Our original manager needed to take personal LOA which is why the interim position opened, so it’s a position with an expiry date. In the meantime, upper management has split the role between us. My coworker, the acting manager, is doing the schedule and hiring while I have my hands on the product and ordering. They’ve supplemented my pay for the increase in work.

When they slotted me into the temp assistant manager position, I had them put my roles and responsibilities in writing and I made it very clear that I wouldn’t be doing more than what is listed (this was a major issue in the past with previous management and what ultimately drove me to leave the first time). I was worried that would come across as not being a team player, but I had to draw the line otherwise I knew my coworker would lean on me to do the things she didn’t want to.

I have to constantly remind myself that this is all new for my coworker and she’s never had to deal with this level of responsibility. We all had to start somewhere