Forced change of job roles?

motorguy

I have been with a company now for six months. They are a large multinational with a UK division which employs maybe 1500 people here.

The job role was as a 'senior support specialist' in an IT department - basically looking after computer systems, actioning change requests, ensuring systems are up, etc.

Then last friday i was called into a meeting room and told that my role is to change. I am now (as of monday past) a 'technology platform manager' and i now have a small team who report to me and i liase directly with the internal clients and am an IT escalation point, as well as managing the workload of my new team.

I have issues with this as follows :-

(a) i left a previous job as a Technology manager as i hated it and the stresses of it impacted my health

(b) i took this job as it was a purely technical role with no people responsibilities and no direct liasing with (often difficult) clients

(c) Already i am getting calls / emails out of hours with an expectation that i will deal with the problems out of hours.

(d) they seem to already be under the impression that this is a 'great opportunity' for me to 'progress into management' as a means of motivating me, though i have no interest at all in getting back into IT management.

(e) they've just dumped a load more responsibility onto me to no personal benefit to me - they are drawing up a new contract with my new responsibilities on it as we speak

I can already feel my stress levels rising and i feel forced into a role i dont want, dont enjoy and didnt sign up for.

Is there anything i can do here, other than 'like it or lump it'? I know i have little rights if i've been in a job for just six months.

Proc

Have you spoke to them about it?

How did you react when you were told about the changes? If you just sat there, smiled and nodded, then you're a bit of a numpty.

If you have a problem with this, you should speak to your superior calmly, politely, and try and see if there are any other options of working this out "together".

As far as they know, you could be as happy as a pig in sh*t.

You've only been there 6 months, so if you're really not happy with it, and haven't got the diplomacy skills to talk to your boss without causing upset, they can get rid of you.

They've obviously seen some qualities in you that make you good with people as they've trusted you in this position. Either that, or they're just really desperate.

Personally, I see your reasons for not wanting to take the role as a bit girly. Too "stressful" causing health issues etc? Man-up a little and enjoy the recognition.

lucylucky

"haven't got the diplomacy skills"

That did make me laugh coming from one with none

lucylucky

pgilc1 wrote: »

I have been with a company now for six months. They are a large multinational with a UK division which employs maybe 1500 people here.

The job role was as a 'senior support specialist' in an IT department - basically looking after computer systems, actioning change requests, ensuring systems are up, etc.

Then last friday i was called into a meeting room and told that my role is to change. I am now (as of monday past) a 'technology platform manager' and i now have a small team who report to me and i liase directly with the internal clients and am an IT escalation point, as well as managing the workload of my new team.

I have issues with this as follows :-

(a) i left a previous job as a Technology manager as i hated it and the stresses of it impacted my health

(b) i took this job as it was a purely technical role with no people responsibilities and no direct liasing with (often difficult) clients

(c) Already i am getting calls / emails out of hours with an expectation that i will deal with the problems out of hours.

(d) they seem to already be under the impression that this is a 'great opportunity' for me to 'progress into management' as a means of motivating me, though i have no interest at all in getting back into IT management.

(e) they've just dumped a load more responsibility onto me to no personal benefit to me - they are drawing up a new contract with my new responsibilities on it as we speak

I can already feel my stress levels rising and i feel forced into a role i dont want, dont enjoy and didnt sign up for.

Is there anything i can do here, other than 'like it or lump it'? I know i have little rights if i've been in a job for just six months.

Have you told them you don't want this?

What is happening to your old role?

biggaz26

Proc wrote: »

Have you spoke to them about it?

How did you react when you were told about the changes? If you just sat there, smiled and nodded, then you're a bit of a numpty.

If you have a problem with this, you should speak to your superior calmly, politely, and try and see if there are any other options of working this out "together".

As far as they know, you could be as happy as a pig in sh*t.

You've only been there 6 months, so if you're really not happy with it, and haven't got the diplomacy skills to talk to your boss without causing upset, they can get rid of you.

They've obviously seen some qualities in you that make you good with people as they've trusted you in this position. Either that, or they're just really desperate.

Personally, I see your reasons for not wanting to take the role as a bit girly. Too "stressful" causing health issues etc? Man-up a little and enjoy the recognition.

Wow, that was constructive. You are a bit of a Bell End really.

OP You will either have to talk to your employers and convince them to let you keep you old role, or as you have been there less than a year, start looking for a new job!

Not overly helpfull but it's all Ive got. At least I didn't tell you to man up

DVardysShadow

Proc wrote: »

Have you spoke to them about it?

How did you react when you were told about the changes? If you just sat there, smiled and nodded, then you're a bit of a numpty.

If you have a problem with this, you should speak to your superior calmly, politely, and try and see if there are any other options of working this out "together".

As far as they know, you could be as happy as a pig in sh*t.

You've only been there 6 months, so if you're really not happy with it, and haven't got the diplomacy skills to talk to your boss without causing upset, they can get rid of you.

They've obviously seen some qualities in you that make you good with people as they've trusted you in this position. Either that, or they're just really desperate.

Personally, I see your reasons for not wanting to take the role as a bit girly. Too "stressful" causing health issues etc? Man-up a little and enjoy the recognition.

He moved from a previous job as a Technology Manager because he hated it. That is good enough for me.

Seeing his reasons as being 'girly' is ignorance on your part. Perhaps you should stay out of this one.

jimbms

I think you should go in and tell them you don niot want this role due to health reasons as stated, as for point (c) have you tried turning your phone off when you go home and not looking at work emails, it may give them the hint.

Proc

Awww. I love how I give decent advice about talking to your employer, going careful because less than 12 month etc (far more advice than any others) and all the cry-babies emerge over my tongue-in-cheek closing comment. Brilliant!

DVardysShadow

pgilc1 wrote: »

..
The job role was as a 'senior support specialist' in an IT department - basically looking after computer systems, actioning change requests, ensuring systems are up, etc.

Then last friday i was called into a meeting room and told that my role is to change. I am now (as of monday past) a 'technology platform manager' and i now have a small team who report to me and i liase directly with the internal clients and am an IT escalation point, as well as managing the workload of my new team.

...

I can already feel my stress levels rising and i feel forced into a role i dont want, dont enjoy and didnt sign up for.

Is there anything i can do here, other than 'like it or lump it'? I know i have little rights if i've been in a job for just six months.

They think you are good enough to be put in charge of a small team at 6 months in. But if you know it is not for you, then you are the one who knows best.

Obviously the manner of dropping this on to you was a bit of a shock, so it is not surprising you did not react at the time, but the very fact that you have sat with it over the weekend and not made your position clear on Monday morning indicates to me that you are probably not best suited to this.

You have to go back to them without further delay and say "I am sorry, I cannot do this job for you. I was taken by surprise on Friday, so I said nothing. But I have done the role before and I do not want it and I have been very happy to be just a Senior Support specialist. If you would like me to do more in that role, I would be very happy to discuss possibilities. But I do not want the [responsibility for other staff - or whatever aspects] which goes with the current role."

motorguy

Proc wrote: »

Personally, I see your reasons for not wanting to take the role as a bit girly. Too "stressful" causing health issues etc? Man-up a little and enjoy the recognition.

My previous role was as IT Director for a group of contact centres employing around 1200 people. Ultimately it became a 60+ hr week job with no time for any breaks and on call 24x7. I found it very difficult to unwind - as i never got fully away from the job - which then led to stress and my health went downhill from there - not that i ever took a days sick because of it. I was actually very good at the job - i just came to hate it because of the impact it had on me and my homelife.

This new role is looking after a large aspect of the IT infrastructure over two sites employing around 1200 people. Already there is an assumption that i am available out of hours and i can see that getting worse.

Its not a matter of 'manning up' and i dont want the recognition. I know i can do the job, i just never signed up for this role.

DVardysShadow

Proc wrote: »

Awww. I love how I give decent advice about talking to your employer, going careful because less than 12 month etc (far more advice than any others) and all the cry-babies emerge over my tongue-in-cheek closing comment. Brilliant!

Yes, I can see it has made your day. Sad what some will do to be party boy.