What to do - workload problem

AliceBanned

I wonder whether anyone can advise. I work in a team of four, and recently it has become obvious to myself and a colleague over some time, that one member of the team has been given a much lighter workload to do the same job, for the same salary. It is almost half my workload and has been for some time, and so far looking at plans for next year, there is evidence that it is half for the whole of the year (2015). We don't know the reason for this and in my one to one with my manager on Monday I need to approach him about it, ask him whether he knows, and find our whether this is official.


She works the same hours, but for some time clearly worked from home more than the rest of us (usually over Fri and Mon) and - this is unofficial as from gossip but she told her boyfriend, who works here, who told a colleague, who told me, that she enjoys it here because she 'gets to work part time for full time pay'.

I don't have a union, I'm scared of this but need to say something and get it sorted. I have quite a lot of stress and am a good worker, as is my other colleague who has noticed. It seems that the willing and good workers get lumbered with more work, whilst the fake manipulative lazy ones get let off lightly. If there is some reason for the disparity, it surely should have been discussed with us. Effectively the team is doing half her work.



Moreover, this happened with her predecessor, who did more work than her, but badly, and it took the manager and director four years to notice she was disruptive and was not fulfilling her role well at all, and could not in fact (which may well be the case here). She has been here for two years and I for seven and the other colleague 9. We are livid, as we feel our goodwill, efficiency and ability is being taken for a ride. I'd be grateful for any advice on how best to approach (apart from staying calm and getting the facts from the manager in the first instance).

What's more, we have both asked to work part time in the past, and work from home more, and been refused due to 'workload'. It is quite typical of this dept to mess up in this way, very bad management indeed with no awareness of what is going on around them, not to mention not much honesty and transparency. I can't let it lie though. I have to speak/act but am annoyed at being put in this position by the manager.

wiogs

You need to concentrate on your workload not that of colleagues.

If you are feeling the stress of too much work then in your one to one suggest that your manager could help by sharing the work around more evenly.

This would hopefully reduce your problems and give others more work too.

Takeaway_Addict

I would suggest that if you are going to broach it that you do it with the other member of staff at the same time to show that its not just you its affecting.

But, do remember that the manager can run it how they see fit......and consequently deal with the issues how they see fit and as you have alluded to there maybe genuine reasons as to why it is as it is.

tomtontom

As above, focus on what you are doing, her workload is not your concern. Perhaps they have offered her adjustments due to a hidden disability? If this is the case it is none of your business.

stevemLS

Agree with what has been said, concentrate on your own stuff.

What is striking is that you are working with third or even fourth hand tittle tattle.

It is also probably a truism that everyone thinks they work harder than everyone else - they can't all be right.

AliceBanned

I'm basing it on evidence on the dept spreadsheet listing what we are each doing. It is blatantly clear that she is not pulling her weight, and it is obvious that other team members are going to be unhappy about this - because we are doing it. It is a question of favouritism at the least, constructive dismissal at the worst. Thanks for responding but I disagree. I have been concentrating on my workload but someone doing half for the same salary is really not acceptable. She can't handle the job, and I worked hard to handle it, so clearly needs to be discussed and out in the open.


If she has a reason for it they don't have to divulge this, but they should employ another person to do the part of her work that she is not doing, and give us the chance to say no to it by explaining that it has been pushed onto us. Anything else is rather underhand.

PlutoinCapricorn

I agree with the OP. Unfortunately, this sort of thing is to be found in many organisations. They get away with it, as do the bad managers.

wiogs

AliceBanned wrote: »

I'm basing it on evidence on the dept spreadsheet listing what we are each doing. It is blatantly clear that she is not pulling her weight, and it is obvious that other team members are going to be unhappy about this - because we are doing it. It is a question of favouritism at the least, constructive dismissal at the worst. Thanks for responding but I disagree. I have been concentrating on my workload but someone doing half for the same salary is really not acceptable. She can't handle the job, and I worked hard to handle it, so clearly needs to be discussed and out in the open.


If she has a reason for it they don't have to divulge this, but they should employ another person to do the part of her work that she is not doing, and give us the chance to say no to it by explaining that it has been pushed onto us. Anything else is rather underhand.

You seem to be handling it yet suffering from a lot of stress ( as you put it)

If you are overloaded with work then say so to your manager.


If you think the workload of the department can be distributed more evenly for the benefit of the company then by all means bring it up at your one to one, however saying "she doesn't pull her weight" is not going to cut it and will sound like sour grapes.

If you don't like the advice then sorry but you did ask.

Takeaway_Addict

AliceBanned wrote: »

I'm basing it on evidence on the dept spreadsheet listing what we are each doing. It is blatantly clear that she is not pulling her weight, and it is obvious that other team members are going to be unhappy about this - because we are doing it. It is a question of favouritism at the least, constructive dismissal at the worst. Thanks for responding but I disagree. I have been concentrating on my workload but someone doing half for the same salary is really not acceptable. She can't handle the job, and I worked hard to handle it, so clearly needs to be discussed and out in the open.


If she has a reason for it they don't have to divulge this, but they should employ another person to do the part of her work that she is not doing, and give us the chance to say no to it by explaining that it has been pushed onto us. Anything else is rather underhand.

Its so far away from constructive dismissal it shouldn't even be a thought.

And how they run their business is their choice, not yours. If you don't like it by all means bring issues up but again they can hire who they want, how many staff they want etc. If you don't like it then move on.

If they want to push the work on to you then again that is their choice.

Charlotte17

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I agree with the OP. Unfortunately, this sort of thing is to be found in many organisations. They get away with it, as do the bad managers.

Yeah I worked for a company where were all meant to "be the same" but I had a 30% bigger workload and they use the "you are the senior one" as an excuse but no extra pay for it when the manager is doing nothing all day also - very frustrating and not much I could do about it.

PlutoinCapricorn

It is very disillusioning and demoralising to see this going on. I would try to raise it in an adult, objective manner without getting upset, angry or mentioning unfairness - much easier said than done.