Hi,
I was asked to take my old boss's position temporarily while my tiny college looks for someone new. I said that I needed until Monday to think about it.

What was I thinking???? I must have been in a good mood at the time of that phone call. A few hours later I remembered that in my current teaching position I sleep until 11:30 am (teach afternoon classes) during the school year and usually only have to go in 3 days a week. On the weekends I am exhausted.

I would be taking the job as a way to help. And I want to help. Hubby thinks that I would be very good. So do two work friends I spoke to about this on the phone.
But no one except hubby knows about the bipolar. I'm staying in the closet for as long as I can.


Part of me wants to tell the administrator on Monday that I could take the job if I had huge flex time -- like starting my workday at 10:00 am and only coming into the office 4 days a week. I wonder if I should ask for an arrangement like that. After all, I would only be keeping the seat warm until they found someone else.

The other part of me is being realistic.

How do I tell the administrator "no" without letting her know that I have health and sleep issues?

Mari

Mari,

If you want to decline maybe you could say you have personal family issues that would make it difficult.

befuddled2

It is obvious that you love that you were asked but that you don't really want to take the job. If you say no, it won't hurt anyone's feelings. Make sure you do what YOU want to do. No one else.

What a hard decision.

If you think asking for a massive flex time will help you do the job, then I would make sure they give it to you.

What a wonderful opportunity to help people though.

How long would you be helping in this position? A month? Two? If that's the case, then I would do it. But with your sleep problems, I wouldn't do it any longer. Maybe that should be a stipulation as well. Only for "X" amount of time.

I agree DO what is best for YOU.

Flex time would be perfect!!!! I wish you could get your sleep issues under control, but I know all too well how hard it is, even with my meds.

It sure is a great that they asked you to consider this, since it only is for a certain amount of time I would say go for it, but only you know what is best for you.

Talk to them about it, and see what they say.

Good Luck......

Hugs, Nikko

Wow!
My hubbys boss jsut left and they asked his collegue to take the interum position for a year. He is taking it and then deciding if he wants to be entered into the ring as a candidate permanantly.... a year from now.
So I agree with the others that you need to know how long is the time frame they are talking about. Who will teach your classes? Would this start immediately or in the fall?
Right now you are already pretty much full time....aren't you?
Your boss was full time or part time?
Will they be doing a national search or a local search?
What is your gut telling you?
Go with your gut.
You don't need to tell them about your diagnosis....either way.
I completely understand your dilema.
(((HUGS)))
bizi

Mari

I think you should really consider asking them if there is any chance they will consider letting you do this job on a flex schedule, explaining that if they can't you may not be able to fill in for them. That you have a issue with sleep and need a later start time. And then really think on what other issues you might need to have some flexibility on. Put these into the works
too.

If this is something you really would like to consider then go for it.

And if they really believe its a thing were you need to put in 5 days.

Maybe the 5th could be done from home? You know work like paperwork.

Donna

Hi,

I thinking of co-chairing.
A colleague and I could share the job -- each do 50%.

It makes sense to me.
I'll have to see if it makes sense to the administrator and to anybody who would share the job with me.

Mari

Oh this is a great idea!!!
go for it!
bizi

that sounds like a great solution and the only one I would offer them.
Bobby