I'd like some "outsider" opinions on a work situtation.

[Left Is Write]

I need to make a decision, and I would appreciate being able to look at this situation from an unbiased perspective.

I have been at my job for a little over six months. It's a fairly simple job - provide daycare at a health club - and I work four days a week, three or four hour shifts. It's a low-paying job, but it's also low-pressure and I can bring my children with me if I want to or need to.

Most of the daycare employees have been aware recently that the daycare supervisor has not been entirely happy with her job. She and her husband also run their own business and her time is somewhat limited. I assumed that she would eventually leave when she found something that better suited her; I suppose others have assumed the same, but it isn't something we really talk about.

Because of the supervisor's limited time, one of my coworkers has had to do a lot of the scheduling (scheduling is the supervisor's job, but only a small portion of it). This coworker is a terrific worker, careful and responsible, quite pleasant to be around and work with, and she's been at the club for about a year and a half. I had always assume the torch would be passed to her if and when the supervisor's position came open.

It came open. The supervisor quit yesterday. She called me at home last night to give me the heads up that the general manager would be speaking to me today. Evidently, his first choice to fill the supervisor position is me.

He did come and talk to me today, he did say he wanted to give me first crack at the job, but that he had "one or two" other people he was considering if I didn't want the job.

The supervisor job comes with a pay increase of two dollars an hour. I could keep working all of my nursery shifts, some of them, or drop them entirely. I was also told that if I needed to hire another person to take over the shifts I'm currently working, that I would be free to do so. The general manager did say, however, that he thought it was a good idea for the supervisor to continue to work at least a shift a week to keep her finger on the pulse of the day-to-day running of the nursery and daycare. The primary responsibilities of the supervisor are to make sure all shifts are covered (and cover them herself if necessary), track cash coming into the daycare, prepare weekly reports on use of the daycare, prepare weekly budgets for staff and occasional budgets for items like snacks and craft supplies, create schedules, interview and hire when necessary, take comments/complaints/suggestions from members, and meet with the general manager once a week to over costs and budget and any issues that may have arisen.

If I were to take the job, I could set my own schedule. As long as all shifts are covered and the supervisory duties are performed, I would be free to work at my own convenience. This would be a BIG deal to me, because I was considering cutting back for the summer so that my children don't have to spend every day of their school break indoors at the gym. To be able to work fewer hours at more dollars per hour is quite appealing.

The job is not without headaches, of course - scheduling conflicts, several people wanting time off at the same time, member/customer complaints, and the normal stresses that come with overseeing a group of employees.

I'm not really struggling with whether the wage and freedom are worth the attendant headaches. I'm leaning toward yes. I'm flattered and pleased that management thinks highly enough of me to offer me the position first, and I'm gratified that the GM believes that I'm a good fit and that when the current supervisor resigned he thought of me "immediately."

The problem I'm having is the coworker I mentioned previously. I can't get over the feeling that I'd somehow be stabbing her in the back by taking a position that she probably had every reason to believe would be offered to her. Mr. LIW says I can't worry about things like that, but I'll still be working with her. I don't want bad feelings or ill will between us.

On the other hand, it's not my fault that I was offered the job. I need to think about what's best for me - right?

Does anyone have any thoughts for me?

[seemunkee]

1. You didn't ask for it

They obviously think you are better suited for the job. You should take it and if there seems to be hard feelings talk it over with your co-worker.
Do you even know she is in consideration?

[Left Is Write]

3. Yes.

She is - if I don't take it.

[mainegreen]

2. They offered it to you. It's their decision as bosses.

Take it if you want it. You also have a higher responsibility to yourself and your family in this situation.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. I think you are a good person for worrying about the feelings of the other person -

that's good leadership, there!!

All the more reason you should take the job that has been offered to you. You might have some bad blood with the other woman - but then, you might not.

Cross that bridge when it comes. But don't give up a job because it might hurt someone's feelings.

You are wonderful for noticing what a good worker the other person is, and recognizing that she could have gotten the job, too. Trust your managers, and go for it.

:yourock:

[Shakespeare]

14. I'll second this. Congratulations, and...

Take that job!

[I Have A Dream]

5. Self deleted. I see the answer above. n/t

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Take it

:)

[wildhorses]

7. does she know anything about this?

i am afraid that will be hard feelings on her part ---

[judaspriestess]

8. can you find out from the former supervisor

why its not being offered to the other co-worker? You are right its not your fault that it is being offered to you and believe me, if it where the other way around, the other person would take it in a heartbeat. Maybe she doesn't want the job either. If the company feels you are the capable one and you fit the mode, then it is yours for the taking. Eventually you will want to talk to the other person but not until the gm makes his announcement. It is a hard spot to be in but its not your fault at all and if you want the spot, go for it. just my two cents. :)

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Oh boy. It's a sticky situation, but you need to make the decision that is best for you.

I've been on both sides of this situation. It sounds as if your co-worker did nothing to promote herself to management and the departing supervisor declined to recommend her. Lesson learned the hard way -- the bosses don't always notice your work.

[Joe Fields]

10. Take the offer.

[hfojvt]

11. I would say to take it

First, you are not the one doing the stabbing - management is. Second, they have seen both of you work, so she got a fair shot.

I worked part time at a particular job, and when my boss moved up, I kinda expected/hoped to get his job. Yet I was passed over - twice, by outside people. Yes, I was kinda mad as hell. However, that was more of a huge difference - not just more money because of more hours, but more benefits too, as in free insurance vs. paying $200 a month. Anyway I never held it against the people who got the job. It was management that I was mad at.

Third, if you do not take it, they might still pass over the person you are thinking of in favor of somebody else.

[lildreamer316]

12. Take the offer and THEN

sit down and tell her what you have just told us. I would hope that she would be flattered that you hold her in such high regard; and although she may be dissapointed; it seems she could count on you to rec HER when and if you decide to move on. Of course I would also hope she would understand that the flexibility with your family was a high priority also.
Being this open lessens the chances for hurt feelings, and resentful ones being used against you later.

[hedgehog]

13. I'd check with thte former supervisor to find out how many shifts she ended up covering.

You may find that not all the other people there are as dependable as you.

[Left Is Write]

15. I know exactly how many shifts she's been covering.

[DeepBlueC]

16. I'd take the job and NOT speak to her

If you talk to the co-worker you will be taking responsibility, in some sense, for a choice that you had no part in making and that may cause you problems later on when you have to be this person's manager. You have nothing to apologize for, and if you do she may begin to think that there is some legit reason to resent you or, worse, that you owe her something right off the bat.

[Nicole]

17. Accept the job

It's not your fault they passed over her for you.

As far as bad feelings or ill will between you when working with her, that may not be a problem. She might quit if it bothers her that much.

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. If she's the type to have ill will toward you

she'll do so regardless of it not being your fault. Humans are like that.

So, it boils down to this: If that's how she'd react, there's not much you could do about it. If she'd be happy for you or at least ambivalent (she might even be relieved), there's no problem in the first place.

Problem: How to find out how she feels without turning this into a bad sitcom plot.

Alcohol might help. :shrug:

[carly denise pt deux]

19. I have been in this position before

I was asked by a supervisor to transfer from one division to another. When I transferred, I was at the bottom of the pecking order. About 1 year later the supervisor decided to retire, she asked me to interview. I felt bad because a girl had been working there 3 years before I entered the picture, they didn't want her to take the supervisor's place, as she was not mature enough for the job. I ended up with the job, and it did hurt this girl, and I was not so excited about my new promotion. Eventually things got better; so if you want and need this promotion, go for it, but be prepared to be strong if things get emotional, it will be o.k.

[GalleryGod]

20. FWIW

Once you accept this job...your life will be a little bit miserable until the aforementioned Terrific,Quite pleasant to be around and work with,careful, and responsible employee quits.

She will and it won't be the least bit pretty.

[philosophie_en_rose]

21. You ARE the best person for the job.

For whatever reason, you were picked as the best employee.

Take the job.

Your coworker should be happy for you, even if disappointed for herself.

And you have no guarantee that she would be hired, if you don't take the job.

[Kat45]

22. You know, you sound a lot like me.

If I were in your situation, I would have the exact same feelings that you do. But as I further consider it, my thought is that you should take the job. And try not to feel guilty about it. (I think I would take the job, but knowing how I am, I might feel guilty at first. Don't do that (feel guilty).

[RebelOne]

23. Go for it! And good luck!

Sometimes you have to think of what's best for yourself and not worry about the other people.

[NC_Nurse]

24. Sounds like the job will be good for you.

You didn't stab her in the back. Feeling guilty won't change anything but how you treat her and that will screw things up.

Keep reminding yourself of WHY you're taking it. It has nothing to do with her. If she is upset, it should be with the boss, not you. Let it be between them.

[Lyric]

25. I was in a very similar situation years ago

I was working at a poultry production plant in Virginia. I started that job when a friend of mine got me an interview--she'd been working there for about a month already when I started. We worked on the nightshift Cut-Up line, turning whole chilled processed turkeys into marketable parts--drumsticks, thigh meat, whole breasts, etc. I was 17 years old when I started, and there were about 70 people on our line.

Three people oversaw the whole thing--a shift supervisor, and two line leaders. Line leaders are the workhorses--they are the ones who are out there on the floor, helping the workers if they fall behind, keeping orders straight, doing changeovers from one product to another, keeping a tally of what has been done, and reorganizing the employees to best effect. One of our line leaders got a promotion and become a dayshift shift supervisor, so the job was posted and those of us who were interested applied for it. I was only 17 years old, working at my very first job *ever*, and had only been there for 3 months, but I decided to apply anyway. I wasn't expecting to *get* the job, but since the supervisor was a man who valued confidence and initiative, I figured that the interview would be a good chance for me to stand out from the crowd, and perhaps make it easier to get a different promotion further down the road. I stood out a lot more than I was anticipating, though, and was actually offered the position--ahead of people who had been there for 10 years in some cases, and ahead of my own friend who had also applied for the job.

I was really nervous about taking it, because I knew that there would be a lot of resentment over it. But I truly was qualified for it--I had learned the ins and outs of the line pretty fast, and was already doing the specialized jobs that supervisors always give to the employees who are the brightest--like running the huge, complicated scales, making tags and order cards, inspecting the final product, etc. So I bit the bullet and took the job. And there *was* some resentment at first. But it was short-lived, because I didn't walk around acting "guilty" over it all the time, and I did a damned good job. It only took a week or so for everyone to start seeing me as a leader instead of a co-worker. After the initial period of disappointment, my friend was actually happy for me.

Take the job. Unless your co-worker has obsessive issues, she'll accept it soon enough, and everything will go back to normal. :)

(edited for typos)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. honestly supervising shift work is a huge hassle. i have done it for years and think the manager

title is hardly worth it.

thats just my take.

[GalleryGod]

27. I agree 110% ,LP.

Ain't worth it.:argh:

[Left Is Write]

29. When you say supervising "shift work", what do you mean specifically?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. any work that has to have the shift covered. and that you personally will have to cover

if someone calls out.

[XemaSab]

28. Oooh... touchy

You shouldn't NOT take the job on her behalf.

I'd maybe give her first crack at scheduling or something as a peace offering. :shrug:

[skygazer]

30. The general manager thinks you're the best person for the job

He obviously has reasons to think that. He may have reasons to believe the other employee may not be the absolutely best person for it. You may not have that information.

If you want this job, I would take it. I don't see a real problem here. It's not up to you who the new supervisor is, nor is it up to this other employee. It's up to the gm who seems to think you're the one he wants. I would accept that and take it.

If it causes problems, you will have to deal with them as they come. But don't anticipate them. And don't feel guilty.

[LanternWaste]

31. Any bad feelings between the two of you will be her choice, not yours

I was promoted the same day my supervisor was demoted. She now works for the department I manage. She wasn't happy about it, but I didn't lose too much sleep over it-- but, as opposed to your scenario, my boss-turned-employee wasn't very nice (or very good at her job). But it was better for the company, and it was better for me.

On the other side of the spectrum...
I'm slowly taking away responsibilities from one employee and transferring them to another. Why? Because I trust her to do a better job. She's more competent and professional in her job and her demeanor, although she has the smallest amount of seniority in the department. He's understandably not happy about it (neither is my ex-boss-- she thought this was her back into the "Inner Circle"), but if it she can assist in making my department run better, it's a no-brainer.

I don't consider myself a Company Man, but I do like a smooth running department and although I'm stepping on toes to do it, my department is running more effectively and more efficiently than it ever has due to the recent adjustments in personnel.

In the end, your co-worker isn't technically losing anything she didn't already have, so the onus of denying any ill-will between the two of you will ultimately lie on her shoulders, not hers.

[billyskank]

33. You're not stabbing her in the back at all

If you want the promotion, take it and be happy! And congratulations. :yourock: