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Original poster

Working with an understaffed team!

20 replies

MushMonster · 04/02/2022 22:18

Anyone else feeling the pressure of a too large workload?
My company will not bring the numbers of the team to precovid (they had redundancies in 2020), but the workload is as high as it was before covid.
I need some tips to keep my motivation up, and my team!
I feel like running out of steam for first time in my life. It is like talking to a wall.

OP posts:

Stompythedinosaur · 05/02/2022 00:47

I know this very well - I'm a nurse and our understaffed has gone from bad to laughable in the last two years. Under half out intended roles are currently filled.

My advice is that no amount of jolliness or self-care activities is going to fixed the problem. What you need to do is to reduce the workload to fit the team you have and be honest that a significantly depleted workforce cannot complete as much work as a full team. So, can the bar for what you do be raise? Are there parts of paperwork etc or meetings you could just stop doing until more fully staffed? Could you prioritise the workload and accept the least important work isn't going to happen at present?

Rollercoaster1920 · 05/02/2022 00:49

Convince them they need to make more savings. Then go for voluntary redundancy and run.

Babyroobs · 05/02/2022 01:22

I have just walked out on a job where the understaffing has been going on for many months. Then the charity funding was cut further meaning even less staff. Coupled with colleagues having huge amounts of annual leave ( for long service) and taking multiple weeks off sick I just decided to quit. Management just didn't seem to care and paid little more than minimum wage for a job involving very emotional clients in very difficult situations. I left a few weeks ago and they haven't even started recruiting yet.

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vodkaredbullgirl · 05/02/2022 01:27

Many times I've been on a night shift and there has only been 2 of us for 24+ dementia residents.

sorryforswearing · 05/02/2022 01:39

Ex teacher here. Too big a workload is standard and more annoyingly a lot of it unnecessary. It isn’t acceptable though whatever job you’re in.

RosesAndHellebores · 05/02/2022 01:50

Yep. Up worrying about it. I am a grafter but the load is overwhelming. Things are slipping. My team is exhausted. I have dropped a serious plate and feel slightly sick.

Timeyime · 05/02/2022 01:50

Your employer needs to pay higher wages. If they won't, and you're getting the shitty end of the stick for it you can either:

try to minimise your own particular team's workload; or
leave and go work for an employer that can staff their work properly.

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 08:27

@vodkaredbullgirl

Many times I've been on a night shift and there has only been 2 of us for 24+ dementia residents.

You win! My lord I cannot even start to imagine. And it brings tears to my eyes, for both you and your patients!

OP posts:

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 08:29

@RosesAndHellebores

Yep. Up worrying about it. I am a grafter but the load is overwhelming. Things are slipping. My team is exhausted. I have dropped a serious plate and feel slightly sick.

There, for first time in my many years of working there, I feel like I will drop one of my plates. And I know one will touch the ground, and all the others will follow.....

OP posts:

something2say · 05/02/2022 08:32

I jacked my job in on Monday. Not entirely out of the blue, as I'd been searching and have two irons in the fire BUT I had not thought I'd send my resignation email in this week! I've been covering two roles for a year in a challenging environment. They pay peanuts. I look at my pay packet and think myself a fool.

Got to work those irons now tho!

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 08:33

@Timeyime

Your employer needs to pay higher wages. If they won't, and you're getting the shitty end of the stick for it you can either:

try to minimise your own particular team's workload; or
leave and go work for an employer that can staff their work properly.

I am looking for jobs, starting seriosly this weekend
We are looking into increasing the wage

... but that is not my decision, so we shall see.

I cannot cut paperwork, it needs to be done. We are not doing the extra, like internal reports. I am skipping meetings that do not need much input from us, and I can just get the minutes with actions if needed.
Workload that can be done later, is left on the side.
I feel really trap because I no longer know what to drop here.

OP posts:

Kerberos · 05/02/2022 08:34

It depends what you do and what the impact is of not doing some of it.

For example - if we need to pick up a new project, we'll signpost what we are now not doing and the impact that will have.

How do you prioritise and schedule what needs to be done?

onepieceoflollipop · 05/02/2022 08:39

Just sending some words of support and solidarity for all of you especially OP.
We seem to all work in a variety of settings but with the same root issue.
I’m in healthcare and moving on fairly soon.
I keep returning to the basic fact that there will always be pressure but there comes a point where you literally can’t spread Staff any thinner and the sad result will be ‘dropped plates’ or worse.

To my fellow-nurse: ha yes I am with you - we are way way beyond ‘self-care’ ‘jollity’ - and don’t get me started on mental health first aid in the workplace and other such magical strategies. I won’t derail the thread with my woes about the NHS!

OP only you know or have a good idea whether your situation is likely to be temporary or if the company may listen and either reduce the load or increase staffing. If they won’t then I would have a good, hard look at your health and well-being and decide your next steps. This may involve moving on. This is where I found myself. The cost was too high for me and my dc to accept. The stress if it is long term will start to impact on your real life.

Reflect on the timing of your post…unless you work unsocial hours at that time on a Friday you should be relaxing and anticipating the weekend not posting about work stress. That’s also aimed at the rest of us posting

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 08:47

Priorities: we monitor a plant, so all the tests to be done for the plant daily activities are priority 1. Tests for lorries waiting to get into the plant 2.
Then new inputs, 3. We also price those.
Side work from other department into the plant, 4.
New projects, 5. Got lots given last year!

Well..... we are stuck somewhere berween 3 and 4! 4 has not been done at all this week, and it keeps building up and up.
5 has not been touched since middle of last year.

OP posts:

itwasntaparty · 05/02/2022 08:48

@MushMonster

Priorities: we monitor a plant, so all the tests to be done for the plant daily activities are priority 1. Tests for lorries waiting to get into the plant 2. Then new inputs, 3. We also price those. Side work from other department into the plant, 4. New projects, 5. Got lots given last year!

Well..... we are stuck somewhere berween 3 and 4! 4 has not been done at all this week, and it keeps building up and up.
5 has not been touched since middle of last year.

I'd be looking for a new job!

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 08:51

I am! I day dream of the day I get it!

OP posts:

onepieceoflollipop · 05/02/2022 08:52

Mush - 2 things.

Firstly I know you say it’s like talking to a wall but could you escalate a bit more maybe to your boss’s boss and state calmly that your are seriously thinking about a new job, not in a threatening way just a factual way.

Secondly, for your own health try and have some down time this weekend, presumably you have worked all week so please try to have some weekend to relax

I know it’s hard, I hear you.

Kerberos · 05/02/2022 08:54

Do your management understand and agree your priority order?

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 09:03

Yes, they are aware of the priority system, and nothing came back with a no. My manager agrees with it.
The extra head is nw at director level and above for approval or rejection. Second attempt. As far as I am told, my boss's boss agrees we need someone.

OP posts:

Original poster

MushMonster · 05/02/2022 09:13

But last time I was told boss's boss had said yes, and then he did not sign it. And did not offer an explanation.
I do not get to talk to anyone above my manager. I do not even know them bar their name and a handshake when they first visited the site.
They are new to their roles. So that maybe has a play into it. When I have seen them I have tried to show them the extent of what we do in the department.
I would appreciate if they did explain their reasons. But it is a huge blank space. Nothing comes back from them.
I am willing to rearrange the place, how we work, and so on. If they actually said they do not agree with something.
Also, the company involves me personally on important business processes and work reports. So I cannot see that they think me personally incompetent. Also, if they did I know they would take action.

OP posts:

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