What to do

[jenny823]

I started a new job about 6 months ago, it's average pay and fits well with the hours. However there is very little guidance and a lot of the time the approach is "just figure out as we go" rather than deciding the process at the beginning, ironing out any problems then so we are able to meet deadlines rather than problems arising literally the day before a deadline. How can I politely say to my manager I just can't work like this it's causing anxiety

Do you deal with the same sort of task often? Perhaps you can create a process that works for you and the tasks you do, and be the person that defines how things are done?

Are they similar issues that arise days before a deadline? If so, perhaps you're able to remember this and start to mitigate the issues if they are reoccurring?

My tasks are extremely varied but somethings that I have been given can have a huge impact on the organisation if not done in time and incur fines. I'm starting to get frustrated that I'm at a very low level and management haven't agreed a process and then disseminated it down. One of the tasks involves various other people playing different parts and now they are complaining to me as it's so badly organised. I'm not far off minimum wage

Not your circus, not your monkeys.

You aren't going to be able to change the ethos and working patterns of an entire company. The only thing you CAN change is your attitude and reaction to it.

Errors and missed deadlines are their problem to fix. You are one of the more junior people there, so keep your head down, get on with the tasks in hand, and tell yourself not to get stressed out by it. You are paid to do a job, you are certainly not paid enough to assume full responsibility for the entire thing going tits up.

Ah I didn't realise you were at a junior level!

I'd say if you're notifying the managers about the issues in time / warning them about things, that's pretty much all you can do at that level!

Thankyou so much for these words, i have been finding myself not being able to sleep on an evening worrying about work. But you are right, i am just going to get on with my work and if problems occur I maybe need to direct this to management rather than running around like a headless chicken trying to sort it all out

I think you are right, I don't know why I'm finding it hard to just be ok with if things go wrong it's not really my problem at my level, I've put forward a proposed process for one of the tasks but it fell on deaf ears