Today marked the start of a very busy week at work for me. One of my co-workers got married over the weekend, and I’m covering for a large portion of her work this week while she’s on her honeymoon. While I feel she did a good job of training me during the month or so before she left, there are always things that come up that you didn’t learn. Also, the backup is never quite as proficient as the person they’re filling in for, so things that normally take her no time at all take me a bit longer simply because I haven’t done them as many times. In addition to that, there is a project for my own position that needs to be finalized by the end of this week. In other words, this week you won’t be seeing any posts over the lunch hour like I normally do. Instead, they’ll most likely be evening/night posts.
I know a good number of people that would take a very negative approach to this situation. They would complain the entire week about having to do someone else’s work. They may have to work through their lunch hour or stay a little late in the evening and moan and groan about it. But the reality is that being a backup for another position is one of the best things you can do at work. Here is why:
You Learn Additional Skills: Being the backup to another position means you’re learning things beyond your current job duties. This can help with better understanding the workflow in your department and having a better appreciation of what your co-workers do. It’s pretty easy to think your job is so much more involved than your co-workers until you’ve actually sat and done their job for a week. An expanded skillset means you are worth more to your employer. Even beyond your employer, those new skills can be just as useful if you’re seeking a move to another employer.
It Shows Your Manager Trusts You: Being the backup to another position means you’re manager thinks you are capable of handling additional tasks on top of your normal responsibilities (albeit on a temporary basis). This means a lot, especially if the person is going to miss a week or more of work. We’ve all seen someone at work that nobody wants as their backup. These are the people who do a poor job, so when you come back from your vacation you spend most of your first week back fixing all the mistakes that your backup made. Usually this only happens once, and the manager never asks them to be a backup again.
It’s Good to Really be Pushed Occasionally: Let’s face it. If you’ve worked the same job for a while, it’s easy to get complacent. Things can get pretty routine and even “boring”. Having to take on additional responsibilities every once in a while is a good change of pace. It gets your mind thinking in ways it doesn’t typically have to think, which is a good thing.
Have you ever had to perform backup duty at work? What’s your opinion on being someone’s backup?
11 comments
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Lynne
July 17, 2012 at 12:13 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I really agree to you. Being a backup once in a while, also help us to acquire new knowledge. It builds trust and this is the time to show other people what else we can do. It also a time for us to exercise and challenge our mind.
Modest Money
July 17, 2012 at 10:34 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good to hear that you’re taking the positive approach to this situation. I’m sure it could be rather stressful to have all this new unfamiliar work piled on your plate. It would be pretty good leverage to ask for a raise down the road.
Justin
July 17, 2012 at 10:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
As with so many things in life, I’d much rather just make the best of it than dwell on the downside. And it isn’t all that bad. It does add a new element of stress to the workday, but it’s all part of the process. And yes, I’ll be sure to mention the new skills when it comes time for my annual review.
thethriftyspendthrift
July 17, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love learning new things at work because my job is so tedious (read: boring) that the lack of stimulation really sucks. There aren’t really any opportunities to learn new things at my job so the rare instance that it comes up I take it. When I have to cover for someone, I just cross my fingers that it takes me some extra time so that I could get an hour or two of overtime.
Justin
July 17, 2012 at 10:31 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ha, yes overtime would be nice. Unfortunately, that’s one of the downfalls of having a salaried position. Extra hours = same pay.
Tackling Our Debt
July 17, 2012 at 2:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You are right, it is a great way to learn more and to expand your skill set. Plus managers love people that are happy to help out in other areas of the company because you are helping them at the same time. It makes it less stressful for them when they don’t have to worry about how all that work is going to get done when another employee is absent.
Justin
July 17, 2012 at 10:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Exactly. And it’s not just managers either. Being a good backup for others also lends itself to your co-workers being a good backup to you when it’s time for you to miss a week of work.
Lance@MoneyLife&More
July 17, 2012 at 2:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I haven’t had to yet but plan on at least knowing how in case someone has to miss work for on reason or another. There are some vital functions we need to cross train on…
Justin
July 17, 2012 at 10:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Cross training within your department is certainly important. Just how important depends on what all your department is responsible for. I know that in my department cross-training is super important. We’re a publicly traded company and a good number of my department’s procedures are considered “Key Controls” for SOX 404 (that’s accounting-talk for very important).
CF
July 18, 2012 at 1:12 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m in a similar situation that’s slightly more permanent – my lead developer quit and suddenly I have tons more responsibilities. I don’t think I’m handling it quite as well though
Justin
July 20, 2012 at 12:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think it’s definitely more difficult in your situation since it isn’t as temporary. Hopefully someone there at least knows how to do the work of the person that left.