overly keen colleagues

I also work at a Uni - you shoudl raise the matter at your next PDR. Have you also been through the HERA role review? is he angling for a re-grade based on the volume of work he takes on?

It can be frustrating whatever sector/role you're in. It's easy to feel that the extra that one person does for nothing puts a level of expectation on you. If you're happy with the wok you do in the time you have to do it then I wouldn't worry, clearly his job is his life and that's fine for him but you have to strike a balance that you're comfortable with and be confident about it.

x

I see what you mean. My previous job sounds similar to yours - I was a part-time project co-ordinator of a research project in a university, but I was also a part-time researcher on the same project - which didn't really work very well, hence my reason for leaving when I got offered a job as a full-time researcher, outside of the university context. Anyway, I'm digressing here... One of the things I found really hard about the university environment was that I was expected to work so much more than the hours that were set down in my contract. Although I worked 4 days a week I was always getting called in to meetings on my day off - I would then take days off in lieu which my bosses weren't happy about. Also, there were people there who despite only being on a 2 or 3 day a week contract would come in full time anyway because they were so committed to the job or project, or because they thought it would get them ahead in an academic career in the longrun - who knows? But it meant that I was at a disadvantage as why would they want to employ me to work the set hours when they could pay less and still get them for full time IYSWIM?

I think basically it goes with the territory of working in a university, sadly. They seem to have this expectation that people who work there are so keen to have the job that they will work long hours for not great money and (in my case) poor job security and short term contracts. For me, the answer was to get out and look for work in another sector. (sorry if this has just turned into a rant about me!)

thanks - yes we've had HERA so its not for that. He is amazing though and is very thorough, and has helped me a lot since I started, but I just think sometimes he goes a little too far above the call of duty. I just think because we have the same jobs, should I be working a lot harder? but i've realised recently that the reason he does more work is because he wants to, not because the job demands it. Yes, we have busy periods where 9-5 doesn't cut it, and in those cases I do stay until the job is done, but otherwise? im outta here as soon as its home time.

If you are getting your work done and fulfilling all of the demands of the job, there is no reason why you should be staying longer just for the sake of it!