To go off sick

[snch]

Hi,

I work in a call centre and I do 16 hours a week. I’ve not been consistent with hitting my targets and my boss has put me on a PIP. That’s fine and I’m happy to get all the help I can.

I explained to my boss that I’m doing the best I can. I had a really bad day on Thursday I took about 8 calls and I couldn’t get a sale. It ended in me crying to my boss (pathetically). It just got to me that I’m genuinely trying my best.

Today I’ve went in with the mind set of having a fresh start to the month and had just of bad of a day. It’s to the point now where I actually feel sick with stress/worry. My boss has given me reassurance that she will support and help me. Everything else I’m doing is fine it’s just getting the sales.

its now affecting my home life I feel short with the kids. Do I just ride out this storm and see how it goes or shall I speak to my GP. I don’t know where to go

I think that’s the right thing to do. It will make you a stronger person facing it rather than running which in turn could help you deal with it better

I wouldn’t go off sick. I do think a different job would be better for you, something not so pressured.
Is there some other job at the company that you could do, anything, even something completely different?

Otherwise, working somewhere else.

Hope you are feeling better soon and things get sorted for you, sending you a big hug!

Thank you for being kind 😊 There’s nothing else within the company. I’ve always had no trouble getting jobs in the past but finding it really difficult now that I have to work around school hours

Call centres are tough, but a PIP from a supportive manager should be a good thing (from a bad manager they are pointless)
your manager should be looking at the opportunities you’ve had to close sales and haven’t and offering advice and giving you actions. However they should also note where you simply couldn’t close, ie, don’t have bank details handy etc.

sadly call centre work is getting harder and harder as people become more used to doing this stuff online and I would say those calling are people who either know exactly what they are want but are few and far between or those calling who will then want to check with their son/cousin/the next door neighbours cat and those people create a sale for the next agent they speak to, hopefully you get some of those too. Managers should be aware of this and again should offer you support on overcoming those type of objections.

but ultimately you have targets, so does your manager and that makes it really tough for you both but going off sick pushes the issue down the line and potentially could lead to action being taken on your attendance. Personally as your manager sounds decent I’d work with them on the PIP, do you have non selling roles on your site? Claims for example? Could a move be an option? I feel for you, I’ve been there, I’ve been the manager too, I’ve worked in and around call centres for 20 plus years I know how tough it can be.

Thank you! My manager is really supportive and has reassured me that it’s not me and my behaviours we just need to work on what I can do to get a few more sales.

What I’m struggling with most is that they’ve called and made their mind up already or it’s something that has come into me in error and impacts me badly. I can’t control what comes in to me. I think they kind of know that and I haven’t been pushed much in the past. The conformance and quality side of things are good

@snch if you are limited to school hours and need the money, where I live a cleaner gets £18ph - I imagine in other parts of the country it's £12 minimum. What's to stress about?

If you need to go off sick then definitely do - but I’m not sure if this is for the best in your situation.

I think you’d spend the entire time stressing about going back to work and then getting massive anxiety over it when you do go back.

I get what you mean. Call centre work can be intense, I speak from experience. Sometimes a week or two’s break to ‘catch up with yourself’, so to speak, can be much needed and it’ll give you a clearer headspace.

All the cleaning jobs in my area seem to be really early morning or after school hours

Even in private households?

This

My boss has given me reassurance that she will support and help me. Everything else I’m doing is fine it’s just getting the sales.

So take her up on it. She sounds like a good employer.
Forget how you are with the kids - right now you need to get your work life sorted.

@snchthey will soon see where you’ve had no opportunities try not to worry, take on the advice and see how you get on. Good luck.