Restructure in the work place - what does it mean for me

[armanimick]

Hello, can someone help me.

My current role is PA to General Manager who is responsible for one property. I've been in current role for 6 years and worked in the same company for 20.

My former General Manager has been posted elsewhere ( 3 weeks ago) and a new man has come to replace him but will soon get a new job title of Area General Manager responsible for 9 hotels ( he's currently being interviewed for it. A Manager will report to him, yet to be recruited.

I'm not sure who I;m supposed to support. If I'm asked to support the Area Manager position it will possibly mean more work with 9 hotels or a change in job title (in name only perhaps) if I only support the Manager... The Area Manager will no be able to work without a PA so suspect something is being concocted for me to do both...

I'm 5 years off retiring ( aged 54 currently) and in the company final salary pension scheme. I don;t want to walk away but I think as I am always ready to help, I might be expected to support both which at my time of life, don't want.

Can any one tell me what options are open to me please.

[dothawkes31]

'at my time of life'!!!! You're the same age as me, I have to work til 65, what's wrong with you that you think you can't manage a full time job and all the pressure that brings?

[Prudie]

To be honest the new manager will be considering if you are up to the job role anyway if it's going to change/expand as you think. 5 years is a long time away, why don't you welcome the challenge?

[armanimick]

Thanks for your comments. Appreciate your views on age nevertheless you don't know my personal circumstances which I didn't want to post. I would appreciate posts on the relevance to the question if anyone can post. Thanks

[buildersmate]

You don't really have any options until the company, via your current boss or HR, comes to you to says they would like you to change roles. However it would be perfectly reasonable for you to be pro-active and raise the matter yourself (with your current boss) - particularly since you are understandably concerned about the changes.
The worst part about change for many people is the uncertainty surrounding it - so you could certainty help your stress levels by talking to someone in the compnay about it.
If you have a bright idea about how it could work, then suggest it - if you have that type of open relationship with your manager.
An employer has to structure a job such there is a realistic chance of getting through the required workload in the hours allocated.

[armanimick]

Thanks Builders mate. My suggestion or wish is to be made redundant or them offer me early retirement but I don't want to appear negative in raising these suggestions first. I hope that if I say no to the new role and same to demotion in terms of job title, this would be an option they would offer me.
Regards and thank you for your constructive comments

[bednobs]

i think it unlikely they will make you redundant - it will probbaly be very expensive for them after 20 years. Change of job title dosent mean anything really. You will probably find that your contract requires you to do "any other work the boss sees fit" and being a pa to two people is the same work as being pa to one i would presume. if the job is going to be substantially different they wi;; probably give you notice that your conditions are going to change, and you will have the choice to stay or hand in your notice.

[dothawkes31]

You would be entitled to 26.5 weeks of statutory redndancy at your age.

[factor-fiction]

... which would be £10,700. (This assumes it is a bona-fide redundancy, the 20 years' service was continuous and the salary is £380 pw or more.)
The company's redundancy terms may be better than this.

[boxtops]

You have years of experience of the company under your belt and in your head - I bet the company doesn't want to lose you. However as buildersmate says, you don't know yet what anyone is proposing - but there is nothing to stop you putting forward a few suggestions of your own. Perhaps there could be a senior PA (you) with a lower-graded assistant a) to help share the load and b) for succession planning, if you let them know that you are thinking of retiring in 5 years' time they will need a competent person, who knows the ropes, to replace you.

[factor-fiction]

Meant to type £10070 not £10700 for the maximum Statutory Redundancy Pay. If you leave now rather than at age 59 your final pension pot will be quite a bit lower.