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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so fuming about this email from my boss

133 replies

ScrambledEggAndToast · 28/02/2015 07:32

I have a slightly odd job, there are hardly any people in the UK that actually do it. It's a support worker role in a sense but quite specific. Anyhow, no-one ever seems to know what I do despite me constantly telling them in the hospital Angry

Consequently, I keep getting jobs dumped onto me are are absolutely nothing to do with my role that basically either no-one else wants to do or has no time to do.

I have been trying to expand the service and now my "proper" job needs to take precedence. Yesterday, really was the last straw though. I'd already told my line manager that they had to take one of the big jobs away as it's eating up 30-40% of my time. However, yesterday, I got an email saying I had to create 118 letters for patients. Last time this job was dumped on me, I had 50 and it took 3 hours so you can imagine how long this will take.

The part I am so annoyed about is when I said to my line manager that unfortunately I wouldn't be able to help on this occasion. She replied with "I think we need to work things out so that the patients are not disadvantaged" I.e DO THE LETTERS Angry

Well what about my patients, won't they be disadvantaged if I'm so bogged down in other people's work. Apparently there is a meeting with some of the managers next week to discuss this but I'm not holding out much hope. I am being made to feel as though I'm pitting them out when in actual fact, they have been putting me out for 9 months as I haven't been able to give my patients my full attention. Really, they need to employ someone else, maybe three days a week, to do the jobs I have been given.

Sorry rant over. Bloody NHS.

OP posts:
Icimoi · 28/02/2015 08:09

Are these standard letters that have patients' individual details inserted into them? Can you talk to someone about automating the process? It's got to make more sense economically.

CalleighDoodle · 28/02/2015 08:09

Why dont you stay later to get you job done?

Original poster
ScrambledEggAndToast · 28/02/2015 08:11

I don't stay later to get my job done because I don't get paid overtime.

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 28/02/2015 08:11

We have a complete ban on recruiting to admin posts, have done for about 6 months, and have millions to save over the next month somehow. My advice? Quit moaning and get on with the letters.

ILovePud · 28/02/2015 08:12

Why should she CalleighDoodle? nowhere does it say she is not working her hours, why should she stay late to compensate for being asked to do work outside of her role?

ginmakesitallok · 28/02/2015 08:14

Iamapalaeontologist, you are wrong. Support workers often have a mix of clinical and clerical roles. The two are not separate.

Original poster
ScrambledEggAndToast · 28/02/2015 08:14

Icimoi- It is a standard one. Basically, the process is. I go into our computer system, copy the address, paste it into the letter. Same for NHS number. Change name. Briefly check letter. Print. Put in envelope with SAE. On average takes 3 minutes per letter.

OP posts:
bakingaddict · 28/02/2015 08:16

What you have been asked to do is reasonable for your banding. I don't understand why a task taking 6hrs means your patients' are waiting 7 weeks to hear from you. Who is monitoring and auditing your services because everything in the NHS is monitored for waiting times and turn around times and unless this length of wait is within your policy it should be reviewed by management why contact is taking so long

ChilliMum · 28/02/2015 08:17

I used to have a similar kind of role that included in my contract a whatever else the management ask clause. I didn't mind at all. I would happily point out what was in my diary for the week, offer to do the grunt work at home in return for banked flexi hours which I could then use in case of sick children, school sports day etc. Would your boss be open to something like this?

Original poster
ScrambledEggAndToast · 28/02/2015 08:17

Have you read the thread?

It's the other task, that I do on a daily basis, which take 30-40% of my time which is causing the 7 week delay.

OP posts:
EveBoswell · 28/02/2015 08:21

I don't want to put a spoke in the wheel because I am, in no way, knowledgeable about how the NHS works except for being a patient sometimes.

Why does sending out x number of letters take so long to do? Do you have to produce them individually? I send out loads of stuff each month and use Mail Merge. It's a short cut way of producing letters. You type one letter and leave bits blank (eg Dear Mrs ). You have a schedule of names and addresses and the function puts the two together. It can be done in half an hour at most. Please forgive me if I'm intruding where I know nothing but, if you are unable to do this, do you know someone who can show you?

I do agree that your job is your job. Your job is not to sweep up after everyone else and collect their rubbish.

EveBoswell · 28/02/2015 08:22

Sorry. I've just seen an earlier post.... Blush

SinglePringle · 28/02/2015 08:23

It's interesting that in the private sector, one (or, rather, in my industry) just would stay 'later' to get the job done. Although a standard day in my line of work would be 8 till 8 and then emails on the phone at home. And absolutely no overtime paid.

ememem84 · 28/02/2015 08:23

Can you just set up a mail merge? That'd automate the process.

Maybe suggest this to your boss

QueenBean · 28/02/2015 08:26

OP, I think you're getting a really rough ride here. You haven't come across as "princessy"

You've been asked to constantly do other work which impacts the work that you have both been recruited to do and which is on your job description.

It's a symptom of poor management to just offer overflow jobs out, prioritise them over your actual job and just expect that you'll keep doing them.

If a lawyer was suddenly asked to help out doing a bit of accounting everyone would say "no! How unreasonable!" But because these tasks are aimilar to op's skill set she's just being told to get on and do it?

What she is being asked to do is not her job and she should very much raise that, not just keep going with it because her boss has asked to do it. Bosses do not always know best.

The suggestion to just work the extra hours for free is ludicrous.

Although I do agree with the suggestions of monitoring workloads and raising it in a polite and constructive way. The email above is good.

SinglePringle · 28/02/2015 08:30

Have you opted out of the Working Hours Directive? It's not working for free if so... Again - standard in my industry.

ILovePud · 28/02/2015 08:30

SinglePringle I think that way of working is exploitive and frequently leads to burn out and neglecting other important areas of your life. I hate that idea that private sector is the real world and that there should be a race to the bottom for crappy working conditions and culture. If someone is working their contracted hours and working as hard as they can within that time and still can't get through the work then the problem lies with the amount of work being expected and people shouldn't be expected to make up those shortfalls by giving up their free time.

uglyswan · 28/02/2015 08:31

YANBU, OP, and these "princessy", "why don't you just do unpaid overtime" comments are a bit worrying, to be frank. If there are jobs to be done and noone to do them, then they have to be divided up over the entire staff, not just plonked onto the same person every time, especially not to the detriment of the work you were actually hired to do. This is a glaring management problem. Your boss does not decide what you do with your time, completely Shock at that. Your duties are negotiated during the hiring process and formalised in your contract. If that hasn't actually happened, I really urge you to discuss this with your union and HR. And do please speak with your union before this meeting.

thatsucks · 28/02/2015 08:31

I'm a manager of about 35 people. Not in NHS, in private commercial world.

Firstly, I don't think you are being unreasonable.

Secondly, I don't expect people to work late routinely and certainly not as a way of simply getting their work done i.e. to cover for the fact their roles are unmanageable. However, it does happen that people work late or choose to work late on occasion and especially if a big project is going on.

Thirdly, I would speak to your line manager, calmly, pleasantly and after writing notes and rehearsing exactly what you want to say beforehand. Keep it completely to the point, don't waffle and strip out your emotions. They really might still not understand your position or your role.

Fourthly, yes be very careful about just saying no to your managers. And be aware that there is a chance that they are managing you out by giving you unmanageable tasks they know you either can't do or won't do.

Perfectlypurple · 28/02/2015 08:31

Chances are it will be in your job description under any other tasks required or similar. I know it is frustrating, but as a public sector worker myself I know they generally cover themselves with loose descriptions in job descriptions which include admin tasks. I would just do it but in an email point out how it will effect the rest of your job,along the lines of 'no problem, I am happy to do it I was just concerned that it would effect x in x way'. Then if there is a problem with the other part of your job being affected you have evidence you have raised it.

thatsucks · 28/02/2015 08:32

^I don't think anyone has written the word manageable and all it's variations so many times in one post Blush

DeliciousMonster · 28/02/2015 08:32

Mailmerge is your friend here. Copying and pasting onto letters is an ancient way of working.

Original poster
ScrambledEggAndToast · 28/02/2015 08:33

Hey QueenBean. Thanks for your support. That's the trouble with AIBU though, things either go in your favour or they don't.

I will look into MailMerge again, I tried before but the way it was set up it didn't seem to work. Maybe IT could help. But really, that job isn't the main problem as I've said several times.

OP posts:
Purplepoodle · 28/02/2015 08:34

Get in a union if your not in one as it sounds like a precarious position and they can give u great advice. I'd start a work log. How u spend each 10mins of your work day on what tasks. Then at end of each day write a list of work u were unable to complete - highlight in one colour your work u should be doing and another for.work dumped on u. It will give you great evidence of your own specific role work suffering

SinglePringle · 28/02/2015 08:37

I work in an industry with absolute, rigid - often daily or weekly - deadlines and frequently stay in the office till 9pm to get the job done. Yes, budgets have dwindled (and thus teams are smaller) but even in Ye Good Old Days we would be there till gone midnight and back in at 8. It just is what it is in my line of work - it's not a 'race to the bottom' so I never see it as 'working for free': we don't have contracted hours. Never have.