You are hired to do a job.

Anonymous

September 20,2022 at 1:07AM UTC

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You are hired to do a job. Warning - kinda long

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They add more on. You graciously accept the challenge. You receive the earned (and promised bonus).

Then each week, it's more and more and more. And the rules change and you are dizzy from going in every direction while trying to focus on ONE thing at a time to get it right. Occasionally make errors but fess up and immediately fix. A huge to-do list by day, week, month, quarter.

You work the 40 and go home as salaried and NO OT, no comp time, no nothing.

You WANT to do more but know burn out is a real deal and value your rest to benefit sanity AND career. You like the variety yet can't always focus.

You ask for a slight change in hours (7-3 vs 8-4) as you are a morning person. No deal because "I'm needed all day" (others work 7-3 and I have an email!!)

I promised myself 6 more months as I'd then be there a year hoping for a raise (I'll have a LONG list of accomplishments to go with the request!! Not to mention research of comparison salaries in my area)

At what point is enough??? I was hired as an accountant. They added DIRECTOR of HR (I have NO experience and they know it.... It was added AFTER starting - from "filling in" to DOING and they added Asst Director of Supplies Management as well. I was recently added as a singer to the account so obviously I'm trusted (for which I AM HONEST!!) Too smart to do anything stupid!!!!!

The lead HR woman at our corporate office reminds me I'm unqualified in HR(she was hired after me and I'm at a different location) and I agree: I'm not HR!!! Supposedly no one in my office likes her anyway. She's ruthless :(

I'm organized and diligent but that's not the point.

I don't want to quit, I CAN'T quit. I'm 49 and scared of ageism. I have retirement goals but I REFUSE to be taken advantage of. At 4p, I say my cheerful goodbyes and go home with NO work.

How will I make it another 6 months??! On a positive note, how did I make the first 6 months?! Lollll

My predecessor made it 2m and bounced $150k check. Lady before her was "uncooperative" the 5 years she was there-- I was told. Everyone seems to like me- except the crazy HR lady.

Sorry for the long note. Been a long day!

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Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistSeptember 20,2022 at 3:17AM UTC
If you're not happy, fire that resume back up.
Why do you ask "How will I make it another 6 months??! " Please tell me it's not because you think you need to stay there for a year being miserable for I'm not sure what reason.
AnonymousSeptember 20,2022 at 4:11AM UTC
I don't think ageism is an issue any longer. I was scared to death of it. I am 59, getting tons of interviews, and turned down two offers already.
I am being choosy, looking for the right job, and supervisor.
If you don't like it, or get respect, make the leap.
AnonymousSeptember 20,2022 at 7:59PM UTC
First breathe. Outside of firing up your resume, you still have to endure in the meantime. If you can, try to get some of the things you've been assigned off your plate.
You mentioned the new lead HR person was hired after you but in the corporate office. Maybe you can have a meeting with her and find out what she would find helpful for you to do as the local HR person. No you aren't trained in HR, but if she gives you the corporate HR stuff, you can send it out to your location. If she doesn't want to have you as an HR person at all, get it in writing and get in writing who she wants people at your location coming to with their HR issues. Come at the meeting with a "let's figure out a solution that works for both of us" mentality. It sounds like neither of you think it's a good idea for you to be doing HR so maybe that can be the common ground you bond over. Having a meeting with her to set expectations about what you will be doing and what she will be doing might make her less difficult to work with.
In general it also sounds like you need to have a meeting with whoever your manager is. If you have multiple managers because you have been assigned so much stuff, get all of them in a room together. There is a very real chance that they don't realize how much work you are doing. Make the goal of the meeting to understand what exactly your primary responsibilities are and how they should be prioritized. If you want a raise, ask for a raise (based on research), if you want some of the work to go away, ask for that. Come into it with the original job description you were given so that you can show how it changed. Maybe some of the things you can still be signing off on, but someone else can be responsible for doing the actual work (like ordering supplies for example). Be prepared for them to say that there is nothing that can be changed, and have an answer ready. Chances are they won't give you exactly what you want, so it is important to know where you will draw the line in the sand and walk away.
Just some ideas to hopefully help. Good luck! :)