Paranoia or being pushed out?

[WheelyCote]

Just had my boss cc'd into an email from a colleague giving me a ticking off.

This ticking off is about something not done. Given how stressful, busy, demanding and having to make hard uncomfortable decisions that effect people's lives....frankly I'm surprised there's not more things outstanding.

I'm ok in that I know with the time constraints and work demands...I worked to the best of my ability and could not have done more.

This is something that could have been raised with me direct in person.

So I'm surprised this colleague emailed me (she's wouldn't normally) and cc'd the boss in.

I suddenly feel that we're going down a get everything in writing stage.

Paranoia or would you wonder about it too?

I should add that another colleague this year has been pushed out. After evidence was kept in writing via email, every time something was outstanding

Do you have any sort of work tracker / work load tracker / weekly reports that show how much work you're getting through? A Risks & Issues Log?

None of those but I could start keeping a log of activities, phone calls....do u think that would help to show the extent of what I do?

I've tried adding timeframes to tasks and spoke to senior colleagues including my manager to say.,..this is what needs to be done, this is how long it takes, if it doesn't get done this week, month then it rolls on....and adds up.

I chatted with my manager and she agreed and that I would have time. I put what we'd said in an email. She didn't reply even to correct anything.

A week later I emailed again asking for the time needed at some point soon. She didn't reply to that either.

Instead of the work I'm meant to be doing I'm being pulled into other areas because of short staffing. I have no issue with that but I'm now running on empty, not managing to complete everything and I don't feel I have any support.

Definitely keep a log. A simple project or time tracker. Make a list of things requested of you, date and by whom. You need to put in the deadlines and deliverables, as well as rank in order of importance.If all that sounds too much for the moment, just do a basic bullet point of what you did each day and what you plan on doing the next day. That way you can track workload.

If there is an issue with how you work, your manager should bring it up. It sounds like you are short of staff and pressure means all can't be delivered. If that's holding other people to meet their own deadlines then clearly they will be anxious themselves. Sounds like your manager is aware of it all but doesn't know what to do about it. Don't worry but discuss with that person why that task wasn't done and agree on timescales. It's always better to warn people ahead if there's little chance it will be done when people expect it.

Always trust your gut feeling. Having an email trail can work in tour advantage... as long as you are careful not to be emotional in your replies. I would always reply all to the messages the boss is included into so there is dialogue even if it’s a ‘thanks for raising this and I’m really glad you agreed last week that this would roll on’ or the good old ‘thanks for this reminder; we discussed this last week when you needed me to move from (my currently role) to cover x,y,z and you explained that I’d be given additional time. Let me know when I’ll be given the time to do it’ etc etc
Also you can preempt by asking HR/managers to do a workplace stress assessment WITH you and you will be able to identify HSE recognised workplace stress triggers such as lack of control and not enough time. Managers are obliged under duty of care to remove the factors that cause you stress or help you better manage them x

How do you think your boss will react? I know mine has my back, does yours?

Well I thought something was brewing. Pulled into the office for meeting with boss and team leader.

I work bank shifts here and there on top of my day job. I've been told if I work a bank shift again I have to use an annual leave day to give myself 2 days off in the week or drop doing bank shifts.

Had a few strips torn off me about various other things. Stood my ground but still came away feeling not valued.

Thank you mrsmozart I'll try that so I have everything in writing.

Swing thank you....you've hit the nail on the head when you said...

'Short staffed......all can't be delivered'

I was told today that even though i have less time available to complete tasks/ deadlines, that I'll just have to figure it out.

Cute After today I can see she doesn't have my back.

KTC thank you....that's really good to know and I'll be doing that with the audit trail...I.e emails.

My plan is to complete a big project I'm involved in and add a few months to iron out any kinks in the system. That'll be next summer...ill look to move on. So I just need to get through the next 7/8 months ish with an unblemished free record and covering my own back.

I would also contact the union if you are a member. I did this for advice on how to protect myself and to have the situation logged. Didn't want the union to do anything at this point.