Biotech employee starts planning to quit after their boss expects them to train the fresh-out-of-college new hire they gave the promotion to :‘[She’s] asking me to hold her hand through tasks daily’

If there were a job title juggling competition, this office would probably win first prize

On paper, this person is still in their regular role. In reality, they are acting shift lead, unofficial trainer, emotional support scientist, and full-time human tutorial for the person who now has the job title they were literally steering toward.

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  • Woman holding a tablet stands beside a seated man with a pen at a desk with a laptop, appearing to discuss work.
    via Wesley Tingey

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The new hire who took a promotion I was working towards is asking me to hold her hand through tasks daily.

    I have been working at my company for 3 years. Recently I took a move laterally in promise of a promotion.
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  • This move meant to temporarily take a pay cut (moving from a 10-% second shift differential to no differential on first shift) and increased time/miles from my home.
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  • I know it was a risk to take, but in Biotech it can be very hard to be promoted right now due to industry struggles.
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  • Both my shift lead and my department manager agree that I deserve to be promoted and even have started to make communications with corporate about initiating it.
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  • A couple months after this conversation, a position opened up with the promotion title I was looking for.
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  • Woman sitting at a table working on a laptop in a minimal indoor setting.
    via Wesley Tingey

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Instead of promoting me they filled it with a new hire with very little industry experience.
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  • They did the classic career sacrifice move. Took a lateral transfer with worse hours for their life, longer commute, and even a pay dip, all because leadership hinted this was the path to a promotion. In biotech, where everything is budget cuts and hiring freezes, that kind of hint feels like a rare window. So they jumped. They learned. They waited.

  • (New out of college) When the new hire started it was expected that I trained her on our processes, Sops, ect.
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  • I was thrilled to get the opportunity to train since I have been developing that skill, but I was also very disappointed that I was looked over.
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  • This prompted a conversation with my lead and manager again which they said they are still working on the promotion.
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  • Man standing at a desk using a laptop in a modern office with glass walls.
    via Wesley Tingey

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Then the company posted the role they were aiming for and handed it to someone fresh out of school with a shinier degree and almost no real industry experience. And who gets tapped to train the new title? The person who just got passed over. Of course. Because why pay for two levels of expertise when you can give one person the workload and the other the prestige.

  • The issue comes in where now, even almost a year into her employment, the new hire is still asking me to hold her hand through tasks.
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  • Not just assays, but with her time management and knowledge of the science behind what she is doing.
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  • At first, training is fine. They like it. They are building that skill. But months later, the new hire still needs constant help with everything from lab work to basic time management to how to send an email that does not sound like it was written by a confused Roomba. This is supposed to be the subject matter expert role. Instead, it is a very well-paid shadow that needs walking through every step.

  • As well as teaching her how to communicate in a team environment. The specific job title she has is meant to be a higher subject matter expert than what I am currently at.
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  • I never minded training her on our practices, but I feel like I am being used behind the scenes by both the coworker and management.
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  • Especially since Managment keeps pushing conversations of my promotion back, even though other departments are currently promoting their employees.
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  • Management plays the greatest hits. We are working on it. Corporate is slow. Soon. Just a bit more. Meanwhile, other departments are promoting people in real time, which makes all those excuses feel less like red tape and more like stalling. Every time there is supposed to be a meeting about the promotion, something comes up. A sick day. A delay. A calendar conflict. The can just keeps rolling down the hallway.

  • This shows me that corporate is not holding back on promotions, but rather my managers are.
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  • I've had meetings since with my lead expressing my frustrations, but nothing is done. I have expressed that I want to only be doing title appropriate tasks and that I am being asked to do work that is beyond my band level with no hope of a promotion is site.
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  • My frustrations were heard, but no action has been taken. It honestly seems like every time my lead is supposed to have a meeting about my promotion, she ends up calling out.
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  • I know that the new hire has more experience in education that I do, but I believe that I should not be expected to hold her hand through her daily responsibilities.
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  • I am making moves to move companies and I hope to never put myself in a situation like this ever again.
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  • At some point, the pattern is loud enough. If the company is happy to have someone doing upper band work for lower band pay, it will not magically fix itself out of gratitude. Updating the résumé and exploring other labs is not betrayal. It is data analysis on a career level. If a place is treating your competence like a free add-on, it might be time to move to an environment where help is appreciated, development is real, and promotions require more than vibes and verbal promises.

  • Does anyone have any advice on how to resolve my current frustrations and stay at my current company or should I resign to find a company that is better suited for me?
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  • otter_759 I completely understand your resentment and frustration but the new hire didn't take anything from you. Your employer decided to offer her the position instead of you. I think you are doing the best thing you can in this situation of looking for jobs elsewhere because staying here will just result in continued resentment if they don't promote you (which doesn't sound like it is going to happen).
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  • Local-Muffin-1217 Original Poster's Reply No she didn't and my frustration is not with her but rather Managment for putting me in this situation. I have been trying to distance. myself from doing tasks that are beyond my band level and creating boundaries at work. Unfortunately those boundaries have caused tension at work rather than peace.
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  • Murbork-8098 Find another job first, then quit. You are never getting a promotion with your current company.
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  • PM_ME__UR__FANTASIES Start directing her towards your manager for help. Tell him you've helped her all you can and clearly she needs additional support at this point.
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  • Prestigious_Step4337 You need to leave. The message is clear: you are not being promoted, and you will not be promoted. Tough to hear, but knowing is always better. For whatever their reasons, you are being lead on. You are doing free labour for a job that should have been yours. Stop doing this. Stop helping the new hire. This is not your job. You trained and now every time they need help, direct them to their supervisor. Every time. "That question is best answered by your supervisor". Every. T
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  • browneyedredhead1968 I'd stop helping the new hire, simply say I'm sorry I'm too busy and start looking for a new job.
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  • deebay2150 Start looking for a job elsewhere. When new hire asks for help tell her you're swamped and falling behind. Look frazzled. Maintain a messy workspace that makes it look like you're juggling many assignments. Stop complaining to those you've complained to in the past. They are not looking out for you. Keeping doing your work and ONLY YOUR work while you search for a job. I'd have some ready responses for the new hire because if she needs THAT much help, she will be desperate to keep her
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  • dyvog your employer saw in you a golden opportunity to take advantage of your naievete and good will, they didnt have any active plan, or consideration, to develop you, they had hoped you were a person who would adapt and compensate for any shortcomings the work created, at your expense, rather than theirs. That is the fundamental principle of capitalism. You should note it and conduct yourself accordingly at your next career stop.
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  • curiousblondwonders Tell her "thats not in my job description. You need to talk to lead/manager." And just tell her "its your job and its your responsibility to communicate" and stop helping her. Dont show her anything else. When asked "remind me again what my job is because if im not mistaken she was hired for a reason vs promoting me." Then start looking for a new job. Thats not the culture you want to work in.
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  • Mustluvdogsandtravel sometimes you have to go elsewhere for the promotion. when a company hires someone less qualified that reflects back on how the show value towards employees. talk but no action mean time to start looking
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