Sickness replacement

[Wigan Witch]

I am on the point of starting a new job as Illness Relief at a local department store. If I create a good impression, I have been promised a permanent position to replace the person who is off sick at the moment. However, one of my neighbours who got to know about my new job has advised me that there may be some bad feeling amongst the staff that I shall be managing. My problem is, should I try and get the full circumstaces of why this person is off sick or should I just sail in refardless of who I upset. I do not wish to be used as a tool in internal politics and do not want the current staff to be at odds with me because of circumstances that are beyond my control and which I do not even have the full information.

[ChuffingHell]

Dependent on the circumstances there may be ill feelings though this is sometimes inevitable when you go in, in a position of any authority; perhaps the people who you could end up managing feel one of them ought to be in the higher position. Or they may have a loyalty towards the person who is ill and therefore you could be replacing.

I would be concerned that the store have said to you if you make a good impression, the role could go perm. I guess it depends on the severity of the illness this person has but if they get better, then they should be encouraged to return to their role, regardless of how you're getting on as cover.

Any how, if you've no better options, I would go in anyway and see how you get on. You would like to think your colleagues/sub-ordinates wouldn't purposefully make your life difficult, but you never know. Just be as nice and fair as you can. If they do start to turn on you, make a point of raising it with your manager.

As to the person who is ill, ask the appointing manager or the HR department what the score is there; they shouldn't go into detail about this person's illness (confidentiality) but you have a right to know what kind of period of time you should expect to be required for. Once you go in (if indeed you choose to), the people you work with may know what's wrong with this person and divuldge that to you unofficially, so to speak.

Good luck!!

[DotH]

Ok, let's look at the evidence

1) You call yourself Wigan Witch
2) that suggests you are in Wigan
3) that makes 'local' wigan
4) you say a local department store
5) there is only one department store in wigan (cos noone could consider BHS in wigan a dept store.)
6) you say the job is for illness relief
7) I am off sick from the only department store in wigan where i am a manager and there is no other manager off sick in the store.
now tell me, why would i possibly think this is a wind up Ed?
Oh also, you have a grey ID but mysteriously you do not appear to have posted before.

Dotty
xxxx

[DotH]

When you next log in will you respond to this please

[dot.hawkes]

I still want to know what this was all about you know, it is starting to bug me!

[dot.hawkes]

Come out come out whoever you are!