Too much pressure?

[mgwads]

Hi, so thank u for being here first of all....

I'm 24 and have been working my job for 6.5 years and have worked my way up from Receptionist to be a Local Authority Account/Project Manager which I'm pretty damn proud of. I've always enjoyed my work and the stress as I work a lot better under pressure :)) I had my little boy 18 months ago, and I've just bought my own first home as a single parent.. the thing is I am struggling😩 I worked alongside the same colleague for 5 years and we had a good thing going until he left in April this year. That's 10 years of knowledge and 35 hours per week gone from the job and no replacement other than a new trainee, who tries her best but is nowhere near where's required for the workload.. I came back from maternity in January this year for 3 days, and have already had to up that to 4 just to try and get things done. I am now working from home most evenings when my little boy is in bed, and if I'm not working I'm thinking about it. I am getting a lot of pressure from management and questions about why things are slipping. But it's because there's not enough people or hours for such a huge job, all being done by a young knackered single parent!! I just wonder whether I should take a step back and concentrate on being a mum whilst my boy is young.. there's so many years for a career?? But I have a good opportunity in front of me I just can't manage it all at once without help. I might sound like I'm whinging but had to get it off my chest. Now I have a mortgage I feel like I'm trapped in this job. I am a bit of a perfectionist so when I can feel things falling apart it really panics me. Any advise is appreciated

Do you have some help with your son? What has your manager said when you pointed out about the workload vs the staff to do it?

When you say

But I have a good opportunity in front of me I just can't manage it all at once without help.

do you mean with this job you've just gone back to or is there another one.

An 18 month old is really hard work, it sounds like you're doing really well.

I think you have to be firmer with your employer really, and be robust about why things are slipping. It isn’t your fault. You can’t do everything. They’re trying to pour 2 litres of liquid to a pint jug and blaming you for it not fitting in, It sounds like your job is causing you a lot of stress, which is bad for your health and well-being.

If you feel management isn’t going to support you, then maybe you should put your energies into finding another, more family friendly job.

I work in a local authority and sometimes issues are not picked up by senior management, can you arrange a meeting and explain how the staff changes have impacted the job, giving examples and how the situation could improve

I worked full time as a single parent to two under fives and all I can say is that it's not always as difficult as it is now. It's worth finding a way to make it all work if you can - you've done so well to get where you are now.

Isleep sums it up - you can't fit the 2 ltrs into a pint pot and that's what they are expecting you to do. You've not just lost a full time experienced resource, you will also be supporting a junior staff member. That takes time and effort. Set it out for the boss, detail what's possible and what isn't. What can be reasonably achieved in 4 working days and agree that.