my job is killing me

[cloudwalking]

what do you do when you have countless deadlines and piles of work but not enough time in a day to wrap up all your shit?

i do overtime every single day and i'm working a 6 day week this week so i can scramble to get stuff done. the work just keeps piling up and i feel like i've become Secretary For Everyone

it's only gonna get worse with the iphone launch coming up.

and before anyone asks, yes i work like a fiend. i don't slack off at work (ok i did yesterday, but i deserved it). i'm organized and focused.

i need advice from other people with high-stress jobs

i have a huge deadline next week and i feel like i'm gonna craaaaaaash

[Don Flamenco]

COCAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[Brehvolution]

Wear a low cut shirt and delegate your tasks to others. 

[Mupepe]

the only advice I can offer is be upfront with your boss if a deadline can't be met.  Some people like the high pressure, others don't.  so be upfront if you don't.  Putting a lot of stuff on you is usually a test for higher positions.  But you really need to communicate to your boss either way.

My other answer:

Let Jarosh and I help you relax

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Or just let me have Jarosh for a few hours to take him off your hands while you have a hot bath

[close]

Edit: And back on a serious note, if you're in any position of power, do delegate.  A boss likes someone who isn't afraid to delegate.  It shows great management potential.

[cloudwalking]

Wear a low cut shirt and delegate your tasks to others. 

wearing a low cut shirt is a mistake. it ensures that all the guys find a reason to hang out in the office with me and distract me

[Propagandhim]

Hi cloud! Nice to see you again!

My ability to hold down a job is very limited (I walked out of a professional job on a lunch break and when they called to see where I was I pretended my brother had a terminal disease and I took a flight 1000 miles back home to NJ (But I digress!!) - BUT, I know there are tons of people that thrive in that environment.  A friend of mine works overtime every night but doesn't mind it because she finds meaning in what she produces.  I think that's mostly true of 'creative' jobs - or at least work that allows some personal leverage even on projects that might otherwise be completely rote and objective.

I don't have a high-stress job.  But nobody should have to hate their day job - if you're working over your meter, then lax it up or let management know that the resources don't match the output.  If they get pissy for that, and don't allow any leeway, then at least your conscience is cleared.  If you don't find the work fulfilling enough to work overtime (which is a lofty goal, anyway) you don't have to suffer.  

Talk it up with your "superiors" - those fucks do nothing anyway.

[Madrun Badrun]

Wear a low cut shirt and delegate your tasks to others. 

wearing a low cut shirt is a mistake. it ensures that all the guys find a reason to hang out in the office with me and distract me

Wear a low cut shirt and delegate your tasks to others. 

wearing a low cut shirt is a mistake. it ensures that all the guys find a reason to hang out in the office with me and distract me

Then wear birkenstocks and a hair net.

[cloudwalking]

the only advice I can offer is be upfront with your boss if a deadline can't be met.  Some people like the high pressure, others don't.  so be upfront if you don't.  Putting a lot of stuff on you is usually a test for higher positions.  But you really need to communicate to your boss either way.

My other answer:

Let Jarosh and I help you relax

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Or just let me have Jarosh for a few hours to take him off your hands while you have a hot bath

[close]

my boss asks me every day "when can you have (insert task here) finished?" and i always give him my best estimate, but it's getting harder and harder to get shit done. i am basically the middleman between the normal workers and the managers and the higher ups in the payroll dept. in corporate. so a lot of the time the specialists come to me with a big problem, like they got paid wrong, and i have to figure out why. i just had this situation the past week and i swear it took up 30% of my time.

i'd let you take jarosh off my hands but i barely see him lately, hah. :'( i don't get home until after 7:00 usually. and by then i am so tired and so fed up with work that i don't feel like doing ANYTHING

[Propagandhim]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refusal_of_work

[tehjaybo]

I'm kind of in the same boat...  except my work ethic has really waned.

I started out here two years ago as an assistant to the network tech, working with two business units, and my pay reflected this.  At my one year review, I was told that I should get a raise, but there was a pay freeze, and that they would make it up to me at my two year.  Very shortly after my one year review (which I got amazing scores on, by the way) all the IT staff were moved to another group.  I became the only on-site support for 18 business units rather than just being an assistant for 2.  My two year review has passed, and they still told me there is a pay freeze.  My boss told me that sometimes, in special cases, when someone is threatening to leave the company, there can be raises given if it would sway their decision.  So, I said that was my case, and they denied my raise again. 

The amount of things that I do for this company is absolutely ridiculous.  I make myself available more than any other tech, and I'm constantly being called in on weekends and in the middle of the night to come on-site and fix something.  I've been told time and time again that I'm one of the most reliable techs on the team. 

After a while, I just stopped caring about the job as much.  I come in later, leave earlier...  My boss is in Mexico, so it's not like it really matters...  I do the work that I am assigned.  I get it all done.  I do other peoples' work.  I walk people through how to do what they should already know how to do.  But I get boned on pay.

I guess what I'm saying is hang in there.

[Himu]

poor honey

[cloudwalking]

Don't you work at an Apple store?

yes but i have an office job & i'm involved with corporate

basically i work at a flagship and i am "officially" responsible for the following:
- creating the monthly schedule for 50+ people
- creating the daily schedule for whoever works on that day
- everything involving payroll (making sure people get paid on time, making sure their shit is correct)
- correcting and checking the timecards of every employee in german-speaking switzerland

i get a lot of shit "unofficial" tasks though that are not actually in my job description but i still have to do:
- when new people get hired i have to send in their HR shit
- sending countless e-mails every day to customers/workers/corporate people
- whenever something at work gets busted i have to call tech support because i speak english fluently
- a number of small secretary-like tasks that my bosses give me
- training people (sometimes)

Hi cloud! Nice to see you again!

My ability to hold down a job is very limited (I walked out of a professional job on a lunch break and when they called to see where I was I pretended my brother had a terminal disease and I took a flight 1000 miles back home to NJ (But I digress!!) - BUT, I know there are tons of people that thrive in that environment.  A friend of mine works overtime every night but doesn't mind it because she finds meaning in what she produces.  I think that's mostly true of 'creative' jobs - or at least work that allows some personal leverage even on projects that might otherwise be completely rote and objective.

I don't have a high-stress job.  But nobody should have to hate their day job - if you're working over your meter, then lax it up or let management know that the resources don't match the output.  If they get pissy for that, and don't allow any leeway, then at least your conscience is cleared.  If you don't find the work fulfilling enough to work overtime (which is a lofty goal, anyway) you don't have to suffer.  

Talk it up with your "superiors" - those fucks do nothing anyway.

my problem is not with my official, normal workload. it is that a lot of other shit finds its way down to me that is way too fucking time consuming or just bullshit.

i spent THE WHOLE DAY with someone yesterday trying to sort out the situation with his holiday. i got nothing else done. NOTHING. he came to me, i had to chase him, then find my boss, then go back to him, then set up a meeting with him, then clear my schedule for the afternoon to meet with him, then oops we chatted a little too much this still isn't resolved where is my boss oh he's with a customer oh shit L's gotta leave ok L come in the office let's look at this again oh time to go home ARGH

[cloudwalking]

The amount of things that I do for this company is absolutely ridiculous.  I make myself available more than any other tech, and I'm constantly being called in on weekends and in the middle of the night to come on-site and fix something.  I've been told time and time again that I'm one of the most reliable techs on the team. 

After a while, I just stopped caring about the job as much.  I come in later, leave earlier...  My boss is in Mexico, so it's not like it really matters...  I do the work that I am assigned.  I get it all done.  I do other peoples' work.  I walk people through how to do what they should already know how to do.  But I get boned on pay.

I guess what I'm saying is hang in there.

this is my situation too, i think i have to get better at saying NO to people, do it yourself.

[Mupepe]

the only advice I can offer is be upfront with your boss if a deadline can't be met.  Some people like the high pressure, others don't.  so be upfront if you don't.  Putting a lot of stuff on you is usually a test for higher positions.  But you really need to communicate to your boss either way.

My other answer:

Let Jarosh and I help you relax

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Or just let me have Jarosh for a few hours to take him off your hands while you have a hot bath

[close]

my boss asks me every day "when can you have (insert task here) finished?" and i always give him my best estimate, but it's getting harder and harder to get shit done. i am basically the middleman between the normal workers and the managers and the higher ups in the payroll dept. in corporate. so a lot of the time the specialists come to me with a big problem, like they got paid wrong, and i have to figure out why. i just had this situation the past week and i swear it took up 30% of my time.

i'd let you take jarosh off my hands but i barely see him lately, hah. :'( i don't get home until after 7:00 usually. and by then i am so tired and so fed up with work that i don't feel like doing ANYTHING

Sounds like you really need to have a sit down with your boss and talk to him about what your priorities should be and tell him it's flat out illogical to think you can accomplish everything for everyone.  Maybe he'll get you someone to assist you or reallocate some of your work.  Maybe he'll be a dick.  But it's a conversation that needs to happen.

You don't feel like doing ANYTHING?  Poor Jarosh.  I'll take care of him.

[Madrun Badrun]

Don't you work at an Apple store?

yes but i have an office job & i'm involved with corporate

basically i work at a flagship and i am "officially" responsible for the following:
- creating the monthly schedule for 50+ people
- creating the daily schedule for whoever works on that day
- everything involving payroll (making sure people get paid on time, making sure their shit is correct)
- correcting and checking the timecards of every employee in german-speaking switzerland

I think Recursive and I could make a constraint satisfaction program that could replace you entirely, if you'd like.

[Propagandhim]

this is my situation too, i think i have to get better at saying NO to people, do it yourself.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/27/say-no-work-leadership-careers-responsibility.html

[cloudwalking]

You're a HR rep, cloud? For that "flaghsip store" I mean. We call them "old hags" in my company

no my job actually has nothing to do with HR, it's just stuff i have to deal with sometimes

[cloudwalking]

wtf

[cloudwalking]

What do you call a Polish joke?

A joke that makes no fucking sense.

exactly

[Robo]

 

[cloudwalking]

stop shitting up my thread borys

[Robo]

I thought he was calling you carrion and simultaneously referring to the Stephen King novel.  It woulda been very Eric P in the appropriate context.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

sorry eric

[close]

[cloudwalking]

i don't PMS! i am universally loved by all of my coworkers

i have a polish coworker, he never makes sense either

[Groogrux]

I feel your pain.  For the past several months, I've been working two part-time jobs to try and fulfill full-time needs.  I work +/- 32 hours a week in a hospital and +/- 12 hours a week for an EMS service.  There is no hope of me getting a full-time gig with the EMS service because I'm an EMT and they mostly look for paramedics if they need a spot filled, and I'm the lowest guy on the totem pole.  At the hospital, I just applied for the THIRD full-time position that I was completely qualified for.  I was understanding of not getting the first two, because the other people that applied were just as qualified as me and had been there longer.  The third, however, was given to somebody that has been there only two weeks longer than I and has been doing a desk job for the last 10 years.  She did a job almost similar to what I do now, but can't remember how to do any of it and has told me on several occasions that she didn't know if she'd be comfortable trying it.  In the position she's at now, she can't handle the stress of registering people into a computer.  How is she going to do that, plus do all the new paperwork and lab work that I have to do?

Guess who will get to train her?  This chump, right here.  

Guess who's updating their resume and looking for an employer that won't screw him over?  This fucker, right here.  

[Smooth Groove]

Eurofags  :tbslol

[Propagandhim]

lol my apple store job is too hard

What do you do for a living, Bud Fox?

[Propagandhim]

lol my apple store job is too hard

What do you do for a living, Bud Fox?

That was a joke regarding this thread.

That pig is in a business suit.  Level with me here.

[lennedsay]

When the bosses ask when things will be done, tell them what else you're working on and ask what is priority.

My job's the same way. Manager, HR rep, CS rep, IT, admin, accountant, receptionist, coordinator, trainer/instructor, recruiter, payroll, marketing, etc etc. I do something every day in each of those categories, which most companies have entire depts dedicated to them. You just have to do what you can and be communicative about what you can't finish right away and why.

Working 70+ hours a week sucks.

[demi]

She's pooped from all the damage control she's had to do, it is understandable

[lennedsay]

She's pooped from all the damage control she's had to do, it is understandable

And that mad rush for free bumpers is upon her.

[Fresh Prince]

Good you belong in the kitchen any way /demi

[Tieno]

I also get a lot of stuff on my plate. I talked to my boss, summed up all the stuff she gave me and other things I needed to do, said I didn't think I could get them all done in a finite amount of time and asked her what should get priority.
It's basically like this: you have a number of tasks, with only x amount of resources and time, so give the decision to your boss. Best thing is to be open about it.

I have a good boss though.

[recursivelyenumerable]

well my recent protocol has been to (1) quit (2) bum off my friends/family for several months (3) eventually get a new job that pays 80% more

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I do everything that is asked and reap the overtime.  12 hour days and some weekends but if my cards are played right, I could be looking at just cracking six figures if it continues like this for the year.

I figure with most people my age struggling to find jobs, let alone well paying jobs, instead of moaning about my situation, I should just be fortunate that I have the opportunity to do what I do.

Some co-workers don't feel the same way and simply asked the boss what was the priority work vs. filler activities.  It worked out well for them.  I suggest you try it.