What is your take on this?

Abbafan1972

The MD I work for has 2 companies in the same premises.

There are 2 of us in the office. Colleague works for company A and I work for company B.

Colleague works 4 days and has Friday off, I have to work a Friday (shorter day though).

Personally I don't think this is fair, as when I am in on a Friday I end up getting lumbered with things that are to do with company A and I am trying to get my own work done.

We do cover bits and pieces of each others work when we have holidays (we can't be on holiday at the same time), but this is every Friday. I get phone calls asking for colleague and chasing orders for other company and I can't tell them anything as most of the factory are not in either (there's probably only about 3 people in on a Friday).

I am looking for another job and as soon as I find something I will be off, in case anyone does suggest this.

Any comments please?

Thanks.

Comms69

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

The MD I work for has 2 companies in the same premises.

There are 2 of us in the office. Colleague works for company A and I work for company B.

Colleague works 4 days and has Friday off, I have to work a Friday (shorter day though).

Personally I don't think this is fair, as when I am in on a Friday I end up getting lumbered with things that are to do with company A and I am trying to get my own work done.

We do cover bits and pieces of each others work when we have holidays (we can't be on holiday at the same time), but this is every Friday. I get phone calls asking for colleague and chasing orders for other company and I can't tell them anything as most of the factory are not in either (there's probably only about 3 people in on a Friday).

I am looking for another job and as soon as I find something I will be off, in case anyone does suggest this.

Any comments please?

Thanks.

What do you mean not fair? You're paid for this time aren't you?

Kayalana99

Comms69 wrote: »

What do you mean not fair? You're paid for this time aren't you?

Yup I agree. I would say it was unfair if she was on the same salary/pay but end day you're there to work and being paid for it whilst she isn't.

enjoyyourshoes

can you do the work to the appropriate standard within the allocated time?

Do you need additional skills to undertake the 'different work' from firm B on the 1/2 day Friday, or is it materially the same (just with a different name?)

If all OK above, just accept that is the way the MD wants things to work, you get extra pay as a result (compared to your colleague) and life is good.

Comms69

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Yup I agree. I would say it was unfair if she was on the same salary/pay but end day you're there to work and being paid for it whilst she isn't.

To be honest, she could be on double or triple the salary and it'd still be fair.


the OP has chosen to exchange labour for financial reward. The rate is between her and her boss. If the colleague has negotiated a better deal - well that's just life.

marliepanda

On Friday say company B doesnt have anyone in the office today, please call back mon/thurs next week , maybe even ask if the hold message can say something along the lines of that.

I dont see whats so arduous about saying youre gonna have to call back

(Apostrophes removed to stop the forum error, dont judge )

TELLIT01

If I'm interpreting what the OP says correctly, Friday is a shorter working day anyway so surely the workload of answering the phone for questions to the 'other company' can't be that great. Sorry but it sounds more like the whingeing of somebody who is fed up with the job than a justifiable grievance. That thought is supported by the fact that the OP is looking for another job.
As has been said above, all the OP needs to do is say that there is nobody here from Company A please call back on Monday. Don't offer to take a message, unless that's what the current instruction is.

Diamandis

Doesn't seem unreasonable at all. At my work I pick up things for my colleagues when they're not in, there's an element of that in most jobs.

Why is it that it bothers you so much? Have you had a discussion with the MD about how he would like you to handle enquiries for company A? Is this the reason you're trying to leave or is there more to it?

TBagpuss

What does your boss say?
It sounds as though there is an agreement between the two companies, so if you are finding that the cover you provide for the other company is impacting on your work for your own company, you need to bring that to your boss's attention and let her decide how to address it.

What sort of things are you 'lumbered' with?

If you boss agrees that it is an issue, you could think about how to address it, such as setting out of office messages on your colleague's phone and e-mail, letting your colleague know that she needs to manage expectations of 3rd parties etc, but step one is to speak to your boss.

Has your own workload increased recently so that it has recently become a bigger problem?