Role not commensurate with grade...

elvis86

I'm currently employed in an administrative role in the public sector, and recently responded to an internal advert looking for someone of my grade to work on a month long project.

I applied, and was told that I had been successful (I later found out that there had been no other applicants!). I subsequently spent a month working on this project. To be honest, I didn't enjoy it at all. The project wasn't exactly what had been advertised, and I was working completely alone and unsupported, and got the impression that I was only doing the piece of work so that management could tick a box to say that "someone" was looking at it. I was glad to hand over what I'd done at the end of the month and return to my normal job.

However, the senior manager who I completed the work for was really impressed with me and the work I did. I'm now hearing whispers that they want me to continue in more of a permanant role, spending half of the week going around different centres and training/providing guidance to other staff of my grade (staff of my grade in the organisation have mostly worked here for years, are notoriously resistant to change, and generally pretty rubbish at their jobs tbh).

I'm not all that keen to do this job, knowing my employer it will be very much a buck-passing exercise as middle managers are equally rubbish at managing my colleagues, and I will face a lot of resistance. I just don't feel that it is fair to ask someone of my grade to do this (I have subequently discovered that the original month-long project role was originally offered to staff at the grade above me, and was only offerred out to people of my grade after nobody responded). I'm certain that a precedent hasn't been set, with someone of my grade undertaking such a different role to the general administrative work we do, being expected to "lead" a piece of work and to travel around training other staff.

In the current financial climate, a promotion is almost completely out of the question, but I'm wondering how I go about rejecting their request on the grounds that it's not commensurate with my grade, without risking my employment.:(

Andy_L

Was was just a month long secondment? If so then a simple "no thanks, I want to return to my original post at the end of the secondment" will suffice.

Sambucus_Nigra

'If you had completed a project close-out meeting, you would have found out that I was keen as mustard to return to my old job as I didn't enjoy the project in any way, shape or form. Thanks for asking though."

elvis86

Thanks for the replies.:)

The thing is, it wasn't a secondment as such. It was positioned as a "project opportunity", something they felt it was reasonable to ask someone of my grade to do. So I wasn't "acting up".

However, having worked on the project, and having heard what they're potentially going to be asking of me if they direct me into this long-term role, I'm certain that this is not commensurate with my grade.

And I think I have a pretty good case to argue this, what with them originally attempting to recruit someone of the grade above to do the original piece of work, and what with there being no precedent of someone of my grade working in a similar role.

I just want to go about it the right way so as not to jeorpordise my job by being accused of refusing to take direction etc. I'm getting myself really worried about it, as I know that the attitude of at least one middle manager that I work with is that "if XXX asks him to do it, he'll jolly well have to do it, he won't have a choice".:(

Unfortunately I'm not a member of a union as I've found ours to be about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

alisonmeyers

What you need to be clear on is if your issue is with the work "opportunity" or if it's the grade issue. I.e. you have no interest in doing it at all VS. "i might have an interest in doing it if they recognised it's above my grade".... which one is it?

elvis86

alisonmeyers wrote: »

What you need to be clear on is if your issue is with the work "opportunity" or if it's the grade issue. I.e. you have no interest in doing it at all VS. "i might have an interest in doing it if they recognised it's above my grade".... which one is it?

You're absolutely right of course, but to be honest I'm not sure.:(

I didn't particularly enjoy the month I recently spent working on it, but it does sound like this opportunity would be a development of that work and possibly a bit more interesting.

I think the grading issue is a key one, not only because they should pay someone a fair wage to do a fair job, but also because I can imagine collegaues of my grade reacting badly to someone who is effectively their equal coming in and trying to tell them how to do their job. Whereas if I had been given a promotion that would go some way to legitimising that, iyswim?

I think that if a payrise was offerred, and I had assurances that there would be more support and I wouldn't just be left to my own devices, I may consider it.

I'm just determined not to be manipulated and coerced into doing it on my current salary and without such assurances. If they really feel that it is a suitable role for someone of my grade, well I've had a go at it for a month, they can direct one of the other 100s of people of my grade (who should supposedly have all of the necessary skills just as I do) to do it.

KiKi

If they won't offer it at a higher grade, then could you ask for Higher Duty Pay in recognition of the fact that it's asking for skills and responsibilities above your current grade?

If they won't, then don't do it.

KiKi

elvis86

KiKi wrote: »

If they won't offer it at a higher grade, then could you ask for Higher Duty Pay in recognition of the fact that it's asking for skills and responsibilities above your current grade?

If they won't, then don't do it.

KiKi

Thanks Kiki. I don't think there's much chance of them agreeing to a pay rise in the current climate. I think they're going to go down the path of directing me to do it, and if I refuse then I risk disciplinary action.

I guess what I want to know is where I stand and how best I go about standing my ground if it comes down to it, the procedure that should be followed?

I'm nervous because with the way things tend to operate, I'll likely be "ambushed" at work unannounced and put on the spot in the presence of a couple of managers. I want to be prepared.