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How to cope when you really hate work

7 replies

pinkflowersintherain · 13/12/2021 18:57

I returned from maternity leave a year ago and since then work has been awful.

I'm in a really busy role, but I'm part time and the only person in the team. I'm being asked to do things which are usually assigned to people at a higher grade (and therefore paid more). I was supposed to be getting more resource into the team but that was promised months ago and still hasn't materialised. I'm relatively junior so excluded from important conversations but then somehow expected to know what happened and use this information in day to day role. My manager is extremely busy and senior so I get little to no time with her.

I'm fed up and disengaged but can't just work to rule as I will frankly look like an idiot. For example, tomorrow I have to give a presentation to our entire department so have to spend the evening working on it as it's not the kind of thing I can just phone in. I just feel like I'm being set up to fail as I honestly don't think I have all the information I need to do it but there's nobody else who can cover. It's all on me all the time with no support.

I'm applying for other roles as it's making me miserable but need tips on coping in the mean time. And also keeping my confidence right up as right now I feel like rubbish and useless most of the time. I know I'm not, I'm just in an impossible situation, or so I keep telling myself...

OP posts:
pinkflowersintherain · 13/12/2021 19:01

Sorry, there are a few typos in there as writing with a toddler climbing all over me...

OP posts:
Londonlassy · 13/12/2021 19:08

Been in a very similar position. Incredibly difficult & I really focused all my energy outside work finding a new job. During work put on a smile and kept saying to myself this too will pass. You will get through this OP

pinkflowersintherain · 13/12/2021 19:20

@londonlassy it is horrible isn't it. Did you manage to keep your confidence when applying for other roles? I feel so low and depressed I am worried I won't seem like a very appealing prospective candidate at interview!

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NegativeNelly · 13/12/2021 20:13

did your team not give you any sort of induction or phased return after maternity leave? (sorry not sure what the correct term is for it) but they should do so that you are up to speed with things. I would probably try and discuss things with your manager and be honest, remind them of the promise of extra support and you are now part time. Remind them its in their best interests too as one day you are bound to miss something or slip up. This isn't a reflection on you, its that you only have 1 pair of hands and can't be expected to do everything. If they don't take this on board, then you have your answer for leaving. Wishing you all the best

pinkflowersintherain · 13/12/2021 20:59

@negativenelly no not at all. I don't think it was an intentional thing, it just never seemed to occur to anybody. I'm also in a different role since going on mat leave (the project I was working on was completed while I was off), although I do work with many of the same people as before.

It's impossible to get even 20 minutes with my manager, she doesn't even respond to my teams messages most of the time. It's not her fault exactly, the structure just doesn't work and I shouldn't really be reporting directly to her, I'm too junior. Someone was meant to be recruited to fill the gap but it hasn't happened.

I actually work in HR so you'd think they'd be quite good at this sort of thing! Fortunately I'm not facing dismissal for poor performance or anything like that (yet) but if I were I think I'd have quite a good discrimination case as a maternity returned.

Sorry for whinging, feels good to let it out as I have to be professional at work!

OP posts:
NegativeNelly · 13/12/2021 21:08

don't apologise its what this forum is for. I am going through similar but without the maternity. I am trying to work out if its the job that I no longer enjoy or if it's just everything that's going on in the world with covid that's getting me down. Just have no motivation for anything currently

pinkflowersintherain · 13/12/2021 21:11

@negativenelly sorry you're going through similar. Have you spoke about it with your manager or are they like mine?

Definitely it has crossed my mind that my lack of motivation and engagement is prob partly a reaction to covid and our current working conditions.

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