I asked for a demotion yesterday. My boss called me to say that I needed to turn in my position justification for a new staff person within the next week, and while I was talking to him I asked if it would be okay if I wrote the justification for a manager. After a second, he said "Uh, wouldn't that be you?"
I've realized this for awhile...I'm miserable in my job the way my job has evolved. I still like the subjects, chemicals and safety. But I don't like managing, and my real skills, writing and editing, are slipping. I've taken more sick days in the last six months than I have the previous six years. Something's gotta give, and replacing me with a competent manager and letting me go back to a cubicle to research and write seems like the perfect solution.
My boss said his boss might not go for it, but if it's what I really want (in that tone people use when you've just suggested something totally nuts) I can write the justification up that way.
Of course I have a backup plan for changing jobs, too. In the course of our conversation my boss told me about a decision by a very high level person that leaves us screwed and makes no logical sense. My reaction was "Does he have a brain tumor that's impairing his cognative function?" I could hear that sharp intake of breath before my boss said "Nic, I don't think I can comment on that on the company phone line."
I think my boss may not totally hate the demotion idea.
Posted by Nic at April 10, 2004 07:29 AM | TrackBackAt my previous job I had to fight off being promoted to management a couple of times. Then they hired a new IT director who was happy to have senior people who weren't tied up in management roles, and all was good.
Then the company got taken over and shut down.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 10, 2004 04:09 PMThat's exactly how the military and civil service work: they promote you until you can't do the job, then they leave you there.
Posted by: Ted at April 10, 2004 09:29 PM