How to complain about my workload?

[Giraffe31]

How do I approach complaining about my workload? I’m only 24 and never had to speak to a manager about this before.

For a bit of background, I work as an administrator in a team of 5 incl manager. One of the team is leaving after her apprenticeship and the other is dropping from 4 to 3 days a week. That leaves 2 and a half admin staff as well as the manager who doesn’t take on any of the general admin work, I don’t know what she does if I’m honest.

Colleague 1, the only other full-timer is taking on most the apprentice’s workload as that was her original job before the apprentice started. Which means I’m having to learn all the new stuff that colleague 1 learned when the apprentice started so I can take this on. I’m also learning a big chunk of colleague 2 (the one who’s dropping from 4 to 3 days) as he can’t do 4/5 days’ work in 3 days (fair enough).

But the problem I’m having is that I’m having to learn all this new stuff and take it on permanently when the apprentice leaves and colleague 2 drops a day as well as my own full time workload that I already have. We won’t be getting a new apprentice either.

I can’t cope with this level of work; I’m already struggling and I’m just training so far. It really is a juggling act and I just feel that it isn’t a case of if I drop the ball it’s when. Do I wait to bring it up in my appraisal with my manager which are usually around the April/May time, although nothing has been mentioned so far about them or do I just ask to speak to my manager this week and get it sorted? I’m not a shirker and I do work hard so I don’t want to look like I’m unloading work onto colleagues just because I’m lazy, I’m not I just can’t cope

Don't leave it until your appraisal as that's too late. Book in a 1:1 meeting & ask how your manager perceives the team changes affecting workload & efficiency. Discuss what's going well now i.e. What you feel competent with &. What you are less competent with including what you need (more practice/coaching etc).

Ensure you sound positive around multi-skilling & upcoming but state you are concerned about completing everything to a high standard while workload increases

I would compile a list of the categories of work you have in your workload.

Highlight against each work category your competency level (High Medium or Low) depending on

• how familiar you are in each area
• where the task is new, you are undergoing training currently because you are taking over from the apprentice or
• where the task is new and you need training or x weeks/ months to build competence

Then you have a good starting point for your meeting to seek your line manager's support to get up to speed.

Facts and data are always useful to create a case for support.

I would say that you must make a record of everything and email it to yourself so it is time and date stamped should you need it in future. Then exactly as Daisy and Hi have said.

Don't jump straight to complaining! Talk to your manager and ask how they'd like you to prioritise.

Start by not "complaining" about your workload!

Ask to discuss with your manager how they want you to handle the additional new work against the tasks you are already doing - be positive and proactive in finding a solution