colleague sickness and my increased workload

[thisisnotmyusualnickname]

I need some advice.

My colleague has been unwell for some time and it has meant that she is unable to do her job properly. She didn't want to go off sick, but as she couldn't do her job this meant that I was doing 50%+ of her job on top of my own. She was eventually signed off sick, but is apparently coming back next week. She says that she is no better, but that she can't afford to be off work.

Do I have any rights in this? Obviously I feel for her, but I can't carry on doing half of her job as well as my own. Should I speak to my boss and say? How can I put it without sounding like a cow to my colleague?

You should definitely talk to your boss. If she/he doesn't know about the impact this is having on you, then you need to make them aware of it.

You don't have to blame her, you could just say that you are struggling with the volume of work you have on right now, and is there any way that it can be redistributed around the team? Or alternatively that you could do with some help reassessing your priorities.

I've always struggled with huge workloads, and have learnt to always make my manager aware of what I've got on/how I'm doing... particularly if there will be an impact on my deadlines.

HTH

Agree you need to speak to your manager, you really need to do it now before she comes back. Are they aware that your were doing the extra work? Do they know she is coming back but still notable to do her work?

I understand you not wanting to look like a cow but you ending up sick isn't going to help either, I can guarentee she would not be taking over your work without a fight!

I covered for a colleague for 7 months with hugely increased work loads I managed to cope but when she returned it was never reduced

18months on she is fine, happy and well going home at 3:30 I'm crippled with stress and anxiety working nights and weekends to try to keep up and probably going to be assessed for my capability to do my job and dismissed

I wish I had never volunteered - can you ask for a temp to cover her while she is signed off - I really wish I had

You can phrase this in a positive way - like TomatoPlant says. You can go to the boss and explain that you appreciate that your colleague is going to take a little while to be back up to speed, and meanwhile you need to talk to him about what should be prioritised.

One thing I found worked well was, when my boss gave me an extra project, I would be super enthusiastic, and say 'That's great - looking forward to getting going with that.' Then I pull out my current 'projects list' and say 'What would you like me to drop to make room for this new project?'

It rapidly made him thing about what he really wanted me to be working on.