Former boss asking current boss for my time?

stevetuk

wapow wrote: »

There is clearly more going on here than meets the eye and I think OP has already suggested reasons for leaving.
You do not need to be a pushover and are absolutely within your rights to say you do not wish to return. Stand your ground.
If your new manager approaches you, explain about your handover and how you wish to utilise the time to learn your new role and you do not wish to go back to that role after having completed a successful guide as has been noted by senior management. If they have staff in that department already, then those members of staff should be used to train someone new.
I can assure you now, that if you fold, you will come out feeling worse than before and will have a lot of resentment.

Thanks, I appreciate the reasoned advice, and you are correct that there are lots of underlying reasons why I decided to leave. It did not go down well that I chose to do so...I think there are politics behind this request rather than business needs.

For example, in my handover training I trained up senior and junior colleagues to undertake all aspects of my work. They are still employed in my former department, so I have to question:
1. What the point of the handover was, given the latest request, and
2. Why they are not cascading that training
3. Why this has never occurred before with other members of staff who left the Department to move internally to another Department - what makes me different?

I was explicitly told that I had provided a solid exit strategy to ensure continuity of business. I have all of this documented in emails. If that is the case, why am I being asked to return?

I've got difficult conversations today and while I will ultimately agree I think I need to understand:
1. Exactly why I am required and why those I handed over to are unable to cascade the training
2. Exactly what is being asked of me
3. That there is a definite, final, end to this: I have a deep suspicion that if this happens, it will become regular and expected and there is nothing in my contract about working for two departments/two masters etc.

I will make sure it's recorded as under duress if it comes to involving the Union.

stevetuk

pmd123 wrote: »

This has happened to me several times in my organisation (NHS) whereby another department head has requested (of my manager) that they can "borrow" me for a project which requires my skills. I'm sure if I declined that would be accepted, but would probably do some damage to my reputation within the organisation.

I have always accepted this request, due to 2 reasons...

1) I see it as a compliment that other managers see my skills as useful, and they have the confidence in me to do the job required.

2) I go to work to get paid at the end of the day, as long as that happens, I can deal with anything that is required of me.

My advice is to do as you are required, unless there is a major reason why you don't want to do it, if that is the case then I'd politely decline and explain the reason why, any decent organisation should respect your wishes if your reason for declining is acceptable.

Thanks for this advice, appreciate it. You're right, it's a compliment in one sense but I have to be allowed to engage with my new role and I have been there less than a month. It's unfair on my my new colleagues and department, as well as me, in that sense. The time I will be spending on this request is time spent away from a team that was made to wait three months for me to join them while they were short handed.

At the end of the day, if seniors decide it's what will happen then it's what will happen but I will make sure that it's recorded that I'm accepting that under duress and that I want to make sure it's a time limited, one off, task.

PlutoinCapricorn

I would not be at all happy if I made a huge effort to document procedures and prepare handover material and it all appeared to have been wasted.

But as others have said, you are an employee and the managers agree these things among themselves; there is one of you and lots of them. These things happen, which is why I became self employed.

It may be a compliment that they want you back; it may be a sign that someone has messed something up.

SandC

What has your new Manager said about it, are they happy for you to go back and assist? I agree with you that it's not on but also difficult to refuse whilst you are employed by the same Company.

If you have so far got a good working relationship with your new boss I think I would be inclined to have a formal chat with him/her to register your (perfectly valid) concerns and find out exactly why they think it's okay for you to leave this job and go back to another for any amount of time (if indeed they have said it's okay).

Sorry I am not much help but just wanted to post in support really.

Bantex_2

Public sector I assume.

If the management tell you to do something, do it or resign.

Missme

Bantex wrote: »

Public sector I assume.

If the management tell you to do something, do it or resign.

These sweeping statements about having to do something because you're employed by 'the business' are nonsense unless you know what the business is and how it operates.

Do as you're told if it's reasonable not simply because you are an employee. Employees are not chattels.

OP, it may be a compliment that you will be asked to go back or, given your description, it may be that that particular section is so deep in the poop that you are the only available paddle. Do you need such stress?

No harm in speaking to your union and/or trying to negotiate terms. If you absolutely have to go back maybe a couple of days a week would suffice.

redcard

Missme wrote: »

These sweeping statements about having to do something because you're employed by 'the business' are nonsense unless you know what the business is and how it operates.

Do as you're told if it's reasonable not simply because you are an employee. Employees are not chattels.

It's obvious to anyone that it's not an unreasonable request. They're not asking the finance director to work in staff canteen.

PlutoinCapricorn

"It's obvious to anyone that it's not an unreasonable request. They're not asking the finance director to work in staff canteen."

It's not obvious to me!

I do hope that Steve comes back and gives us a report later today.

redcard

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

"It's obvious to anyone that it's not an unreasonable request. They're not asking the finance director to work in staff canteen."

It's not obvious to me!

I do hope that Steve comes back and gives us a report later today.

Seriously? They're asking him do to a job he did a few months ago.

Sometimes wonder how people can fail to interpret such basic details.

Missme

redcard wrote: »

It's obvious to anyone that it's not an unreasonable request. They're not asking the finance director to work in staff canteen.

Not quite. Each situation has it's own merits and what's obvious to you with your probably bionic eye ain't obvious to me.

I'd say directors of all sorts might benefit from walking in their staffs' shoes. Isn't there a TV series where bosses do that and come out of it understanding their business better?