Should I take on my manager's admin tasks after she resigns?

[digitalkiosk]

My manager at work has resigned. There is no contingency plan for her leaving in 3 weeks time nor have the upper management or directors advertised for someone new. 75% of her role is quite specialised with the balance being admin related. I have a feeling the admin tasks are going to fall on me or certainly I am going to be asked to take them on. I might not be of course but I want to be prepared if I am.

I am also admin but my manager would make final decisions. Firstly I am not sure I want to be in a decision making position. I am 58 and don’t think I want the responsibility or the hassle that goes with it. It’s not on my nature to not help out but similarly I don’t want to be taken advantage of. I am
not sure if I say yes to additional tasks but with a time limit for the new manager being up to speed or I say no completely. Similarly if I said yes is it reasonable to ask for more money? I have been with my current employer for 17 years. Have said this would be a problem issue if manager resigned for years and here we are.

If you want to take on addition admin, then definitely ask for more money and make sure you have good boundaries.

Do you have the capacity to with your current work to take on 25% of your managers role? Would other tasks also land with you by default due to your experience?

Not your circus, not your monkeys. Lie low. Let it all go tits-up.

Wait for them to ask you to do it, and then say that if they want you to take on part of a role previously done by a manager, then it would be reasonable of you to expect a pay rise in return. Also mention that you will have to let go some of your existing workload in order to be able to take it on, so who do they want you to pass that on to?

Ask them what other tasks to drop as you already have your plate full. In more diplomatic terms.

This.

Actually it could work out well for you.

Don't agree to anything on the spot say you need some time me to think about it.

X

If you’re asked to take the admin on, ask them to put the new job title, job description and compensation package in writing to you and you’ll consider the option, see what they come back with.

Taking on extra tasks secured me a good promotion and a FAT payrise as it demonstrated my loyalty and willingness to muck in, so I regret nothing!

Enployers do not buy the cow if they can get the milk for free. If you start doing the admin without first securing a payrise and agreement to re-delegate some of your other tasks elsewhere, you will just end up with a massively increased workload and nothing to show for it.

If my manager left, I wouldn’t have capacity to take on 25% of her work, so they would either need to give me that manager level work and a pay rise, then offload 25% of my lower level work to someone under me, or employ a new manager (which I’d probably apply for anyway).

Don’t take on extra work for free, and don’t say to someone that you’ll be able to merrily absorb 25% of someone else’s workload or they’ll think you were doing Jeff all before that.

If the admin is part of your job description (most job decisions have some flexibility in them) and skill level then the question is do you have the time, if you don’t what else needs to be dropped. For decisions beyond your role tell them if you are not comfortable making them.

I wouldn’t expect extra money unless it was a significant step up in responsibility.

Thanks all. I will take time to read all of your answers when I am at home tonight.

Don’t volunteer to do anything at all - wait for them to ask you and then negotiate with them for extra money!