'Responsibility creep', what is it? And how can you avoid it?

By Kirstie McDermott

Stop us if you've heard this one before: you're leading a project at work, you've defined the scope, and milestones are set. Everyone knows what they need to do, and when their deliverables need to be complete.

And then, someone has the bright idea to add a few more bits and pieces into the mix, because you may as well get it done now while you're doing all that other work, right? If this sounds familiar, it's because it happens all the time.

In fact, the University of Pittsburgh conducted a survey of its 1,112 staff and found that an overwhelming 91% of them felt that job creep was happening, and that more duties had been placed upon them during their time there.

Half of responses said that this "responsibility creep" began even before the pandemic, with another third saying it became evident after an early retirement program took an extra 453 workers out of the university's workforce.

More work, less time
Responsibility or job creep comes in several forms, but they all add up to the same thing: more work in the same timeframe for no extra money.

The financial services industry is particularly vulnerable to this sort of overwork with a survey by ReclaimAI finding that 58% of finance and accounting professionals are burnt out by a lack of work-life balance.

Another 83% feel like they don't have enough time for focused work, thanks to the number of meetings, notifications and interruptions that they deal with throughout the day. 

And this year, layoff announcements at financial firms have risen 56% compared with the first two months of 2023, which leaves many in the sector doing more than ever, and running on empty as a result.

Push back
So what can you do if you're finding that every week involves you chasing your tail, to only stand still? It can lead to overwhelm, burnout, as well as feelings that you'll never get on in your career. Pushing back when extra responsibilities are heaped on you is one tactic to try.

You can explain that you're at capacity, and can't take on additional tasks. Or you can ask your manager which tasks they would like you to prioritize in the case of being given more work than you can handle.

This can have the effect of solidifying for your boss that you just can't handle an ever-increasing workload. Of course, if this is an endemic practice in your workplace and everyone is buckling under the pressure, it could be in your best interests to look for a new opportunity elsewhere.

If you've tried and failed to reign in your job's scope, then check out the Accounting Today Job Board. It contains thousands of great jobs all across the country, at top companies. Check out three of those below.

Comerica Bank
With more than 400 banking centers across the country with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas, Comerica focuses on building relationships and helping people and businesses be successful. Named on Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies in 2024, it is hiring for a wide range of roles which include compliance, HR, risk remediation and business analysis, among many others. See all open roles here.

Navy Federal Credit Union Jobs
Navy Federal is the largest natural member credit union in the United States, both in asset size and in membership, and has more than 13 million members using its services. Founded during the Great Depression by seven Navy Department employees who wanted to help themselves and their co-workers reach their financial goals, it has now grown to include officers and enlisted men and women of all branches of the military, veterans, DoD employees and their family members. If you'd like to work here, jobs are available for data scientists, risk management analysts, and mortgage loan officers. Explore all jobs.

Zurich
A global insurance provider, Zurich's services serve people and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories and the company has around 9,000 workers located in the U.S., where it has had a presence since 1912. Since then, Zurich has become a leading provider of commercial property-casualty insurance solutions and services and boasts customers which include 90% of the Fortune 500. If this sounds like a company you'd like to work for, explore open jobs including underwriters and claims adjusters. Discover a great fit now.

Find your next accounting role via the Accounting Today Job Board