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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To just do my job

6 replies

Justkeepswiimming · 21/03/2024 11:34

Context. I went back part time after my daughter was born, due to childcare costs. Since this time I've always put in more hours. I work flexibly when needed, rearranged childcare to be out a couple of times a week for several weeks on the bounce. Worked until midnight, back up for work usual time. Taken on extra work when others had left, more by default than by actual agreement.

I started logging how much extra time I was putting in that wasn't be logged, paid or given back as toil. It was huge. After a numer of incidents where I've been made to feel pretty invaluable I have started pushing back. The organisation have refused to uplift me back to full time, despite the acknowledged expansion of the role by senior leadership.

Last year I stood in for a key role member who had left with no financial uplift. It meant I was working huge amount of extra time. This month is extra bonus month, where our line managers can nominate us for going above and beyond. And I've not got anything. Am I being unreasonable to think there is no reason whatsoever to put in the extra, at personal inconvenience and financial detriment (childcare costs) to have no acknowledgement at all. I'm not so much annoyed about the money as the fact its just been ignored. Am I being unreasonable for saying I'm not doing it any more?

I know I could get a new job. I am trying, but as a single Mum it's incredibly tough to find something locally, that isn't actually going to leave me worse off after childcare costs.

OP posts:
TheFlis · 21/03/2024 11:39

Definitely not being unreasonable, they are taking the piss!

Peekaboobo · 21/03/2024 11:42

YANBU. I've never worked "over and above". I've only ever done enough work to stop me from being sacked. Still got paid the same as everyone else.

Thunderinsummer · 21/03/2024 19:38

In my line of work, if you work above and beyond this becomes the norm and an expected standard from you, once you start dropping a couple of bits you get treat like you haven’t done your job properly.
You have let nice become the normal.

Absolutely take a step back and go back to just doing your job. We sometimes put far too much pressure on ourselves to be able to do it all.

I was a solo parent for 6 years to two small children and I worked in the evenings when they went to bed because quite frankly (and sadly) it stopped me from being lonely and feel like I was missing out when my friends had hobbies. It was then the expectation that this work rate would continue which is unsustainable.

Take a step back and reevaluate what you are being paid for and just do that. Sometimes it’s hard especially as you may have always done more but like @Peekaboobo has said you’ll still get paid the same.

Justkeepswiimming · 21/03/2024 20:16

@Thunderinsummer I've always put in much more than I probably should have done. A combination i suppose of feeling I have something to drive, and the way I've been raised.

OP posts:
Songbird54321 · 21/03/2024 21:03

I went back part time after my daughter. Lasted about 9 months before it became apparent I was still doing a full time workload so I went to my boss and said I will come back full time on the condition that I work my contracted hours only. He agreed. I have done overtime occasionally since but it is paid at a premium and agreed in advance. They think no less of me for setting my boundaries, thankfully.

ForgettingMeNot · 21/03/2024 21:06

So many companies only value staff once they hand in their notice only to suddenly find money in the budget for that pay rise etc

If they don't value you now, they never will. Start looking elsewhere and vote with your feet because you owe them nothing

Sorry, too many cliches

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