Background:
I work 3 days a week: 2 of the days I am the lead of X in a department, the other day I work clinically (healthcare setting). My role is very busy and varied and could cover a lot more if I had the time, which I don’t so I do best I can within the time frame. Last year, my department got some funding to bring on another member of staff to help me complete elements of my role. It upset me at the time but then they decided it should be at a lower band/pay scale to me and reporting to me, so I felt a bit better about it. She does 3 days a week All fine, has worked nicely and we share a lot of the workload.
Dilemma:
My manager/department have now put it for funding for someone to be another me essentially, same band/pay scale, same job. But full time, so they will have more time doing the role than me. I’ve been told I can decide what work they will be taking on and what I want to do and I’m still ‘lead’ but their job title is the same, with the word ‘lead’ and same pay scale. As they will be doing it more days than me, I feel like they will be seen as the lead and naturally will just the lead role, become the default go to.
So where do I fit in now? I’m really upset about it. Feels a bit like a kick in the teeth and suggesting I can’t do it so will get someone else but we can’t fire you so can do it together. I do get that the area I’m in needs developing, but lots to areas in my department need developing and could do with funding for more staff. My area now has the 3 day staff member, me at 2 days as lead and now someone else coming in.
how should I handle this?
I can’t change it, it’s happening. I can think well screw you’ll I’ll do bare minimum, get paid, go home, less stress. Or I can dictate what this new person does so I still am the lead but feels silly and like it’s not going to work