Having to do with work of two people on my own

[iiihatework]

I have a new job which requires two people to work side-by-side to ensure everything is done/set-up correctly and do provide assistance. It's so complex that you need two people to go through it all and ensure everything is set up properly. There are also lots of steps and having one person do it all twice as long. I'm new and had received two days of training before I started which was not long enough in my opinion but as there are usually two people working together, between the two of you you can usually figure it out.

The person posted to work with me resigned before I started which means I have had to do it all alone aside from when my colleagues have a spare moment they come and help me as I think they feel bad I'm new and all alone trying to do the work of two people. A few of my colleagues in similar roles have been on annual leave this week and they have people cover their shift so their partner is never working alone, even when someone steps out for a 1 hour meeting they have someone come to cover them. I feel so frustrated seeing someone get an arranged cover to provide assistance to my experienced colleague on an easier job for one hour while I'm new doing something more complex and have been working alone for a week now. I haven't been told when or if I'm getting someone to work with me.

They told me on my first day I was alone but my supervisor would work with me, but she is obviously busy doing her actual job so she doesn't have time to actually help me all day, she just pops over every now and again which isn't enough.

I've done as best I can and was the only one to not have errors/mistakes and so my work was supporting the whole team (it's hard to explain) and was solely responsible for meeting some tight deadlines and yet I overheard one of my supervisors saying to another supervisor in a sarcastic way saying why did it take so long for me to set-up?

I'm just frustrated.

I know it isn't easy when you are the new person, but I think you do need to return to your manager and ask if you can work alongside one of the more experienced colleagues for the first month so you can get up to speed and learn the job properly.

Very poor thinking, if one person has to somehow 'manage' a two person job, to leave that to the newest team member. The obvious thing to do there would be to share the 'lone working' between the most experienced team members on a short term basis until they can get a new recruit in.

Seems inept management that you have a Supervisor, who isn't supervising you because they're too busy with their own job. I would find a way of highlighting that you are finding it difficult to work completely alone when you need the support as you're so new on this job. You'd think they'd know that, but sometimes they need to be told the facts otherwise they could later say "why didn't you tell us sooner".

Seems like you're doing well though, if you have a high degree of accuracy (ignore the sarcastic comments).

Thank you both. We rotate around different teams so hopefully this week I'll have a partner. I'm proud of myself for getting through the last week and I didn't make any mistakes so I think I've done well given the circumstances.

It is frustrating though as a lot of the steps you physically need two people for as you have to hold three things at once or you need someone at two places to do the work simultaneously when setting up. I have to wait around for a colleague to become free so they can help me so things take twice as long. I couldn't take a break until 4pm most days because you have to monitor the equipment whilst it runs, usually with a partner you alternate with one taking a break and one staying to observe and troubleshoot any mistakes.

I have also found my training really frustrating as I learn things as and when I need them so I can never be proactive as there's so many things I don't yet know. Then I'll get to the position where I need to do something I don't know how to do and I'll have to go and find my supervisor and wait around for them to be able to show me. It knocks my confidence as I feel like I'm having to ask for help constantly and can't be proactive or use common sense as there are strict policies and procedures in place. I also can't just ask colleagues as they may unintentionally misinform me and it's my responsibility to ensure everything I do is done properly and safely. Anyway, I'm just ranting to myself now. I'm sure this week will be better. :)