New Job, everything great, except for Direct Report

Posted by SemicolonMIA@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 20 comments

Hey all! I just started my new gig and am absolutely loving it. However, when I was in a meeting it was accidentally told to me by someone in HR that I would eventually have the tech that was here before me, become my direct report. Everyone here is fantastic, including the employee that would be reporting to me. However, I was never told I would be supervising in anyway, nor was it in my job description. Being fair to the employer and myself, what do I do here? Just accept it and keep working? Ask for a raise for the increased responsibility? Even though I just started? Very odd situation. I'm not a "stick it to the man" kinda person. I want my time here to be pleasant and enjoyable but I definitely would have asked for more if I knew I was going to be a supervisor. Anyways, just trying to get others opinions. Thanks!

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20 Comments

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Eightfold876@reddit

I say take it as a plus. You don't have to micro manage. Add it to your resume that you managed your teir 1 helpdesk. Boom.

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

Yeah I feel that. I'm not worried about the additional responsibility or even the pay really. However my current title is Network Admin, it would be nice to get a better title if I have a report under me.

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samspopguy@reddit

Titles don’t matter.

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

They look nice on resumes.

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Crychair@reddit

In the past it really feels like you can write whatever title you want on your resume too.

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thortgot@reddit

I suppose, if you are actually managing this fellow (HR conversations, discipline, approving vacations, salary review etc.) then I would go for a title bump. If you are just managing his workflow in a supervisory capacity then it wouldn't be something I would expect early on into a hire. It's an easy first year job title/pay bump conversation though.

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

That's kinda what I'm thinking on the first year review. It would be easy to make a good argument. I don't want to risk relationships with those around me early on. It's not a massive office.

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thortgot@reddit

That makes sense. I would argue it's beneficial to wait for 2 main reasons. 1. Given you haven't managed anyone before, you get to find out if you want to do this before you get the stigma of the title on your resume. 2. It gives you significant leverage at your salary review conversation. Something you should always be looking for and building a base for the conversation to occur off of.

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PhilosophyEuphoric94@reddit

A more fitting title should be a piece of cake to negotiate, the pay might not be depending on their motives for giving you more responsibility.

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ErrorID10T@reddit

What you do is you go have an honest and frank discussion about this with your boss, HR, and your direct report. There's nothing to be worried about here yet, just some miscommunication. You can ask to renegotiate or whatever, but it's probably too early for that. Get everyone on the same page, then decide how you want to handle it. You simply don't have enough information right now to make an informed decision.

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rollingstone1@reddit

Decide you want that position for a start. Not everyone wants to be a people manager. Then negotiate a raise if you do.

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

Thanks! I'm all for the additional responsibility just odd that it wasn't ever mentioned. Maybe they have a plan. I am very close with my boss (we worked together in the past) and plan to talk to him next week.

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turbokid@reddit

I doubt this was the intention, but they will probably save 20% of the cost of your salary “forgetting” to hire a people manager and hiring and hiring an IC and making them a manager.

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt on that haha.

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SingularityMechanics@reddit

This sounds like they want to give you more responsibility and see you as a long-term investment, all of that's good. Now the big question is do you want that (to be a supervisor)? If you do, you'd need to know what's involved, if they expect you to grow the department, etc. Then consider if what you're paid is worth that or if you need more to move into that role. Also if you've done management before or not will factor in, and as great as some people are to work with, a change in that dynamic could be a strain or awkward. Be respectful and careful how you approach it, when it comes up. If it's not something that they are planning in the near term, don't bring it up until they do. Good luck and congratulations!

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

I appreciate your response. I think I am down for the additional responsibility. It was just odd that it was listed or talked about in the interview. Nevertheless I definitely plan to talk to my boss about it but more out of curiosity and definitely without malice. I don't wanna be a pain haha. I like it here and would hate to ruin relationships already.

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Distortion462@reddit

"I'm more than happy to share knowledge and partner up with this other tech however if this is going to be a management position, which I was not aware of when I signed my employment paperwork, I will need to renegotiate my arrangement and salary to match the requirements you're now bringing to me."

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SemicolonMIA@reddit (OP)

Very professional. I have a good relationship with my boss, as I worked with him at an old company as well. I plan to try something along these lines on Monday.

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DarthPneumono@reddit

Yeah, if y'all are on good terms he should understand why you're asking (even if he ends up saying no, it can't hurt). Good luck :)

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Distortion462@reddit

Best of luck!