New boss, new expectations. Do I have to compromise? Elaine Varelas provides guidance
When managers change, the adjustment can be a challenge. Depending on your role, you may be expected to put in extra time even when you're not scheduled. Elaine Varelas provides guidance on communicating with your new manager about those different expectations.
Q: I have a new boss. I had everything worked out with my old boss. We agreed that I would have a hard line between work and personal time. Since the role is part time, it worked well, but my new boss expects me to respond to calls and emails when I’m not there. How do I make it clear to him that I can’t do what he wants without feeling like I’m making excuses?A:
Changing managers can often be a challenge because each manager brings new expectations and a new way to work with them. It’s on you to have the conversation about what’s expected of you, the scope of your job, and what you can actually deliver on, and to have a candid conversation that’s not full of excuses – and quickly. Is there a middle ground? There may not be and you need to be prepared for the chance that your role may change, and not in the way you want.
If you are an hourly employee, and non-exempt, then in most cases you’re not expected to be available outside of scheduled working hours. However, if you work a professional part-time exempt role, then your boss may feel that despite being part time, there are times that he may need you to respond to emails and phone calls for your work to be delivered in a professional and timely way.
Arrange a meeting with your boss to discuss your work schedule. Explain that you value your job, enjoy the work, and are committed to being a valued part of the team. Also let him know you selected a part-time opportunity because you have responsibilities to attend to outside your working hours that need your dedicated time. Let him know that in emergency situations, you would be as responsive as you could, but not as a matter of a daily work schedule. Then ask the question, “Will this work for you?” and let him talk – for as long as it takes.
If it doesn’t work for him, he has some options which may involve either changing his thinking or changing your role, severance, and outplacement. If it doesn’t work for you based on your life and your commitments, you need to make that clear. Keep in mind that some personal commitments carry more weight than others, so depending on what those commitments are, you may be able to find more support from your boss. For example, if you’re caring for a relative or a child, if you’re taking courses, or if you have some kind of sympathetic or dedicated commitment, that often finds more understanding or more cooperation from a manager. If you’re involved in something that you feel a manager won’t believe is valuable, then don’t feel like you have to address why you’re not available. Just address that you have other commitments. It could be another part-time job or a hobby you’re committed to, which you might not necessarily want to talk about.
Don’t make excuses and don’t make him guess. Communicate what the agreement with your last boss was, what the situation is now, and ensure that you can get your work done on time during your agreed-to hours. You should also want to understand what your manager’s expectations are and have a conversation about mutual expectations sooner rather than later.
Your new boss may not realize that you’ve drawn this hard line, so the more clear you make that up front, the better the opportunity you’ll have to make this position work for you, him, and the company.
If your boss is insistent and you can’t accommodate him, however, then you may need to have a conversation with Human Resources based on your level. If you’re not exempt, then your boss should not call you when you’re off work. If you are exempt, many bosses will feel comfortable calling you based on your professional role. Just as some people work more than 40 hours a week, your part-time status might give you more hours as well. Most part-time professionals welcome the opportunity to have a part-time job so greatly that they’ll often accommodate interruptions to their personal life.
