AIBU to stop overperforming at work?

[ParotidPal]

I took a part-time, junior public sector job at 50 after a long private-sector career. Supposed to be an “easy” role, but because I’ve got loads of transferable skills I’ve been smashing it… and now they keep piling on more.

I’m working way beyond my hours, they won’t promote me, and I can’t seem to hold back and just do the basics like my colleagues.

AIBU to down tools a bit and stop over-delivering? How do I actually do that without feeling like I’m letting people down and experiencing a big dent in my professional pride?

Just slow down a bit!

Also you could invest time to reflect on this How do I actually do that without feeling like I’m letting people down and experiencing a big dent in my professional pride? because this is your ingrained thinking, that's what needs to change.

When you say they won’t promote you, have you actually applied for jobs at a higher grade?

otherwise yes, just slow down. You’ll get no thanks for killing yourself.

part-time, junior public sector
part-time, junior public sector

they are getting full time private sector gold for part-time, junior public sector money. Stop.

Work to your wage. First off, start and finish on time, thats just basic.

Second, stop accepting work, its not professional pride, its stupid, you practice in the mirror saying "I don't have capacity for this, unless you want me to deprioritise XYZ"

Start watching Veronica videos on tictok... she has many about worth...

Theres an obvious way to walk the middle line between underperforming and overperforming - do what you are paid to do, for the time you are contracted to work, to the absolute best of your ability....no more and no less.

So if youre a part time worker, then say from 9-1 you work at a good pace and with urgency and high standards for the full part time shift, but at 1 you shut down, step away and leave for the day, and pick it all up again the next day. That way you are not selling yourself out or behaving without integrity by doing less than what you know you are capable of, but you are also not being a mug and giving away your expertise, time and effort without recompense.

When I was asked to do to much, I would say, 'ok I'll add it to my list of things to do but I probably won't be able to get it done until next week / month'.

With one demanding boss, I even left my TO DO list written in large letters on my desk so he could see it.

Then you leave the office at the same time as all your other colleagues.

Providing high volumes of work in the public sector isn't valued. They like slow and steady. As soon as you make a mistake they'll say it's because you're working too quickly and not paying enough attention.

Look on the intranet for career development opportunities and apply for them.

The main thing is to stop doing the overtime. Then if anyone asks why X hasn't been done you can say you don't have enough time to get to it. You can still do you job well but you don't need to be doing so many extra hours. Employers will always take the piss if they find someone willing to work themselves to death for the company or organisation. It's on you not to let them get away with it.

Your feeling you are letting people down is just a story you are telling yourself. Are you a people pleaser generally? Why do you have to do more than everyone else to feel professional pride, there’s no pride in being a martyr? You need to work out why you are doing it to stop doing it.

Do your job. Don't do anymore than that unless you are getting paid for it or working towards a promotion for example.

As a tax payer, thanks!

But I agree with the advice to slow down, sadly...

What a dissapointing situation that your colleagues don't have your pride and energy for what is (presumably) necessary work

I’ve been in a similar situation and understand it’s not easy to slow down if you’re used to performing at private sector levels. I still struggle with this.

Things that helped:
Building a routine outside of work. Scheduling hobbies/interests for the same time each week and making them non-negotiable (ie I can’t work beyond my hours today because I need to do x hobby).

Finding a second role/volunteering opportunity where I can be productive and my time is valued. This made me realise my time is valued by others even if it isn’t by the public sector (if someone is willing to pay for the time I spend working, then why should I do unpaid overtime for my employer).

Having a total meh of a year firefighting dealing with sick relatives who live at the other end of the country. After all that, I don’t have the energy to perform at my peak anymore. (I don’t actually recommend this though, obviously!)

Just do your contracted hours. That’s the easiest thing to change.
Look at job description. Push back if getting lots of work above pay grade.
If you can’t get work done in time you have then make it clear to manager and agree what priority is.
People pleasing and doing far more than paid for isn’t a good trait.
There’s probably work/life balance, work smarter not harder type courses etc you can book on.

Are you able to ask for a job re-evaluation, rather than a promotion, to ensure you are properly remunerated for what you do beyond your role?

Other option is apply for promotion and full time role. Either where you are or different LA.

Youve heard the expression ' give an inch ,and they'll take a mile applies here.

You need to quiet quit!! Just do what you have to do,that's all. That is literally your job.

Have a few phrases ready, like 'im really sorry, totally bombed out at the moment, could you ask Linda to help maybe?
Or
I'd love to help but I have to focus on ( whatever)
Or
I might be able to do it but it'll have to go the bottom of the pile I'm afraid, maybe towards the end of next week I can have a look and see where we're at?

If you can put on a lightheated, jokey voice I'd say " come on, that's an above my pay grade job and you know it!'

Honestly this is why I don’t think I could work in the public sector, important though it is. I can’t see the point of working in an environment where mediocrity and working to rule is a cultural norm (I know not everyone in the public sector works like this but it does seem to be a widespread cultural note).

It sounds like maybe you don’t need the money, am I right? If you don’t, is this the best use of your time? If you do, could you look to reenter the private sector?

Look about for a job in a different sector. I am an employer and there is a massive shortage of people with your work ethics. Most are doing what you are being advised on here, to slow down and play by the book. I understand when you have professional pride that it isn't as easy as that to just work the union way. You need to feel valued and appreciated and rewarded in your vocation.

It's not necessarily "mediocrity and working to rule". I work in the public sector, in a role where I and dozens of colleagues have a backlog of casework that's built up over years. We work hard to complete work to a high standard, for the hours we're paid for, and then we go home.

What else could we do? How many hours of unpaid overtime would be considered "enough"/not "working to rule"? We could ALL work 24/7 for a year, and there would still be a pile of work to do.

@Shellyash completely agree. If you are a driven person its not as simple as just “quiet quitting”. It really goes against the grain for many people to do this. If the culture doesn’t reward hard work then it’s probably the wrong environment.

I think taking a junior role was a mistake. If you're the sort of person who works hard and takes pride in what they do, having a job that's too easy was always going to be boring for you. Why not rethink and find a new job that offers a challenge (whether that is private or public sector)?

Promotion in the public sector can be quite box-ticky- if they have approval for a promotion then someone will get it, if not then they won't. It's not like the private sector where there's the flexibility to use promotion to award exceptional performance.

@CasperGutman I get that and I do understand there are a lot of people in public sector jobs battling against massive underfunding, backlogs etc. I didn’t mean to imply that public sector workers are lazy.

But in this case it just seems to be a culture where some going above and beyond and being driven makes you a square peg in a round hole. A lot of posters are encouraging the OP to go with this and coast. But this clearly isn’t going to work for her constitutionally. She sounds very driven and is going to get bored and frustrated.

Well, for a start, you should never work overtime. Only work the hours you're being paid. Seriously! When you've done your 8 hours, log off. Never work for free.

Stop doing over your hours unless you are getting TOIL or being paid overtime. All it does is make your managers take you for granted and your team hate you for making them look bad for 'only' doing the hours they are paid for.

I'd start applying for internal roles a grade or two higher. Even if you don't get one straight away it sends a message.

I have a job where it is impossible to get ‘promoted’. You have to apply for a different more Senior role yourself and there is an arduous three stage recruitment process.

Also, the job me has various managerial elements that are not attractive.Myself and a some peers in the same role who are very experienced on the top bracket salary of our job, all out perform the junior people who are on the same salary of the same job.

There is no way for the company to pay us more, but also it’s deflating to be doing double what other people are on the same salary.

I’ve worked out a thing where I work for four solid hours, and then deal with urgent only for the rest of the day. Because in essence I can do what some people do in a day in 4 hours. My manager still says I’m in the exceptional bracket for performance. So clearly I’ve got the right balance. If you work at home, try working half days and then just picking up emails on an afternoon. It really does stop the resentment.

Youre letting your ego burn you out. Cut back.put your boundaries in