Untitled

[lovemyshoes]

Yesterday at work was excessively busy, I worked 6.5 hours and during this time took over 100 phone calls as well as doing other jobs which needed doing etc. I didn't have 1 break as I was so busy and would not have got through my workload. I had some support, but, she is not trained on the phones and could only tell them to ring back later.

Up until last week my team leader was in the office with me giving me (hardly any) but at least some support and enabled me to go to the loo etc. But, she has now been given her own office upstairs.

I have found out next Friday that I am completely on my own with no support whatsoever, and I'm not willing to do it again as I felt really stressed out yesterday, headache, pains in chest, eyestrain from looking at the computer and the back of my neck was burning from leaning over doing paperwork etc. I've e-mailed my boss, but I KNOW that I will not get a reply and will get told to ring upstairs if I am busy.

I do a job share with someone else, but, she gets 2 peoples support on Monday, 1 persons support on Tuesday and 3 on Wednesday, whereas I get only get 1 on weds & Thurs and none on a Friday.

I'm seriously considering getting in touch with the union, but not sure what else I can do.

I am NOT allowed to leave the phones un-manned if I go to the loo or to make a cup of tea so have to ask the workmen to make me drinks etc.

Does anyone have any advice please?

[ruddynorah]

what does your team leader say about this? and your job share?

[lovemyshoes]

Team leader doesn't give a monkeys, my job share is disgusted, but, there is nothing she can do.

[ruddynorah]

ok. how big is this company? who is your actual line manager, the team leader or the 'boss.' is the boss someone you can phone? do you have an HR department?

[lovemyshoes]

This company is one of the, if not THE biggest in the UK.

My e-mailed my line manager on Friday, but he NEVER comes into the main office where I work unless there is a PROBLEM, he is very unapproachable and I never feel things will get resolved with him.

My team leader is just as bad, if we have meetings etc she sits and shuffles papers but says nothing. We have a HR dept but I have to got through the team leader, who informs the line manager that I want to speak with them

[ruddynorah]

appalling. there IS a problem so does this mean the boss will come and see you?

what have you said in your email to your boss? have you kept a copy? can you email team leader too and keep a copy?

what the hek does your team leader do all day? she isn't doing much leading.

do you have regular reviews or one to ones? who does the rotas to make sure you aren't alone? who schedules breaks? do hr not check that people have the right breaks?

if it isn't taken seriously i would raise a grievance.

[lovemyshoes]

I'll try and answer you're questions best I can.

If there is a problem the office manager will speak to my team leader who then comes back to me or he gets me in the office for a 'chat' which are a waste of time as nothing constructive comes out of it.

I told him that I was aware that I was on my own next friday and asked him for support etc as yesterday left me feeling wiped out. yes I have kept a copy and sent a copy already to my team leader.

Team leader has cig breaks, texts her boyfriend and on the whole doesn't look that busy, she has been put in her own office as she says she can't concentrate in our office due to the phones ringing constantly and workmen coming in for jobcards etc.

We are supposed to have 1 meeting a month, but they rarely come off, we have had 1 since march and all they do is sit and recite figures, if we do mention problems they are written down and brushed under the carpet/forgotten etc.

We don't have rota's etc, we work sets days hours etc.

HR have not been in touch with regards to breaks etc since i started there 18 months ago

[ruddynorah]

are thre other people doing the same job as you, other than your job share, who are unhappy?

you need to request a formal meeting with team leader AND boss.

write down everything you're unhappy with and ideally have some solutions prepared so you don't just look like a moaner.

if they are unresponsive to this then raise a grievance.

[lovemyshoes]

Thanks for your help.

My job share is happy with her hours etc and she gets support.

I have tried to mention it but they don't seem to listen, maybe they would listen if I got union involved?

[ruddynorah]

yes probably, but best to approach with solutions first imo and ime.

why do they give your job share support and not you?

[lovemyshoes]

They keep saying that there is not enough money in the 'budget' to pay for another member of staff etc.

There should be 3/4 people in the office to keep it running smoothly, but i very rarely happens & the backlog is getting worse.

[ivykaty44]

There is nothing to stop you from telephoning your union rep and having a chat with them on Monday - it doesn't mean that they will actually start acting on your behalf unti you wish them to or need them to.

Phone the union rep and get advice on how to tackle the situation first - then you can always go back to them if you dont get a good response and you will also know you have tackled it in the correct manner and the union will not be saying "oh, you really shouldn't have done that as it now makes our job twice as difficult"

It is after all what you pay your subs for - advice and support.