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Original poster

So upset and confused - issue at work

90 replies

Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:27

I have worked there for 5 years. I work in admin for a large company and have 2 colleagues that do the same work as me. General admin, answering calls etc. I am a hard worker.

I am full time. My colleagues job share. One works Mon, Tue, Wed. The other 1/2 day Wed, Thurs, Fri. There is always 2 min admin staff on any day.

Our manager wanted to propose a home working arrangement with his boss. He asked what days we would like. The colleague that works 1/2 day on Wednesday ( let’s call her Jane) was very vocal and felt that anyone that got the Friday working at home was at an advantage as they wouldn’t have the travel time so, in her words, could go out early for the evening . This was quickly dismissed by our boss. Due to the short patterns, there was only actually Jane that could benefit if she got her shifts changed. She got very angry and said “well I might change my shifts to work full day Wed and Thurs and half day Friday so I can finish early on Friday then”. Our boss just laughed.

Last week we had a meeting. Boss wanted to confirm proposals for home working before he spoke to his boss. He gave everyone a home working day. When it got to Jane she was down to work half a day Friday in the morning. I raised my hand and asked how it would work because I would be the only admin person in the office for the afternoon. I explained that the phones are very busy and we always get an influx of last minute admin work before the weekend. I also asked what would happen if I was ill or had an important appointment as there would be no admin staff. My boss advised that he was okay to deal with this as it’s only an afternoon.

As the home working had not been agreed, I decided to wait to see what would happen next. Yesterday we were told that his boss did not agree to it. I thought, fine, that’s the end of it all. No home working, no problem.

Until today when this morning, I got an email from Jane, who was sat opposite me, to say her new shifts had been agreed with our boss and his boss. I just can’t understand the reasoning behind it so asked to speak to my boss. I advised again that I would struggle and explained that it meant that 3 admin staff would be in on Wednesday and only me on Friday afternoons. This balance doesn’t match the workload. I asked how I would be expected to manage this extra workload but he didn’t really answer. I asked what the business need was but he kept referring to a “possible” business need in some months to come. He basically could not give me an answer. We went round and round. I explained that I felt like I am being expected to pick up the work and if there was a real need, I would accept it, but I could see the benefit and he couldn’t provide me with a reason or what the plan was moving forward to help with this increase of workload. Basically, Janes shifts were changed because she shouted loud enough. Our boss is not exactly a great leader and he tries to avoid any kind of conflict.

This is not the only issue he has created in the office/team but I just felt completely dumped on. I was upset that he hadn’t spoken to me because it directly involves me. I was very upset that I got an email from a colleague that was sitting in front of me.

My boss got very defensive and tried saying that I should have tried harder to tell him there was a concern which I did in our meeting. He was raising his voice and became confrontational.

I got so upset that he said I could work from home so I went. His boss emailed me later to say she was sorry I was upset and that I can speak to her on Monday if I need to.

What shall I do? There have been a number of these types of incidents and today feels like the straw that broke the camels back. Jane messaged me to see where I was but I just can’t ring myself to get in touch. Please help?

OP posts:
hurlyburlygirly · 22/03/2024 19:31

Stick a grievance in to his manager is what I'd do. You'll be stuck with it otherwise.

Or try and book off Friday afternoons as leave for weeks on end.

Or look for something else/ resign.

PlantsFallLikeDominoes · 22/03/2024 19:31

Speak to his boss, keep it professional, explain again the workload and it not being spread equally on the friday afternoon. Don't say anything personal about Jane or boss. Say the proposed change doesn't work, you did explain that it wouldn't work and you're a bit confused about why you now will need to pick up so much additional work on a Friday afternoon.

hurlyburlygirly · 22/03/2024 19:32

Yes, this is the professional way to go. Treat my advice as plan b.

BookArt · 22/03/2024 19:33

Meet speak to the big boss on Monday, she has offered. You now have two concerns, one being your direct boss does not handle conflict well and does not listen to concerns when raised. Secondly, the Friday afternoon schedule which dramatically impacts your work load.
I would raise conc3rns that you do not feel valued by the way this situation was shandled and suggest alternative that work for the business better.

Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:36

Thanks. I can’t book holidays. I am term time only so don’t get holidays.
I keep it very professional and I understand that Jane is just trying to get her needs met. I could completely get it if it’s for personal needs or a business need but it isn’t.
He kept saying it’s a trial. He will get another person to help with phones but why wasn’t this set up and in place before they made the decision. I just don’t get it. He can’t explain the reason the business needs it now. Because there isn’t one!

OP posts:
Craftyy · 22/03/2024 19:36

I would prepare a list of questions you want to know about how they are planning to manage the work on a Friday afternoon now that they're going to be short staffed every Friday afternoon.

Be calm and professional and focus on the effect on the business/customers first and secondly yourself. Quite possible the weak manager hasn't really thought about all the potential issues. Ultimately you can only do what you can do, if calls don't get answered and work doesn't get done, not your problem. If it's too much you might have to find another job.

xyz111 · 22/03/2024 19:37

His boss sounds good that she reached out to you. I would just tell her the facts, that there's 3 now on one day and only you another day. So you'll try your best, but there might be a business impact only being 1 person there.

And then if it stays as they agreed, then that's their issue if the workload is too much. Don't bust a gut to cover their mess up.

Honeybeebuzz · 22/03/2024 19:38

So sorry OP it sounds like a awkward situation you've been placed in. Is there a HR department in your work. From reading your post you've been clear about your concerns. I work in a job where we can work from home but a minimum of two workers need to be present in the office at all times so if someone calls in sick/has an appointment they need to get their office shift covered.
The positives are your boss' boss has reached out to you. I would email her and thank her and outline your concerns have you have done above and ask for a meeting to discuss this further. You cannot be expected to take on the work of two people every Friday afternoon. It sounds like your boss is intimidated/influenced by Jane. Definitely cover yourself with a paper trail now, if they go ahead with this plan make it clear you cannot take on two peoples role

kgov1 · 22/03/2024 19:40

I'd just answer the calls you can on a Friday afternoon and let the others ring out. Then clock out on time and go home.

If they say anything, just say you expressed your concerns on numerous occasions. Then let them deal with the aftermath.

Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:40

I won’t tell you about the time he offered me another job to work part time alongside my current job, only for him to tell me a few hours later to forget about it. He had gone with the lady he had interviewed after all. !!

I don’t expect that anything will change and, yet again, I will have to grow some and put up with it. I am just not sure how many times I can do this.

OP posts:
LovePoppy · 22/03/2024 19:41

Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:40

I won’t tell you about the time he offered me another job to work part time alongside my current job, only for him to tell me a few hours later to forget about it. He had gone with the lady he had interviewed after all. !!

I don’t expect that anything will change and, yet again, I will have to grow some and put up with it. I am just not sure how many times I can do this.

Holy god. What a disaster

SadAct342 · 22/03/2024 19:43

Its a job share... they cross over for half a fay a week but alllll of the week should be covered surely otherwise its not a job share its independent working patterns

Gazelda · 22/03/2024 19:44

Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:40

I won’t tell you about the time he offered me another job to work part time alongside my current job, only for him to tell me a few hours later to forget about it. He had gone with the lady he had interviewed after all. !!

I don’t expect that anything will change and, yet again, I will have to grow some and put up with it. I am just not sure how many times I can do this.

It sounds as though boss's boss is ready to listen to you. This is your opportunity to professionally point out the mismatch to the business's needs.

As others have said, don't personalise it. Keep focussed on the business's needs and the impact it has on your workload. And how the way this has been handled has left you feeling unvalued.

Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:46

@SadAct342 I mentioned that. He said in September we will have more work so it’s good that 3 of you are in on a Wednesday. I advised but you are admitting that workload will increase but you will still only have me working on a Friday afternoon. Where is the logic in that?? So I will have even more work to deal with on my own!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:50

The other thing is that he said if it’s not working, tell me and I will change her shifts. That’s great but it’s now down to me to manage and if Jane doesn’t get her wishes, it’s my fault. Surely it’s not up to me. It should have already been planned and discussed and if it had been, it would never have been agreed. I have to work alongside my colleague. It feels so awkward 😕

OP posts:
Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 19:55

Another side note, the other job share colleague aired her concerns and also pointed out that I would be working alone. She advised that was the reason for the shift agreement in the first place. To make it fair for everyone.
I am not in the union. Would/could this be a union issue. We have no onsite HR and we are not told how to contact them. They are an external agency. We do have an onsite union rep? I will speak to the big boss on Monday but I am so nervous 😥

OP posts:
44PumpLane · 22/03/2024 19:58

Get your concerns about the workload in writing ie after your meeting with bosses boss, send an email outlining all your concerns regarding there not being enough to occupy three on a Weds but there being far to much for one on a Friday afternoon. Email it to bosses boss with boss on cc.

Do not exercise yourself on a Friday, but every Friday spend 5 mins at the end of the day to let your boss and bosses boss know (via email) what has been left due to capacity versus workload mismatch.

Do not stress yourself, do what you can do on a Friday then leave (on time) guilt free.

Not your circus, not your monkeys!

Mnk711 · 22/03/2024 19:58

Just speak to his manager, now she's given you an in, and focus on the business needs and how they won't be met. You can't answer enough calls alone, unreliable service for customers etc. And if you're ill no cover etc..

If they go ahead with it I'd be as diligent as possible the first two weeks then UNFORTUNATELY suffer a bout of D&V such that you can't come in last minute on the third Friday.

Mnk711 · 22/03/2024 20:00

And yes a union rep should be able to help. Don't be nervous, nothing to worry about if you're professional about it all.

Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 20:07

Thank you everyone
I will take your advice. I will let you know how I get on.
The other really weird thing is, when Jane comes in on a Wednesday afternoon, she has to sit at someone else’s desk.
That phone is not on our loop for calls so doesn’t receive the incoming calls. We were always told they couldn’t change this so every afternoon, Jane doesn’t have to worry about answering anything! I mentioned this in my meeting and was suddenly advised that, yes, we will change that!!! She has been sat there for years without once picking up a call and suddenly, change can happen!!!

OP posts:
AlisonDonut · 22/03/2024 20:09

You just need to let this play out. He says it isn't a problem so just do what you can, finish work on time on a Friday and don't do any additional hours or try and squeeze stuff in.

Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 22/03/2024 20:18

I guess it’s just been one, too many things and it’s starting to have a real affect on my wellbeing.
He doesn’t lead or manage anything or anyone which is cool, until you have a problem that you need help with. He creates issues because he has no boundaries with staff, allows unprofessional and toxic behaviour to continue until it gets so bad, people leave or are desperate to leave.

I had a project given to me that I worked hard on and enjoyed but I had to work alongside a member of his staff that was seriously underperforming. I had 15 meetings with my boss because she was having a major effect on my work on the project. I did everything I could and in the end, had to give up and had the project back. Sad thing is, he was pleased because it meant that he didn’t have to address these issues with that member of staff. She took on the project and he keeps telling me that it’s a mess and that all my hard work was for nothing!! WOW

OP posts:
RoseBucket · 22/03/2024 20:18

I wouldn’t get upset, put your concern in writing, state the issues, work as normal, if it goes tits up, they’ll need to review it, don’t make it your problem make it theirs.

Whattodo2024 · 22/03/2024 20:22

Be factual and use any data / evidence you have, If you usually get 10 calls and 10 requests an afternoon but that ticks up to 20 calls and 20 requests on a Friday afternoon then it’s not feasible for half the usual
amount of staff to deal with it.

Original poster
Hereforthekickz · 13/04/2024 13:54

I posted over a week ago about the issue below. I wanted to give an update….
Below is the original
post

So upset and confused about work.

I have worked there for 5 years. I work in admin for a large company and have 2 colleagues that do the same work as me. General admin, answering calls etc. I am a hard worker.

I am full time. My colleagues job share. One works Mon, Tue, Wed. The other 1/2 day Wed, Thurs, Fri. There is always 2 min admin staff on any day.

Our manager wanted to propose a home working arrangement with his boss. He asked what days we would like. The colleague that works 1/2 day on Wednesday ( let’s call her Jane) was very vocal and felt that anyone that got the Friday working at home was at an advantage as they wouldn’t have the travel time so, in her words, could go out early for the evening . This was quickly dismissed by our boss. Due to the short patterns, there was only actually Jane that could benefit if she got her shifts changed. She got very angry and said “well I might change my shifts to work full day Wed and Thurs and half day Friday so I can finish early on Friday then”. Our boss just laughed.

Last week we had a meeting. Boss wanted to confirm proposals for home working before he spoke to his boss. He gave everyone a home working day. When it got to Jane she was down to work half a day Friday in the morning. I raised my hand and asked how it would work because I would be the only admin person in the office for the afternoon. I explained that the phones are very busy and we always get an influx of last minute admin work before the weekend. I also asked what would happen if I was ill or had an important appointment as there would be no admin staff. My boss advised that he was okay to deal with this as it’s only an afternoon.

As the home working had not been agreed, I decided to wait to see what would happen next. Yesterday we were told that his boss did not agree to it. I thought, fine, that’s the end of it all. No home working, no problem.

Until today when this morning, I got an email from Jane, who was sat opposite me, to say her new shifts had been agreed with our boss and his boss. I just can’t understand the reasoning behind it so asked to speak to my boss. I advised again that I would struggle and explained that it meant that 3 admin staff would be in on Wednesday and only me on Friday afternoons. This balance doesn’t match the workload. I asked how I would be expected to manage this extra workload but he didn’t really answer. I asked what the business need was but he kept referring to a “possible” business need in some months to come. He basically could not give me an answer. We went round and round. I explained that I felt like I am being expected to pick up the work and if there was a real need, I would accept it, but I could see the benefit and he couldn’t provide me with a reason or what the plan was moving forward to help with this increase of workload. Basically, Janes shifts were changed because she shouted loud enough. Our boss is not exactly a great leader and he tries to avoid any kind of conflict.

This is not the only issue he has created in the office/team but I just felt completely dumped on. I was upset that he hadn’t spoken to me because it directly involves me. I was very upset that I got an email from a colleague that was sitting in front of me.

My boss got very defensive and tried saying that I should have tried harder to tell him there was a concern which I did in our meeting. He was raising his voice and became confrontational.

I got so upset that he said I could work from home so I went. His boss emailed me later to say she was sorry I was upset and that I can speak to her on Monday if I need to.

What shall I do? There have been a number of these types of incidents and today feels like the straw that broke the camels back. Jane messaged me to see where I was but I just can’t ring myself to get in touch. Please help?

OP posts: