work related stress @ 21 weeks

[fairybubbles]

I've been finding work really difficult. My job is stressful even when not pregnant. I had a word with my manager a few weeks ago (had a very emotional day, crying lots).
I mentioned that I am struggling with the workload. He filled in a few forms but nothing has been done to reduce my workload and I leave each day with lots of tasks not completed. It's really affecting my morale. I've now reached the point where I don't really care and I'm so fed up I spend the whole time I'm there wishing I could go home. Maternity leave seems so far off .

Other than sickness/nausea up to about 17 weeks the pregnancy has been straight forward. I've had a bit of siatica but managed to work through that.
I'm not sure what i'm looking for but I just feel if I have to work through this chaos for another 15 weeks I will make myself ill.

Ask your manager for another meeting to review the situation. Explain how nothing has actually changed and that you can't keep this level of work up. If still nothing changes then you can raise a grievance (ie a formal complaint) about the situation. Theres no point you becomming increasingly more stressed to the point where you'll be signed off ill or forced to take maternity leave early.

Good luck!

Hi Fairy, I agree with Boo, you need to raise the issue again.

I totally know where you're coming from. I'm 19 weeks. Ever since I got to grips with my job (been doing it a year now) my manager just delegated his whole workload and does nothing. Other managers ask me what he does and I never know what to say!

He's a total tick box manager too. My risk assessment was a joke, and that was after he spent 3 weeks trying to get me to do it myself. Even asked me if all my hospital appts were necessary cos sometimes he has to do things or attend meetings now so we meet deadlines! I asked him to put that in writing and since then he's been more co-operative.

Anyway, meant to sympathise but think I've just hijacked your post with a moan of my own - sorry! The point is, you're not alone, managing you manager isn't easy, but it HAS to be done for your own well being.

Do you have an HR rep? Anywone else you can go to? Could you delegate any of your work or ask colleagues to help out yourself? I felt ill last week and couldn't face finishing a report so pleaded with a colleague to do it for me and he did. Could you suggest tasks you could hand over to other people and who could do them so he doesn't have to think about it just do as you tell him? My manager loves the "don't come to me with a problem give a me a solution" get out. So I do and then he has to get on with it or come up with something better.

Also, I'm finding I'm getting a bit depressed some days. Yesterday was awful, I was totally miserable and warned DH that this might not be a fun week. Actually, I'm find today - amazing what a warm bath and a decent night sleep will do. Hormones don't help! So you might find that one week will be hellish but the next not so bad. Totally with you about ML being so long away - planning to work 'til my due date so 21 weeks yet :(

Keep your chin up and keep posting

Thank you Boo and Happycamel for your suggestions.

I know I need to have another meeting with him and explain that I am feeling under too much pressure and that something needs to change. Every day the priority changes and I struggle to keep up. I'm also part time and that makes the role even more difficult. I have a union so if nothing changes I may have to ask them for advice. I manage a team myself and I have been delegating as much as possible without overloading them but as they are all fairly inexperienced staff I have to check the work they do for me as there is lots of mistakes and I am held responsible for that. I do a plan at the beginning of each day, taking into account meetings, breaks etc and it's always impossible to complete the work that day.

One thing I always do though is leave on my finishing time as I collect DS from nursery on my way home. I've also have taken a holiday today to allow myself a bit of quiet time .