Thursday, 3 July 2008

Work News

Oh God I'm tired - if I could I would ring in dead tomorrow :) :)

As well as doing my job and half my supervisor's job, I have just been asked to take on the role of supervisor for our Project Team.

That means I:
directly supervise my 11 staff
indirectly supervise the 8 staff in Serials
directly supervise the 2 remaining staff in Project Team.

Project Team are the emergency response team - we need the basement cleaned out, project team.  We've got a mould infestation on Level 4 they arrange for the filters, specialist cleaning etc etc.

While things tick along I will be fine. As soon as the Project Team is required for an emergency, I'm dead. 

As is I've become a de facto Manager.  I act as a conduit for work and direction coming in and out of the three sections and monitoring work flows , attending meetings, writing reports, signing staff time sheets etc etc.

To be asked to do this is actually a great honour - it will look fantastic on my resume, and I *am* honoured that the Library Management believe I *can* do this.  I think I'm also being groomed to become a Manager - to give me the experience necessary to go to the next level of management.  I will also be getting a slight pay increase.

Overall I am happy but very tired!  I am stoked that upper management have this much confidence in me.


I *know* I can do this, but at what cost .....

26 comments:

Claire EJ said...

Sanity? Do you want to do this? Might this be the time to move closer in to Sydney? unless of course the Melbourne job app comes off....

Melissa Hicks said...

Actually this could be good - there wont be as much time to focus on my trouble staff so it will be a case of slam them down, move on and deal with the next issue - none of this angst and hand wringing I've been doing over all of them .....

Melissa Hicks said...

I have informed Upper Management that I will be leaving work at 4:30pm at the very latest every day and please do not schedule meetings for me that go after that as I need to leave for a work/life balance.

Claire EJ said...

Good for you girly! Nicely done.
Given the travelling time, you need to have some kind of home life or Trubs will be making even more of a point around the drain!

Melissa Hicks said...

Ah yes - you have a "point" there ....

Hilary Syddall said...

Um wow!!! a shame this didn't happen before you sent off the job application - but WOW!!

Paula Hubert said...

Wowsa - good for you! And good for you too about the leaving time - it's good that you set that boundary early. And it definitely might be good that you will have less time to dwell on the trouble staff. (Easy for me to say; that's been a bit of a sticking point for me with my management duties, too - fortunately I don't have half of the issues that you've had to deal with!)

Karen R said...

Yes, you need to stick to your guns on qutting time - if you run yourself ragged, you won't be any good to them, much less yourself and Ms. Trubby; employers need reminded of that occassionally. It sounds like it might work out well for you - you'll be one level removed from all of the PITA's - so long as they get a reminder periocially that you're still watching :) Sounds verrrryyy busy, but an excellent entry on your list of accomplishments!! I wish you the best of luck in every way!

Mariann Mäder said...

Very good news then, Mel! Congratulations. If it's less hassle for you it would be better in any case!

Melissa Hicks said...

Actually I received *very* approving nods from the Director and the University Librarian for making that statement! They were proud of me!

God I feel like I'm back at school and guessed the right answer :) :) :)

kay jones said...

Well done and good for you for setting the boundaries. Now stitck to them and make sure you get adequate time off. Hopefully this will make you even more "desirable" for any rival libraries :))

Melissa Hicks said...

That's the plan :) :)

Rachel Cox said...

Briliant - you are happy that is the best news!

Shawn Medrano said...

Great news Mel!!! I don't blame you about being firm with the quitting time....you really do need to have a bit of balance in there. :)

Stephanie Flynn said...

Congrats Mel (I think). Hope you can achieve some balance and that things work out ok.

Melissa Hicks said...

You're my role model Staphanie, I know you have to be there for long long times after your official shift ends - but my job is not that life or death. You are a living reminder of keeping my job in perspective. Thank you.

Stephanie Flynn said...

No need for me to be a role model. I chose this profession and I knew what the hours were when I did. Do I get tired? Definitely. Do I reach points that I just want to go home? Uh-huh. Have I ever, really, seriously wanted to quit? Never. You can tolerate a lot when you love your job (remind me of this in September). It's harder when you don't. Besides, I think my body has decided being on call is an ok thing. Now that I have no call, I have trouble sleeping at night, and my body is longing for an 18 hour post call power sleep. But on the other hand, I HAVE A 3 DAY WEEKEND!!!!

Melissa Hicks said...

Three day weekends are bliss !!!!

In one week and 10 minutes I will be going on holidays for 10 days :) :)

and I am serious - just by existing you help to keep me grounded and remind me that my mountains at work, really *are* molehills.

And we've just changed procedures to include rock paper scissors as part of decision making processes :)

Stephanie Flynn said...

I get a vacation in 4 months. I'm very excited :-P I'm going to bed now.

Sisu Lull said...

I hope it all goes well Mel, just don't run yourself into the ground.

Claire EJ said...

Having read Mel's resume, she should be the number one hireable person in the industry in Aus!

Melissa Hicks said...

Awwwww - thank you sweetie. I don;t think so, but thank you :) :)

Donna Williams said...

Sometimes work just feels that way, whether you are responsible for huge projects or just fixing a printer.

Good for you, though! Stick to the leaving time. I'm doing the same thing here with days off. Or trying, anyway.

Nancy Murdock said...

Best of luck with the new responsibilities and it's great that you stood your ground on the leaving time!

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

Oh Mel - I hope this works out great for you! If nothing else it will be a bargaining chip for a new job.

Melissa Hicks said...

{ervil grin} *exactly* why I agreed to do this !!!!!

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