When they change your job without asking you

Dear Bob ...I have a bit of a dilemma that I'm hoping you can help me out with because I'm stuck.I was recently "promoted" to a new position. I say promoted in quotes because the promotion seems to be hardly that. I was suddenly given a new title, new and extra responsibilities, and a new boss (someone I don't get along with). There was no pay increase with this position change, actually more like a pay cut. In

Dear Bob ...

I have a bit of a dilemma that I'm hoping you can help me out with because I'm stuck.

I was recently "promoted" to a new position. I say promoted in quotes because the promotion seems to be hardly that. I was suddenly given a new title, new and extra responsibilities, and a new boss (someone I don't get along with). There was no pay increase with this position change, actually more like a pay cut. In my old position I worked quite a bit of overtime. In this one, I don't. Same hourly rate, but less take home each week.

The change in position wasn't offered to me, I was put in to it. The position may be new but it was handed to me as an expansion of my previous position, leaving behind previously held duties that of course would need to be filled by another candidate. While I enjoy striving to improve my quality of work, I find it a bit hard to continue with the constant reminder that I seem to work in an environment that shows favoritism and unfair working conditions.

So with that being said, I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with ...

First, is it legal to change someone's position, title, responsibilities, and supervisor without their prior agreement? I have not signed anything stating that my responsibilities have changed. As far as I know, to Human Resources, I still hold my previous position.

Second, as you stated in a previous article, Capitalism assumes I'm an individual working to maximize my own "utility" ... and I am. So now that I have a new boss, how do I approach the pay issue? I need an increase, but here, now, that's unlikely.

On top of that, I have no data to support my contention that my position is worthy of a salary increase. All I have is my new and extra responsibilities; and the fact that the expanded position is a necessity in the organization. However, I am certain (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that if the organization were to publish an open position like mine, they would have to increase the salary to get the quality of work I deliver.

I see my quality of work deteriorating if my salary does not increase. It would be hard to consistently deliver with excellence when I'm not rewarded for it. I enjoy working in this organization and my bottom-line makes it hard for me to search for another job right now.

What should I do?

- Not ready to pack yet

Dear Unready ...

Let me answer the legal question first: Unless you are governed by a union contract, for most employers it's perfectly legal to assign you new duties. There are exceptions (for example, assigning you duties that conflict with a union contract) but with few exceptions these days, organizations are "at will" employers which means they're free to reassign you or let you go; you're free to leave whenever you like.