Overworked and struggling, any ideas?

Truthseeker
How did you get on, has anything changed? I was reading through your post and noticed

>>I actually like my work and enjoy many aspects of it, and I take pride in delivering good quality work so have no issue giving extra time rather than shoddy work<<

I'm sure this is why it is all falling to you - they know you will do whatever it takes to get it done. Perhaps you need to become a little less conscientious. Having said that, I know it's a very tricky matter.

At the end of the day though you have to draw a line in the sand about how many hours you will work per day and you can only do what you can do during that time. Communicate that to management and set their expectations for whatever you think the result will be. It's just not acceptable that they can just say, work till it's done if that's not doable. I know about the culture of fear etc, however it sounds like they would really go down the tubes if they lost you - they need to back off, start taking you seriously and come up with some other answer to their problems other than making completely unreasonable demands on you.

work so have no issue giving extra time rather than shoddy work<<

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This attitude has cost some of your former colleagues their jobs. Would they have gotten rid of so many people if people like you didn't exist?

Buddyg - It would be simplistic to assume that my own attitude to responsibility and extra time when needed has cost people jobs, the reality is that I have a skill set thats needed and those who were let go were not as skilled as me (but some of them could do some of what I do - thereby taking pressure off me).

AnnR - after I began this thread there was another discussion with my boss. I held my ground and stated I would not be bullied into giving up my free time as a 'norm' and also told him that I would leave if the situation did not improve for me as i was becoming very stressed out and annoyed with the whole thing and I was sick of it.

Immediately after that conversation the boss changed towards me and became much more caring and less 'robotic' in terms of just repeating what he was hearing from higher management.

Then there was another staff/pay shake up and as a result of which a lot of dissension arose (from various people in other departments also) and it turned out that a number of people had been getting hassled to give more time for free - so it wasnt just me.

Plus a part time member of my team has been re-instated to full time which has helped.

I took most of the holidays owing to me over xmas and I was phoned practically every day I was off - but I took my time about answering and getting back to them and when I came back was told I had been missed - but this time round the work wasnt just piled up for me to do (a lot of it had to be done before Jan 1).

Things are much settled now and I have not had any unreasonable demands put on me in over a month, so will see how it goes. I have made my position clear though and will not budge from it.

but some of them could do some of what I do - thereby taking pressure off me).

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But why would they employ them if you were just going to work extra anyway.

When you said no to that look what happened.

Plus a part time member of my team has been re-instated to full time which has helped.

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Golden rule: Never work for free. Bad for you, your family and your colleagues.

Buddyg said:

But why would they employ them if you were just going to work extra anyway.

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Its not quite a simple as that - some areas are still badly lacking in anyone to work on them but I cant be forced into it because I just dont have the necessary skills.

I agree with the Golden Rule!