What to do - workload problem

AliceBanned

trailingspouse wrote: »

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.

Sorry I didn't see this earlier.


She is capable, she spent the first year (as temp and then probationary) proving it. After that she has completely changed, ie once she realised she is in a permanent role and they probably can't touch her. She doesn't complain of not understanding, or not knowing what to do. She just complains at having any work at all which she considers beneath her.

AliceBanned

Mistral001 wrote: »

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!

I doubt it very much seeing as I am on a permanent contract.

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.

Elephant in the room is exactly what it is. I think a lot of the frustration is it not being recognised and finding it very difficult to talk about tactfully. That is helpful, I will try and mention it in terms of having a heavy workload..it really is making it harder to cope. She actually glared at me once when I was irritated as put under too much pressure. Sitting there like she has some right to have it easy and put the pressure on others.

PlutoinCapricorn

"My other colleague spoke to the manager about it in her 1-1 today and he made pathetic excuses about her being new, despite one who came in after her also does twice the volume she does. It is his refusal to see or acknowledge the truth that is a) insulting and b) annoying and unfair that winds m up the most, but on top of that to try and get me to believe his crap responses - adds further insult to injury."

Oh. Dear. Perhaps it is time for you to see and acknowledge the truth - that you may well be fighting a losing battle. There are none so deaf as those who will not hear, none so blind as those who will not see. If he still refuses to see or admit anything after all this...

AliceBanned

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

"My other colleague spoke to the manager about it in her 1-1 today and he made pathetic excuses about her being new, despite one who came in after her also does twice the volume she does. It is his refusal to see or acknowledge the truth that is a) insulting and b) annoying and unfair that winds m up the most, but on top of that to try and get me to believe his crap responses - adds further insult to injury."

Oh. Dear. Perhaps it is time for you to see and acknowledge the truth - that you may well be fighting a losing battle. There are none so deaf as those who will not hear, none so blind as those who will not see. If he still refuses to see or admit anything after all this...

But why should I have to resign over it?! It means the organisation is demoralising hard workers in favour of slackers (not just me that is hard working, the three of us). What gets me is the lack of transparency (ie HR may know nothing of this) but I would be whistleblowing if I take this further. I seem to only have 2 options - whistleblow or resign, or continue fuming over it, which is so unfair.

FBaby

Yes I can choose to ignore her, and did for a while, but she got really cheeky and started asking us to do things as she was too 'busy' and we knew it couldn't possibly be true. All our work is on email and in Word documents and Outlook diaries, so if it went further no, it would be no problem at all to prove something is amiss.

What you've got is strength in numbers and that very valuable. Just be patient. People like her do fail in time. We had a colleague who acted exactly like yours and she drove us mad, but once we knew we all felt the same towards her (took some time for us to dare mentioning how we felt), it became easier. Our bosses wouldn't deal with it because it was more aggro to do so than not to but in the end, when the company faced a restructure we all stayed, she didn't...

pickledonionspaceraider

Alice Banned

It is clear you are in a difficult highly frustrating situation

I know where you are coming from, as I have been in a similar situation

Your manager sounds like a spineless wimp , and for reasons best known to him/herself, is unlikely to rock the boat. The louder you shout, the more it COULD (unfairly) look like you are the one with the issues, not the other person

It sounds like this situation and the resentment around it, has been bubbling up for years.

Why waste 45 hours (or whatever you work) a week being miserable?

I think you are doing right looking for another job hun. You will find a role for a company that DESERVE you and will not take advantage.

AliceBanned

I think at the heart of it the problem is that I feel insecure when I shouldn't, because things are not transparent. Not sure why I am so affected by that, suppose I just like honesty and fairness and it seems this is not happening and I don't know why, or what to do about it.


I really can't stand my manager now btw, he is so fake and incompetent!! I hate having to 'respect' someone like that.

PlutoinCapricorn

The 'give her enough rope and she will hang herself' approach might work.

I suppose a lot depends on how much you want to stay with this particular organisation. It would be their loss as much as yours if you left, and if you find a better place they will have done you a favour.

pickledonionspaceraider

AliceBanned wrote: »

But why should I have to resign over it?! It means the organisation is demoralising hard workers in favour of slackers (not just me that is hard working, the three of us). What gets me is the lack of transparency (ie HR may know nothing of this) but I would be whistleblowing if I take this further. I seem to only have 2 options - whistleblow or resign, or continue fuming over it, which is so unfair.

You shouldn't HAVE to resign, no one is saying that it would be right and just that you did, but do you really want to me having this same conversation this time next year - which you will be if you just continue on as you are

I wouldn't continue fuming over it - what good is that - you are only hurting yourself

I think you have two options.

Whilstleblow

or

Resign - find another job first and leave at your own sweet convenience

Don't spend the next six months mulling it over whilst being horrendously miserable as you have wasted enough of your precious life on this issue already. Make your choice by the end of the week and see it though whatever it may be

Just remember, you don't owe them (your employers) anything. You work for a wage, you don't owe them your health