Work problem

[user54667890]

I have worked for my current employer for 8 years, the first 3 years my role was more behind the scenes and for the past 5 years has been more customer facing.
I didn't enjoy the behind the scenes role, you have to work on your own more and the job requires a lot more flexibility. I asked to if I could transfer to the customer facing role and my manager at the time agreed.
I feel that I am good at my job and handle the customers well.
I was then off work due to shielding and when I returned my manager made me do the behind the scenes job due to risk of covid. I told her that was fine but wanted to go back to my customer facing role as soon as I could which I did.
A colleague recently left and now no-one is doing the behind the scenes role and no-one wants to do it, my manager is forcing me to do it as I am the only one trained to do it. Everyone else had a 1 to 1 with the manager to discuss if they wanted to do the role but I didn't I was just told I had to.
I feel so upset because I loved the role I was doing, its horrible working on my own all day. I use to love having a chat with the customers.

What does your contract say?

Doesn't seem fair that the others were asked and you were just told to do it.

Sorry that it is working out that way.

Unfortunatly iom you are going to have to find a new job as your manager has decided not to recruit someone for the role while you ate available.

My contract just states the job role and nothing about the different departments.

Well it doesn’t sound like they are doing anything wrong, as in illegal. So I think if you can’t negotiate a change then it is probably time to find a job that suits you better.

Can't you compromise?

You say a colleague has left so if that opens up a place could you agree to do the role on a temp basis and train up a new starter who can take over once trained?

I’d probably look for a different job

GIven the circumstances I am afraid that I would also advise that it is time to look for a new job. You have moved between these positions when it suited you (and no criticism for that either), and now the employer is saying that for the needs of the business they need you to do it again. I don't think that is an argument you can really win - you have, whether intentionally or not, made yourself "flexible" in terms of the role, and the employer has nobody else who can do the role. They may have asked others if they want to volunteer - but those others can't do the job anyway, so would have to be trained. You already fit, like it or not.

There will likely be in your contract a clause that means they can ask you to work in different locations as the business requires it. So as pp said, it is not illegal.

If I were you I'd meet with your manager and propose a compromise. You'll train everyone else in the behind the scenes role if he / she puts a rota in place so that no one person is stuck there all the time. That way he gets a flexible team and no one person is 'punished' with a task no one wants.

For business reasons it would be good to have more than one person doing a role. That way there is cover for illness and holidays. Speak to your employer from this standpoint

@Jalisco I haven't moved between jobs to suit me though, I had no choice when I returned due to the risk assessment, I didn't mind going straight back to the customer facing role.
It just makes me mad because I have learnt how to do all aspects of the job and now new people are coming into the department demanding what they do and don't want to do.
At the back of my paranoid anxious mind it feels as if I am getting pushed out, my manager knows I don't enjoy the behind the scenes job but has put everyones else's needs before mine by having 1 to 1's with them. and discussing how they feel and then the solution is to stick me in the role no matter how I feel.

Why don’t you try to compromise ask her if she’s recruiting anyone else who can do the role then you move back or as, her to do spilts shfts and you train someone else and you each do it fifty fifty. Or everyone does a day a week out the back

I haven't moved between jobs to suit me though, I had no choice when I returned due to the risk assessment, I didn't mind going straight back to the customer facing role.

I'm not criticising - simply stating a fact - and you have. You were recruited to the role that you now don't want. You asked for a move - that move suited you but the employer let you move when they didn't have to. Equally, although it would have made very little sense in some ways, the employer was at liberty to say sorry, but it isn't our fault you are shielding / more vulnerable, we have no role that meets the risk assessment so sorry, you are dismissed. They didn't. Then you wanted to go back to the customer facing role, and again they let you. I totally get why, and I am not saying you did anything wrong, but being dispassionate about this, your role -the one you were recruited to - is not the role you want, and for various reasons that were about flexibility for you (not the employer) they have let you switch backwards and forwards. They didn't have to do any of that.

Now they are saying that for the needs of the business they need you in the original role. Now you can try to find a compromise, or you can accept that this is what it is (at least for now) or you can find another job (in which case they will simply then have to replace you).

You may not like it, but as someone else said, they haven't done anything wrong, and all things considered they have been somewhat flexible and fair when they didn't have to be. But they need this role doing, and for now you are it.

Hi,
I moved to uk from the states a few years ago and wanted some advice on feeling left out at work place. I've been at my job for over 3 years yet I really don't feel like I fit in. I've constantly tried to integrate myself with the others but constantly feel left out. I quite often feel like people are talking about me behind my back. Ie going quiet when I'm around stopping mid conversation on occasion. They are all in an unofficial chat groups online which people lie about and pretend and say they do not exist. It's such a toxic environment. I was bullied in high school and I feel like this is the same. Am I wrong for feeling excluded or should I just not bother with making an effort anymore.

Hi @Redsocks198 sorry to hear this, some workplaces can just be very cliquey. I’d keep your head down and simply focus on your work for the time being, things might improve once they get to know you. If not then maybe look for another job if it’s getting you down.

Might also be worth creating a new thread on here as you’ll get more responses. Good luck, hope things work out.

@Redsocks198 so sorry just realised you said you’ve been there 3 years, no delete or edit on mumsnet. In that case I’d definitely start looking for something new, being miserable at work is horrible. I doubt they’re speaking about you behind your back, but it does sound like an unpleasant atmosphere and unlikely to change now.