To feel unsupported and misunderstood by work

[sajamor0811]

I've been struggling with my job for a while and a couple of weeks ago had a meltdown which resulted in me needing the rest of the day off. I had booked a doctor's appointment for stress the following week, during which three tricky anniversaries were coming up too.

I was back the next day and in the meantime had suggested doing admin only or having a week to revise procedures so I'd feel more confident. I was put on more admin and less phone work so can't say no accommodation at all was made.

I also wouldn't say the section leader I had a meeting with was totally unsupportive or not a nice person. But her emphasis of how the job was high pressure, was I suited to it and how more would get expected of me made me feel under more stress.

In fairness she did say she didn't want people working out of hours as I had been to stay on top of my workload and practise/revise procedures. Yet when I don't get time to do that in the working day what else can I do?

The following week I was then put back on the phones as much as before with no check of whether I felt ready for it or not. Nobody checked in on me to see how I was coping at any point or how the doctor's appointment went. I was on the whole enjoying the job and feeling more confident but isn't that by the by?

Then I had a review yesterday where it was said I'm still making too many mistakes. I again said it might be an idea for me to have time off the phones and revise. The attitude that got taken was it's a business where people have to be on the phones and I've been given help with procedures.

I don't dispute the latter but can't help thinking if I had time to concentrate on revising them without other pressures or distractions they'd go in better. Then when I said I'd spend the weekend genning up I was told to do that if it helped. Yet it's flying in the face of the "don't work in your free time" I was given. I just feel so confused.

I am filling in a form for an autism test as I wonder whether struggling to retain information is part of that. But I'm reluctant to say anything in case it looks like card playing for more probation time.

Thank you. I missed that.

I'm certain you posted about this six months ago and you were told then that the job wasn't working for you.

I'm not sure what else you expect people to say at this point.

Usually when someone is on probation there is a final probationary meeting at which you will get the opportunity to reflect and talk about your first few months in the job. Again, usually, a decision is made by your line manager whether you have passed the probationary period or not. If not then often probation is extended and if you require more training or a repeat of training that is arranged. So if this scenario arises there is your opportunity to have time to revisit the procedures you talk about. I think the reason that you are being given quite a hard time or think that you are is that you aren't quite getting the support that you would like. But the thing is that workplaces have policies and procedures that have to be followed and you may find it useful to follow those, so if you want a variation in your working pattern ask for it as per the relevant policy. If you feel that someone in your workplace treated you badly follow the policy and procedure: discipline and grievance, if you feel too unwell to go to work look at the sickness policy. Do it by the book.

I don't think OP is coming back.

On the off chance she reads this, I think she needs to find a different job. Short of getting diagnosed and then getting OH involved, there's not much more that her employer can do. She's had six months and has had advice already.

I think you are on shaky ground wishing the sack on someone else. Telling the truth to someone who has asked for it, isn't bullying. Even if you don't like what they are saying.

Employers won't and don't have to invest support and effort into a failing (and it would seem from this post, rather unpleasant) employee who hasn't completed their probation. They are legally entitled to sack you and they don't even have to give a reason, as long as there is no discrimination involved in their decision.

Failing to competently do your job during your probation period is a perfectly valid reason to dismiss you. From what you have told us, your employer doesn't think you are worth the extra effort to help you improve.

Seeing the sense of sense of entitlement and belief in your posts that it is your employer's job to mollycoddle you and make your life easy, I'm not surprised that they don't value you.

My hunch is that the person more likely to get the sack is you.

@sajamor0811 I haven’t RTFT but I’ve read your posts and it sounds like there’s been a bit of a pile on.

From what it sounds like, you are struggling at work because this job doesn’t play to your strengths. Revising processes for an hour or two is not going to help if you haven’t picked them up after nearly six months of on the job training and experience.

It’s OK that this job isn’t for you. It might help to read back your posts. You say repeatedly that you want short term accommodations to help you learn the role, but you should be well on the way to being good at the job by now. You shouldn’t be having a meltdown and seeing your doctor for work related stress while you are on probation. That’s a big red flag for an employer; it’s equivalent to you telling them you cannot reliably cope with the demands of your role. So there are performance and capability grounds to consider at your end-of-probation review. I would be expecting the probation period to be extended or possibly even let go.

In your shoes I would be making plans to find another role.

You say there's been a "pile on" then immediately write exactly what nearly everyone else has been trying to get through to the op. We have genuinely been trying to help her and encourage her to find a job which she'll be a great fit for, that there is absolutely no shame in not being suited for certain roles. We have tried. She is not listening.

That's strange they'd rather people be off sick than doing some kind of work.

@Riversideandrelax there isn't really any other work
By emails there could be 5-10 in the whole day between the team and that's it. I think the most I have seen is 20, and each email is a 5 min job
There's no other admin, purely phone work

Exactly this. Between the ongoing issues and the attitude, there's no way.

It would be the same where I work if that helps. We just have to manage without because there’s no work to do that doesn’t involve speaking.

My mum works in a factory and couldn’t go in and stand up all day with a broken leg. I’ve always seen it the same way. Somethings make you literally incapable of doing the job.

It is frustrating as I do lose my voice occasionally! I average 120 calls a day and by Fridays I'm usually pretty croaky despite loads of warm drinks and water

If it is working as a doctor's receptionist it's quite a hard job, I know someone a bit older who took it on and she struggled and eventually left, but started renting out a room in her house to earn money, this worked much better. Not everyone is suited to every job.