Help! I need some job advice ...

[FergieTCat]

I'm sorry for the long post, but I need some help here!

Let me begin my saying, yes, I know I'm lucky I have a job to begin with. But, suffice it to say that it's now 2:00 AM here in New York and I am still wide awake with this problem.

I work in the recruiting and personnel department of a medium sized company. There is another department that is strictly human resources, benefits, etc., but we handle everything else.
Last year, there were 3 people in my department: my supervisor, another coordinator (who I'll call Jane) and me. Jane and I split the work evenly, although we each had different areas we focused on. We literally worked from 9:30-7:30 every day with a 15 minute break to find lunch, which we ate while working. We both got sick from the stress (she with bronchitis, me with a strep throat and flu). When my boss retired, she suggested that we switch workloads. She said they'd be hiring a third coordinator, so our respective workloads would be lessened.

There are now four people in my department: my new boss, Jane, Mary (the new girl) and me. My boss has divided the labor as follows: Jane and Mary handle what Jane used to do by herself, and I handle my former workload PLUS some work that used to be Jane's responsibility. My workload has literally doubled, while Jane's has been cut in half. Mary does the other half. I still work non-stop all day. I beleive that Jane and Mary work half as hard as I do because there are two of them handling what used to be a job for one person. Also, they both have time to take lunch hour a few times a week, go to doctor's appointments a few times a month (Jane has allergies), etc.

The other problem is that Mary slacker. I know that my boss has caught her sending instant messages to her friends, chatting on the phone, and even reading magazines. She's at least 15 minutes late every morning. And since Mary still continues to do the same things, I don't think my boss has said anything to her.

About 6 weeks ago, I went into my boss's office and told her that I was overwhelmed at my desk and asked if some of my workload could be distributed to Jane and Mary. My boss replied that it was not possible since we were in the middle of recruiting season and that Jane and Mary were much too busy to do anymore work (which she knows is b.s. based on what I know she's seen, but this is what she told me). She also said that I have a much better work product, and she'd rather give projects to me than them (which is all well and good for everyone except me!) She suggested that if I could not keep up with my workload from 9:30-5:30, that I should start working overtime as well. I absolutely refuse to do that. The other two rarely work past 6:00. In other words, nothing changes.

I decided to start working slower, and when my boss gives me 3 or 4 projects at a time, ask her to prioritize, since I can't do everything in one day. I don't know if this is the right way to handle it.

What do you think the deal is and what do you think I need to do? I assume that now that recruiting season is over, Jane and Mary will have more time to help me with my workload. But what if that's not the case and my boss continues on as she has been? Do you think I should say something, or keep my mouth shut and look for a new job (which I would prefer not to do).

Can anyone give me perspective from the point of view of someone who's been through this, or someone who's a supervisor?

Going to take some Advil and try to get some sleep ...

 

[DoeWDW]

{{ Hugs }} to you, Donna!! I can hear your frustration!

No one else will look out for you and your health and your stress level except you. I agree with slowing down a bit, refusing overtime and asking your boss to prioritize the projects.

It seems that you've done such a good job while pushing yourself all this time that now your boss expects it! Start taking your lunch hour at least twice a week (AT LEAST!!). Get done what you can do comfortably in your regular work hours and what doesn't get done either isn't important or your boss will find another way to get it done.

The consequences of keeping up at your current pace are - you getting sick and not being able to work as much or you leaving for another job. Either way, your boss loses. The consequences of you slowing down a bit and letting your boss prioritize and understand what a REASONABLE workload is for you - well I'm betting the boss likes your work enough that you'll get some help.

Good luck, Donna!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Can't hurt to look I suppose, nothing wrong with plan B. I don't know what to tell you as things are bad all over. DH has just been re-orged to a diiferent location starting in Jan.

I think working slower is a good compromise until you figure things out. Sorry.....

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm so sorry you're on overload!! I was the same way at my last job...which I eventually quit! I had been doing tasks directly assigned by the dept director plus helping out another girl in the dept with her work. When the other girl retired, I took her job thinking...finally! I won't have to do all this c**p! I was expecting it to fall to the new person coming in. WRONG! My boss was so happy with the way I handled things that she transferred a lot of what I was doing to my new position...in addition to what that position consisted of. MANY TIMES there was way too much to be done in either position I had. But my boss always encouraged to get with her when I was on overload and she would prioritize. I stuck it out 8 years!!! It was a fun job, but waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much stress on a daily basis. Good luck! Hope there's a resolution for you soon.

 

[annemariec]

What a predicament!

I agree with DoeWDW, no one is going to look out for you and your health but you. I would take my lunch hours and two 15 min. breaks a day. That is your right as an employee mandated by the government. It's supposed to be upheld by HR! Surely a HR dept. supervisor should have no qualms about that! It would burn me up if my peers were having theirs and I was not. I wouldn't have it. Look for ways to be proactive for yourself and your sanity.

When you see Ms. J. or Ms. M. loafing while you are busting your butt, go over to their desk and proclaim in a slightly louder than normal voice that you need a hand doing a project. Be specific about what you need and have it ready to hand over. And watch them sputter. Be nice about it, but at the same time, shame them!! (document that you asked them, what they were doing, and their reply and keep it confidential, you may need it one day.) That's what I'd do. Ofcourse over time they will probably be more covert about loafing, but they will get the message.

You may think the above approach will not garner you any friendships. But the way I see it they are already not being helpful or friendly to you.

Keep a log of the projects you are working on and what is completed by you for yourself. Keep it updated. It will help you during times of employee reviews and it will help to highlight inequities. After a time, show it to your supervisor --- she'll probably make a decree that all of the office workers should keep such a log. That would help you a lot if she did. She may even think of it as her idea. (If it's nixed, still keep yours for yourself, you may need it too one day.)

Good luck. The position you are in is no fun!
Annemarie

 

[GeorgeG]

We have a saying at our job that "no good deed goes unpunished."

When good work should be rewarded, too often it just leads to getting more work just because you can (and will) do it.

I would suggest having a meeting with your supervisor to discuss your situation. Rather than starting off complaining, first establish an agreement that you're a good worker and an important asset to your department. Then broach the issue(s) at hand and ask what might be done to make things better. While this may not resolve your problem, at least you'll have a better idea of how to handle it from there.

As a last resort, start putting out feelers for another job. You never know, something good may be out there. You don't need to make any announcements about it. These things have a way of becoming known. Maybe once the word is out, your supervisor will start to realize she might end up with the slackers and nobody to carry the load.

Since you're already close to your Human Resources Department, is it possible you can get some help from them?

 

[FergieTCat]

Thanks for the advice. At least I know I'm not looking at it the wrong way.

I have decided to slow down, and do what I reasonably can. But I'm certainly done working twice as hard as the rest of the department.

And I finally did manage to get to sleep, btw.