Sidelined

Irn_Bru_2

I've had a new manager who started with my (Legal Services) company about a month ago. Since she's come in, my motivation is gradually diminishing because I have little or no work to do. Its the same old thing all the time, and for the salary that I earn I feel I should be doing a little more than pressing CTRL + C and CTRL + V on my keyboard all day. That's not me being arrogant, just wanting to give value for the money that I receive each week.

I'm meant to be an analyst in the IT Department and I'm crying out for work but all I'm being told is that this is a quiet period before our upgrade. When that will be, and what my role will be in that work has again not been communicated to me so what am I supposed to do?

I suppose I could sit back, do the little that I am being given and just take the money but I want to work. I go to work, to work.

I have already asked others in my department for work, and I've been given bits of work to do but this isn't going to develop me (although it will give me a better idea of the work involved which will benefit my colleagues because I can cover for them if required) as its not related to the job that I'm paid to do, the job that's on my job description.

My big concern is that I'm asking for work from my own manager and not getting anywhere. Prep / planning work is being carried out for our big upgrade project but I'm not being included in any of it despite being in my role for nearly 5 years. I'm not resistant to change, but I don't like changing for the sake of it, and feel that if I could offer my input then I may be able to prevent this but I feel like I'm sidelined because I'm part of the old regime. I know that I have to learn and adapt but I feel like I'm not getting the opportunity to show what I can do which will reflect badly on me, particularly when the Senior Management don't know the whole story.

I genuinely fear that I'm in danger of being made redundant, and its starting to have an effect on my friends, partner and kids because I'm worried and stressed about it all. Do I go above my manager and share my concerns or stumble on hoping that things pick up?