Some background. I was originally employed as the receptionist at my workplace and I also provided administrative support to the Executive Assistant. 12 months later she married a doctor and no longer needed to work full time (lucky for some). So I was trained up to take over her role and was offered the role permanently when she went on long service leave. The CEO just adores her - she had been his secretary for 7 years so I knew I had some big shoes to fill. She came back part time (2 days per week) as the HR Manager and took that part of my new job description with her. Let?s call her DB.
The biggest event of the year is our annual general meeting. This event forms part of my job description as it involves a lot of planning and is heavily regulated. There is about 6 months of planning that goes into it. For the AGM 2 years ago, I was training for my new role so I only assisted DB with the planning. Last year, after taking over DB?s role of Executive Assistant, I carried the whole thing on my back and pulled off a flawless night. This year I have also been planning everything by myself.
Now DB has broken up with the Doctor and is suddenly out on her a$$. Because the CEO loves her so much, he instantly granted her full time employment again.
I was away from my desk for 3 days last week due to illness and I come back and my AGM file is gone and I have an email advising me that DB will be handling the AGM this year because she is back to full time. I am absolutely LIVID.
Looking at my job description now, two large parts of my job description have now gone to her (HR and AGM).
I had every intention of taking my job description to the Senior HR Manager this morning to seek some clarification but he is on annual leave this week. So now I am sitting here stewing. I am so p!ssed off!!
She can chop and change her hours as much as she pleases. They created a new role especially for her so she could work two days a week (she couldn?t possibly answer the phones) and now she can pick and choose what jobs she would like to do now that she is back full time. And this is our HR manager!!!
That's awful Amy, and SOOOOOO unfair! You have every right to be ****ed off! How can someone just take away part of your job, just like that? I'm so sorry - I hope your vent has helped you to calm down. Vent away if you need to - I'm happy to listen (or read).
Is there anyone else you can speak to? A mentor? A senior manager? Get them on your side and explain (calmly) what's happened, and suggest that as the AGM is not very far away, it is best that you continue with the work for this year. Changing your JD around is pretty annoying, and they should go through some internal process to get it approved. Maybe talk to your union?
Are you on AWA? If you're not, then its harder for them to change your job. And if they use the excuse that your illness made it best to change the JD, that's discrimination right there - and you have grounds to pursue.
But I'm wondering if it could also be a good opp for you to renegotiate your own job description. By that I mean that I see a job in terms of a list of achievements you can put on your resume. If you've already done the AGM and done it well once, well, it doesn't add much on your resume to have it there two, three or four times. Is there anything else in the company that needs doing that would enhance your own resume?
What they've done is really bad but maybe there's a silver lining in the cloud?
Kitt3n - I'm not a member of a union (I don't think anyone here is) and I've never had a complaint or a grievance before where I would need the assistance of one. Everything is usually sorted internally with our HR department but what do you do when the problem is with the person in HR?!
Kazbah - The best person to speak to would be the Senior HR Manager but he is on annual leave this week. My problem is that he is also the Company Secretary (I work closely with him on the AGM) and he is the one who has given this job to DB. I'm more angry that he didn't even ask me - knowing how much work I have put into the AGM already. The only other person to speak to is my direct boss (the CEO) but he'll only refer it back to HR and I really don't want to whinge to him. He's got bigger fish to fry.
LSK - thanks .
Fiona - My intention this morning was to seek some clarification on my job description and have those two areas replaced with another area of responsibility. My beef isn't so much that I can't do the AGM (as you said - I've already done one), it's that nobody asked me! The file was literally taken off my desk and a dirty email was sent advising me of the change. There was no "Amy do you mind if DB assists you with the AGM this year?" or "DB is available on Tuesday's if you need any help". I would love a new area to look after and manage but it seems as though that hasn't been thought of.
Lulu - Thanks LOL about leaving her my scraps!
I think I might go into her office and confront her about why the decision was made. She is the only relevant person that I can speak to and I can't even focus because I'm so angry!
I just went onto the Seek website and applied for two jobs
It never fails to amaze me at how stupidly things can be handled in the workplace - you were not treated vey respectfully at all, so now you will look for greener pastures .
You should definitley mention how unprofessional they have ALL been, dont let it slide.
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But that's MY job!!!
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