Job Sharing Causing Bad Feelings

[mugs82]

Hello All!

I was hired by my company almost 4 years ago as a Network Administrator. I had worked in consulting in the past and brought in a broad range of experience. The company had a network administrator, but he was moving more into programming and development. This was fine with me, as I thought I could benefit from his experience while increasing my depth of my technical skills.

This worked well for about 2.5 years. Then, our boss decided to re-align our departmental duties. We were divided into teams and my "team" includes me and the former netadmin/programmer/whatever.

In this arrangement, I feel I have been assigned mostly low level desktop support type assignments because I have pretty good customer service skills. I felt a bit threatened at first and explained to my boss that I was concerned that my technical skills would suffer in this arrangement. He basically explained that my coworker wasn't really working out as a programmer and he thought it best for him to return his focus to the networking side of things.

After this occurred, I felt I needed to do something to enhance my package, so I enrolled in one of the top part time MBA programs in my city. I will be graduating from the program in December. Also, I have finished the requirements to take the CAPM exam and will be taking that shortly. I feel I have a lot of things going for me.

My problem is this. It really annoys me to be assigned the tedious, low level tech tasks while my coworker seems to get to choose his projects. For example, I found out this morning that he has begun working on a project that is listed as one of my goals for the year. I am busy doing new desktop rollouts and had not started it yet. I feel that if my "team" member has extra time on his hands to start on my projects, he should help me finish the low level tasks first. From my view, it seems like I am always left to finish the grunt work while this person picks and chooses his activities. I'm having a hard time deciding how I should react to this situation. Should I approach him about it? Should I talk to my boss about it? How should I bring this up?

I would appreciate any constructive advice.

 

[Lienori]

A tough call, with a combination of your 'team member' being there longer, and two people being squeezed into the same job.

I would talk to your team member and discuss your concerns; a direct and honest approach is often the best way. If you are unable to come to an understanding, you can speak to the boss. Heading straight to the top can sour working relationships, so it's best avoided when possible.

Being assertive will always help when other people believe that they outrank you, and do not. If you did end up looking for another workplace, you'd have a good reason. It sounds like the job you signed up for has drastically changed, affecting your day-to-day work, and possibly promotion potential.

 

[SQLSister]

I'd say that politically you are in a very poor position. This guy has convinced management that he has the better skill set and that you are only good for low level suppport. If he can take your project away without asking and without consequences then you know that in any confrontation, he will always be chosen over you. I'd almost guarantee that this guy has been putting you down behind your back.

I would talk to your boss and explain that this guy is working on what you thought was your project. Ask why it was assigned to him. Ask specifically if he can be assigned to do some of the support work instead so that you have time available to work on the project. If the boss refuses to change things, it is time to move on. In the next job you need to pay more attention to office politics.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[LadySlinger]

Was he assigned the project by your boss? Or did he happen to see your list of projects and "take" that one?

Dig a little out of him (without being confrontational -i.e. "Why did you take my project?") by talking to him. If he tells you that your boss told him to start the project instead of helping you, then you know you need to have a discussion with your boss.

If he says that he felt motivated to start this on his own, then tell him that you would like some help with your desktop roll out and any of the other low level tasks.

If he still doesn't help with that, then talk to your boss.

 

[rosieb]

mugs82 Who is Team Leader for this team?

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[mugs82]

Thank you for your comments so far! I'm glad to reaffirm that I'm not being petty, that there's definitely something to this.

As far as I know, he was not assigned the project. We are a small department with a Systems Analyst, an application developer, my coworker (programmer), and me( Net Admin).

Everyone in the department reports directly to the IT Director.

 

[SQLBill]

So if I understand you correctly, you had low priority jobs and a higher priority job. You put off the higher priority job to finish the lower priority jobs. I think you got your priorities wrong and maybe your coworker was trying to help by resolving the higher priority issue. Maybe, in hindsight, you should have stopped the lower priority jobs, accomplished the higher priority one and then gone back to the lower priority tasks. In the event of questions you could have said, I had to put off the lower priority tasks to resolve this higher priority tasking that I was assigned. When I finish that, I will return to the lower priority task or my coworker can finish it if they don't have anything higher priority.

Just a thought........

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[mugs82]

Thanks for your perspective SQLBill. It's not a case of priorities being mixed up...the old machines have to be returned to the leasor...the Director of IT would definitely not be happy if I put off the roll out or the day to day tasks that have to be done..

I also have to defend my coworker...I am pretty sure that he would not bad mouth me behind my back or intentionally try to harm my career. We have our moments sometimes, but he's a really good guy. He's had 5 different bosses in his time here and seems to have good survival instincts. I also have a great deal of respect for his technical skills.

Today, I just told him that the project he started is very important to me and I want to be involved with it through out its completion. That seemed to go over well. It definitely made me feel better.

My next action will be to talk to my boss about his view of how I fit into the "big picture". I'm just going to try to voice my concerns as positively as possible.

What do you guys think?

 

[Lienori]

That's sounds like a good idea. Talking things over with people is almost always the way to go.

 

[Opieo]

And being honest about everything is pretty much always the way to go.
I know it has helped me to be open with my boss about everything. I found out he is far more supportive than I had originally thought!

~
Give a man some fire, he will be warm for a day, Set a man on fire, he will be warm for the rest of his life.