I see there is some discussion on employment.

I have an interesting time that I somehow survived. Under the latest setup with my work, people in any administrative role can technically be uplifted and embedded in any other department in the University. Will this be effective? No. Will they try it anyway? Turns out, yes.

I got a phone call from my bosses, bosses, boss. I'm on good terms with him, I've helped new staff enter this cesspit of "structural change" since I started, all out of my usual office hours. He called me to ask if he could visit, I said of course, and he's headed over.

Now this is odd, I wonder why he's coming to talk to me in person? Turns out, he wants to yank me out of my department (also the only effective department under his control, because of yours godamn truly) and place me into the worst performing one, because the administrator there is extremely unhappy and wants to be relocated.

"Why is she unhappy?" I asked - thankfully he was very honest, which I think may have been his undoing. He said the Head of Department and the Finance Manager both make life very difficult for her - she feels bullied and unwanted there. Well that's a simple answer for me, thanks but no thanks. He fires back with "You're the only one I can ask to try and steady this ship" (He's referencing cricketer Kane Williamson but I ain't about that). I then asked, is there any chance of me getting a payrise or some kind of compensation out of this? He is again honest, not a chance in hell. I decided to say I would think about it and let him know ASAP.

I call my boss and let her know, and she admits he told her about his plan just yesterday and his words then were "This is a courtesy call really, he doesn't have a choice". Which is when I decided to say no in the way that makes it very hard for me to be shifted.

The next day I sit down with him and my boss (who is supporting me staying, if nothing else because whoever they replace me with, simply won't be as good) and I explain that I am worried about being placed in a known toxic environment, and that if I were to find it unpleasant enough to want to leave this could be considered constructive dismissal, given there is clear evidence of said environment. I explained that asking the lowest paid person in the department to fix the issue of an arrogant Head of Department who is one of only a handful gastroenterologists in the country (who are also interested in medical education) is a big fucking ask. One that would require some serious HR support and financial compensation, but given that HR exists to protect him from me, and not me from others, I don't have high hopes for my success.

He blinked a few times and agreed that wouldn't be healthy.

Long story short, I'm not going anywhere. Fuck structural reviews. "Can we pay these people less and make them work more? We can?! Do it".