So, I’m currently on mat leave from my position at work. I work in academia as a program coordinator.
I’m set to return to work in 5 weeks and I’ll have been away for a year. When I left, the Associate Dean of my program had just left. No replacement was found until the last minute when a (very qualified) man recently retired from another school was persuaded to help out for a year. My position was not posted for a maternity back fill - instead it was decided that my assistant would fill in and a temp or two would be hired to help her out. She has now begun a maternity leave of her own and won’t return for about 10 months. Currently in the office are two temps who (apparently) have no idea what they’re doing.
I’ve been advised by the current, Acting Associate Dean that no one in the office has any idea what they’re doing, including him. He’s very experienced; however, it’s a brand new program under development. The two temps are like the blind leading the blind. I’ve been advised by my assistant that they don’t even know how their computers work. Further, I’ve been advised that for the year I’ve been away, no one has actually been doing my job which means when I return I’ll have an entire year’s worth of budgets, program accounting, reporting, etc. to catch up on, along with trying to get the current year’s work done.
Everyone constantly jokes ‘Jeeze Alice - you’re the only one in the office who has any idea what’s going on! Hahaha!!’ Yah, hahaha. BARF.
I’ve been perusing my institution’s website and I’ve discovered a position in a completely different unit that I’m VERY qualified for. It would be similar to what I’m doing now, although it would be a (small) promotion and be a bit more money - the money is not much of a factor.
I’m very interested in applying to it; however, I feel guilty about not going back to my current job if I were to be successful. If no one in the office has a frikin’ clue what they’re doing, I feel a bit bad leaving them high and dry. On the other hand, this particular unit has many, many problems and staff are not treated particularly well by the most senior members.
So, what to do? Should I go ahead and apply? After typing this all out I’m thinking yes, but I’m still going to ask for input.
