[fpalmans]

Most valuable is the fact that one can only make oneself redundant when the role and expectation is completely understood.

Best part is; when interviewing for your next position you can explain how you improved the operations and saved (at least) one full time employee.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that openly discussing the above opened the door to job opportunities which traditionally weren't listed in my day (>20 years ago, in Belgium). Roles, which for political (sometimes even legal) reasons required direct employment (as opposed to being externally contracted), though without the possibility of this employment to indefinite.

edit2: Some clarification... I might be remembering things incorrectly, perhaps someone can enlighten me. I was very young and perhaps only had the impression I was offered special roles. I recall - perhaps incorrectly - that employment contracts were usually of indefinite duration. Any employment contract with limited duration put an employee in a completely different class, a class which could not be made accountable for business decisions. Anyway, not having worked in Belgium for over a decade, it feels very odd to think that truly was the case...

So - take the 'edits' with a sizable grain of salt ;-)