interview that I work 4 days and he said that's fine we can manage it within the team.

If you are not enjoying your work then look for something else. The job market is bouncing just now. There's never been a better time to look for work.

Just get another job if thus one is making you anxious.

No one is expecting you to work 5 days work in 4. Equally be honest could you be more efficient about what you do now. I work 4 days and am definitely more efficient. I certainly don't have cover!

The 2 weeks holiday problem is different. Is he saying that he's accepting that you will constantly have a backlog of support once you've been on holiday? Put the question to him in writing. To clarify how the new set up is going to work and if he is proposing a diminution in service quality as a result of no cover during holiday periods.

Also point out that providing you are 100% utilised right now then the only covering customer support 4 days out of 5 will result in delayed responses to all customers as you will prioritise earlier enquiries first. Say that you are not willing to field complaints in relation to delays and you will ask him to support you with respect to dealing with those complaints that relate to "your" performance which are beyond your control and a result of a decision to not cover the role 5 days a week.

In my team if we're off we cover any emergency stuff but non urgent, day to day stuff will just wait until you get back. That applies to holidays and our one part timer's non working days - though our part timer's workload is specifically designed to be done part time. When we take holidays we're expected to wrap things up as much as possible before we go.

I think it depends on whether the 5 days worth of work that comes in can actually be done in 4 days without you working late. If they are genuinely trying to get a full time amount of work from you while only paying you for 4 days they are taking the piss.

@ZenNudist

Just get another job if thus one is making you anxious.

No one is expecting you to work 5 days work in 4. Equally be honest could you be more efficient about what you do now. I work 4 days and am definitely more efficient. I certainly don't have cover!

The 2 weeks holiday problem is different. Is he saying that he's accepting that you will constantly have a backlog of support once you've been on holiday? Put the question to him in writing. To clarify how the new set up is going to work and if he is proposing a diminution in service quality as a result of no cover during holiday periods.

Also point out that providing you are 100% utilised right now then the only covering customer support 4 days out of 5 will result in delayed responses to all customers as you will prioritise earlier enquiries first. Say that you are not willing to field complaints in relation to delays and you will ask him to support you with respect to dealing with those complaints that relate to "your" performance which are beyond your control and a result of a decision to not cover the role 5 days a week.

Great advice and I agree about seeking another job

I think you just need to monitor it yourself.
Put a strapline under your email signature "my working days are Monday to Thursday" so people know not to expect you around on a Friday.

Set up an out of office for the Friday "My working days are Monday to Thursday. I will respond to your enquiry in due course. For urgent assistance please call [insert office number]"

Then when you come in, just work through the tasks as they show.

Donra I'm paid for 4 days
Well then that’s very clear. You’re paid for 4 days so you do 4 days work. How the business covers the 5th days work is not your problem. Tell them if you’re doing 5 days work you expect 5 days pay.