advie please on situation at work

[halia]

My boss is leaving in 2 weeks. I've had issues with them but once I knew they were leaving I havn't raised those issues and have tried to make the working environment pleasant.

I am one of 2 senior project managers in the organisation, both on fixed term contracts but mine was extended from a previuos 6 month contract whereas my colleague only started working for us in Feb.

I have met all my targets for this period despite a lack of resources (lack of resources raised several times) and have exceeded several targets.
I have also carried out additional projects in several other areas, some on the request of my boss, some that I have initiated and cleared with my Boss. (all succesful) At the moment I am putting some of my own time into a fundraising event ( i work for a charity).

I wanted to go for the boss job but received no encouragement from my current boss and felt that I was probably still a year or 2 away from it.

The new boss isn't' starting straight away so there is a gap of 4 weeks - earlier on it had been mentioned that this might happen and we were told either an itnerim woudl be appointed from externally, or me and my colelague would be asked to manage things between us.

this evening I recieved an email (sent to my personal email not my work one) which was sent to all staff which basically said after my current boss leaves my colleague will get an increase in hrs to f/t and have full management responsibilities until the new boss comes in. Including line management responsibility which basically promotes her over my head.

This was the first I had heard of this........... I am furiuos and upset. What shouid I do?

Deal with it?

Sorry to be harsh but they've promoted someone over you which they are perfectly entitled to do. They don't need to advertise or hold interviews and can just make a decision.

Its only for 4 weeks so not that bad really.

thing is they can't just do that, our conditions laid down by the charities commision and our funders says that they always have to advertise any job externally as well as internally.

Given that she isn't meeting some of her targets (and I am) to not even discuss with me the possibility of me taking on that role, or us splitting it between us is rank favouritism.

I see. This is where you get a split between company policy and the law.

By law there is no need to advertise internally and externally but its generally considered best practice to do so.

If that is the case then I'd raise a grievance with your manager but are you sure this arrangement will continue past the 4 weeks?

The company informed you that cover would be provided for 4 weeks by you, colleague or an interim and so far they seem to be doing that? Or are you saying this person will continue like this past 4 weeks?

For a short term role filling then not advertising seems ok even with the guidelines.

This is only a 4 week temporary change, so maybe doesnt attract the same conditions. Where I work the rules are different for permament posts, and short term ones.

Has the permament post been advertised yet?

It sounds as though the new person is already recruited but just won't be starting for 4 weeks, is that right? You say the 'new boss isn't starting straight away' indicating that he/she is recruited.

There's really no need at all to go through an internal/external recruitment campaign for someone to 'act up' for less than a month, that would be ridiculous quite frankly. They don't need anyone new, this isn't a 'job' that needs recruiting, they just need someone to take on a bit of extra responsibility temporarily while waiting for the new person to start.

Yes it's irritating and you may feel it isn't fair, but really it's tough luck. It's not a permanent promotion or anything, it's just someone in charge for a few weeks, then back to where she was previously.