Overworked. What can I do?

Sharlee

I am completely stressed at work. I have so much to do I am working long hours but do not get paid overtime.

I have highlighted my problems in my last two supervision sessions but nothing changes.

I understand my employers have a duty of care towards me. I will go to my GP to talk about how this work stress is affecting my health.

Is there anything else I can do?

I am looking for another job but not much out there at the moment,

Thanks

GetRealBabe

Hi

What's your job and what's stressing you out?

What were you told at your supervision session?

GRB

grey_lady

Could you just get up and leave at 5.30, or whenever you're due to finish. The work will still be there in the morning.

teabelly

Stop doing the over time. If you aren't paid for the extra then don't do it. If the work isn't being finished then things will start to change. If you 'cope' ie do extra time then they won't do anything as they don't see the problem! If you have worked over then tot up how much over and tell them you are going to be taking this time back as you need extra rest. Being conscientious doesn't seem to earn you any brownie points at work these days so don't bother. Do what you can in the time you have and forget what's left over.

Prioritise what you have to do into Important - due soon, and important - due later. Anything that isn't important forget about until all the important stuff is out of the way. Also try and focus on the task you are doing now and the next task. Don't think about any of the others as you can end up feeling overwhelmed.

I've been where you are and it is no fun. Most bosses don't listen and don't really, truthfully give a flying wotsit whether you are stressed, unhappy or over worked. They just want an easy life and the work to be done as cheaply as possible. If you bear this in mind then you won't be as disappointed with their behaviour!

Soubrette

teabelly wrote: »

Stop doing the over time. If you aren't paid for the extra then don't do it. If the work isn't being finished then things will start to change. If you 'cope' ie do extra time then they won't do anything as they don't see the problem! If you have worked over then tot up how much over and tell them you are going to be taking this time back as you need extra rest. Being conscientious doesn't seem to earn you any brownie points at work these days so don't bother. Do what you can in the time you have and forget what's left over.

Prioritise what you have to do into Urgent - due soon, and urgent - due later. Anything that isn't urgent forget about until all the urgent stuff is out of the way. Also try and focus on the task you are doing now and the next task. Don't think about any of the others as you can end up feeling overwhelmed.

I've been where you are and it is no fun. Most bosses don't listen and don't really, truthfully give a flying wotsit whether you are stressed, unhappy or over worked. They just want an easy life and the work to be done as cheaply as possible. If you bear this in mind then you won't be as disappointed with their behaviour!

I totally agree with this - while you are doing free extra the work is being done and so from a management point of view is not a problem, so stop doing it!!

Also at the end of the day make a list of everything o/s and pass it to your manager. If you don't pass it on then it stays your responsibility, if you do then it becomes theirs.

At every supervision session make the point that you are getting further and further behind in your work. You can also make the point that you can no longer do unpaid overtime as this is detrimental to your health.

Whilst doing this make sure that you do not spend an excessive amount of time away from your desk though as you will probably be watched.

Keep looking for another job.

Sou

Sharlee

Thank you so much for your replies.

The problem is that I work with clients at risk of serious harm. If anything happened, I'd have that on my conscience and people would be looking to scapegoat. I am also short term funded so I have been trying to prove my worth in the hope that I am re-funded. Also because I enjoy the work and know that I do make a difference.

But you're right I can't do it all and the overtime has to stop. I've resisted the urge to go in today to clear some admin and will be more forthright with my concerns to my boss.

Many thanks again.

paulwf

Sharlee wrote: »

Thank you so much for your replies.

The problem is that I work with clients at risk of serious harm. If anything happened, I'd have that on my conscience and people would be looking to scapegoat. I am also short term funded so I have been trying to prove my worth in the hope that I am re-funded. Also because I enjoy the work and know that I do make a difference.

But you're right I can't do it all and the overtime has to stop. I've resisted the urge to go in today to clear some admin and will be more forthright with my concerns to my boss.

Many thanks again.

Firstly the old chestnut applies of you can only look after others if you look after yourself first. If you end up off work with stress/depression there will be no one to help your clients so put yourself first.

To stop yourself being a scapegoat put everything in writing. It is simple, if you can't get the work done put this down in writing to your supervisor even if you know nothing will change at the time. Then if anything bad happens you will have a full paper trail to back up your actions and the blame will be shifted to your supervisor.

There are loads of time management tips, this video may help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTugjssqOT0

Basically prioritise work and delegate where you can. Don't get bogged down in email, check it a couple of times a day and many times a call will resolve an issue much faster, don't get into endless rounds of email. Even if you wait an hour before replying most people will have figured it out for themselves before you reply.

Sharlee

Thanks for your reply and the videolink which I will watch later.

It's true, the longer I spend at work the less effective I'm being. I do spend too much time on email but I tend to do it because when I was asking others to do things by phone and it wasn't getting done I had no audit trail.

I have to evidence everything I do, if I make call or write a letter I have to complete fields and detail it on a database, as well as keeping all correspondence (in a different place), so I spend as much time recording my actions as doing them.

It's like the world of work has gone mad, a kind of collective lunacy where common sense is not allowed.

Regards

terra_ferma

Unfortunately your situation is all too common nowadays, for a variety of reasons organisations underestimate the staff hours (i.e. budget) required to do a job. Sometimes they do so to win business in a very competitive market, other times it's because they don't have a clue!

If your job can't be done by one person there is nothing you can do about it. Going off sick with stress will not help you (for example when looking for another job), nor will taking a confrotational stance.
However I agree that you need to reduce the hours you work, and let your manager know that if you carry on like that you will end un making yourself sick.
You have tried and worked very hard, but it sounds like the job is not doable. It's probably not you, but the job (if it was you your manager would have let you know by now).

Sometimes it's possible to get extra funding, for example if the workload turns out to be higher than expexcted, having more clients, or clients with higher needs. But it does not happen that often. However once the job stops being carried out something will have to be done about it.

Also my advice about prioritising is that you need to agree with your manager, you can suggest having fewer clients, or prioritising direct work over certain admin tasks. But make sure it's agreed with your manager, or at least minuted, so that it does not become a peformance issue.
You can also compare your workload with other people doing similar job if there are any.

Good luck!

Savvy_Sue

Sharlee wrote: »

It's true, the longer I spend at work the less effective I'm being. I do spend too much time on email but I tend to do it because when I was asking others to do things by phone and it wasn't getting done I had no audit trail.

One answer to that might be to make a phone call, then EITHER log it in the client's notes briefly "Spoke to Fred, we agreed he should do X by Y date" with the date) OR send a brief email (Dear Fred, just to confirm our conversation earlier today, we agreed you would do X by Y date, regards Sharlee) afterwards. But resist the temptation to read all your emails every time you send one!

pinkshoes

Have you got any holiday you can take?

I would suggest taking a week off, then writing a detailed long list of everything you do in a typical week, and give it to your boss, going through what needs to be done whilst you're away. Hopefully they'll look horrified, then you can agree with them, and say yup, it'll take them 60 hours a week, as it's far more than a 1 person job.

If they have to do it themselves, then perhaps they'll appreciate how much work it is?