My colleague and I are the respective heads of the two main tracks in our program. Since we were appointed heads, the workload for this job has grown enormously, and it will be growing more next year because of additional restructuring and growth at the university level. Last year was awful and I was so burned out. This year was awful (though I was on leave so missed much of it) and my colleague, who is not on leave, also burned out. (He’s going on leave next year.)
So we met together with the department head about long-term planning. We talked about the increased load and what we’re already doing and the things that we do that can’t be measured or are difficult to measure. We talked about how our research has suffered and we’re worried about the future. We talked about how we could take leadership positions in the uncertain future– there will be ad-hoc committees and either we can lead them because we have the time to do so or we could try our best to avoid them because we need breathing room because we were over-burdened.
So my colleague who is already doing an additional job is losing his summer salary for that job but gaining a teaching reduction (which is now worth more to him), and I am taking on a new additional job (one that incorporates some of the junior faculty mentoring that I’m doing anyway). In a couple of years we will also be getting an associate department head to take on some of the current responsibilities that are being shared by the department head and the faculty in addition to new responsibilities.
I don’t know if this will be a one-off or if it will be for as long as we take these responsibilities, but I can definitely use the time and I’m no longer dreading going back to the grind as much as I had been.
Still, a reminder that my leave is more than half over now and I really need to get a lot more done, even if papers keep getting rejected. And if I ever want to leave, I need to get some grant money!
Grumpy Rumblings (of the formerly untenured) 
February 20, 2023 at 3:48 am
It seems to be happening everywhere at the moment. Employers trying to squeeze a quart out of a pint pot. The world has become a very greedy place with business and industry leaders being paid astronomic amounts whilst the rest of us really do have to struggle. Time for a change! These management folk do not seem to realise that they do not get the best from people when they are put under intolerable strain and pressure. I do wish they would wake up!
February 20, 2023 at 12:01 pm
We actually had people spouting “[Do] more with less!” Hello, laws of physics!
I was in that position a while back. I’d started with a boss, plus her boss was in charge of 3 departments. By the end, my boss was useless, and her boss was in charge of 6 departments *and* we were re-writing and testing and explaining the software.
I asked for an assistant. Can’t be done. I said what about a half-time assistant? No. What about if I go half-time, and you hire someone full-time at my starting title (and much lower pay)? No. So I quit. They hired a new person with my same title I had worked years to achieve. She stank. So then they hired another one. And they also automated a bunch of my old job duties. I used to love that job.
Glad you are getting some relief. And I wish you continued good luck with your goals!
February 20, 2023 at 1:06 pm
Yup! We are led by donkeys!!! Hope what comes next is so much better for you.
February 20, 2023 at 2:38 pm
Am I understanding correctly that you are taking on more work, but getting a course release? I hope that ends up being a good exchange!
February 20, 2023 at 3:06 pm
Basically we would have been overworked anyway… this just gives us more time in exchange for duties we would have been asked to do anyway.
February 20, 2023 at 6:48 pm
Okay, good then! Better than the alternative!
February 20, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Speaking of having too much on your plate, that all sounds like way too much.
February 20, 2023 at 4:03 pm
But this year I’m on leave!
February 22, 2023 at 6:13 am
That all sounds like way too much, but if you’re going to be doing it anyway, I guess at least a course release will give you some respite. Sending best wishes for grant money!!