company relocating

[gwog]

My company announced 6 months ago that they are relocating to a new city. As would be expected many people decided they do not want to relocate (I happen to be one). Many people are leaving the company each week. As more people leave more work is placed on the remaining employees. Because they don't want to hire new people until they actually get to the new city.

My position is not scheduled to move until June 2006. Another individual is leaving my department in Jan 2006. Now they are talking about me taking on what that person does in addition to my current role.

My problem is two-fold. One I am at the very bottom of the pay scale in my current role (because of lack of experience - only been in this role for 6.5 months). And the I know the idividual leaving is paid a lot more than me (granted they have been with company for 15 years). But I feel like they are taking advantage of me - by asking me to do both jobs and the very minimum salary.

The second issue is this person is a horrible trainer, and I really don't want to suffer through her training me for somthing that I'm only going to be doing for 6 months (jan 2006 - June 2006). And it is not something I would want or expect to do in a new job.

Any thought on how to politely but firmly tell my employer thanks but no thanks!

 

[EBGreen]

One technique that I think works well is to go to your boss and point out all the things that you won't have time to do if you are given the new responsibilities. While you are doing this, be sure to point out that there will be a non-trivial ramp up time for you do to the lack of training.

[red]"... isn't sanity really just a one trick pony anyway?! I mean, all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you are good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit!" - The Tick[/red]

 

[DrJavaJoe]

You do not plan to look for a new employer before June 2006?


Two strings walk into a bar. The first string says to the bartender: 'Bartender, I'll have a beer. u.5n$x5t?*&4ru!2[sACC~ErJ'. The second string says: 'Pardon my friend, he isn't NULL terminated'.

 

[gwog]

Thanks TomThumb - good advice.

DrJavaJoe - I have been looking for something else - but not too aggresively. Because they have offerered an incentative to stay through end date, and as I said I've only been in role (a brand new role for me - my first in IT)for a little over 6 months - so I would like to have a solid year of experience so when I do seek other employment I can hope for better pay.

thanks.

 

[DrJavaJoe]

Ok then, walk up to the boss, let's call him Bob, and confidently say. "Bob, Doug is leaving in a few months and you have ask me to take over his duties but did not mention how much of an increase you were planning to give me." Then Bob will likely say "uhhhhhhhhh, well...." If he's ends with "Nothing or next to Nothing" then acted shocked and politley turn down the extra duties or accept the raise that he offers.


Two strings walk into a bar. The first string says to the bartender: 'Bartender, I'll have a beer. u.5n$x5t?*&4ru!2[sACC~ErJ'. The second string says: 'Pardon my friend, he isn't NULL terminated'.

 

[paterson]

If you don't stand up for yourself with this one, what about when the next person leaves and you have even more expected of you?

There are other options for your employer to look at, such as temporary/term employees, contracting the position for X amount of months until the move, etc... If they can get work out of you for free, they will do it EVERY TIME!!!!

If you are told that you won't be getting more $$ but are still expected to perform the duties of two employees, I would cut my losses and start looking immediately for another employer. When asked why you are leaving by any potential employer, be honest and tell them your current company is relocating to another city and you do not plan to move with them.

Good Luck!

 

[kHz]

The company is relocating and the employee has very little experience. What incentive will the company have to pay more money? Very little, if any. They may tell you to leave and hire a contractor or temp to finish out the remaining months. And I don't think you could turn down the duties as mentioned, because you have nothing to backup your position of not taking the on the extra duties. She may be a "horrible" trainer, but you will not always have someone training you, nor will they always be the best at other jobs either; if you even get trained. They are also paying you an incentive to stay until the relocation is complete, and I think this incentive would include accepting other tasks, whether you want to do them or not.

Your choices are:
1. Stay, do the extra work, get the incentive.
2. Quit now.
3. Stay, say you won't do the extra work, unless you get more money or just won't do it even with extra money. (with either being fired or not getting the incentive strong possibilities.)

Good Luck.

 

[orypecos]

Because you don't have a lot of experience, and it is only temporary, I would dive into the work and see it as a chance to learn a lot in a little time, and a way to 'jazz up' you resume. If they will pay you more, then great, but I wouldn't get too stressed out about the extra work load. Tell everyone that you are doing two jobs and if they don't like your decisions on prioritys, make them make the prioritys, and make them take the guff.

 

[spamly]

A common misconception is that extra duties = extra pay. If this were true then people would actually be paid on how much work they accomplish. As most people can guess, this just isn't the case in most work centers. Maybe in a perfect world... Companies base pay on company loyalty, experience, and competence (not necessarily in that order).

You are in a fairly unique situation though. I'd have to agree with kHz and say that the company will try to avoid paying you more if at all possible. I'd approach your boss like DrJavaJoe advised, but be prepared to be turned down.

You may want to have a candid conversation with your boss, explain your situation and ask for advice from him/her. Tell your boss that you'd love to help out the company and, but that you're concerned that you may be taken advantage of with all the extra responsibilities. Ask him/her what she thinks you should do. Your boss should appreciate the honesty and respect that you are concerned about the company.

As this is your first IT job, you really need to leave this company with a glowing recommendation. If you can leave on great terms and with a great recommendation, you shouldn't have a problem getting a new job.

Good luck!

 

[TruthInSatire]

I agree with orypecos. I say bust your butt for a while. Learn everything you can and take every bit of additional work with a smile. You may not get rewarded monotarialy, but experience is valuable also.

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