Overworked but boss doesn't seem to acknowledge that.

[Gina2005]

Hello all.

After returning from my little vacation things at work have got me thinking  my boss has something against me, or maybe he just doesn't know how to manage.

We all are usually more than busy, but, I can't help but notice that there's always an additional amount of things to do for me, than there's for others, and the reason for that is, that my coworkers are busy with X or Y, as if I'm not busy as well.

Several times in the past I've been assigned a new task, something that it is supposed to be easy/simple, and then there are added additional layers to it, and then some more, until it's not as easy or simple than it was at the beginning, and of course it becomes more time consuming.

So, there's that, I already have more things to do than others, and said things are now more complicated than they were at first, but, he expects me to perform as if they were at the beginning, still, I deliver.

So, as I said at first, I return to work, there's something else I have to do, something that is temporary but critical, I try to explain that I'm not gonna be able to do it as expected, since I don't have enough time, so, he asks me to make it a priority, and by that I supposed it will be a priority over my other tasks, making them not as urgent, or important, and that my focus should be on making this new thing work, as I did, so, things go back to normal, and I didn't have the time to do my usual tasks to their entirety, and then, I get called to my boss office to explain why I didn't do this or that, as I try to talk I get interrupted several times, I notice he gets angry, and the more I try to explain the angrier he gets, as if I had done something wrong, or was lying, or even, as if I didn't do my usual amount of work on purpose and not because he ordered me to prioritize something else, so, he doesn't let me explain or refuses to acknowledge that he made me fail.

A few days go by, and there's a new crisis and a new temporary task, again, I'm assigned to it, and since I don't want to get in trouble I try my best to do everything, my boss notices I barely leave my desk all day for several days and, he gets the idea that I'm mad at him, or at the company and that now I have an attitude because, I'm not going to the dining room (I ate my lunch at my desk to keep working) or talk to others or take my eyes off the screen, or sometimes when he enters my area I mostly keep my eyes on the screen and keep on typing instead of looking at him and stop working during our conversation.

So, of course I get called to his office for my attitude, he doesn't make eye contact with me at all, so, I can only assume he is mad at me, for, I guess, not being my usual friendly and attentive self, while all I did I was break my back to get things done, and I could say that literally because there are parts of my body that  hurt from being on my desk so much time, not to mention my sore eyes.

So, I'm at this point in time were, it's not that I hate my job, but if things keep going this way, I'm gonna get there.

Is there an intelligent way to get around this situation, like, make things fair for me, get my boss to get some work off my back and assigned to others or even hire more people? It's not that I'm lazy, I think I have shown that, I just want a fair amount of work, specially compared to my coworkers but all I have got is a more demanding boss.

Edited Friday at 12:42 PM by Gina2005

[ExpatInItaly]

If the boss is this unreasoable, I would start looking for a different job. 

1 hour ago, Gina2005 said:

he gets the idea that I'm mad at him, or at the company and that now I have an attitude because, I'm not going to the dining room

Did he actuallly tell you this? I am trying to understand how many time you've been formally spoken to. 

[Gina2005]

23 minutes ago, ExpatInItaly said:

If the boss is this unreasoable, I would start looking for a different job. 

Did he actuallly tell you this? I am trying to understand how many time you've been formally spoken to. 

Thing is, it pays well for my qualifications, I don't think I'll be able to get something similar until I finish college and I'm trying to be financially independent at the moment.

He didn't specify why did he though I was having an attitude, but, my attitude was mentioned.

Before this, the only time I was spoken to was because I dressed too casual (oversized rock band tees, jeans, and sneakers), but, I immediately corrected that.

[Acacia98]

How long before you finish college?

[Gina2005]

40 minutes ago, Acacia98 said:

How long before you finish college?

Three years.

[ExpatInItaly]

5 hours ago, Gina2005 said:

I get called to my boss office to explain why I didn't do this or that,

3 hours ago, Gina2005 said:

but, my attitude was mentioned

So the above were two separate incidents? 

 

[Gina2005]

19 minutes ago, ExpatInItaly said:

So the above were two separate incidents? 

 

Yes, the first one was about my performance, the second was about my attitude.

[ExpatInItaly]

9 hours ago, Gina2005 said:

Yes, the first one was about my performance, the second was about my attitude.

I asked because he may also be building a case against you for your dismissal. 

Whether that is fair or not, I would start looking for other work if I were you. You may not have a choice about staying. 

[Gina2005]

10 hours ago, ExpatInItaly said:

I asked because he may also be building a case against you for your dismissal. 

 

Yes, I've thought about it, but at the same time, he's entrusting me with things that are too important to be done poorly or left undone.

Just yesterday, I was in the office for almost 13 hours with something that he asked me to handle personally and didn't ask anyone else to.
It seems like he wants to blow me up, but at the same time, he'll be in trouble if I mess up with something.

I don't even know what to think anymore, I feel exhausted these last few days.

[Sony12]

58 minutes ago, Gina2005 said:

Yes, I've thought about it, but at the same time, he's entrusting me with things that are too important to be done poorly or left undone.

Just yesterday, I was in the office for almost 13 hours with something that he asked me to handle personally and didn't ask anyone else to.
It seems like he wants to blow me up, but at the same time, he'll be in trouble if I mess up with something.

I don't even know what to think anymore, I feel exhausted these last few days.

Has your attendence been poor or at least not what they would like it to be? It does sound like they might be trying to get you to quit. Generally businesses will attempt to do that prior to actually firing them because if the employee quits they aren't eligible for unemployment of which the business has to pay a portion of.

[Gina2005]

55 minutes ago, Sony12 said:

Has your attendence been poor or at least not what they would like it to be? It does sound like they might be trying to get you to quit. Generally businesses will attempt to do that prior to actually firing them because if the employee quits they aren't eligible for unemployment of which the business has to pay a portion of.

 

Not at all, I even had to attend last Sunday for a few hours.

[Sony12]

1 hour ago, Gina2005 said:

 

Not at all, I even had to attend last Sunday for a few hours.

Just curious because attendance is about 90% of entry level positions (which you would be at if you are in your early 20's). If he made comments about your 'attitude' it would probably be best just to show up to work and do just that. Work. Say as little as possible until you leave for the day.

[Gina2005]

34 minutes ago, Sony12 said:

Just curious because attendance is about 90% of entry level positions (which you would be at if you are in your early 20's). If he made comments about your 'attitude' it would probably be best just to show up to work and do just that. Work. Say as little as possible until you leave for the day.

I have literally said that I'm overworked and that my "attitude" was me being completely focused on work without stopping to talk to anyone, I even eat my lunch at my desk.

Even the fact that I'm not married or have kids has been mentioned regarding in how I shouldn't mind so much leaving late or working on Sundays, and I didn't even complain about that.

Edited Saturday at 07:29 PM by Gina2005

[Sony12]

40 minutes ago, Gina2005 said:

I have literally said that I'm overworked and that my "attitude" was me being completely focused on work without stopping to talk to anyone, I even eat my lunch at my desk.

Even the fact that I'm not married or have kids has been mentioned regarding in how I shouldn't mind so much leaving late or working on Sundays, and I didn't even complain about that.

Well however you feel it definitely is a situation you need to get out of because people don't get called into the managers office because of their 'attitude' unless there is a perceived problem. 

It is best that you just find a different job because if they are frustrated with you and you are frustrated with them it is only going to get worse.

[ExpatInItaly]

You really need to start looking for another job, Gina. 

5 hours ago, Gina2005 said:

he's entrusting me with things that are too important to be done poorly or left undone.

Trust me when I say this does not mean you won't be shown the door. This sort of thing happens all the time. 

Your boss has essnetially already issued two strikes against you. Please be advised that most companies don't bother offering a chance after a third strike. It may not be fair or warranted, but I don't think you will be able to hang on to this position much longer. Sure, you enjoy the pay but I don't think it's going to be your choice whether or not you continue working there. I wouldn't wait around for them to terminate you, as that certainly won't look good on your employment record. 

 

[Sony12]

If they are overworking her as much as she says they are and repeatedly calling her into the office they are indeed trying to get her to quit before they fire her.