I have worked for a small family owned company for about a decade.

Anonymous

October 14,2022 at 4:27AM UTC

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I have worked for a small family owned company for about a decade. I am the administrative assistant and wear a lot of hats including that of an unofficial project manager for a multi million dollar project. We are in an industry that struggles in a recession, so we are currently struggling. Due to resignations, the office staff is half what it was a year ago. This leaves me very, very busy and filling in for everyone in the company when they are swamped or out of the office.

I am being asked to step into a sales role but with no associated boost in pay. I am the lowest paid person in the office. (I know what everyone else except one person makes.) I have spent years managing projects and watching the sales team get financially rewarded for my work.

I am not interested in doing sales work on top of what I am already doing and at no additional pay, but saying no is being interpreted as me not being a team player.

How do I better word my refusals?

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AnonymousOctober 14,2022 at 10:02AM UTC
Draft a job description that is comprehensive and lists all your duties. Include your compensation and meet with the leadership and let them see for themselves that you cannot take on additional responsibilities nor do you want to.
Elizabeth Blankensop-ConnerOctober 14,2022 at 10:18AM UTC
Before you turn it down, I would first consider if this might be a role you would enjoy. If it is, then your reply needs to be assertive and concise, establishing boundaries for your job duties, and that you wouldn’t want to be learning a new role until somebody was hired to take over the duties you are currently doing. Finally, you would need to request what the compensation would be.