Boss changing job role .. Not happy. HELP

antw23uk

Ok guys i hope you can give me some advise on the following please -
I currently work back office, covering reception for sickness and lunch breaks. Two months ago our receptionist left and i was told to cover reception until a replacement was found.
I kept asking when a replacement was starting but was pretty much ignored. (we contract a security firm to supply security and receptionist)
My boss has been in discussion with HR and has decided that my role back office will now be included with the reception role and i am to stay on reception full time (some parts of my old job will be given to someone else as i cant do them out here)

Now add into the equasion that my boss and I have a very volatile relationship. She dislikes me intensly and i have been feeling bullied on and off for the last six months. Being ignored, belittled etc. Feelings of depression and stress because im so misserable at work.

I have another meeting with her Friday which has given me a week to go through the new job description which i have a few questions about but really im looking for advise from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

In all honesty i dont mind sitting out here. For a start it means im not in the office with her and her thug sidekick. Obviously i feel a bit hard done by, a little embarrassed that im now in effect going to be a receptionist (no offence to receptionists)

I'm not sure what the option is if i say on Friday that i dont want to do it ... i dread to think!
Leaving isnt an option, ive been trying to get another job and its just not happening. I will not go to the doctors for stress/ depression (its not an option right now, i cannot have that on my file if i wish to persue adoption in a year or two)

Sorry my post probably doesnt make much sense, if i wrote all the details it would be pages long. Perhaps im just venting! Not sure

SandC

I don't have any constructive advice for you I'm afraid, just to say that I know where you are coming from and I feel for your situation.

A few years back I was lumped with my job including reception and I was PA to the bleddy directors of the company! Talk about feeling shafted to one side! Again, no offence to receptionists is meant at all, it just wasn't what I wanted to do. They didn't understand that covering is one thing, but having the whole job incorporated is another entirely.

Anyway, I actually left without a job to go to because I felt I was going to explode so before I got the heave ho for killing everyone in the building (:D) I had to go. Luckily I got a new, better job within a matter of weeks and i didn't even have to do any temping which was going to be my plan.

You could consider temping - I did join a couple of agencies but one had the job I ended up getting full time come up before I'd done any work for them. Neither of the agencies felt it was a problem that I'd left the other job, they said one instance like that was a blip that wasn't of any consequence - I did, however, make sure I was able to get suitable references so do consider that before doing anything drastic like I did.

Perhaps you could give the new job a go for a while first and maybe the new setting will actually suit you better in the long run.

Good luck!

meiso

It's easy for me to say, but the most important thing is your health - if you have feelings of being bullied and belittled, this can't be good for you. It's a tough job market out there, but there's still absolutely no reason to justify them bullying you. Perhaps start "putting the feelers" out there for other jobs - if you're asked why you left your last position, you can turn it around into a positive and say you were ready for more responsibility etc, rather than the potential red-light "conflict of personality".

Hope it helps a bit!

Janey7

The TUC have a webpage which gives a very short introduction to this area (http: //www. worksmart.org.uk/ rights/can_my_employer_change_my_contract_of).

Although you may not mind working on reception so much, bear in mind - are receptionists at your company paid a lower salary than that which you are currently on? If so, I would be concerned that in the future your company could then make an argument for regrading your job to a lower paygrade.

antw23uk

Thank you all, your very kind.
My job title stays the same as does the level of reporting so i believe my salary remains the same although it is one of my questions for Friday.
I just feel so incredibly deflated about the whole thing. I was so close to bringing a grievance of bullying against her the other day but ended up only having an informal chat with my HR rep. I just feel like this is a kick in the teeth really. For weeks people have been passing me and asking if there is a replacement yet blah blah blah and i kept replying with a cheerful smile that no, not yet ... now people are walking past and you see they darent ask, its almost awkward .. infact its just horrible and degrading

SandC

Yes, many people understood completely where I used to work. The boss I felt I could communicate more with didn't get it at all. I effectively felt that I had been demoted, yet all around were people being promoted in recognition of all their hard work. Ultimately there was nothing I could do.

All I can add is in your meeting to stay calm and don't get emotional. Put your point across that you understand that it is an important position but it wasn't the direction you were looking at going in...

getmore4less

it's a tough one, it is one of the jobs where you can make it your own and get to know a lot of stuff if you comunicate.

Also if it is a part time job where you do other stuff just so happens you happen to be at reception there is the chance to pick up work from other bosses when they have people off(holliday/sick) and drop the work for the bad boss.

It can be easy to take the negative view, but try to think of positive things,


One thing to watch out for is who covers your holidays,sick, wee breaks etc.