New job, expecting too much?

Mrsedwards_2

Hi

I started a new job recently, it was previously full time but they reduced it to part time for me but I dont think the work load has changed.

I am (what was advertised) a secretary/pa. but having now been in the job for two months, I am a receptionist, administrator and a secretary. All in part time hours. We had a big deadline the 3rd week into my role that took up an entire month of my working hours and I'm only just catching up with normal day to day jobs. I feel like I'm constantly saying, yes I'm in the process of doing it etc.

I think as they've had trainees previously who wasn't very efficient and because I'm not a trainee and I'm on a very good salary they're expecting far too much of me but I think they're forgetting I'm part time hours. I'm running round like a headless chicken trying to fit everything in. I'm getting confused whether I'm a receptionist (which I am) but also an administrator and a secretary. It's hard juggling these and it's constantly on my mind to the point I cried to my husband (unintentionally) I didn't realise I were getting so stressed with it, the main thing that drives me mad is I sit with the manager daily, to action any emails that he receives, and he dictates the response to me I go back type it up and send it. That I'm my eyes takes twice as long!!! It would be far more efficient if he just typed the response and I can get on with my work: I don't know what to do!!!

asajj

Did you talk to your manager? Maybe it is just seasonal?

DCFC79

Speak to your manager about it tomorrow.

Mrsedwards_2

I feel quite difficult in how to approach it as I'm literally only two months in I don't want it to looks as though I'm struggling well I am but you know what I mean like I can't cope or multitask.

Caroline_a

Mrsedwards wrote: »

Hi

I started a new job recently, it was previously full time but they reduced it to part time for me but I dont think the work load has changed.

I am (what was advertised) a secretary/pa. but having now been in the job for two months, I am a receptionist, administrator and a secretary. All in part time hours. We had a big deadline the 3rd week into my role that took up an entire month of my working hours and I'm only just catching up with normal day to day jobs. I feel like I'm constantly saying, yes I'm in the process of doing it etc.

I think as they've had trainees previously who wasn't very efficient and because I'm not a trainee and I'm on a very good salary they're expecting far too much of me but I think they're forgetting I'm part time hours. I'm running round like a headless chicken trying to fit everything in. I'm getting confused whether I'm a receptionist (which I am) but also an administrator and a secretary. It's hard juggling these and it's constantly on my mind to the point I cried to my husband (unintentionally) I didn't realise I were getting so stressed with it, the main thing that drives me mad is I sit with the manager daily, to asction any emails that he receives, and he dictates the response to me I go back type it up and send it. That I'm my eyes takes twice as long!!! It would be far more efficient if he just typed the response and I can get on with my work: I don't know what to do!!!

What?? Does he not understand how a modern office works?? Bonkers!!

elsien

Remind him that as it's now a part time role but apparently still needs to include xyz, which of these would he prefer you to prioritise in the time available to you, and what is the mechanism for passing on the tasks that need sorting during the times when you are not at work?

asajj

Mrsedwards wrote: »

I feel quite difficult in how to approach it as I'm literally only two months in I don't want it to looks as though I'm struggling well I am but you know what I mean like I can't cope or multitask.

I understand but if you sit in silence and try to get things done by yourself, they might think you are doing ok and happy.

As I told on many other threads before, everything takes longer to finish when you are new to a job too. Perhaps you will find your feet, perhaps it is just currently busy but you aren't aware or perhaps it is really too much for one person. Apart from having a chat with them, not much you can do.

FBaby

Your best chance to make it better for you if you are going to raise this to your boss is to gather evidence. Unfortunately, as it often is with a job that involved different roles, the people who ask you do to things probably only see you doing one of these and can't appreciate all you are expected to do.

What you should do is spend the next 2 weeks gathering exactly what you've had to do and make it fit within your working hours, within deadlines.

Be careful though because your salary could reflect that your job is stressful, as indeed, you say that it is well paid. They might themselves be under huge pressure, so might not be sympathetic, even if they agree with you, or they might say that it is you who isn't being efficient with your time, so be prepared to discuss how this is not the case.

It could be that it is the nature of the job, but also that these were particularly bad weeks not helped with you stepping in a new role and inevitably needing a bit of time to adjust to it.

TELLIT01

Managers aren't psychic. If you don't tell them there is a problem they won't know there is one, or at least they can claim they don't know there is one. For many years my wife had the 'Oh I'll manage somehow' attitude and just got more and more stuff dumped on her until she came close to having a breakdown. She has since changed and lets people know immediately if the workload is becoming unmanageable. Surprising as it may seem, that works better for both her manager and her, as the work can be passed to others or the manager prioritises the work.

trailingspouse

You need to manage upwards. Is there a better way of doing something? Suggest it. Is there a conflict of priorities? Tell them, and ask which of the important things is most important.

Why were the hours reduced to part-time? Would you want/be able to do more hours - that way you'd get more money and be less stressed, which sounds like a win-win to me.

As a previous poster said, the boss isn't psychic. If you don't tell them, they won't know. Don't whinge, just say that you're looking to do the best you possibly can in the time available to you.

Rather than him dictating his emails then you going and typing it up, why don't you type to his dictation? Have you asked him why he doesn't just type his own?

Sncjw

Tell them you can't do full time work load in part time hours.