wish me luck? i'm going to talk to my boss today

[aquaria127]

In august my coworker fell down her stairs and screwed up her back and leg. since then i've been taking over her job (totally different from my actual job). a couple of days after she got hurt, they hired someone to do my job. monday, my coworker came back to do half-days until she can work full time, and I was told to move to a different desk that doesn't have a phone or email. And I'm not going to get my job back. today, I'm going to ask my boss why I was replaced, why I lost my desk to that person and that it hurts my feelings about being demoted and moved without being told in advance or getting an explanation. sometimes i think, "what is this going to accomplish?" but I have to stick up for myself. I know I can't keep letting people step all over me. I think it's going to be hard. I don't want to get upset. but I don't want to act in a way that would let him intimidate me.

[moimeme]

If I may make a suggestion, perhaps you'd consider going to your boss with a plan rather than a complaint. Figure out what needs to be done around your office that's not being done and offer to do it. It sounds as though they are about to move you out; if you can demonstrate your future value to them, they may change their minds. I don't think it will do you much good to go and complain; in fact it might have the opposite effect.

 

It was not a good sign that they hired someone into your job while you helped out in your co-worker's spot! Now, if you really want to stay, you're going to have to convince them that you're too good to lose.

 

I know I can't keep letting people step all over me.

I don't want to get upset. but I don't want to act in a way that would let him intimidate me.

 

These are sentiments that people low on the workplace pole cannot afford to have, I'm afraid. Plenty of bosses are highly wedded to hierarchy and they expect people at lower levels to be deferential. Stupid and archaic, yes, but that's how it is. Your choice is usually to deal with it or leave.

[EnigmaXOXO]

I'm behind you 100% Aquaria!

 

Try to remain calm and professional (and SMILE ), but by all means you are within your rights to question why your job description is continuing to change, and why you are not permitted to have your old position back.

 

Did they give you any indication as to what you would be doing next? Have you been hired as a "floater?" And will this mean any change in your salary?

 

On a more positive note, perhaps you are so good at multi-tasking that your employer sees you as a valuable asset. So don't panic yet until you've spoken to him/her. But it’s important that you find out what future plans your company has in store for you so that you are not constantly disrupted by the sporadic changes.

 

Also, you can discretely ask if/when they plan to reconnect your email and telephone line so that you can do your job more efficiently. I use to work for a large Government office and people would be moved around constantly. Drove us crazy! Sometimes it would take weeks for the one Network specialist we had to get everyone hooked back up. (She absolutely hated her job!!)

[aquaria127]

thanks so much for your replies. maybe it was bad fortune that I had to take over for the woman who got hurt and that someone replaced me. I'm not sure how to approach my editor without sounding like I'm complaining.it is bothersome that my job has been changing a lot lately. I've been a good reporter for over a year and a half. Not that I think my s*** don't stink, but I think a person can tell if theyre doing a good job.

Did they give you any indication as to what you would be doing next?

It was not a good sign that they hired someone into your job while you helped out in your co-worker's spot! Now, if you really want to stay, you're going to have to convince them that you're too good to lose.

at a performance review that we had about a month ago I was rated highly regarding my job duties, ethics, quality of work, productivity... I was told to do, and have been doing stuff that the other reporters wouldn't want to do, like retyping things, looking over grammar stuff, working a later shift. I've also picked up some other tasks. my boss did suggest that I organize papers for the woman who just came back, and maybe write one or two stories a week (I was writing about one per day before). I have ideas for some killer stories, if I was allowed to go back to writing. I might have to decide to stay or leave, or he might decide that I am on my way out. (!)

 

p.s. thanks for reminding me to be calm and smile =-)

[moimeme]

p.s. thanks for reminding me to be calm and smile =-)

 

For sure - go in there from a position of strength in terms of not being upset or complaining, ask what boss foresees for you in the organization, and make suggestions about your role. Lots of bosses are terrible at giving negative feedback or bad news - instead they shuffle people around endlessly. Some even give positive feedback anyway, though that's not all that bright depending on the nature of your employment contract. Sometimes they hope the employee will just quit. It is worth it to take the bull by the horns and find out from boss whether they are intent on keeping you or whether they're wavering; then you'll know whether or not to start looking elsewhere.

[EnigmaXOXO]

I'm also speculating that it may be a simple case of the "Yes Man"syndrome. Sometimes employees who are extremely passive and agreeable seem to be put upon more so than others who complain.

 

In one sense, its great to be flexible and a useful member of the team. But sometimes you may find yourself being overly burdened and taken advantage of until you finally cry "Uncle!!"

 

It's tough to know how to drawl the line without ruffling the wrong feathers.

 

Please let us know how everything goes. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

 

Look out Lois Lane!!

[HokeyReligions]

Good Luck with this. Sucks having to go thorough all these hoops. I'm going thorough my own career "crisis" right now and just spoke with my boss about my position. I'm luckier than some because I have already proven my worth to the company, but my job will end very soon. I will have good reference letters when I go -- but I'd rather have the job!

 

Smile, show solutions, bring a copy of your last review -- and go get 'em!

[EnigmaXOXO]

I think all the talented writers on this forum should get together and form their own publication!

 

And where's 2Sides? She would make an excellent third member of your dynamic trio!

[aquaria127]

Thanks for your kind words and advice. what you all said, makes a lot of sense and I'm thinking-thinking-thinking how to go about this. I know what I need to do, it's a matter of expressing myself in the appropriate way. I wasn't able to talk to my boss yesterday. I was psyching myself up to talk to him but he went home about half an hour after I got in. He said my coworker, the one who just came back, is picking up her job again really quickly, so he wants to talk about what I'm going to be doing. I'm asking for specific answers.

 

(grr)