Ask Margar-etiquette about Working More Than My Job

Dear Margar-etiquette,

I am two months into a new job and really enjoying it. I like the work, I’m excited about my professional future, and I want to be seen as someone who is capable, dependable, and willing to contribute.

However, I’ve noticed a pattern that concerns me. Some of my coworkers are doing their own jobs while also covering responsibilities from unfilled positions. When someone leaves or resigns, instead of immediately filling the position, their responsibilities seem to get divided among the employees who remain.

I want to be a team player, especially as the new person, but I don’t want to find myself gradually doing two jobs because I kept saying yes. Is there a professional way to establish boundaries now, before this becomes an issue?

Trying Not to Become Two Employees

Dear Trying,

Two months into a job is an interesting place to be. You want to make a good impression. You want people to know they can count on you. And when someone asks, “Can you take care of this?” the last thing you want to say is, “Nope, not my job.” But there is a difference between being a team player and becoming the permanent solution to an organizational problem.

And yes, there are things you can do now.

First, get very clear about the responsibilities of the job you were actually hired to do. Know your job description, your supervisor’s expectations, your priorities, and how your success will be measured. This isn’t so you can wave your job description around every time someone asks for help. It’s so you have a clear understanding of where your primary responsibilities begin and end.

Next, establish a habit of discussing priorities rather than simply saying yes or no. If your supervisor asks you to take on something additional, instead of immediately agreeing, try: “I can help with that. How would you like me to prioritize it alongside X and Y?” That is a very different response from “I don’t have time” or “That’s not my responsibility.” You aren’t refusing to help. You’re making sure everyone understands that adding something to your workload may require adjusting something else. 

This is especially important because temporary responsibilities have a funny way of becoming permanent when nobody brings them up. If you are asked to cover duties from an open position, it is perfectly reasonable to ask, “Is this something you need me to help with temporarily while the position is unfilled, or do you see this becoming part of my role?” That’s not being difficult. That’s communicating.

Also, be careful not to become the person who always rescues the situation. You can be generous with your time and talents without letting an occasional favor quietly become an ongoing expectation. Competent people sometimes get rewarded with more work simply because everyone knows they’ll get it done. Being helpful is a great trait. But being competent does not mean you should be expected to absorb every unmet need.

And don’t borrow trouble before it arrives. You have noticed a pattern, and it is smart to pay attention to it. But you don’t need to walk into your supervisor’s office tomorrow and announce that you refuse to do anyone else’s job. Continue learning your position, doing good work, and building relationships. Because you are establishing good communication habits now, you may not have to worry about becoming two employees. But if your responsibilities do eventually change, that may prompt another appropriate conversation about your title, compensation, workload, or job description.

Good workplace etiquette isn’t about saying yes to everything you’re asked to do. Nor is it about rigidly declaring, “That’s not my job.” It’s about being helpful while remembering that you’re only one person hired for one position. So keep being enthusiastic. Keep learning. Keep showing them what you can do. Just remember that one of the soft skills you’re allowed to bring to work is the ability to advocate for yourself.

With love and good manners,

Margar-etiquette