Not receiving desired assignments but receiving unwanted assignments?

[SilverBells]

Any tips for receiving more desired assignments at work instead of unwanted assignments?

At my workplace, we have gone through many adjustments, including a change in leadership. I am one of 2 managers for our rehab/LTC facility. Lately, due to low census, my duties change from day to day. Because many staff have left, there have been gaps in certain roles to be fulfilled, such as infection control, risk management, chart auditor and admissions coordinator. What is confusing is that every time I am approached about possibly taking on these roles and I enthusiastically volunteer, they are always delegated to someone else.

Meanwhile, I have consistently expressed disinterest in assisting with COVID patients and that task has been delegated to me three times now. I am frustrated that I am consistently receiving undesired/unwanted tasks despite showing interest in many other assignments. There doesn’t seem to be an apparent reason for why certain people have been delegated certain things.  

Any tips for approaching leadership who says one thing, but does another? 

[sevensonnets]

JadedCPN, you have just cleared up the mystery of why when I "continually expressed disinterest" in English peas my mom served them up for a week! Just go ahead and eat a bite or two. Ain't gonna kill you....

[SilverBells, BSN]

15 hours ago, CharleeFoxtrot said:

If I remember correctly you are relatively new in your management role, this might be a factor as management could be thinking you may not have enough experience to take on these other tasks.

That’s a possibility.  I have a year experience now, but it’s possible they are looking for different experience or a different skill set for some of these tasks.   Also, I may be willing to learn some of these things, but if they have someone more familiar with or who they wouldn’t have to spend as much time training, they might pick that person for time’s sake.   With the pandemic, there probably isn’t much extra time for training if it’s not necessary.  Not to mention that those who are assigning the roles would obviously have a better idea of what is expected, and therefore, would be better at determining the best person for the position 

[SilverBells, BSN]

10 hours ago, sevensonnets said:

Perhaps your coworkers are looked at as willing to carry out their assignments (including caring for COVID patients) without complaining.

I wouldn’t necessary say I’ve been complaining to them, per se.  But they probably appreciate some of my colleagues’ increased willingness to help out on the COVID unit when needed 

[SilverBells, BSN]

9 hours ago, Been there,done that said:

The fact is.. most of us do not get the assignment we want. Many of us are "disinterested"in providing care to covid patients. 

I don't know what is going on in your manager's head. No way would I approach management to ask , they have their reason. 

Keep your head down and smile with any assignment you receive.

I actually don’t necessarily plan on asking them their reasoning for their delegations, as they don’t actually owe anyone an explanation.  I’m sure there are many factors they have to consider, things that change on a daily basis 

[SilverBells, BSN]

9 hours ago, chare said:

Maybe if you showed the same interest in these undesired and/or unwanted tasks that you do in the other assignments, you might start being assigned some of them.

Best wishes.

Could be.  There are multiple people’s skills/preferences to consider, not just mine.  I’m sure they are trying to balance the work load so not one person is expected to do too much of the work load or too much of the type of work that leads to burn out

[SilverBells, BSN]

8 hours ago, HiddencatBSN said:

I think it's fine to express interest in specific assignments and roles but I wouldn't express disinterest or lack of enthusiasm in the work you are assigned. When you are new, there's a certain amount of dues-paying and showing your work quality you need to do. There are always going to be aspects of the work we prefer and aspects we dislike but ultimately asking to be catered to is unreasonable.

Do the work, do it well, and build a reputation for work ethic and being a team player. 

We're in a pandemic and numbers are going to continue to rise, so not wanting to care for COVID patients is going to be a huge professional hindrance for you if it's something that your facility manages. Focus on advocating for what you need to care for them safely- PPE, testing, etc.

I’m not exactly new (1 year management experience) but agree we all eventually have to do things that aren’t what we prefer to do.   There are other people’s preferences and skills to consider, not just mine.   As you said, it’s fine to express interest in other things.  However, that should come with the realization that these tasks may be assigned to other people if it’s decided that is best for the organization as a whole.   Being a team player, a patient advocate and a leader is most important no matter what task or assignment one has been given. 
 

Also, we have been given plenty of PPE.  There have been no in-house acquired cases of COVID.  The patients we have been taking have been recovering from COVID and not actually very sick

[SilverBells, BSN]

5 hours ago, JadedCPN said:

I will go on a limb and say the fact that you have “continually expressed disinterest” in covid patients could probably be why you’re getting them. 

Maybe, but it is also possible  I am simply getting assigned there when that is where I am needed most at the time based on the staff available and patient/building needs

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

14 minutes ago, SilverBells said:

I actually don’t necessarily plan on asking them their reasoning for their delegations, as they don’t actually owe anyone an explanation.  I’m sure there are many factors they have to consider, things that change on a daily basis 

"Any tips for approaching leadership who says one thing, but does another?" Sure sounded like it to me. 

[SilverBells, BSN]

11 hours ago, Been there,done that said:

"Any tips for approaching leadership who says one thing, but does another?" Sure sounded like it to me. 

I agree and I had thought about it at the time of writing the original post.  However, after further consideration, I've decided that the move may cause more harm than good and, at the very least, would likely not be helpful 

[SilverBells, BSN]

A couple of other things: 

1.  It's possible I wouldn't actually enjoy some of these other tasks that I think I'm interested in 

2. It doesn't do much good to volunteer for roles that several other people have expressed interest in, especially when I've been asked to complete other tasks.   For instance, I've shown enthusiasm for the admissions coordinator role despite knowing that at least three other people were interested in it.   It possibly puts me in an unfavorable light when I continuously offer to learn the role, rather than actively participating in discussions as to who should actually take the role, even if it means it goes to someone other than myself.   The fact that conversations often drifted away from my interest to discussing other candidates was/is probably a clue they weren't/aren't interested in having me fulfill that responsibility

3.  I've been asked several times to be a resource person for the COVID unit.   It's possible that by continuously asking for these other roles it comes across that I'm not willing to complete the work that's actually being asked of me.  In other words, I'm avoiding my own job responsibilities perhaps  

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I haven't met anyone who is enthusiastically volunteering to care for covid patients, but you're right that complaining or insinuating that others should have to handle covid but you don't will paint you in a negative light. I don't enjoy sweating in the PPE and exposing myself to covid, but I am proud of the work I'm doing during this pandemic, and happy to take one for the team so pregnant/older/high risk coworkers don't have to risk their health.

I've found that in return for being a team player I'm sometimes given a break from covid and a good assignment. I don't think you're meaning to come across as unfair or a complainer, and it's great you're interested in so many important roles. LTC is a hard specialty, so it's great you're enthusiastic about working there and care about your residents and staff. Covid is not easy in any setting, and I know LTC has been hit hard. Glad none of your coworkers have been infected and your residents haven't gotten critically ill ? keep up the good work

[sevensonnets]

Now, I've worked my entire career in the hospital and have no experience whatsoever with LTC. If you're a manager, who is 'leadership' which refuses you what you consider the choicest assignments? Don't you as a manager have input into who's assigned where? Perhaps 'leadership' is trying to be fair to all.