Job duties taken away - not sure of my rights, please help!

purplesheep_2

Hi all,

I'm looking for some thoughts and advice as I'm not really sure what to do given my current situation...

To give you some background, I've been at my job for 18 months and have had nothing but great feedback during that time. After I had been there for a year, it was announced that we would be expanding our team and recruiting for a new role. I was a little concerned as to how this would affect my role, however I was assured (on numerous occasions) that it would have no impact at all.

The new starter for this senior position began in October and since then I have lost half of my workload. My job role is to look after two specialist areas and I now only look after one. What's all the more frustrating, is that I have had no consultation about my work going to this new member of staff and he is being paid significantly more than me to do work that I was already doing (I have it on my performance reviews that this work was done to a high standard).

I'm concerned that there is an element of sexism here, especially as he is being paid more than me to do work I was already doing. Our organisation has an issue with sexism, however these issues usually fall on deaf ears and I'm worried about putting my job in danger by speaking out.

I have tried to raise this with my management, however I haven't had a satisfactory response. They have told me the role was brought in by their predecessors (my old manager has since left and the other manager responsible is on maternity leave) there isn't enough work for the guy to do and that the role wasn't properly thought out. However, I'm not sure why this justifies taking my duties away like this?

I suppose my key questions are:
1. Can they take away my job duties like this without a consultation?
2. Are they allowed to take duties away from me and pay more for someone else to do them?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

HappyMJ

Yes and Yes.

getmore4less

Go higher if they are wasting money someone high enough should care.

k3lvc

purplesheep wrote: »

I'm concerned that there is an element of sexism here, especially as he is being paid more than me to do work I was already doing. Our organisation has an issue with sexism, however these issues usually fall on deaf ears and I'm worried about putting my job in danger by speaking out.

Would you care to elaborate - it almost seems like the forum is being used as a HR training ground this week ?

sangie595

Of course, with less than two years service, there are greater risks involved in arguing this. But based on what you have said, he is being paid higher than you because his post is senior to yours. The fact he is now doing work that you used to do isn't relevant to that. It may be that you don't think the employer is justified in taking away your work. But it isn't your work. It's the employers work. And they can distribute their work how they wish.

If you wish to take this further then you need to find a non-confrontational way of raising it that doesn't say that you are complaining you don't have enough to do now (because that could lead them to get rid of you, not him!). In the end they have to decide what to do with the role, what work it does and whether it is retained or not. Not thinking it out is entirely their fault. But be careful you don't get sucked into it or it may not end in the way you might like.

Manxman_in_exile

Ok - you're left with a reduced workload looking after just one rather than two specialist areas.


Is it possible for you to identify some way of "improving" or enhancing the service you provide to the remaining area or isn't there much scope for that? Presumably the reduced workload means you'd have more opportunity to deal with things in greater depth then previously, and maybe look at things that couldn't be done before because of time constraints.


A reduction in the quantity of work may be an opportunity to improve its quality. A half decent employer should welcome this approach (but a lot aren't half decent!). If you can come up with some good ideas suggest them to management, if you think they'll be receptive to them. Only you can judge this.


But without knowing more about what you do, it's difficult to know what more to advise

Manxman_in_exile

I would also just add that if you can do as I suggest then, depending on the atmosphere and culture at your workplace, be wary about "stepping on other people's toes".


To my mind suggestions from staff for improvements should always be welcomed, but office politics and petty jealousies (staff and managers) can be a real obstacle in some workplaces.

Folander

Not sure if the sexism angle will wash as you say a manager is on maternity leave, so there is at least 1 female in the management structure.

WobblyDog

I can't answer your questions, but what happens when he goes on holiday or gets sick? Can you maintain a toe-hold in "his" area by providing cover then?

Where I work (big IT company) they like to ensure there are at least 2 people immediately capable of doing any given task.