When to push back and how?
September 21, 2014 6:21 AM Subscribe
I have an amazing job which pays well. However, due to staffing problems I'm repeatedly being asked to drop everything and take one for the team, sometimes on very short notice, with not even an 'attaboy' to show for it so far. How do I push back against this professionally?
My job involves working 4 or 5 12 hour shifts in a row, days and nights, to cover 24/7/365. I was thrown into this role with barely two weeks' training and a month's shadowing and haven't had any further training for a year after that, and there is 'no budget' for any on the horizon. Despite this I am, to put it frankly, acing the role, with my operations manager from the customer dropping very big hints that I should be thinking about moving up to a more senior position.
To make up for the hours I get long weekends every weekend, and an unsociable hours increase to my salary. What I do not have is any expectation that I should be 'on call'. The team has barely enough people to allow us to take any holiday and it is not logistically possible for all of us to take all of our holidays in a year; and our contracts state that if we don't use it, we'll lose it.
Combine one person taking holiday with another person being off sick, and what happens is that I get a call from my line manager (not the customer, my own company) after my last night shift that wakes me up, and tells me they need me to do another shift. So I did that, and my reward is that the guy who's sick "owes me a day". Then today I get the same call, with even less notice. This time if I'm going to do it, it involves cancelling a trip I've had planned. I also have a day in lieu which I'm never going to be able to take because we can't take all of our holidays anyway.
So now to the actual question. Given that I have a pretty cushy deal (although I've most certainly proven I'm worth it), at what point do I tell my boss 'no'? What do I deserve to get in return for a 'yes'? What I've had so far barely qualifies as a 'thanks, buddy'. Also bear in mind that if we don't provide this 24/7 cover my company gets fined heavily.
P.S. I am working in Europe; it's not going to be easy to fire me.
My job involves working 4 or 5 12 hour shifts in a row, days and nights, to cover 24/7/365. I was thrown into this role with barely two weeks' training and a month's shadowing and haven't had any further training for a year after that, and there is 'no budget' for any on the horizon. Despite this I am, to put it frankly, acing the role, with my operations manager from the customer dropping very big hints that I should be thinking about moving up to a more senior position.
To make up for the hours I get long weekends every weekend, and an unsociable hours increase to my salary. What I do not have is any expectation that I should be 'on call'. The team has barely enough people to allow us to take any holiday and it is not logistically possible for all of us to take all of our holidays in a year; and our contracts state that if we don't use it, we'll lose it.
Combine one person taking holiday with another person being off sick, and what happens is that I get a call from my line manager (not the customer, my own company) after my last night shift that wakes me up, and tells me they need me to do another shift. So I did that, and my reward is that the guy who's sick "owes me a day". Then today I get the same call, with even less notice. This time if I'm going to do it, it involves cancelling a trip I've had planned. I also have a day in lieu which I'm never going to be able to take because we can't take all of our holidays anyway.
So now to the actual question. Given that I have a pretty cushy deal (although I've most certainly proven I'm worth it), at what point do I tell my boss 'no'? What do I deserve to get in return for a 'yes'? What I've had so far barely qualifies as a 'thanks, buddy'. Also bear in mind that if we don't provide this 24/7 cover my company gets fined heavily.
P.S. I am working in Europe; it's not going to be easy to fire me.
They only keep asking you because they know you won't say no. Say no.
"I'm sorry, that won't be possible."
posted by notsnot at 6:36 AM on September 21, 2014 [25 favorites]
"I'm sorry, that won't be possible."
posted by notsnot at 6:36 AM on September 21, 2014 [25 favorites]
The team has barely enough people to allow us to take any holiday and it is not logistically possible for all of us to take all of our holidays in a year; and our contracts state that if we don't use it, we'll lose it.
What do I deserve to get in return for a 'yes'?
To be able to take the benefits that they have agreed to give you and you are entitled to take. Even though the salary might be high, you also need to be able to take your vacation time. That's part of your overall compensation. If you can't, that's money you are leaving on the table as well as creating a situation that will hasten burn out. And of course, there's the whole working to live and not living to work thing. It sounds like this job is becoming the latter, which is not healthy.
Push back by saying no, especially in situations where you have already made plans. If that turns out to be culturally untenable where you work, start looking for another job.
posted by jazzbaby at 7:26 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
What do I deserve to get in return for a 'yes'?
To be able to take the benefits that they have agreed to give you and you are entitled to take. Even though the salary might be high, you also need to be able to take your vacation time. That's part of your overall compensation. If you can't, that's money you are leaving on the table as well as creating a situation that will hasten burn out. And of course, there's the whole working to live and not living to work thing. It sounds like this job is becoming the latter, which is not healthy.
Push back by saying no, especially in situations where you have already made plans. If that turns out to be culturally untenable where you work, start looking for another job.
posted by jazzbaby at 7:26 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
"...dropping very big hints that I should be thinking about moving up to a more senior position." sounds like code for "blowing smoke up your ass and stringing you along so that they don't have to staff up or pay you what you're worth".
"big hints" are manipulative hogwash, and you should be very wary of them.
posted by straw at 8:09 AM on September 21, 2014 [18 favorites]
"big hints" are manipulative hogwash, and you should be very wary of them.
posted by straw at 8:09 AM on September 21, 2014 [18 favorites]
"Im sorry, that won't be possible." Take your trip. The company gets fined. This is the natural cosequence of its staffing policies. Repeated fines will help it change its policy. Stay calm, stay clear. Don't be critical, don't argue, don't go in.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:23 AM on September 21, 2014 [10 favorites]
posted by SLC Mom at 8:23 AM on September 21, 2014 [10 favorites]
Talk to your boss when it isn't an emergency. Make an appointment with your boss and lay out your concerns. Have a list of your requirements -- e.g., "I can designate 'No-call' vacation times with two weeks notice", "I will receive one full paid vacation day for each call-in shift" -- and be prepared to negotiate. Be prepared for what you're going to do if your boss says "No" to everything you ask for. If that's quitting, be ready to do that.
And then hold them to the agreement. If they need to pay someone to be on-call for when you don't want to be available pursuant to your agreement with them, then that's what they need to do, and that is not your problem.
posted by Etrigan at 8:25 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
And then hold them to the agreement. If they need to pay someone to be on-call for when you don't want to be available pursuant to your agreement with them, then that's what they need to do, and that is not your problem.
posted by Etrigan at 8:25 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not only will they keep adding to your workload, you will never get the promotion, because now you're "critical" to operations and there's no way they can replace you.
Note that you don't have to explicitly say "no". You just have to be not available. If you're not on call, just don't answer the phone. Stop checking your email as frequently. Personally, I disabled my email on my phone to avoid some of these issues.
posted by bitterpants at 9:21 AM on September 21, 2014 [22 favorites]
Note that you don't have to explicitly say "no". You just have to be not available. If you're not on call, just don't answer the phone. Stop checking your email as frequently. Personally, I disabled my email on my phone to avoid some of these issues.
posted by bitterpants at 9:21 AM on September 21, 2014 [22 favorites]
You have a benefit - holidays - that you will be unable to use due to scheduling. That represents a loss of pay. Now you are being asked to do additional work for no apparent pay. The person who was sick 'owes you a day' but sick time is probably a benefit, so having to make up sick days is another loss of pay. The company is maximizing profit by not hiring enough staff to cover the schedule, holidays, and sick time.
If you feel that you make enough money, fine. Otherwise, plan and take holidays, and don't answer phone calls from your manager when you're off. Another option would be to negotiate and have your unused holiday time rolled over in to subsequent years, or paid in cash if you can't use them.
posted by theora55 at 9:48 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you feel that you make enough money, fine. Otherwise, plan and take holidays, and don't answer phone calls from your manager when you're off. Another option would be to negotiate and have your unused holiday time rolled over in to subsequent years, or paid in cash if you can't use them.
posted by theora55 at 9:48 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Are you required to be reachable by phone on your days off? If not, practice the art of strategic unavailability and let the next call go to voicemail.
posted by rpfields at 9:51 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rpfields at 9:51 AM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Stop doing it. Stop answering the phone when you're not on call. Are there only three of you, so that if one person is sick and one is on vacation, you're the last one there, or is it that you're the only one who accepts these last minute requests?
Are you sure that the use it or lose it vacation policy is even legal?
posted by jeather at 10:09 AM on September 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
Are you sure that the use it or lose it vacation policy is even legal?
posted by jeather at 10:09 AM on September 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
at what point do I tell my boss 'no'?
When you don't want to go in on your day off.
I guess you don't have caller ID? Get caller ID. Let them leave you a message.
Turn off your ringer while you are sleeping.
there is 'no budget' for any on the horizon...bear in mind that if we don't provide this 24/7 cover my company gets fined heavily
You aren't at the level where keeping the company from getting fined because you didn't hire enough people is your problem. Getting a fine might encourage them to budget for another employee.
posted by yohko at 1:13 PM on September 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
When you don't want to go in on your day off.
I guess you don't have caller ID? Get caller ID. Let them leave you a message.
Turn off your ringer while you are sleeping.
there is 'no budget' for any on the horizon...bear in mind that if we don't provide this 24/7 cover my company gets fined heavily
You aren't at the level where keeping the company from getting fined because you didn't hire enough people is your problem. Getting a fine might encourage them to budget for another employee.
posted by yohko at 1:13 PM on September 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Are you sure that the use it or lose it vacation policy is even legal?
It isn't in my state. You should look into this, OP.
I actually caught a company out on this a few years ago and got like two years of vacation pay doubled up all at once, took some time off, and rocked out.
Everything above is good advice, but specifically look into that. It's one of those things like gift cards "expiring" that you often need to directly drill companies on to get them to grudgingly give you what you are rightfully entitled to.
I am not the only person i know whose had to do that.
posted by emptythought at 3:49 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
It isn't in my state. You should look into this, OP.
I actually caught a company out on this a few years ago and got like two years of vacation pay doubled up all at once, took some time off, and rocked out.
Everything above is good advice, but specifically look into that. It's one of those things like gift cards "expiring" that you often need to directly drill companies on to get them to grudgingly give you what you are rightfully entitled to.
I am not the only person i know whose had to do that.
posted by emptythought at 3:49 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
1. Don't answer the phone if it's work calling in your off hours.
2. Say no.
3. Look for another job, this is not okay.
Bonus points: Think about this, if you keep sweeping in to save them, why would anything change?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:09 PM on September 21, 2014
2. Say no.
3. Look for another job, this is not okay.
Bonus points: Think about this, if you keep sweeping in to save them, why would anything change?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:09 PM on September 21, 2014
Drop your marker early. "I'll be on vacation the first week on December." Stick to it.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:25 PM on September 21, 2014
posted by SemiSalt at 4:25 PM on September 21, 2014
Under european law you are not supposed to work more than a certain number of hours, certainly without compensation. They are playing fast and loose and they probably know it. I would not answer the next panic call and then sit down with my line manager when next in the office. I would agree that if i did the last minut work, i get time and a half compensation or days in lieu. Then confirm that agreement over email. Also i would renegotiate the expiration of vacation days in light of business needs, again getting that agreement in writing.
If you want a promotion, i would then go to HR, explore how much it would cost to hire additionl contract or fle cntract workers, do up a budget, risk analysis, etc. Then i would present this to my boss and boss' boss as a fix to this problem
posted by zia at 8:56 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you want a promotion, i would then go to HR, explore how much it would cost to hire additionl contract or fle cntract workers, do up a budget, risk analysis, etc. Then i would present this to my boss and boss' boss as a fix to this problem
posted by zia at 8:56 PM on September 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, and i would offer to train and manage the new staff, under the current line manager of course. As my job would change significantly, i would offer to rewrite my job description, taking it up a salary grade.
posted by zia at 8:58 PM on September 21, 2014
posted by zia at 8:58 PM on September 21, 2014
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