I started a job in local government 3 months ago. It's an admin job across 3 directorates all of which work very differently and with their own priorities.
I have also discovered There is also a large amount of finance processing which I have no background in and is dependant on 2 archaic systems.
The processes are over complicated, hugely unclear and easily open to mistakes which I am starting to make. Written procedures are very sketchy and there seems to be millions of exceptions to every rule.
I am currently relying on the person who previously did the job to answer my questions but he has his own work to do and I and sensing his frustration. He did the job for 5 years though I've been there 3 months.
My line manager heads up one of the directorates and whilst checks in with me doesn't seem to understand how huge the work load is given I'm actually working across 3 teams.
Last week I also discovered that 3 people used to do my post where they would rotate monthly across the key functions
- managing inboxes
- finances
- processing private water testing (which in itself is a complicated time heavy set of processes)
I thought I was doing ok but I am starting to really struggle and switching from one function to another means I am not learning or embedding any one responsibility. Things are becoming left creating backlogs despite me working up to 10 hours a day.
To my mind there needs to be at least one other person to do my role but I don't know how to raise it without looking incompetent.
To make matters worse I am also currently getting divorced and not sleeping which impacts on my ability to focus.. it will pass but for right now I am panicking. I am working 10 hours a day to try and manage the workload but when I still can't keep up and or understand large chunks of work I am so worried.
What can I do? Would HR help? I am a well educated competent woman but just feel so useless that it's not sinking in. I need this job like never before and am so worried they will think I'm inadequate.