Hello Fed Up,
How have you been? I know today is your day to relax but I want to talk about disappointment and frustration at your workplace.
Are you disappointed and frustrated?
Does thinking about work, and being at work make you feel tired? Have you had it up to here with your job? Work leaves a lot of people in one of the categories. To add insult to injury, sometimes you have the worst boss as well. Recently, a Lady said to me;
“My boss is always giving me work to do on the weekend”.
“What about your co-workers? Don’t they help out?” I asked her.
“No, they never pick up her calls, respond to emails or do the tasks given on the weekends properly. So now she only contacts me!”
The lady was angry because she was receiving the same pay and did more work than her colleagues. One possible upside is that when there is a promotion or or a better work position available, her boss might remember her.
Now, in situations such as the one described, you have some options, and the choices you make will really depend on your work environment, the work culture, your boss and colleagues.
Some practical suggestions
Before making a choice, think about your organisation/ team dynamic; is it hierarchical, or flat? Do you have freedom to speak your mind directly, or do you need to find more diplomatic ways to ask for what you want?
Stop answering work calls outside of working hours - This seems like a tough one, because it is far easier said than done. But your time and labour comes as a cost, and you determine what that is when you accept you sign a contract, and accept your salary. Work can’t be your life, and it’s important for your employer(s) to understand this and respect boundaries. You also need to consider what this interrupted time stops you from doing at home, e.g. socialising, resting, hobbies, other interests and business opportunities. If you feel this time is valuable and you can’t enjoy it, then stop answering the calls.
Re-negotiate your terms and conditions - If you’re consistently spending time on extra work-related activities that others in your team do not and this is not reflected in your remuneration and/or benefits, then it may be time to re-contract. This might be a conversation with your boss, or it might be one with other members of your team. If you agree to split the extra work, you can all take credit, and come together as a group to make a request/suggestion for changes or improvements to your working conditions, benefits, or whatever else you might want to change. E.g. there are four people in your team, and each of you works an extra Saturday every month. You agree who is ‘on-duty’ every weekend, and let your boss know who to call if anything urgent comes up. At the end of two or three months, you highlight what you have contributed/delivered/achieved, and ask that this be reflected in a team social evening, an extra day off, or free lunch on Fridays.
If in fact, you’re the only one re-contracting, then it may be time to discuss your pay/bonus with your employer.
Direct: Ask for what you want. Make a list if necessary, but make sure you have work/examples you can use to support your demands for more money, better benefits, or time off. If this isn’t possible, agree on times during the weekend when you may be able to accommodate the excess workload. Always follow up with an email summarising what has been agreed.
Indirect: Explain how the extra work affects you and lay out some changes that help you to be as effective and productive as possible.
Do the extra work but increase your visibility - If you have been working overtime, make sure your boss takes note of it. Write down the additional things you’ve supported/achieved/delivered, and ensure they’re all included in your appraisals. Don’t focus on the process or tasks, but rather the outcome of your activities. E.g. thanks to your support chasing a client on the weekends, you landed a new account for your employer. Make sure you know how the additional activities are adding value, and if they are not, then limit the amount of time you spend on them. You want your boss to notice your work that leads to high-profile outcomes!
Suck it up while you look for something better - You spend too much time at work to be miserable, overworked and stressed out. Spend 30 minutes every day working on your CV, looking for jobs that you would like to apply for and begin accumulating those skills. Note the things you do well and think about how to market them in your applications. Look for things you can do in your current role that will make you more marketable. Perhaps that does involve some of the extra/unpaid work you’re doing.
I had a job where used to get frustrated. My boss used to insult me and the one time I walked out of the office. I could not stand the verbal tirade, she reported me to the head office for insubordination!
I hated that job but it taught me a lot. It taught me how to manage people and relationships. It taught me how to work under pressure and it taught me how to work with difficult people. These are things I never would have learnt if I had not worked with this employer. Today we still keep in touch and she is always willing to give me great references.
I am a strong advocate for doing your very best at work. I know work can be tiring and sometimes you feel unappreciated. You feel like you do the most and you are not acknowledged. You probably are being noticed, but is it for the right reasons? You are probably thought of as someone reliable, and someone who works hard - so how do you best leverage that? When you do eventually move on to another job (if that’s what you want) your recommendation should be fantastic!
In summary, we all go through frustrating times at work. Sometimes the right move is to leave, and even then you need time to plan what’s next, but sometimes you can and should hold on. Try to look at what you are gaining from the experience and opportunities (because they could leave you more qualified and resilient for something bigger and better).
Do your best, be smart, hang in there.
Best Regards,
Kofo GT.