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Work

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Original poster

Off work this week and still need to rant about work

18 replies

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 17:46

I'm off work this week. Am exhausted, been doing too much, 24 weeks pregnant, not feeling great, so not been in.

Had a call from work to say that a couple of clients want some updtes on the PR campaigns and my boss wondered if I'd be able to give them a call to go over how things are going?

I'm so hacked off. Sorry I know they are clients etc, but I am so sick of being the only person responsible for the entire companys workload, it always come down to me, I manage every single account, bar 1 which runs itself and just needs admin work done on it. I'm off ill, well worn out, and my MD can't deal with phoning and updating 2 clients. The update reports are done anyway, all he has to do is look at them from his desk and pick up the phone.
He does sweet FA and it's all me, me, me. I'm sick of all the resposibilty, sick of being the one who does all the main work, it really is like that. It's a great job but it's really, really too much for 1 person and me having time off sick just proves that. I know I'm hormaonal but I just feel I don't want to go back. The clients will all want something I can't give them and work will be all understanding but unable to actually do anything constructive to help me. Aggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh.

OP posts:

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 17:54

Yeah must be hormones, feel like crying.

OP posts:

cod · 01/09/2005 17:54

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 17:57

oh cod. thanks, just needed someone to understand how I feel. I wanted to slow down but work is there, snapping at my heels and I just dopn't want to cope with it. I want it tp all go away and it won't. I've had no energy this week, felt drained, and work is the reason why.

OP posts:

janeybops · 01/09/2005 18:17

don't answer the phone.

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 18:29

I can't not answer the phone, I can't, that's.... well it's not fair really is it?

OP posts:

cod · 01/09/2005 18:31

Message withdrawn

cod · 01/09/2005 18:31

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 18:37

I've told them I can't get my head rpound work now and it would be unwise for me to speak to and update a client when i haven't been at work for a week and don't have a cuurent report on who is doing what in front of me, and advised her to tell my boss that he should call, that I wasn't being difficult but sensible.

I think I do need to speak to my boss but he can't afford to take on anyone else and if I don't work hard then we'll never get any money in at all to get us out of the financial rut we always seem to be in.

OP posts:

WideWebWitch · 01/09/2005 19:25

Thomcat, it's not your problem. Your boss needs to arrange cover for when you're not there or what the hell is he going to do when you're on mat leave? Call you while you're in labour? The guy needs to fill in the gaps in his knowledge, realise that this lack of knowledge makes him vulnerable and do something about it, i.e. train someone else/himself/hire someone else. If I were you I'd REFUSE to answer the phone. If you're not well, absolutely DO NOT answer it. I bet your dh is supportive of that isn't he? And once you've had your baby look for something else if things don't improve. In the meantime keep calm and refuse to agree to unreasonable demands. It's your right to do this.

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 19:52

thanks WWW, it feels good to have someone say that to me, I feel less stressed already.

OP posts:

Surfermum · 01/09/2005 20:14

I think it's totally unreasonable. If you've been told to rest that's exactly what you need to do. You and the baby are the priorities right now, not your work.

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 20:34

oh thanks surfermum. Honestly I feel so stressed and worried now that i really needed someone to tell me that they are being unresonable. It's mad me feel quite down tonight, but everyones support has made me feel tougher again. Thanks.

OP posts:

mumbee · 01/09/2005 20:40

thomcat do not answer the phone allow th answer phone to take the call then make the decision. My Dp is in the same postition we just had 2 weeks holiay and work was ringing him so either let the answer machine do it or I answer the phone in work hours it is the only way to do he could escape it as he said 'if we did not he had no rest. It is even more important for you and your Baby so tommor go out for the day and forget it, or spend all day on MN turning the phone off. and when you return to work requested a half days leave to componstate for the interuption!! that will make him think twice next time

milward · 01/09/2005 20:51

TC - update your boss & arrange for them to make the calls. Would be better as this person is in the office- not at home not able to work. Do you have a letter from your doctor to give to them.

Sometimes think that people go for the easy option and it is just easier to ask you to sort everything out - when clearly this is out of order.

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2005 20:55

I don't have a letter but I could get one if needs be.
Will defo plan a convo with boss and spk to him on Monday. Will try and leave hormones at the door.

OP posts:

goldenoldie · 02/09/2005 09:37

Thomcat - do the updates - difficult for you not to do it now you have been asked directly, but agree with others - stop answering the phone. You are off sick - remember. They can hardly get arsey with you for not working/returning calls while you are on sick leave.

Send in your sick certificate - they will get the message.

runtus · 02/09/2005 09:45

Thomcat it souns lije you work in a similar situation to me, small understaffed company that is just about staying fluid but desparatley wants to succed. All it takes is for everyone to pull their weight and you'd all be ok right? Or thats what the message from the top is.........

In reality it isn't as simple as not answering the phone or sticking to your rights is it - becuase if you did that, you would have no company to go back to in reality.

The only real answer I have found is to play to their fears to get what you want/needed done. Try sitting down with your boss and spell out that if he doesn't start helping out you are going to end up seriously ill and then he will have to do everything himself. He needs to recognise that you will be off soon on maternity so if he doesn't start getting more involved now - he will have no idea what is going on when he has to do the job alone. I generally find the comobination of the fear of being left with loads of work and losing money/clients oes the trick an they finally wake up to their responsibilities.

Give it a go and good luck

hub2dee · 04/09/2005 20:12

Hey TC... so, tomorrow might be the Big Day for a Heart to Heart with the boss, eh ?

I hope the convo goes well. Practice it at home in your head so you have the main 'thrust' of your argument sorted... anticipate a couple of 'buts' and 'what ifs...' and have a few responses sorted in advance.

It sounds like you are pretty darn competent at your job, hun. Would you contemplate working for a different organisation after mat leave is over ? If your company is 'small and striving' you may carry on for another couple of months with similarly intense demands, and upon your return you can bet things will be ten times worse with your absence probably !

Maybe you can clarify the disbalance you feel re: account handling so that the boss can see this clearly and think that just maybe they ought to do something to redress it a bit and spread the workload a bit more efficiently...

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