What to do - workload problem

PlutoinCapricorn

tomtontom wrote: »

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.

Unless we actually work there, our ideas are just speculation. Favouritism, health problems, inefficient management...

However, there does seem to be something strange going on. If I, for example, habitually came in late and left early, worked at home or had a lighter workload for some personal reason, it would create a bit of an elephant in the room, and I would expect the managers to give some kind of explanation to the others.

If I were the one with the heavy workload, I think I would try to understand what was going on and why, and be detached about it. I would mention that I was having trouble keeping up and ask whether anything could be done about it.

trailingspouse

You have been in the role longer, and have more experience than this other person. You have frequently referred to yourself as 'senior'. You are on the one hand complaining that she doesn't have as much work as you, and on the other hand you complain that she can't handle the work she does have.

If she can't handle the work, this sounds to me like a training issue. As you see yourself in the 'senior' role, then why don't you do some informal training with her, so that you can bring her up to speed to everyone's benefit.

Tigsteroonie

Darn it, the OP hasn't logged into MSE since this thread. I was wondering how her "discussions" with her manager went ...

Why do people never come back and update us?

Mistral001

A manager might listen to the OP sympathetically, if the OP was complaining about her workload alone and that manager would probable do something about it. However, if the OP mentioned other members of staff as well, most managers would think, hold on this is irrelevant to this discussion. Some managers might even suggest that the OP's workload could be cut down to zero if they wanted!

pinpin

I know it can be annoying, but It's probably best to just 'let it be' and not worry about other peoples work.

I once had a job where a colleague of mine (who I liked so would never have thought to try to expose them) could get all of their work done for teh day within about 1.5 hrs.
They were 'done' each day by morning coffee time and would just surf the net or sleep until home time!! lol
Rather good pay too!
Meanwhile, I was snowed under non-stop until 5pm!

The main reason I think, is that the company was new and management really had way too much on their plate to properly look at various peoples roles and get a good idea of exactly what various staff members roles were. Not to mention that they were just badly organised in general. So this guy just got lucky being assigned his particular job which I guess the bosses thought would take a hell of a lot longer!

BoJangles_2

Such inbalances can cause issues, especially within small teams.

AliceBanned

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Darn it, the OP hasn't logged into MSE since this thread. I was wondering how her "discussions" with her manager went ...

Why do people never come back and update us?

Uncivil comments on my thread made me take a break from it, if you must know. There's really no need for it but I know it is not a reflection of me so I try not to pay attention as I won't let people with an axe to grind ruin my day.


It is getting resolved. Two other team members are also horrified at the inequality - I wasn't the first to notice. I spoke to my manager without blaming other colleague and she said it's a 'fair point'. I've made a record of the discussion and will wait to see and if things are the same in six months' time I'll take it further. The manager is a fool if he does nothing. It isn't a small difference, it is someone doing a lot less (and despite this taking advantage of the rest of the team by sending us emails saying she is too busy). Busy day dreaming.


I think people need to stand up against things like this, as their fear to speak out can mean they get taken advantage of.


There's nothing wrong with having the backbone to do it. It takes a lot of courage actually.

AliceBanned

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

Unless we actually work there, our ideas are just speculation. Favouritism, health problems, inefficient management...

However, there does seem to be something strange going on. If I, for example, habitually came in late and left early, worked at home or had a lighter workload for some personal reason, it would create a bit of an elephant in the room, and I would expect the managers to give some kind of explanation to the others.

If I were the one with the heavy workload, I think I would try to understand what was going on and why, and be detached about it. I would mention that I was having trouble keeping up and ask whether anything could be done about it.

Thanks, you are right and that is exactly how I did it.

Takeaway_Addict

AliceBanned wrote: »

Uncivil comments on my thread made me take a break from it, if you must know. There's really no need for it but I know it is not a reflection of me so I try not to pay attention as I won't let people with an axe to grind ruin my day.


It is getting resolved. Two other team members are also horrified at the inequality - I wasn't the first to notice. I spoke to my manager without blaming other colleague and she said it's a 'fair point'. I've made a record of the discussion and will wait to see and if things are the same in six months' time I'll take it further. The manager is a fool if he does nothing. It isn't a small difference, it is someone doing a lot less (and despite this taking advantage of the rest of the team by sending us emails saying she is too busy). Busy day dreaming.


I think people need to stand up against things like this, as their fear to speak out can mean they get taken advantage of.


There's nothing wrong with having the backbone to do it. It takes a lot of courage actually.

In what way? Further up the chain?

AliceBanned

Sorry but amongst other things I'm at breaking point.

We have a meeting (about other stuff but workload included) on Monday with the manager and director. They have previously fobbed us off and given fluffy answers to things, so I'm not holding my breath. All three of the rest of the team (doing double the other one's workload) are onto this now, but I'm still scared we will be given the usual excuses and vague answers.

Sorry I didn't understand the last post - what the question was about. I again had to take a break from here and asked for another thread to be completely removed, as I am going through a difficult time and just don't need any aggression thrown at me when I'm not doing anything wrong. All I'm doing is working hard and being demoralised by my manager and director's weakness.