I think your right. People will quit or be angry if you take the job. They will see you as getting paid more, with less experience. It will cause you a LOT of drama. I think you already see this side of the coin. I also see you quiting if the job becomes uncomfortable. I would....you don't need the job...and there are so many out there waiting to be worked.

Yes...I was offered a managerial position, at a place I hated working, but I didn't like the hours, fri-sat-sun/10 hour shifts. I "did NOT apply for the position." The guy that took the job resented me...started stealing books I'd brought in to read....then telling me he had them. I told him to keep the books, I'd get more from the local Goodwill. I didn't need them. He blew a fuse! :0) He was a runner, we'd run a local park together after work once & ran in races our employer paid for. I googled his name a few months back....he's deceased. I won't be running into him at the park in the near future. So...that's how it ended.

I've never understood the "I'd rather be a soldier" attitude but maybe that's a matter of personality. If I understand the proposition, the role of this job is to supervise worker bees and that hiring and staffing is the responsibility of the manager. If the people now in place are as petty and otherwise obligated, which is okay to a point but to the detriment of co-workers, then having some turnover would be a plus. No?

I always found that my work became more interesting and fun as the years went on when my efforts were rewarded with new roles that were in turn more demanding and with greater responsibility and accountability. I understand not everyone is like that but if you want to continue working, why not make the most of it?

I guess I should be more clear. Experience wise, I am well beyond anyone else in the department. I managed a large corporate travel agency with about 30 agents in my dept. Next to pets, travel is my next love, so I loved the job.

Our kennel was a big place, and I did all the hiring, training, management, and scheduling of the staff. Taking care of peoples pets is a huge deal, people are very invested and I knew trust was the main reason they came to us.

Anyway, as to the soldier part. I am someone who takes management to heart and I tend to take the job home if I am in charge of anything. So I was enjoying just signing out and going home at the end of the day. Having said that, there were many things I saw every day that struck me as redundant or bad practice and was itching to improve.

Elmer, yes, I will probably work for at least 10 more years so making the most of it is significant.

I think your comments may have answered the question on your own. You have great experience, you have insights, you're good at management and supervision, and I think you're saying you try to do your best. You're the best person for the job they'll come across, no wonder they want you for it. You'll do it well. If your only challenge is to compartmentalize work and home, I think that's something relatively easier than the harder things you're comfortable with.

The higher up go you, the more control you have. I was offered a job way above my head while still in law school. I took the work and it became the basis for all my career sucesses. The timing was awful, but the experience was well worth it. You don't need this experience, but who knows what this step may lead to? A better opportunity may be around the corner, so long as you are working, best to make the most of it.

sure more responsibilities same pay, fewer staff.

If you take it you will be sorry. You have been attempting to down size your work life for several years but your experience, skills keeps people sucking you back! Stand firm!! You don't need the stress or the drama that may ensue. If many do quit--who will you replace them with? Have you noticed the job market??? Things are dire--which is why they keep sucking you back!! At this state in life you don't need the crap that comes with being the boss!!

I get the part about just wanting to do your job and go home. But ten years is a long time to be underutilized. And it’s a long time to consider yourself to be ”winding down.” I suspect you only feel that way because retiring was your original plan and that’s where your husband is.

What happens if you don’t take the job? If they give it to the soccer mom will you be happy working for her? Doubt it. If they give it to someone else who doesn’t want it, or hire externally, SM will be unhappy regardless and will likely spread negativity and quit. Plus with an external hire, who knows what you get.

I say take the job. And make sure management is aware of SM’s unique skills and is prepared for if she leaves.

food for thought (not "the answer"):

Have management name an Acting Supervisor, perhaps for a 6 months term. Let soccer mom have a turn, anyone else have a turn, you have a turn. But not to be made "permanent" right away.

Can you get your ideas for improvements heard and acted on, without being supervisor?

I say go for it - especially since you plan on working another 10 years. If you're worried what she might think since you told her you were not seeking the job - maybe have the hospital manger announce your new position and include that you turned them down a few times but finally accepted. Whether you supervise soccermom or work along side her - she's always going to be soccermom. From what you have written I think you have enough experience to deal with her - just her lack of availability would be enough to eliminate her from consideration.

Was just offered 1 promotion in the past and so glad that I refused it. At the age of 21 I was working at a local drugstore chain as a clerk when the owner offered me a manager job which would have increased my hourly clerk wage by 5x. At the time I was still in college working on my science degree, the store clerk job was for paying the tuition bills. Glad I stuck with my science degree goal, that local drugstore chain went out of business just a few years later but I went on to become the lead chemist in my new job.

Yes. I was 17 and worked at Subway. I had been there 2, almost 3 years and wasn't really even offered the job. I was told I was being made manager, and getting a whooping salary of 9 whole dollars an hour. I accepted because I was 17 and dumb. While I have no issue confronting problems with staff ,suppliers or customers, I had no desire to either. After a year or so of it, I went to a temp service and asked them to find me night shift industrial work. I had enrolled in college and did not need or want the extra stress of being paid pennies for a thankless position full of stress and responsibility. I found I enjoyed being able to clock in, work, clock out and FORGET ABOUT WORK. I was only responsible for my actions, no one depended on me. No one was calling me with problems, no one was giving out my phone number to angry shrews who took offense to the tomato selection that day. And I was making twice as much. That was enough. I did not finish college because I took issue with what I saw and still see as the huge scam they are running. But through my experience I found my way to the job I have now which I really really enjoy.

A few years ago my supervisor died suddenly. We all knew who was going to be our next supervisor, the only issue was they tended to go with seniority, and both myself and the other night minion had seniority over him. HR called and asked "Um, you don't want that position do you?" To which I assured her that no, I did not, and no, I take no issue with the said person being my supervisor. I wish to be a worker bee. I no longer have ANY desire to be over anyone or any department. I do not want to trade my low stress living for those problems. I want to come in, clock in, do the necessary work, maybe a little gardening, decorate for the holidays, walk every night, and then clock out and go home. And collect a check, that is the ultimate objective here. I truly feel as though I have hit the jackpot with this job, even if it has a few...challenges. (coworkers)

In your case, if those people are unwilling to submit to your authority or create a hostile environment or wish to quit because of their opinion on staffing, then good riddance. It is not their business and therefore their opinion on who should run it should not matter to anyone. Be extra kind and hold the door all the way open for them to walk out.

I'm one of those people who has no desire to ever be a manager or have a lot of responsibility. I have a well paying job in a data analyst niche that I built, but I rarely have to interact with people and I can keep my head down, do my work, and be done for the day. That's how I like it. I have friends who are much more career-oriented and they have put in the hours and efforts for their success, and I respect that. Personality factors in a lot to these kinds of decisions.

@Annette Holbrook(z7a)

Any update yet? I’m curious how rhis one goes.

Oops, sorry, meant to check in. So the hospital manager was out Monday, and I was off today. So will talk to her tomorrow. The one thing I really have gotten accustomed to is 4 day work week, (4 days, usually clock just about 10 hours each day), and I think the Supervisor job is Mon-Friday, 7:30a-330p. I‘m going to see if I can do 10a-6p Tuesday-Saturday. I like to have a week day off to get stuff done, plus Sautrday is the one day the supervisor ends up getting pulled in to fill in, if I’m already there then great. If they don‘t want to give me that, I’m probably going to pass, unless they come up with some serious pay bump above what I was told it would be.

Sounds reasonable to me, good luck with that!

if you are absolutely sure you are working the number of days you want and won't have regrets about your schedule and also have benefits like time off then I wish you well. freedom is hard to give up.

i would be willing to work part time again at my late age.

full time work as a proposal writer for a mid size company gave me 12 hour days all of the time and weekends as well. my hours were self imposed but leaving in the middle of my train of thought and organization made work harder.

One year I decided to apply for a temporary job entering new subscriptions for a popular school magazine. Seemed like a no-brainer and the money would come in handy. After a couple of weeks my boss asked me to come to her office. I thought I was going to be fired. Instead, she said, ''you are too good for this job, there is someone upstairs on the editorial floor who wants to talk to you." I was quite surprised, but kept the appointment.

The result was the offer of a job as a research librarian at a good salary. I stayed in that job for years until the company went out of business. So, one never knows!!

Seniorgal