My role has changed significantly, as has my mental health..
Discussion
Afternoon folks,
Not a sub-forum I have visited but I'm in a bit of a quandary and I quite like the relative anonymity this platform provides, so here goes..
I've been employed by the same business - publishing / events sector - for about five years. Started off as a junior in the IT and data realm, eventually grew a team, which was later dissolved almost naturally (resignations and no foreseeable re-hire). Pretty average salary for age and skillset, which hasn't changed in about 3 years due to [insert employer excuses]. Nevertheless, I was settled, the commute was relatively insignificant, and I enjoyed the team / office / workload.
Covid meant I was put on furlough (and thus, in my head, deemed non-essential) in April 2020, and eventually given a day a week from around Feb 2021, to get back into the data-centric tasks which had suffered quite badly in that time.
Unbeknownst to me, our head of marketing (who also had a team of 3/4 once upon a time) handed her notice in at the end of March, and I was summoned to a meeting with the seniors in which they pretty much said they couldn't afford me in my current role - as someone who didn't bring in any money - but wanted me to take over the marketing side of things.
In principle, this sounded like a positive thing. They obviously want to retain me, they see promise in my abilities, and my company experience would in theory mean less basic training on products / services etc.
To cut a long story short, I ended up receiving 2.5 days physical training and a couple of Zoom sessions, plus I was given a whole host of material to flick through. With the world seemingly restarting this summer, events and so on are being pushed and I'd be getting straight to the task(s) at hand; which meant in practice:
- learning various marketing software
- becoming a designer
- liaising with sales teams and clients
- building / maintaining websites
- understanding a pretty exhaustive timetable of events and time-sensitive related processes
- writing copy and promo material
There is probably more. I've never handled any of this before; my previous position was much more 'behind the scenes' but over the last couple of years I've effectively tidied up a lot of the stuff I was doing to make database functions more efficient - perhaps making my then role redundant without realising.
Here's the rub; to say I've been dropped in at the deep end would be an understatement. Minimal training, no change to salary, no additional software or hardware access (I'm being told to use my own laptop for design work etc) and nobody in house who is capable of supporting me or the new-to-me workload.
I'd like to think I'm quite tenacious, and a pretty fast learner - especially when pushed - but lately I've been sleeping poorly, having heart palpitations, overthinking, feeling very anxious and somewhat depressed, lost weight and started smoking / drinking again (in my head, this seemed a good way to take the edge off - it isn't).
The pressure of all this is taking its toll. I have, over the past two weeks, become a vital cog in the big-earner side of the business. On an hourly basis I'm being chased for things I am still very new to, and while I'd definitely say I have spent my working years being a 'yes man' with the best intentions, I think this has actually caused my current problem.
Those I've spoken to in brief about it say I need to stand up for myself, put my foot down, see how it pans out, even hand my notice in. For some context, I'm a bit handy as an artist / photographer and have been making a side income this way for a while - it's always been something I wanted to focus more on but time never allowed it. I'm not rich but I have some savings, I have no dependents or heavy outgoings and I have a good support network should things go badly, or should I need assistance in terms of accommodation or financial relief.
Even writing this now is causing me stress! I'm not sure what I'm actually asking here - perhaps opinions, perhaps similar experiences, perhaps an intervention(!).. I've never suffered from poor mental health, certainly not from work, so the whole thing has sideswiped me and those close to me can see something is up. I don't want to burden others with my perceived 'privileged problem' but I fear that worse is to come if I don't resolve this. Somehow.
Anyway, self-pitying rant over!
Not a sub-forum I have visited but I'm in a bit of a quandary and I quite like the relative anonymity this platform provides, so here goes..
I've been employed by the same business - publishing / events sector - for about five years. Started off as a junior in the IT and data realm, eventually grew a team, which was later dissolved almost naturally (resignations and no foreseeable re-hire). Pretty average salary for age and skillset, which hasn't changed in about 3 years due to [insert employer excuses]. Nevertheless, I was settled, the commute was relatively insignificant, and I enjoyed the team / office / workload.
Covid meant I was put on furlough (and thus, in my head, deemed non-essential) in April 2020, and eventually given a day a week from around Feb 2021, to get back into the data-centric tasks which had suffered quite badly in that time.
Unbeknownst to me, our head of marketing (who also had a team of 3/4 once upon a time) handed her notice in at the end of March, and I was summoned to a meeting with the seniors in which they pretty much said they couldn't afford me in my current role - as someone who didn't bring in any money - but wanted me to take over the marketing side of things.
In principle, this sounded like a positive thing. They obviously want to retain me, they see promise in my abilities, and my company experience would in theory mean less basic training on products / services etc.
To cut a long story short, I ended up receiving 2.5 days physical training and a couple of Zoom sessions, plus I was given a whole host of material to flick through. With the world seemingly restarting this summer, events and so on are being pushed and I'd be getting straight to the task(s) at hand; which meant in practice:
- learning various marketing software
- becoming a designer
- liaising with sales teams and clients
- building / maintaining websites
- understanding a pretty exhaustive timetable of events and time-sensitive related processes
- writing copy and promo material
There is probably more. I've never handled any of this before; my previous position was much more 'behind the scenes' but over the last couple of years I've effectively tidied up a lot of the stuff I was doing to make database functions more efficient - perhaps making my then role redundant without realising.
Here's the rub; to say I've been dropped in at the deep end would be an understatement. Minimal training, no change to salary, no additional software or hardware access (I'm being told to use my own laptop for design work etc) and nobody in house who is capable of supporting me or the new-to-me workload.
I'd like to think I'm quite tenacious, and a pretty fast learner - especially when pushed - but lately I've been sleeping poorly, having heart palpitations, overthinking, feeling very anxious and somewhat depressed, lost weight and started smoking / drinking again (in my head, this seemed a good way to take the edge off - it isn't).
The pressure of all this is taking its toll. I have, over the past two weeks, become a vital cog in the big-earner side of the business. On an hourly basis I'm being chased for things I am still very new to, and while I'd definitely say I have spent my working years being a 'yes man' with the best intentions, I think this has actually caused my current problem.
Those I've spoken to in brief about it say I need to stand up for myself, put my foot down, see how it pans out, even hand my notice in. For some context, I'm a bit handy as an artist / photographer and have been making a side income this way for a while - it's always been something I wanted to focus more on but time never allowed it. I'm not rich but I have some savings, I have no dependents or heavy outgoings and I have a good support network should things go badly, or should I need assistance in terms of accommodation or financial relief.
Even writing this now is causing me stress! I'm not sure what I'm actually asking here - perhaps opinions, perhaps similar experiences, perhaps an intervention(!).. I've never suffered from poor mental health, certainly not from work, so the whole thing has sideswiped me and those close to me can see something is up. I don't want to burden others with my perceived 'privileged problem' but I fear that worse is to come if I don't resolve this. Somehow.
Anyway, self-pitying rant over!
Almost same thing happened to me - dropped into something new that I wasn't really an expert in (Project Management) and expected to deliver immediately despite having no support or mentoring. After making valiant attempts at duties for a month or two I had a frank discussion with my line manager and explained the situation I felt I had been put in and requested that some kind of support - even if that was an external hire who had knowledge of these kinds of things - be provided, otherwise I felt no other choice to look for alternative jobs. Not much happened, so ended up leaving after securing something else; took a few months but was worth it. Life is too short for you to fret over situations that you've stumbled into and aren't working out.
Hope you get it sorted.
Hope you get it sorted.
parabolica said:
Almost same thing happened to me - dropped into something new that I wasn't really an expert in (Project Management) and expected to deliver immediately despite having no support or mentoring. After making valiant attempts at duties for a month or two I had a frank discussion with my line manager and explained the situation I felt I had been put in and requested that some kind of support - even if that was an external hire who had knowledge of these kinds of things - be provided, otherwise I felt no other choice to look for alternative jobs. Not much happened, so ended up leaving after securing something else; took a few months but was worth it. Life is too short for you to fret over situations that you've stumbled into and aren't working out.
Hope you get it sorted.
Glad to know I'm not the only one! It's bewildering for sure - the expectations are unrealistically high and I am not keen to commit to something which, as of right now, feels way above my pay grade (so to speak). Agree totally with your final statement.Hope you get it sorted.
CheesecakeRunner said:
What is it you actually want to do?
If it's still IT and data, my (global) organisation is recruiting in that area. Feel free to drop me a PM and I can point you to our vacancies.
All I know is I am caught in the fight-or-flight phase and this limbo situation is doing nothing for me. If it's still IT and data, my (global) organisation is recruiting in that area. Feel free to drop me a PM and I can point you to our vacancies.
I kinda fell into this company as I'd had experience with CRMs and basic data work while studying. The job has since morphed and evolved and is now unrecognisable from where I started, although, if I'm honest, I couldn't really tell you what my applicable skills are. I am not sure I want to continue down the path of database work though.
I think I should start by updating my CV, to identify my strengths and skills. Once I rationalise that I might be in a better position to figure out my next move(s). Thanks though, might drop you a message in due course.
Sounds a lot like some of the companies I've had dealings with. Trying to take Joe who works as an account manager in the marketing department or Jeff who pushes the buttons on the printer and attempting to make them fully fledged designers in a few weeks.
Being a designer whether digital, graphic or web takes years of training and experience and not something you can pick up in a few weeks. However that doesn't stop some businesses trying.
Being a designer whether digital, graphic or web takes years of training and experience and not something you can pick up in a few weeks. However that doesn't stop some businesses trying.
In many ways, you've been handed a golden opportunity - the chance to move up when previously this option didn't exist. This though is only beneficial if the company recognises this and supports you accordingly both financially and non financially.
So your first step is to have a frank conversation with your boss or bosses. Explain that you're up for the challenge but you need some support and incentive. Don't push too hard on the money because many companies are struggling - what you need to establish is recognition that your efforts are now directly contributing to the financial recovery/growth of the business so you need to know how that will be reflected in what you earn now or in the future.
The outcome of this conversation will indicate whether they properly recognise your potential and capacity or if they are just whoring you because they need to and can. If the latter, bail as soon as you can.
So, in short, part of your problem is that you're doing stuff that should be commissioned to external specialists. Because marketing impacts directly on sales, the impact of specialist inputs on these services will be far greater to the good of the company. This needs to be included within your discussions with your bosses. If they fail to recognise this then they fail to recognise that the long term security of their company is less robust that it might otherwise be. This will again give you an indication as to whether to bail or not.
HTH
So your first step is to have a frank conversation with your boss or bosses. Explain that you're up for the challenge but you need some support and incentive. Don't push too hard on the money because many companies are struggling - what you need to establish is recognition that your efforts are now directly contributing to the financial recovery/growth of the business so you need to know how that will be reflected in what you earn now or in the future.
The outcome of this conversation will indicate whether they properly recognise your potential and capacity or if they are just whoring you because they need to and can. If the latter, bail as soon as you can.
Resolutionary said:
- becoming a designer
If you can do Graphic Design you would be a Graphic Designer. End of. Graphic design is not a learned skill but natural creative flair honed though vocational or academic training. You need to find a good external resource which will free up more of your time on other stuff and make you more productive so easy enough to make a robust business case for doing this.Resolutionary said:
- building / maintaining websites
Easy enough to update a Wordpress site. Building is another matter entirely and like graphic design, if you're a web developer, that would be your job, not 'part' of your job.Resolutionary said:
- writing copy and promo material
Copywriting is also an art provided by copywriters who do it for a living.So, in short, part of your problem is that you're doing stuff that should be commissioned to external specialists. Because marketing impacts directly on sales, the impact of specialist inputs on these services will be far greater to the good of the company. This needs to be included within your discussions with your bosses. If they fail to recognise this then they fail to recognise that the long term security of their company is less robust that it might otherwise be. This will again give you an indication as to whether to bail or not.
HTH
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, it's been an odd few weeks as I decided to stick with the job and see how things go.
In short; not well. I started having sleepless nights, and when I did sleep, often I'd genuinely have bad dreams about work-related stuff - this on top of palpitations, lack of hunger, reliance on alcohol..
So things got progressively worse, and I spoke to a bunch of people who I knew to either have direct experience with my company, or similar tales of employment woe which they overcame.
After a long phone call with my GP, I told my boss on Thursday last week that I'd take a 7 day self certified leave due to stress. I included HR in that email. What followed was my boss, a salesman, calling me on both Thursday and Friday to effectively pitch my job back to me - along with some suggested improvements. No HR contact whatsoever. There is really no infrastructure or support here.
I'm supposedly on this self-certified thing until Thursday, but given that my boss text messaged me this morning to ask if I'd taken Friday as holiday (!?) I am now going to see if the doctor can formalise my stress leave by way of an official note - in the hope my employers take it remotely seriously.
I'm also going to see if I can chat to Citizens Advice, as I really am in a quandry regarding this whole thing. On the one hand, I do not see myself moving forward with this role as I'm woefully underqualified for the job, and on the other hand, I am worried about leaving and potentially ruining a lot of people's days in the company, due to the integral nature of my new workload, plus the added stress of 'what will I do for money'..
The saga continues.
In short; not well. I started having sleepless nights, and when I did sleep, often I'd genuinely have bad dreams about work-related stuff - this on top of palpitations, lack of hunger, reliance on alcohol..
So things got progressively worse, and I spoke to a bunch of people who I knew to either have direct experience with my company, or similar tales of employment woe which they overcame.
After a long phone call with my GP, I told my boss on Thursday last week that I'd take a 7 day self certified leave due to stress. I included HR in that email. What followed was my boss, a salesman, calling me on both Thursday and Friday to effectively pitch my job back to me - along with some suggested improvements. No HR contact whatsoever. There is really no infrastructure or support here.
I'm supposedly on this self-certified thing until Thursday, but given that my boss text messaged me this morning to ask if I'd taken Friday as holiday (!?) I am now going to see if the doctor can formalise my stress leave by way of an official note - in the hope my employers take it remotely seriously.
I'm also going to see if I can chat to Citizens Advice, as I really am in a quandry regarding this whole thing. On the one hand, I do not see myself moving forward with this role as I'm woefully underqualified for the job, and on the other hand, I am worried about leaving and potentially ruining a lot of people's days in the company, due to the integral nature of my new workload, plus the added stress of 'what will I do for money'..
The saga continues.
Resolutionary said:
I'm also going to see if I can chat to Citizens Advice, as I really am in a quandry regarding this whole thing. On the one hand, I do not see myself moving forward with this role as I'm woefully underqualified for the job, and on the other hand, I am worried about leaving and potentially ruining a lot of people's days in the company, due to the integral nature of my new workload, plus the added stress of 'what will I do for money'..
The saga continues.
Maybe I've missed something, but why don't you just leave?The saga continues.
If you don't want to do the job, feel you're underqualified for it and it's causing you stress, find another job and leave.
Other people in the company are, frankly, not your problem. When work is affecting your health, it's time to look after number 1......
If you’re quitting disrupts the company then that simply proves that the company has no basic structure to it.
Unless it’s a tiny business then you should have a hierarchy that should be supporting you and you should be able to delegate to as well.
If you’ve been dumped into a role you have no experience of and no backup then frankly that’s the fault of the company and you shouldn’t lose any sleep if you feel you need to protect your mental health.
I think they know about your side business and are taking advantage of your skills. It sounds to me that you are capable of what they are asking (indeed, they are relying on you!) but its a confidence/stress thing.
If you want to stay with them you need a conversation about role, responsibilities and renumeration. The lack of HR is a bit of a problem (imho) in this scenario.
Is there a milestone in the project coming up where you can clearly show the value you've added and can use it as an opener to the discussion ?
You could go down this route anyway, making it clear that the current situation cannot continue and judge their reaction. Even if it only reduces the pressure whilst you make up your mind / look for something else it'll make things more tolerable for the short term.
If you want to stay with them you need a conversation about role, responsibilities and renumeration. The lack of HR is a bit of a problem (imho) in this scenario.
Is there a milestone in the project coming up where you can clearly show the value you've added and can use it as an opener to the discussion ?
You could go down this route anyway, making it clear that the current situation cannot continue and judge their reaction. Even if it only reduces the pressure whilst you make up your mind / look for something else it'll make things more tolerable for the short term.
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