Would you quit the job?

[Ramunea]

I’ve been at my workplace for around 6 months and I had a shared job with another new member of staff. He focused on one part of the job and I focused on another part and we did this so we could both share the load although as I work more hours; I do the main bulk of work.
we were both new to the role so we are both trying to juggle our workload.

whilst I have stuck to most of my work; my college has done his work in dribs and drabs and it became apparent last week that he was unable to do his job so ended up leaving his job before being asked to leave.

since he has left; his workload has not been dumped on me and the company have found that he has messed up a few areas of our job which now I am am expected to fix.

whilst I’m happy to do my job and eager to learn; I’m beginning to feel the pressure and so are my managers as they have sent me a job list of what I need to do to rectify the situation; only thing is half of the stuff I’m rectifying; I’m unsure how to go about as I’m new to the role myself and because these jobs were delegated to him so I have no idea where me left of and where to pick up from. Management are trying to help but I think are stressed about the situation and don’t know how to rectify it so are emailing me daily, contacting me and arranging meetings with me to see what my progress is.

Im now feeling as if I’m in the spotlight and although I have tried my hardest since day one to keep ontop of my work and do my best; I’m now responsible for the muck up as the job was shared between me and my colleague but as he isn’t here, I’m left to deal with it and fix the mess and if it doesn’t get rectified; I feel I would be blamed in some way and lose my job.

If you were me; would you stay and try and fix the mess or would you leave before it blows up and the company blame you and risk getting a bad reference when I leave or would you leave now and try and find somewhere else less stressful and more supportive?

No harm in looking for another job. Just do what you can within your hours for now. You can only do so much.

@Catspyjamas17
Thank you. This is a specialist role so while I have been looking; I have found many vacancies for this line of work. Hence why I’m trying to keep my head down and manage but I’m feeling the pressure.

this morning Ive been sent a list of what needs to be done by the end of today which means having to work through my lunch break and going in earlier than I’m supposed to; to ensure I get it done, whilst having my own job responsibilities to keep up with.

I will keep looking though.

Why do you have to leave, can you not just be honest ?

Say you don't have experience in this area of the job and would hate to make the issue worse because of lack of experience. Also say you cannot do your job,his job and rectify the issue within your hours ...

They are taking the mickey! It is a two person job. They need to employ another person to help you!

I'd be looking for another job but in the mean time I'd bounce it back to them.
Email them and state that you have no experience in the area he dealt with and are not sure where to start.Ask their advice on how you should proceed
Keep it professional
Best of luck @Ramunea

@10Past10

thank you for the input. I have bounced it back to them and have done so with every demand and ask for clarify so I know how to approach the situation but I still think this will blow up in my face as while my ex colleague was not doing his part; he was employed by the manager and they did not check credentials so partly why he was not doing his job was because he was not qualified to do and the managers didn’t check.

im qualified and trying to keep on top of my work and have done overtime every week since I started to make sure I keep on top of the job as I’m new, I’m learning and serious about doing well. I think this is another reason why they are expecting me to fix it as it’s my job role and they see I take my job seriously but I don’t want to be scapegoated when this blows up as I’ve done my part; it’s just that in this for instance it’s not enough as I am struggling to do my work and my colleagues work on top. I can ask for others to help but ultimately it’s down to me and my name is now tied to the role so even if it’s managements fault; I fear I would be the one blamed as the role is mine and if it’s not done properly it would seem I haven’t done my job.

the role can be done by 1 person however that would have needed to be arranged from the beginning. As the ex colleague has signed documents with his name and also we arranged the rota so that I have my hours and my job to do and he has his bits and his job to do. I can’t do anymore overtime as I’m already doing full time and overtime (finishing late unpaid, starting early unpaid) and I can’t/ won’t do anymore. I have young children at home and took this role as it meant more money, less work and a better work/ life balance.

@Dontjudgeme101

they have employed another person to do the role however this person that is starting has limitations to what they can do and also my manager is now annoyed with me that I have done one task that I was asked to do last week but haven’t completed yet but after reading the email; it seems the tone is that I’m holding up the new employee as I haven’t done this task.

this task has no remit on what the new employee will be doing as this task I’ve been asked is something that I can do. I have again reiterated this to my manager who seems adamant that I need to get this task done to ensure the job is complete however even when my part is done; we still have a lot of work that needs to be corrected and completed by the new employee. But the highlight right now is on what I havent done rather than what I have.

I'd do what I can to help fix the situation, but I'd also be vocal and assertive about the fact that this is above/ beyond my remit (in a polite way).

Do the work but ensure you are recognised for it.

People will take it for granted if you don't speak up about what you're doing.

@spelunky

Thank you. I will keep doing this.

I think a big part of me is trying to just do everything as this is a specialist role that took me 4 years to get; but ultimately I can’t do everything.

I would fix what I could, be proactive about the bits I couldn’t and suggest solutions.
I would see the whole thing as an opportunity to show how great I was for future promotion or pay increase (which I would be asking for quite soon if I had extra responsibilities)
However, you know the culture of your workplace and I don’t - so only you know if there really is an opportunity there for you

No way is that acceptable.
Email straight back copying everyone that needs to be informed into your reply. State calmly that you will not be able to complete that list in your working hours. That you also have your own job responsibilities, and while you are happy to assist management to sort out the issues left by your colleague, you are still new to the role and learning. You do not feel qualified to take on all this extra work, and would hate to make things worse.

Do not go in early or miss your lunch. They should have been supporting two new members of staff and didn’t. Do your own work and only then take on others.

I’d be asking for a meeting with my managers to discuss their expectations and my abilities, explaining that I’m not qualified or trained in certain aspects and will need support with it. Reiterate how you have done your job that’s been expected of you and you need support to sort out any discrepancies .

@Hoppinggreen

thank you. That is one way to look at it and I will try and do this.

I suppose I’m slightly worried as I’m on probation and my probation is up for review later on this week. I have worked so hard since day one to ensure I get my job done and I pass my probation but I fear now this has happened; I may fail and this would be because of the state the manager and the ex employee has left it in rather than because I haven’t done enough to get the role.

im going to be as proactive as possible and hopefully see what they say after the review.

thanks

@2chocolateoranges

I have asked for meetings and I have had guidance by a more senior member of our team however management don’t really know much about the role (as they manage 7 teams so don’t specialise in my department), and I feel even when I ask for help in the meetings; it falls back on me - either that I should know by now or managers will say they will help but can’t/ won’t.

I feel if I really broke it down and explained how I was feeling; they may find someone else more qualified who can do my role and the ex colleagues role themself (so no need to role share) and I’m back to the job hunt. Also as I have been working hard to ensure I pass my review and earn x2 what I’m on now, I’m just trying to manage. But I’m wondering if it’s worth it now as I feel even if I pass the review, more responsibility would be put on me and less support.

When they send you your 'to do' list for the day, assess it and respond first thing with any questions.

Tell them what it's possible to get done through the day and what will be left.

Then, about an hour before you finish, send them a round up of what you have done and what's left over.

Also ask for a pay rise.

@GoodChat

thank you. I have done this before but I will do it for every email they send as often the expectation is that I will just do it.

as for the pay rise; I’ll ask but I don’t think I will get one.

@Ramunea

l really feel for you. You are doing all that you can. I hope that the management come round and resolve this for you. You sound such a conscientious employee,they would be mad if you left the job! 💐💐

I would job hunt but not leave until I had a role somewhere else. The reason I would aim to leave is because the management seem incompetent and I suspect you can find something better.

Don’t worry about getting a ‘bad reference’ all references usually say is the dates you were employed. Ever since someone got sued for saying in a reference that a bad employee was good, employers became very reluctant to say anything in the reference apart from dates.

Email back to the requests and be open and honest about what is achievable and what you need support on. Document everything, if you have a call for example follow it up with an email. Put in 1 to 1s regularly- as in, daily if needed with your manager and when they invariably reject them or whatever say you feel them necessary as x isn't something you've done before; basically cover your back and show your end youre being proactive. Focus on stuff actually within your remit so if they question the level of support you can demo that stuff in your scope is being done fine.

It sounds like if your colleague left before he was pushed he wasn't being supervised properly; I don't mean micro managed but I mean it sounds like it spiralled before anyone did anything.