Would you leave this job?

[Squashpocket]

Job is technically project management.

I'm contracted for 21 hours over 3 days, but there is objectively much more work than I can fit in to 3 days, so lots of tasks still left to do when I log off at the end of the week.

The project is drastically under resourced, there is no one to pass these tasks on to, nor money in the budget to hire someone.

The overwork is compounded by general contempt from other project staff for the admin functions of the project, so all work is simultaneously unworthy of their attention, but also business critical if not done.

My direct manager is also a pathological micromanager. She expects to be updated on the progress of absolutely everything formally once a week, while maintaining daily contact. This means in reality that I have a formal catch-up every 3 days. She is a perfectionist, so there is no thanks only criticisms of minor oversights. I am bloody exhausted.

I can't fix the culture of general contempt, but what I would like to happen is that I am able to pass on unfinished tasks at the end of the week and manager gives me at least 2 weeks between catch-ups.

Or do I just give up. Financially I don't NEED to work, but I value my financial independence and identity outside the home. What would you do?

Can you not find a different job rather than putting up with it or giving up work all together?

There are always jobs for project managers - so if you don't like the one you've got, have a look for something else.

It's slightly niche project management - can really only be done in public sector or higher education. There aren't loads of jobs, certainly not loads of part time jobs. It needs to fit around kids. I have done the job in a couple of different settings and I fundamentally don't think it works well as a part time role.

Also work is contract based so would be better to complete the contract rather than walking out half way through.

Discuss the workload with the manager. Explain clearly that it isn't working, in a practical sense there is more than 21 hours worth of work to be done weekly.

It is their problem to solve, not yours.

And who is above the manager? Would it be worth discussing her management style with them because being micromanaged is frustrating.

They probably won't want to lose you, you are most likely in a stronger position than you realise to negotiate.

Can you think out of the box slightly and go into a different area of PM. I'd imagine you have a lot of transferable skills.

Leave.
I had very similar. I left, soon. The ethos / philosophy will never change.

I had it in accounts, the guys doing the jobs held all the power, never got managerial approval for jobs that weren't profitable, submitted no paperwork, demanded to be paid for their cut, before the job had even been invoiced, let alone paid. I tried to get management to change their attitude but they wouldn't. And then got shirty when clients queried the hours/ said the job wasn't up to standard, refusing to pay. But we'd already paid the commission.

You probably know already whether you can change this. Probably unlikely? So all you can do is job search and leave.

There is no one above the line manager, she is top of the tree. I have flagged the unmanageable workload. She can pass off some of the tasks I'm currently doing to other team members, but the core project management tasks constitute more than 21 hours and there is very limited scope for offloading those.

I also suspect that line manager's management style cannot be changed and very quickly the unreasonable demands will stack up. I can push back, but it will be a process of constantly managing expectations and reassertion boundaries and I'm struggling to be arsed quite frankly. Nothing will ever be good enough.

Hey OP I'm dealing with something similar, my boss micro manages and wants continual updates etc/workload is high...I'm at my wits end... I am also in a contract and trying to stick it to the end but some days I just want to throw the towel in. If you don't have to work I would leave as it is a continual battle and they won't change...nothing will be good enough am living that scenario...

I feel that I should stick it out for...reasons? I'm not totally sure that trying to do project management, part-time with young children, in an under-resourced sector is ever going to end in anything except misery.

I don't have to work, but I would like to work. But not like this.

I would leave but find something else rather then quitting work altogether. Although you say you're in a niche role, you probably have transferrable skills that you can take into other PM roles.

Places like that don't change. I used to work somewhere where my manager would micromanage the life out of us all. My team would change on a regular basis as people kept leaving. It's really not worth the stress. If you're 21 then sure, put up with it to get some work experience. If you're 30+, get out of there.

Would you drop 3k in salary to get out and move on. Mentally I have lost any joy if I ever had any for this job. It is a job that will be phased out in a few years anyway. So I think now is the time to jump ship. I am on a fairly low pay anyway but going for a new job I should eventually be on the same pay I am now after a few years. I just can’t find any jobs that match what I am on at the moment but I really want to leave where I am now. I know 3k is a lot but I have only just reached that after four years and started out in the salary I will be going for. Plus I honestly think I will be redundant in about two years if I stay.

Sorry OP posted in the wrong place