Work.. at least I think work

I have now been at my new job for four weeks and am wondering if I will ever get to do all the work that should be part of the position. I would guess that I actually only work about 2 1/2 hrs each day of eight I'm payed to work. This is not of my choosing but all that my immediate supervisor is giving me. It is frustrating. He works most evenings and weekends but yet will not pass work to me. I am unsure if he doesn't trust my abilities or if he just has a hard time relinquishing control.

Take for instance payroll, this is supposed to be part of my position as Senior Accountant, there have been three pay periods and not one have been done by me. I was supposed to assist with Year End, which I have tons of experience with, and yet again, I have done absolutely nothing towards the year end process.

The days drag by and I'm more tired due to the lack of work. I believe it is time for me to sit down and ask for trust in my abilities and to be given work that takes advantage of those abilities.

It seems I've gone from one extreme to another when it comes to the amount of work that I have to do. At the hospital I had so much work that at times I was over loaded, here I am in a position with really no work at all to do.

This past week I actually stood up for myself, probably for one of the first times ever in my work life. The receptionist, front desk girl, worked her last day on Friday, and they will not be replacing her, at least not for the next while. I was asked to share time shifting with the junior accountant working until six to answer phones. This would be too hard on my body which needs to be fed at a regular time before six in the evenings, expecting me to act as the receptionist when I'm supposed to be the Senior Accountant. Everyone answers the phone at some time during the day, when the phones are really busy or when the receptionist is not available, but it's one thing to help out and another to be acting as the receptionist. This was not part of the job description I was interviewed for and am not being payed to just sit and answer phones. So I said no I was not willing to alternate working times in order to answer phones. It is one thing to work late because my responsibilities and actual work requires it but not to stay and answer phones.

This action may have hurt me during my three month probation period but I don't believe at my age I should compromise or need to compromise. If they end up letting me go then so be it.