Does feel like an opportunity?

[AQuestioner]

edit- typo in title should be-
‘Doesn’t’ feel like an opportunity?

Hi,

So last week at work a person in the team I work in handed in their notice for a new job elsewhere. (I think it’s a great job they fit really well for, and I’m super happy for them!)

But about half an hour after the announcement email went out, I had a meeting booked in (last minute) with my manger who then said they wanted to discuss ‘the opportunity’ for ‘my progression’ for me to take on their work.

It’s been know at work that I’m looking for progression, I’ve been honest about looking for a promotion (within the company I work for) and my senior management have been supportive of that.

The problem is this person leaving is job grade below me. And it’s been announced they’re not replacing the role with a new person for the time being (6 months at least) It feels like I’m being used to pick up the work for free and it will just increase my workload, but won’t be a gain for me at all.

To me, an opportunity would be picking up work from people above me, to show I can do more challenging tasks, as a step up into a higher role (which is something I’ve been doing already, and happy to do as it’s great for interviews). This feels like just getting shafted for more work with no gain. Taking advantage of me saying I want to step up.

And to be clear, if my manger (who is new) was saying ‘we’re not replacing the role and we want to split some responsibilities out for the time being, so we’re asking you to cover xyz’ then I probably wouldn’t mind. My problem is the fake enthusiasm about ‘how great’ this is. I had to really struggle to not recoil in disgust in the meeting.

There is another person who is actually closer to this work than I am, but it’s a risk to the company if they put it all in one person (in case they leave and there’s no one trained in the system) so they don’t want to do that. (This other person and the person leaving used to be 1 role, they split it out to spread the knowledge, but it’s doable as 1 person, I work in a different area)

i just feel that taking on this extra will stop me having any capacity to do the extra work I was being given before (by senior management) which I felt actually was advantageous for promotion. It also feels like a bit gaslighting to be told ‘I’ll need to know how to do this in the future for jobs’ when it’s work that I already know how to do, and is from a job grade beneath my own?

Am I just being stuck up? Without the false enthusiasm from my manager I wouldn’t have an issue helping, but how do I say ‘in corporate speak’ that I’m not comfortable with this at all, it feels….slimy.

or should I just see this as some kind of good thing and I’m getting the wrong end of the stick? (I honestly left the meeting feeling the most awful I’ve felt at work for years, but I don’t know how to articulate why!)

Any advice would be great!

Red flags all over this.

I suppose if you can get them to bring in cover for the work that needs to be done and they appoint you to be that person's supervisor, that would constitute a step up.

If they're intending to fill the vacancy but not for 6 months, they may as well fill it straight away. You can't be expected to do 2 people's work.

if they're force you to take on the extra work, in your situation I would seriously consider my position there. They don't sound like they appreciate your skills and experience and are dragging their feet in giving you real advancement which may be a sign it's time to look elsewhere.

I'd say that the false enthusiasm is because your manager knows that you're being shafted, but has been told to do this by higher management so has to toe the line. Higher management are excited about saving some money, not about giving you an opportunity. 6 months = never because by then the workload will have been picked up.

I know it's not a great job hunting environment out there. If I was you, I would take it on, but use all tactics possible to then pass on the actual work to the other person (as it sounds like they can handle it). Prioritise keeping on taking those challenging tasks that will help you progress there or in another company.

But yes, it smells fishy because it is fishy!

Sounds as though they just want to dump the work on someone without it costing the company money.

Hi Percy
Further to our meeting I have considered your proposition.
As you know I am keen to expand my role upwards. Being on a higher grade than required for this extra work it is experience I already have and therefore do not need to repeat.
I think someone should be given the opportunity to increase their skill set with this work. I would be happy to manage someone in the role and discuss a salary increase to reflect the managerial responsibility this will incur.
Regards
@AQuestioner

I agree with other posters! Many businesses are having a tough time and while I understand others have to pick up the slack this can be to the detriment of everyone else. I was just made redundant- 7 staff are leaving but they are not replacing and they’re expecting 90% of their time to be on work billed to clients (80% prior) while attending in person business pitches to get more work! It’s a negotiation so I’d ask what’s in it for you!

hmmm...that is off, they are clearly trying to save the costs of getting a replacement and putting it on to you...I'd push back as once you have taken on the extra work on it is hard to get rid of it and you will be stuck with the work.

They don't care as long as the work is being done...I had this and I said nope it didn't go down well and I left about 6 months later but I wasn't going to be dumped on...they tried to sell it to me but it was all fake oh it is something different blah blah blah....

Ok, thanks all, I guess it’s not just me seeing this as a poor showing.

appreciate the responses!