Employer demanding too much....what can I do?

[Newbienetter]

Hi everyone, I've been employed in current role for 6 months. To start it was great but within a matter of weeks I was being given tasks a) out of my skills set and b) too demanding eg providing an "oncall" service 7 days a week for emergencies. I've recently voiced my concerns as they've asked me to do some things that don't sit well with me. I suffer with mental health conditions and although I manage to work I have noticed my mental health deteriorating. The stress got so bad yesterday I ended up sat in the back office just crying.
What can be done? I've already voiced my concerns to which I got a response similar to "suck it up and get on with it" . I've been offered a less stressful job but the money is awful. Any recommendations? Thanks

Being given tasks out of your skill set is normal and good employee development, giving you opportunities to increase your skill set.

Imposing a 7 day a week on-call for emergencies - how often are there emergencies? If they are very rare eg once a year then having your home/personal mobile numbers logged so that you can be reached if it's unavoidable is not a hardship. If there are emergencies out of office hours more than once a month then ywnbu to insist on sharing the on-call with someone else so that you have some down time where you know it's not your problem.

Check your employment contract, particularly the sections concerning duties and hours. Being given tasks outside your skill set can be a way of developing an employee but you should be provided with any necessary training and support, not find yourself asked to do a different job from the one you were hired for and thrown in the deep end.

If the contract provides for 7 days on call, you're stuck with it and will have to consider your position. If it doesn't, draw this to the attention of the management and say you're not prepared to do it.

If the contract is unclear, a trip to Citizens Advice may help.

The jobs I've been given for example are payroll and I have never done payroll in my life! The only training they gave me was an a4 paper with hand written instructions but were unclear :-( feel so out of my depth. Some of the other things I have been asked to do are questionable at the very least!

I'm shocked - what company gives the responsibility of payroll to someone who's never done it before!? That's not some trivial task you can pick up as you go along.

Putting you on call for emergencies 7 days a week, means that you can never relax because how can you possibly give that service without keeping your phone on at all times and listening out for a potential call.

When our service desk guys are "on call" they are on a rota, it's 1 day at a time and they get paid a shift allowance because it means their life isn't 100% their own when they have their work mobile switched on and ready to respond at a moment's notice. They just get to do it while they're in their living room watching Eastenders, having a cuppa, so it is as bad as being bums-on-seats in the office.

I would definitely look for another job, and I very rarely say that 'off the bat'.

Sorry

.... so it's not as bad as being bums-on-seats in the office.

I was in a similar situation a few years ago. Dumped in a role with to much responsibility, to much work and on call 24/7 (I had the customer calling me the day my DD was born).

I went to the doctor who offered time of work, which i refused. He arranged a course on stress in the workplace for me. In ended up on antidepressants which really helped. I know not every one wants to use them and I did not want to be on them for ever. I did the job for almost 5 years and TBH in the end I was very competent in the role. And the experience I got is excellent for my career. But ultimately I left the job and now am in a cushty number on more money and next no stress at all.

Not sure if you want to go down this route but possibly put your concerns in writing (email), at least if you breakdown and have to take time off your employer cant say you never told us.

Sounds like if the OP were to take time off work for stress, the employer could easily dismiss them on capability grounds as they've only worked there for 6 month.

That was my concern, because I don't have length of service in my favour I'd probably just get sacked.
Not an ideal situation