Want advice on situation at work

[isasir]

Originally posted by: SampSon
If you've already clearly communicated your concerns with the company and your desire to play a more active role and potentially move up in the company, than you've done about as much as you can do.
Let the managers make the decisions regarding which way the company is going and you should sit back and do your job without breaking your back. When projects fail and things start to become a mess, the powers that will be see that and usually act on them in some way.

Or you could take the approach of busting your ass with overtime and weekend work to get projects done without someone asking you. Show them that you are a valuable go-getter with the skills and drive to make it in the company. That may not result in you getting another person hired to help you, but it could very well up your chances of advancing in the company.

Also, put your request in for a vacation now, see how they react.

The main problem with the first paragraph is that the powers that be don't see these projects as needing IT help. It's seen more as just software that a certain department uses for their needs. So if/when something fails with it, it probably just reflects bad on that department and they don't even think to blame me for it.

No way I'm busting my ass either. When I had the conversation about my new salary with HR Manager and I brought up that I'd be doing the work of two people (when the other person left) she said basically, "I don't see why everyone says it's two jobs, it's not. It's one job and you're still going to put in the same hours." So I made a vow to myself not to work overly crazy hours, even if the job requires it. (Yes I do put in more than 40 hours, but definitely stay below 50 hours, which is still pretty good for the IT field, in NY)

 

[isasir]

^

 

[mugs]

I can see why the CEO would balk, 2 IT people for a company of 35 people seems excessive.

 

[TreyRandom]

One tech can most certainly handle 35 users. We've got 3 techs and a Director of IT handling 400 users spread over 8 locations... at a healthcare company (read: increased administration due to enforcement of HIPAA security and data retention).

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: TreyRandom
One tech can most certainly handle 35 users. We've got 3 techs and a Director of IT handling 400 users spread over 8 locations... at a healthcare company (read: increased administration due to enforcement of HIPAA security and data retention).

Well yeah, I agree, the actual tech/support aspect is definitely easy enough for one person to handle, and really is just small part of what I do. However, there is no other IT person in the company. So if I'm out on vacation and something goes wrong, they call me.

It isn't just PC support that is needed though, but rather taking on various projects, managing the two databases in the company, renewing all service contracts related to workstations, servers, telephones, etc.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: isasir

Originally posted by: TreyRandom
One tech can most certainly handle 35 users. We've got 3 techs and a Director of IT handling 400 users spread over 8 locations... at a healthcare company (read: increased administration due to enforcement of HIPAA security and data retention).

Well yeah, I agree, the actual tech/support aspect is definitely easy enough for one person to handle, and really is just small part of what I do. However, there is no other IT person in the company. So if I'm out on vacation and something goes wrong, they call me.

It isn't just PC support that is needed though, but rather taking on various projects, managing the two databases in the company, renewing all service contracts related to workstations, servers, telephones, etc.

That's why most small businesses have a IT services company that can augment their staff with hourly-rate techs when needed.

How much typically goes wrong while you're on vacation that honestly, absolutely cannot wait until the following week? For those occasions, that's what those on-call techs are for. Certainly the projects can wait, changes to the database can wait, service contract renewals can wait... right?

Finally, it would be absurd for them to deny you vacation time that you've earned simply because they don't want to pay for another tech, temporary or permanent. If they don't allow vacation, it's time to cast the net to look for another job. If they do allow vacation, take it... turn off your phone... and relax.