Vent about having too much work when other people don't

[Anonymous]

I want to start by saying that I am super thankful to have a job, and to even not be immediately impacted by sequestration. But, once again, I'm going to have to stay really late when everyone else - my colleagues and my boss - is gone. It happens all the time. People leave on time, and I'm stuck here for another 2, 3, 4, 6 hours. I'm the best one on my team so I have the hardest projects and the most responsibility, but they don't pay me more than anyone else. I have all of the burden and responsibility and pressure from above without the title or the money. They've talked about giving me a promotion, but nothing has materialized. I'm tired of feeling used! I want to be home with my family.

[Anonymous]

Time to stop being a pushover then. Either document what you do and use it to negotiate a raise or promotion or stop volunteering for the most challenging work, if you have any say in the matter.

If none of the above will work, enlist the others in helping you.

[Anonymous]

This falls into the category of "quit your bitching or do something about it," I'm afraid, OP.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, there's one person in my group like this. She's very good, but she also has no judgment as to which tasks are important and which aren't.

[Anonymous]

Martyr. I would not promote someone who can't protect her interests better than what you describe. You simply don't sound like a leader. Leaders don't let this happen. Fix it.

[Anonymous]

OP, I sympathize with you, but I think what some others are saying is that you don't necessarily get ahead by emphasizing how hard you have to work to get stuff done. To others you may look like someone who can't prioritize or work efficiently, and who is overwhelmed with the work she has, and not someone ready for more responsibility. I know you said you have more responsibility than others, which may be true. But the key to getting ahead is not bitching about that (at least not in the workplace, and maybe you don't), but making it look easy.
And if they can't appreciate the work you are doing, go home and do something you enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Can you cut corners and pump out poor quality work product? That seems to work for some people I know. They make damn sure they are in "good" with the bosses first and then pull that on them. No one suspects a thing. The higher ups actually think these people are efficient.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks, PPs. I know what you're saying. I should clarify that I am efficient, I just have too many projects. They give me everything that's important or a priority, but then all of my work is a "priority" and I can't get it all done without working long hours. I don't think I really complain at work, other than communicating with my boss when I feel like things are unmanageable.

I've been told that I'm in line for a promotion (across the agency, no one else on my team is getting promoted), but that the bureaucracy is holding things up... in this economy, I don't feel like I can ask for much more than that. I feel like my boss is great and he really appreciates me (he is fighting for my promotion), and I'm doing meaningful work in my field. It feels like most things are going pretty well, I just wish they paid me more and could share the work more evenly on the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, PPs. I know what you're saying. I should clarify that I am efficient, I just have too many projects. They give me everything that's important or a priority, but then all of my work is a "priority" and I can't get it all done without working long hours. I don't think I really complain at work, other than communicating with my boss when I feel like things are unmanageable.

I've been told that I'm in line for a promotion (across the agency, no one else on my team is getting promoted), but that the bureaucracy is holding things up... in this economy, I don't feel like I can ask for much more than that. I feel like my boss is great and he really appreciates me (he is fighting for my promotion), and I'm doing meaningful work in my field. It feels like most things are going pretty well, I just wish they paid me more and could share the work more evenly on the team.

So you want to work all those extra hours? I don't get it. Sounds like they aren't going to pay you more or lighten your workload anytime soon. Time to either demand a more balanced workload, a raise, or leave.

[Anonymous]

Next time you get a high priority project tell then you're busy with A, B and C so they should give it Marty instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've been told that I'm in line for a promotion (across the agency, no one else on my team is getting promoted), but that the bureaucracy is holding things up... in this economy, I don't feel like I can ask for much more than that. I feel like my boss is great and he really appreciates me (he is fighting for my promotion), and I'm doing meaningful work in my field. It feels like most things are going pretty well, I just wish they paid me more and could share the work more evenly on the team.

it sounds like you are gov??? Are you being clear with your boss that you don't want more work right now?

In management- I see this a lot. Junior employees working late. Sometimes they are working late b/c they 'have more work' sometimes they are working late b/c they are relatively new and don't work as efficiently, and sometimes they are working late b/c they appear to spend their entire day socializing. If you really think you have more work- the next time you get a new assignment say 'how should I prioritize this new project with respect to A,B and C??? b/c I can't complete them all on deadline." And then leave on time.
Things changed dramatically for me, when I realized that spending time with my family was way more important than moving ahead.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I completely agree with all of these pitfalls (not being efficient and socializing) and those aren't the case with me. I have had numerous conversations with my boss about how he wants me to prioritize my work when I have too much to do. I wish we could give more work to Marty, but Marty doesn't know how to do the stuff they're giving me... so I am working on training Marty on top of everything else.

Maybe the crux of the problem is being the only one who CAN do certain things. Most of the team just doesn't have the particular skill set needed, but there is one person (Marty!) who can be trained to take some of the stuff and help me when I need it. I think it will get better when Marty gets up to speed. That, and them giving me more money would make a big difference.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hear you. From time to time during the year this is me too. It is so annoying. But you have to be the one to push back on this or they will continue to take advantage of you.

You are telling yourself that all this is critical and must be done ASAP, hence spending nights at the office. But ask yourself, what if I don't do this? Or what if I don't do this NOW? Cut back on the quality, and cut back gradually on the time. Let some stuff slide through the cracks.

This is hard for me, because I really care about doing quality work. But, obviously your employers don't care, or they'd manage better and have a better team. You have just got to find some shit that you can let slide, and don't feel bad about it. I know that's hard, but practice helps.

[Anonymous]

Remember they are never going to learn if they don't get the projects. How did you learn?

Sometimes we have to learn on the fly and learn quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I completely agree with all of these pitfalls (not being efficient and socializing) and those aren't the case with me. I have had numerous conversations with my boss about how he wants me to prioritize my work when I have too much to do. I wish we could give more work to Marty, but Marty doesn't know how to do the stuff they're giving me... so I am working on training Marty on top of everything else.

Maybe the crux of the problem is being the only one who CAN do certain things. Most of the team just doesn't have the particular skill set needed, but there is one person (Marty!) who can be trained to take some of the stuff and help me when I need it. I think it will get better when Marty gets up to speed. That, and them giving me more money would make a big difference.

I am you on the private side- the way out of it is to schedule weekly meetings with you boss on priorities and dates. Then you push back if it clearly cannot be done (especially in cases where you depend on other input/customers to complete a project). So you help set expectations versus your killing yourself to meet deadlines no one else in your department has.