Left in the lurch

CaoimheK101

Hi all,

I hope you are keeping well.

Let me first of all preface this by saying I am aware how lucky I am to still have a job and I do not take that fact for granted.

With that being said, in the past 3 months, my team of 3 (myself, my manager and one other), has become a team of 1 (me). Both other team members went on long term sick leave and subsequently handed in their notice while they were off. As a result, I am now (officially) the only member on my team until their positions have been backfilled. My whole office has been working from home since March and are due to continue to do so for the foreseeable. My job is quite high pressure and has been extremely busy all throughout lockdown.

Essentially, I have been doing the work of 3 people for at least 3 months and will continue to do so for some time. I was also the most junior member of the team by quite a bit. I have been with the company for 2 and a half years and have not yet received a pay increase. I was due one this coming December, but as of April, a blanket email was sent to all staff informing us that no salary increases or bonuses would be happening this year.

My question is, what should I do now? I am under a lot of pressure with work and have received no incentive or thanks for carrying this extra load – which often means working overtime at no additional renumeration. I believe that I am due a salary increase, given the massive increase in my workload and the subsequent overtime and stress incurred as a result. I just don’t know how to approach this given the current environment. It should also be noted that my company has so far not enforced any redundancies, layoffs or salary cuts. 

Any advice or guidance would be gratefully received.

I hope you are all keeping well and thanks in advance.

oh_really

You need to stop coping or nothing will change.  You may believe your due a salary increase, your employer evidently doesn't.

Sorry to sound blunt.

Brynsam

Yes, anyone with a job is fortunate to have one - but if you sink under the weight of the workload that's not going to help anyone.

Your employer isn't going to do anything while you continue to put up with the situation and possibly even give a splendid impression of being willing and able to cope. Take a realistic look at what is being asked of you and how long you are spending doing it - not just a day or two, but for the next month. Effectively keep a timesheet as if you were being paid by a client and having to account for what you do and how long you spend doing it.

After a month, review things. Can you work smarter as opposed to work harder/longer? Are you so overwhelmed that you're tending to go round in circles rather than moving forward? Being realistic, there is no way you can continue to cover the work of 3 people in anything but the shortest timescale, so you need to explain to your employer what they can reasonably expect you to do and discuss when and how the vacant positions are going to be filled. 

I think for now you need to park any (understandable) grumbling about lack of salary increases and focus on getting some extra hands on deck to share the workload.

[Deleted User]

Learn to pull the stressed face. (my weakness is also my strength, can't hide anything from anybody) Get an attachment of earnings which means money issues are there to be talked about. You never really know what is being said behind your back - don't work for free, you can end up looking incompetent when it suits. Maybe they will change their mind about pay increase but only if were already on the minimum to start with. That's the best way to look at it. I saw a job this week 22k (similar to what I do for 17k) but wondered why on earth it was a lot of dollar. ...bet no parking Don't know about wishing for a replacement/additional team members - when it happened for me and they were so different round them, it did make me wonder whether I was in right place or the right fit, not easy to be following the 24 year old out dead on 5, watching as they break for lunch and because the Manager isn't actually around to know they aren't doing much and I find it difficult to look redundant. Decided I need to start making a lunch time and walking 'round the block' plus I guess I am lucky that next 4 months I could potentially have a week off each month due to excessive untaken leave so be bogged down less.

eamon

In your shoes you need to speak to your line manager re the overwork sooner rather than later but you need your ammunition lined up but not in an aggressive way.

Make a list of all the duties that you have been doing for the last 3 months that are over and above your work prior to your colleagues leaving. Document all the extra unpaid hours that you have put in. You need to be prepared to say that all the above is no longer sustainable, is impacting negatively on your health. As per Brynsam the buck needs passing upwards.

AskAsk

complain, complain and complain.  then if nothing is done about it, look for another job.

Marcon

Deleted User said:

 Get an attachment of earnings which means money issues are there to be talked about. 

Get someone to drag you through the courts for a debt you don't owe? Marvellous idea. Can't imagine why other posters haven't rushed to suggest it.

KatrinaWaves

Marcon said:

Deleted User said:

 Get an attachment of earnings which means money issues are there to be talked about. 

Get someone to drag you through the courts for a debt you don't owe? Marvellous idea. Can't imagine why other posters haven't rushed to suggest it.

I mean you pulled one insane thing out of a whole post of insane things. They‚Äôre certainly back with a vengeance... 

pramsay13

It might be worth keeping your head down with a view to applying for your manager position that is now vacant.
If you are able to do that job as well as your own and another it should be a no-brainer getting that job.
It might be worth asking your line manager when they will fill the positions and explaining it would be better sooner rather than later and that you feel you deserve a chance at the higher position.
If you have worked well covering it they may just give you the job and fill the two lower positions.

JReacher1

Book two weeks holiday and then they can see what happens when you’re out of office. May make them appreciate you more. 

TELLIT01

You should revert to doing the amount of work you were doing pre-Covid.  The loss of staff is not your responsibility to address but if you continue to work excessive hours you will be doing yourself damage in the long term.