Started two weeks ago. Details about the organization:
Non-profit arts sector (playwrights theatre) with a miniature subscribing patrons list. The org is run by 2.5 people: an artistic producer (AP), operations manager (OM) (the role I'm taking over for a mat leave) and a part time marketing person. They are running a full season this year plus moved their venue. I literally spent the first week and a half of my job packing, moving and unpacking for them.
The salary I agreed to is very far below an average OM salary and I'd say I'm getting paid the same as an Administrative Assistant. Apparently for a non-profit, it's average. I took the job because it follows my passion for arts and I want the experience. My last career position was assistant managing a box office for the symphony – this felt like a natural next step even though I don't really gaf about theatre specifically, I'm always down to clown lol. Anyway, I accepted the position and signed the contract but I've already made my boundaries extremely clear to the current OM. The AP on the other hand is where I foresee issues.
First of all, the AP didn't help with the move AT ALL. This means that if the current OM didn't hire me when she did, she would have had to pack and move the whole fucking building HERSELF. This is the only reason I was so chill about the whole situation even though I did take the time to air my irritation over the fact. The person I'm taking over for has clearly done more than her fair share of work. It's also clear that the AP has seriously taken advantage of OM's dedication to the job and has unrealistic expectations of the OM role in general. The AP seems very self-important, or maybe aloof af, and send to lack a real understanding of how much the current OM has taken on; ei. she managed to turn the financial situation completely around in the two years of her tenure, constantly works unpaid overtime, cleans the building herself, always takes out the garbages, even did the dishes that the AP would leave in the kitchen sink indefinitely. This is not ok for me.
I have clear and very strict boundaries: I don't work overtime unless I seriously fucking NEED to. Whilst at work, I work hard, but if shit doesn't get done by the end of the day it can wait until tomorrow, end of story. I am not the janitor or a slave. My job description is pretty clear: run the whole operations of the theatre and venue. Sounds like a big job right? Yeah. It is. And yes, sure, the AP's job is big too; she sets out the programming, hires all the people and organizes the actual productions, even sometimes directing them herself. Furthermore, she helps playwrights through the process of getting their works completed and produced. At the same time, when she takes on the director role, she does so without getting paid the extra contract fees for directing which saves the org money. Unfortunately, she does so at the cost of the OM who then takes on the extra work that the AP can't focus on by taking on a director role. The current OM has told me this has been the case and in the past has been completely overwhelmed by the scope of her work, but not to scare me away of course, only for the matter of honesty… I guess.
Anyway, I figured I'd write this out to let you all know I'm on the way to make some things known to the AP. I am completely aware of my worth and value and NO ONE will stand in the way of that. I work hard. I'm smart and a great problem solver, but I absolutely need to be respected, valued and able to seek and give feedback. I expect to take the feedback constructively and expect my feedback to be recieved the same. Seems pretty reasonable to me. Afterall, the whole org is run by 2.5 people.
The sign that states that 'no one should leave dirty dishes in the sink because it's rude' is on its way. I'll post updates as my year (to year-and-a-half) journey continues.
Thanks for reading and wish me luck.
TLDR; I started a management job (covering a mat-leave) for a local non-profit theatre where the “boss” is aloof/self-important, and because of the habits of the person I'm taking over for, “boss” has unrealistic expectations of my job. I plan to give her a cold awakening with my unshakable boundaries. Wish me luck.