Help! Work not done

[TinyHouseFan]

I work in a big bank as a middle manager. I've been in the company 20 years with no issues and always good feedback and reviews.

I changed roles from an operations role to a policy role before Christmas. I spent the weeks before Christmas break reading and calling people on the wider team to introduce myself and get some info and background on the objectives.

From January, I've had plenty of time and space to get stuck in, but my kids were at home in January and February so home schooling took a lot of time, then I had a couple of heavy college projects.

Anyway, I've really struggled to get my head around the role, and with motivation, given there's very few deadlines and I'm not used to working like that, but I have nothing done and my boss wants me to send her my progress so far.

What do I do?

Well you say say there are very few deadlines, but have you actively missed any? I would probably just present the progress you've made completing your various tasks, and show that you're on track to meet the deadlines you do actually have. And maybe proactively ask for a bit more guidance in terms of expectations!!

I'm a bit confused about the heavy college projects getting in the way of your work, are you training at the same time? Or is this helping your DCs with their projects?

So you've done no work?

Sorry, I'm doing a post grad in college so I do that in the evening instead of logging back in for work.
My kids are only 6 and 8.

I do need to ask for more guidance and will absolutely do that, but how do I admit that I haven't got the three months work done I should have? It's not a deadline per se, but I'm supposed to have a framework started to build on and roll out, etc and I don't.

SoupDragon, very little to show, I'm afraid

Do what you can, really quickly. Include everything, for example the getting background explanations. Include a plan for your plan.

So what should you be delivering? Ypu say a framework, have ypu actually done anything to help ypu develop that. Reading, gathering in information from areas, working with colleagues to identify areas of weakness/strength/ opportunity etc... or have you actually done fuck all?

Because honestly if you've done nothing tangible in the last few months other than prioritise college and home schooling you are probably up shits creek. And I say that as someone who has similar set up, I work on strategic development/policy writing etc also while doing a degree and with kids home.
I'm not sure you can do anything other than be very honest.

Have you been getting your normal salary or have you been on furlough? If not on furlough I'd imagine your manager will be expecting to see something in return for you collecting your wages

HR person here. You’re on a sticky wicket here, OP and making little sense. Eg

From January, I've had plenty of time and space to get stuck in,

but my kids were at home in January and February so home schooling took a lot of time,

Which of these statements is right? Can’t be both.

then I had a couple of heavy college projects.

Is this a course your employer is supporting? If not why are you prioritising it over paid work? If I were advising your manager I’d be using the words “capability process” and possibly “disciplinary” if you’ve hidden your lack of work but taken the money for it (as could constitute fraud - which in a banking career could be catastrophic). Tread very carefully.

I’d be careful about where you’re talking about all your running (half marathons), exercise and podcast listening too. Again, your employer will expect work to be fairly high in your priorities and it appears it’s everything but for you.

Thanks all, that's kind of what I was expecting to be honest and probably the kind of conversation I'll be having with my manager shortly.

When is your meeting/deadline for the "progress so far", and are you able to clear your life from now until then to do nothing but work on this? If you have a week or so, and can give kids to DH/you mum etc so you're doing nothing but work and your own eat/sleep, then you may be able to salvage this. As long as you're able to do the work alone? If you need colleagues etc then it could be too late.

In the interests of trying to not get in trouble with your manager...

You need to play up how busy you were with home-schooling. Don't mention the college course unless it's one that your work are paying for/have told you to do, otherwise it sounds like you a prioritising a hobby over your paid work.

The management way of saying that you've done fuck all would be something like,

"thank you for giving me this prompt to reflect upon what I have achieved in my role since christmas. I have felt extremely busy during this time but with hindsight I can now see that this was mainly due to the pressure of homeschooling my children and trying to juggle my caring responsibilities with my workload. Although I managed to make a good start with X, Y and Z (you must have done SOMETHING, surely?), now that my children are back at school I have the capacity to really get going with A, B and C. In the short term I plan to achieve 1,2,3 and by the end of June I hope to have completed 4,5,6."

Tell your manager you've made some progress on all tasks/projects but you were planning on speaking to them to get some advice or guidance on where to go next. Be honest and say that the lack of deadlines or clear jobs to do is a little concerning as you feel in the last 3 months you've not achieved much, and things have taken longer than expected.

You need to play up how busy you were with home-schooling.

Dangerous strategy if not flagged previously with the manager. Also will lead to questions about why only she was affected and why her husband seemingly did none of it.

No offence OP but many of us have got through FTE jobs with kids and homeschooling etc. I would write out what you have done so far and how that will impact your work going forward (eg read x documents to help me formulate a new policy for y, spoken to z person to learn more about y which is being used to inform my planning for x). And ask for weekly or fortnight 1 to 1s with your manager.

Are you still in your probationary period?

@bonfireheart

Are you still in your probationary period?

After 20 years?!

bonfireheart I'm giving a hollow laugh that everyone must have had an equal experience balancing homeschooling and a full time job, people have short memories and those not in similar positions may have legitimately forgotten what the pressures have been like for the last 5 months.

I'd go with second baby girls response, but go in proactive with a suggested list of projects as you have capacity.

I'd do what you can in the time you have between now and the meeting, and then come clean to your manager.

Three months of (presumably) full time paid work without anything to show for it is long enough - you need to own up pronto and actually make a plan to do the work.

@TitsOot4Xmas at my workplace if you get a new job in the same place, you are put back on probation, so no need to be a smart arse.

@Timeforabiscuit glad I made you laugh but as a single parent working all hours for the emergency services I know how hard hard homeschooling was, but to do no work in three months is taking the piss.

And seems like OP was happy for that to carry on eventhough kids are back at school if it wasn't for their manager wanting a meeting now.

[quote bonfireheart]@TitsOot4Xmas at my workplace if you get a new job in the same place, you are put back on probation, so no need to be a smart arse.[/quote]
Not all workplaces follow good practice. With 20 years experience in the company getting rid after 3/6 months probation in a new role would be interesting. Probation doesn’t trump employment law.

But as the OP posted this in chat this is to be expected.

Could you get some work done tonight? Just you have something to show. Hope everything goes ok😊.

Thanks Shopaholic100, I think the posters above gave me the scare I needed. I've pulled a plan together and am starting on section 1 now.

I don't have absolutely nothing done for 3 months, I just don't have as much as I'd like or as much as my boss will expect. Some of my role is staying up to date with industry trends and as I'm new to the function, I've had to spend more time on getting up to speed there but I've definitely neglected responsibilities I should have made more progress on.

We don't do additional probation in my company, but if it were a direct report of mine, I would be seriously considering a performance improvement plan. I hope I've avoided that, by catching myself in time. Fingers crossed.