Covering for absent manager

wozzizname · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:00

Hi folks, I’m looking for a second opinion on my current work situation.

I work as an IT support guy for a non-profit organisation. There’s just me and my manager in the department, but he had some run-ins with a Director and has now been off sick with stress for a month, and I still don’t know when he’ll be coming back. Meanwhile I’m running the department and doing everything single-handed.

Is it unreasonable of me to ask for some kind of compensation for doing this – a bit of extra pay, or a couple of days extra leave ?

kokuten · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:00

You should be able to claim for additional pay, I know you can when you're seconded into a role at my place, if you have a HR it'll be best to ask them

Zethor · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:04

Off sick with stress for a month and possibly longer? Since when is stress a sickness?

omnomnom · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:06

Just do it for the money you get paid. It only looks good on you anyway. The whole "well so and so's off i should get x and y " is kinda lame, just help out...good work ethic and all that.

Obvs if it goes on for a long time, that's different.

tom_e · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:11

omnomnom said:
Just do it for the money you get paid. It only looks good on you anyway. The whole "well so and so's off i should get x and y " is kinda lame, just help out...good work ethic and all that.

Obvs if it goes on for a long time, that's different.

A month is already a pretty long time to be doing someone else's job along with your own, especially when there's no solid end date.
It's definitely worth brining up with one of the higher ups.

nick.lidgett · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:19

It is a non profit organisation, i would feel really bad asking for more money. Im not saying you shouldnt be rewarded for your extra work but i would feel bad.

ci_newman · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:20

The key point is whether the additional work has increased your working hours / working day or not though.

If it hasn't, consider the additional work as experience towards a promotion or to put on your CV.

Your boss is entitled to 4-weeks of paid leave each year too, presumably you cover him during this period without considering yourself worthy of a bonus?

Zairs · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:28

maybe ask for further training then, to improve your skills. That would help them out as well as you

Vanquish-Storm · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:31

Zethor said:
Off sick with stress for a month and possibly longer? Since when is stress a sickness?

Woden · 7 Mar 2014 at 12:38

Zairs said:
maybe ask for further training then, to improve your skills. That would help them out as well as you

That would be fair to be honest.

Point out it would be usefull if you were to have extra training for the next time Sir Sicknote is off.

Burnsy2023 · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:08

Zethor said:
Off sick with stress for a month and possibly longer? Since when is stress a sickness?

Since the world became civilized?

nick.lidgett said:
It is a non profit organisation, i would feel really bad asking for more money. Im not saying you shouldnt be rewarded for your extra work but i would feel bad.

BUPA is not for profit as are some of the very large housing associations etc. I would have no such reservations.

Not for profit != charities.

Pestilence · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:11

Burnsy2023 said:
BUPA is not for profit as are some of the very large housing associations etc. I would have no such reservations.

Not for profit != charities.

Indeed. Was about to say "You do realise that the CEOs etc. of 'not for profit' organisations are usually absolutely loaded?"

MeEsH BaKkA · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:38

omnomnom said:
Just do it for the money you get paid. It only looks good on you anyway. The whole "well so and so's off i should get x and y " is kinda lame, just help out...good work ethic and all that.

Obvs if it goes on for a long time, that's different.

Exactly this.

OP now is your time to shine and make your boss think why were we employing this other ****, don't walked over but I would do my best with a view of taking the other persons job.

wozzizname · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:41

The CEO allegedly earns about £90k, so I wouldn't feel bad asking for a bit more myself !

MattHep · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:47

Show willing and do it for nothing!

Burnsy2023 · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:49

MattHep said:
Show willing and do it for nothing!

Personally, I value my time and I am careful about what I give out for free. It's so easy to be exploited when you set a precedent.

realBabelfish · 7 Mar 2014 at 14:04

Zethor said:
Off sick with stress for a month and possibly longer? Since when is stress a sickness?

i take it you have never had to put up with severe stress? oddly it makes you very sick. stress is linked to intestines so when you get it very bad it can make you physically sick. puking like you have food poisoning etc.

having said that many people dont have this severe stress and just feel a bit down.

realBabelfish · 7 Mar 2014 at 14:05

nick.lidgett said:
It is a non profit organisation, i would feel really bad asking for more money. Im not saying you shouldnt be rewarded for your extra work but i would feel bad.

assume manager doesnt get paid whilst off sick so use that money? plenty of places dont do sick pay other than the amazing £14 a day statutory sick pay, and thats after 3 days off unpaid.

a month off ill would seriously **** me up where i work. unless i could use holidays entitlement for all of it.

Haggisman · 7 Mar 2014 at 14:06

ci_newman said:
The key point is whether the additional work has increased your working hours / working day or not though.

It's not just about the hours worked though is it?

If the OP is really doing the manager's role, he's also taking on responsibilities and providing skills above his pay grade, the manager most likely gets paid more, because a) he has skills that increase his market value, and b) he's paid to take the flack when things go wrong.

To the OP - Short term I would see this as an opportunity to boost your CV, and show the bosses how good you are. However if it goes on for more than another couple of weeks, I'd be hinting to the powers that be that a long term solution needs to be looked at.

realBabelfish · 7 Mar 2014 at 14:07

maybe a good way to angle for the manager's job.

not sure how busy he would be managing 1 person anyway.