Author Topic: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*  (Read 2578 times)

SomedayStache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 924
  • Live Long and Prosper
TLDR: Do I accept an unwanted supervisory position and the increased headache/responsibility/and general BS that comes with that while also training my replacement or do I have a novice supervisor who knows nothing about our product area over myself and the rest of the team and have the increased headache of anticipating the things that they don't know how to do and assisting?

--------------------------------------------------------------

So here's the deal, my supervisor is going to be on a temporary assignment between August and May leaving his spot open.  I've been asked by his boss to step in.  I've always been very upfront that I don't want to be a supervisor and have turned down this request before about once a year for the last 5 years (and even turned down this exact position last year).

The question arises again. This time I'm conflicted because there's no viable candidate to place there other than me.  Flip side of that is there's no one to step into MY current spot if I do accept the temporary assignment.

So in either case I'm going to have to step it up.  Either I accept the supervisory position and the increased headache/responsibility/and general BS that comes with that while also training my replacement or I have a novice supervisor over myself and the rest of the team and have the increased headache of anticipating the things that they don't know how to do and assisting.

There's no immediate pay increase, only a chance for a better ranked appraisal next year.  Even so, I'm currently making more than some of the supervisors in our group.  Any pay increase would be perhaps on the scale of 3 to 4% rather than 1.5%. 
Additionally I'm kind of mess right now, though no one at work would suspect so.  My family life is overwhelming, my relationship with my spouse is rocky, and I think I'm dancing with depression and have spent 4 of the last 7 days laying in bed.  (Except for my time at work in which I still present my typical go-getter positive attitude).

Any words of wisdom or truth kernels the MMM crowd can throw at me? TIA.

Freedomin5

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6485
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2018, 07:34:00 AM »
Oh man. I’ve been in a similar position. In my case, I didn’t take the supervisory position, but then I was also prepared to walk away from the job if things got too bad. How far from FIRE are you? Or do you have a decent FU fund?

It doesn’t sound like it’s worth the extra stress unless you can train your replacement before to take over the supervisory role instead of doing both simultaneously. And then maybe delegating another experienced individual in the group as the tour replacement’s mentor.

You could also just stay in your role, and if the new supervisor mucks t up, remind yourself that it’s not your problem. That’s what I do now. I refused the team lead role, and I just keep my head down and do whatever is in my job description. If the lead messes things up, I sympathize but don’t help. My take is, if you agreed to take the role, then actually take the role instead of expecting me to do your job for you.


SomedayStache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 924
  • Live Long and Prosper
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2018, 08:22:57 AM »
Far enough away from FIRE that I haven't bothered calculating it. .

Single income, family of five, my husband is a stay at home dad/homesteader.  2 month emergency fund and no debt other than the mortgage... But yeah, not much flexibility and I certainly need a job.  Probably this job because $94k for 40 hrs/week is rare in my part of the country.

sokoloff

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1191
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2018, 08:51:21 AM »
My allergy to working for idiots and willingness to try to not be an idiot have caused me to always take positions like this over my career.

What about supervising is distasteful to you? This seems like you get a chance to “try it out” without really committing long term to it. I’d pitch it that way and ensure that your old role remains available at the end of this term, and give it a shot.

SomedayStache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 924
  • Live Long and Prosper
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2018, 09:06:02 AM »
Supervision is filled with BS that I find distasteful.  There's always something urgent on fire that's actually not important.  What is important is taking care of your people and there's not enough time in the day to do that well.  I see three types of approaches in my group

1. Care a lot and kill yourself in the process.
2. Get your stuff done, but the people fall by the wayside and don't get the opportunities for awards and opportunities that they should.
3. Fail utterly.

I'd probably take approach 1. 

If I accept, it would probably not be temporary because our group is growing and there is a severe lack of management quality people.  Next year my boss would probably return and be shuffled into another open spot leaving me in my (now permanent) role.  I've resigned myself to the fact that eventually I'll be a supervisor, but I was hoping to push it off as long as possible.  Another wrinkle is that I really really don't want to supervise THIS particular group.  The work is unlike anything done elsewhere in our group and the outside opinion is that we are 'fluff' and have it easy.  Having worked in numerous areas over a decade I can say with knowledge that my group has a lot on our plate and it's not well defined or documented.  Other areas have procedures and processes that we lack.  Whoever steps into this supervisor role will lack the support structure that most other areas have.

grantmeaname

  • CM*MW 2023 Attendees
  • Walrus Stache
  • *
  • Posts: 5961
  • Age: 31
  • Location: Middle West
  • Cast me away from yesterday's things
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2018, 09:12:03 AM »
Keep doing what you're doing. If your newbie supervisor sucks, go somewhere else. Your life would get a lot more than 3-4% worse for your 3-4% raise, and it's just not worth paying that many fucks for a little bit of extra money.

Tuskalusa

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 442
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2018, 09:25:46 AM »
If definitely sounds like 2 lousy options. While I agree that management sucks, I think it might suck even more if you have to work for a lousy manager.

If this role is likely to be permanent, then I think now is your chance to ask for a raise. If they really want you to take this gig, then they should authorize an off cycle raise. As you say, there will be increase commitment and stress. You will have to make sacrifices. This should be worth an increase now. If they are not willing to compensate you for the increased workload, then you have your answer. Stay put.

SomedayStache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 924
  • Live Long and Prosper
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2018, 10:54:50 AM »
Righto.
I'll probably stay put, though still considering options and I appreciate your responses.

joestash

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 68
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2018, 08:51:06 PM »
I wouldn't take on more responsibility if you're struggling with your current life circumstances.  A lot of this sounds more like anxiety/depression issues more than work circumstances.  I would beat the bushes to find an awesome therapist and start working on yourself ASAP.  Your job and your spouse doesn't matter much if you're not standing on solid footing by yourself.

slipslop

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 37
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2018, 11:45:31 PM »
Additionally I'm kind of mess right now, though no one at work would suspect so.  My family life is overwhelming, my relationship with my spouse is rocky, and I think I'm dancing with depression and have spent 4 of the last 7 days laying in bed.

To my mind, this is the only thing in your message that actually matters. What do you need to do start taking care of yourself? Can you take any small steps towards those things today?

Slee_stack

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 876
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #10 on: May 21, 2018, 11:54:20 AM »
Probably stay where you are.

Granted I've been bitten (screwed over) by taking on more in good faith.  Good faith bent me over and didn't bother using any lubricant.


I'm sure some have success stories.  Is your company trying to be cheap?  Yes, they'll stick it to you if you accept.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2018, 04:31:02 AM by FrugalToque »

Schaefer Light

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1328
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2018, 12:15:54 PM »
I'd be reluctant to take the supervisory position for two reasons.  One, you may get stuck doing both the supervisor's job and your current job.  And two, they aren't paying you any more to do it.  If it came with a hefty raise, I might consider it.

Sibley

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7428
  • Location: Northwest Indiana
Re: I don't like either of my work responsibility options *WAH*
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2018, 08:24:36 AM »
Additionally I'm kind of mess right now, though no one at work would suspect so.  My family life is overwhelming, my relationship with my spouse is rocky, and I think I'm dancing with depression and have spent 4 of the last 7 days laying in bed.

To my mind, this is the only thing in your message that actually matters. What do you need to do start taking care of yourself? Can you take any small steps towards those things today?

This. You need to take care of yourself. If you can your health (mental, emotional, physical), I'm willing to bet the other stuff will improve. Get to a doctor, therapist, whatever is needed to address the depression problems. Your jerk brain is probably messing with the rest of it, so if you get help to rein it in, everything else will be more manageable.