FabSwingers.com forum: Work Issue

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Hi all, I’m seeking some guidance and help. I started a new job 14 months ago. It’s been reasonably enjoyable. My issue is I’m coming under a bit of flack for some tasks not being complete in work. We have been trying for over a year to recruit 2 team members and no joy. These 2 staff members were entered on organisational charts to work under me. The directors of the organisation are aware of this and they were made aware of our immediate need for staff. Within monthly reviews it was highlighted we may not be able to fulfil our roles without these staff. Through time this has happened and a few major bodies of work have not been done.

I can’t help but take the criticism personal and feel I’m getting set up for a right grilling. Some of it justified but others not so much so.

Has anyone encountered a situation like this?

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By *stellaWoman
over a year ago

London

Are you being reprimanded for the work not being done despite you not being resourced sufficiently? Or are you anxious you will be, but it hasn’t actually happened?

No competent manager is going to hold you to account over work not being achieved if you’re not fully staffed. If they do, that’s a grievance - in order to express your concerns on record.

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By *4bimMan
over a year ago

Farnborough Hampshire

if you are not being supported now you never will be.

leopards dont change their spots.

find another employer. good luck

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If your team is two people down then stands to reason work won't get done.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Can you get agency staff?

You definitely need to get your work plan to reflect what you are planning to deliver

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd be questioning why they haven't been able to recruit anyone for a year...

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Are you being reprimanded for the work not being done despite you not being resourced sufficiently? Or are you anxious you will be, but it hasn’t actually happened?

No competent manager is going to hold you to account over work not being achieved if you’re not fully staffed. If they do, that’s a grievance - in order to express your concerns on record. "

Yes I am taking a bit of hassle over it. I started the role in Feb 2022. My direct line manager retired in March and his replacement lasted until October. I’m now on my 3rd line manager.

When I interviewed for the role in Sept 2021 I was informed 2 number of direct staff would be working under me.

Regrettably the roles were never filled. The posts were re-advertised in June 2022 and no success. Finally 1 of the posts was filled in Jan 2023.

I feel under major pressure as I know the service has slipped. But I can’t help but feel annoyed at these reprimands. Lately I I’ve started to be later with deadlines & my work has become poor on a few occasions.

I don’t know what to do next.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"if you are not being supported now you never will be.

leopards dont change their spots.

find another employer. good luck"

I tend to agree

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I'd be questioning why they haven't been able to recruit anyone for a year..."

It’s public sector so the wage structure is below private

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Too late now, but next time agree the options and trace offs with your manager.

"We aren't able to recruit because our pay brackets are too high. Are you okay if I break the brackets, or are we going to need to say no to some tasks .."

As for today, why do you think you are going to get a rollicking now (it sounds like you haven't had one to date)

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Can you get agency staff?

You definitely need to get your work plan to reflect what you are planning to deliver "

I asked for agency staff in June 2022. I finally got a bum on seat in Jan 2023

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Too late now, but next time agree the options and trace offs with your manager.

"We aren't able to recruit because our pay brackets are too high. Are you okay if I break the brackets, or are we going to need to say no to some tasks .."

As for today, why do you think you are going to get a rollicking now (it sounds like you haven't had one to date) "

I had the starter rollicking last week lol. I can just feel another one coming

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By *ellhungvweMan
over a year ago

Cheltenham

I guess I am fairly brutal when it comes to hiring/taking responsibility within a company because I have always worked in smaller companies and you generally don’t have the financial luxury to allow things to slip. Things might be different in a larger org.

If you are senior then you are on the hook and you have to solve the issue and you can’t hide behind excuses - that is what being senior means. If you are more junior then you probably have some leeway.

Who is responsible for hiring? If you are the hiring manager and you have sign off responsibility then it is up to you to make it happen. You need to sit on the HR/talent team and make sure they find who you need. If they are not coming up with the people you need then you need to go find them yourself - LinkedIn, agencies etc.

At the end of the day, if it is a small company and you don’t solve the hiring problem then you are going to have a business problem and that will get uncomfortable.

If you are in a larger org then I guess you can just push the blame onto another department but you need to make sure your manager is aware of the issue and has laid the ground work to support you.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Maybe get ahead of the game and talk to your manager before they come to you.

Outline details of the work that has slipped then agree priorities as you can't do the work of 3 people without something having to give.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I guess I am fairly brutal when it comes to hiring/taking responsibility within a company because I have always worked in smaller companies and you generally don’t have the financial luxury to allow things to slip. Things might be different in a larger org.

At the end of the day, if it is a small company and you don’t solve the hiring problem then you are going to have a business problem and that will get uncomfortable.

If you are in a larger org then I guess you can just push the blame onto another department but you need to make sure your manager is aware of the issue and has laid the ground work to support you."

It’s the NHS. They have no flexibility on wage structure and are very rigid on qualifications.

I previously worked in a small company were the Director was the owner and extremely hands on.

I’m in a senior role. But if a car needs 4 wheels to drive and it has two no matter if you are an F1 driver or blind at some stage the car will crash.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Maybe get ahead of the game and talk to your manager before they come to you.

Outline details of the work that has slipped then agree priorities as you can't do the work of 3 people without something having to give."

That’s my plan.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

"If your team is two people down then stands to reason work won't get done.

This.

It's like being two people short of a threesome and having to do everything yourself!

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By *ellhungvweMan
over a year ago

Cheltenham

At the end of the day, if it is a small company and you don’t solve the hiring problem then you are going to have a business problem and that will get uncomfortable.

If you are in a larger org then I guess you can just push the blame onto another department but you need to make sure your manager is aware of the issue and has laid the ground work to support you.

It’s the NHS. They have no flexibility on wage structure and are very rigid on qualifications.

I previously worked in a small company were the Director was the owner and extremely hands on.

I’m in a senior role. But if a car needs 4 wheels to drive and it has two no matter if you are an F1 driver or blind at some stage the car will crash.

Then everything I have said is completely irrelevant and ignore me

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"If your team is two people down then stands to reason work won't get done.

This.

It's like being two people short of a threesome and having to do everything yourself!

A"
tbg if get the job done quicker this way

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

At the end of the day, if it is a small company and you don’t solve the hiring problem then you are going to have a business problem and that will get uncomfortable.

If you are in a larger org then I guess you can just push the blame onto another department but you need to make sure your manager is aware of the issue and has laid the ground work to support you.

It’s the NHS. They have no flexibility on wage structure and are very rigid on qualifications.

I previously worked in a small company were the Director was the owner and extremely hands on.

I’m in a senior role. But if a car needs 4 wheels to drive and it has two no matter if you are an F1 driver or blind at some stage the car will crash.

Then everything I have said is completely irrelevant and ignore me

No problem. I do appreciate your feedback and what you said is exactly why I miss the small set up.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Okay tact two, premeptive tuning of the tables.

"I know you're frustrated with results, and I'm keen to not have this experience again, so what would you have done in my shoes..."

And then hope you can check off all their ideas.

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By *ellhungvweMan
over a year ago

Cheltenham

At the end of the day, if it is a small company and you don’t solve the hiring problem then you are going to have a business problem and that will get uncomfortable.

If you are in a larger org then I guess you can just push the blame onto another department but you need to make sure your manager is aware of the issue and has laid the ground work to support you.

It’s the NHS. They have no flexibility on wage structure and are very rigid on qualifications.

I previously worked in a small company were the Director was the owner and extremely hands on.

I’m in a senior role. But if a car needs 4 wheels to drive and it has two no matter if you are an F1 driver or blind at some stage the car will crash.

Then everything I have said is completely irrelevant and ignore me

No problem. I do appreciate your feedback and what you said is exactly why I miss the small set up. "

Good luck and will be following to see what you manage to do.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Okay tact two, premeptive tuning of the tables.

"I know you're frustrated with results, and I'm keen to not have this experience again, so what would you have done in my shoes..."

And then hope you can check off all their ideas.

I am tentative how I approach it. The guys above me could make my life very difficult

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Maybe get ahead of the game and talk to your manager before they come to you.

Outline details of the work that has slipped then agree priorities as you can't do the work of 3 people without something having to give."

Sound advice

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By *UGGYBEAR2015Man
over a year ago

BRIDPORT

This is probably very unhelpful, but if I was given a grilling for work not done , due to the incompetence of managers above me to do theirs, I’d tell them to shove their job up their arse

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By *GermanInLondonMan
over a year ago

London

The good old NHS. Not sure where or what you work in but my experience (with NHSE) in dealings with management/commissioning over the years is that they cut staff a lot lot lot. So you situation is quite common unfortunately.

Now most tasks are either not finished in time or completely abandoned. Constant restructuring and time limited contracts for staff to help out make things worse.

What helped for our area was setting priorities and pushing at least those through. 1 can't do the job of 3.

And with their salary structure there is not much motivation either. From me personally there is no goodwill left.

If possible get out before you burn out. Good news if you plan to stay: They have serious trouble to hire staff so will think twice about loosing staff I guess.

Apologies for the bitterness, just my experience.

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By *oubleswing2019Man
over a year ago

Colchester

Personally, it sounds like whilst the need for 2 additional staff was mooted at some point, you busting your gut and covering that need has made someone up the line ponder if they can get away with not providing the staff.

In turn, the cost of 2 additional staff hasn't come of their books, so I expect their budget is doing rather swimmingly.

I hate to say it, but you are being taken for a ride here.

I'll be generous and say incompetence up the line is letting you down. Others might say this is more deliberate and intentional. Either way, it doesn't support you, and you have to ask yourself if this is positive environment to continue working in.

If was was being interviewed for one of the two roles, I would be asking how long you have been looking for the role to be filled, and by all accounts the duration you have given would red-flag to me that your management and the company's HR/Rec Team are not very good.

I hope things pan out for you.

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

I'd say Directors have seen enough shit shows to know when it's shit, when to cover their backs and when to act. They also know (if they are worth their salt), that you catch more fly's with honey than vinegar.

They likely know what the issues are - staff turnover, appropriate skills, pay. They'll know these issues aren't yours if management have been hard to keep.

Unless they are looking to dissolve the dept, recruitment sounds the biggest issue so have the positions been opened up to pt workers. 5 not 3 at lower pay levels enabling wider recruitment. They'll be doing lesser amounts but the same cycle sounds like it'll to continue otherwise.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd query if these other 2 members of staff are actually budgeted for, and have the roles been advertised? I ended up being the only member of staff left on a 3 person team, & although there was initially a lot of talk about recruitment. I also knew that on the grapevine the project was changing... There was never going to be anyone new hired on a contract

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Keep a diary of everything you do. Include every verbal instruction/task you're given and the time/date etc.

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By *opinovMan
over a year ago

Point Nemo, Cumbria

Seems to me you're being penalised for their shortcomings. I'd be tempted to drop a not-too-subtle hint to that effect next time.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Okay tact two, premeptive tuning of the tables.

"I know you're frustrated with results, and I'm keen to not have this experience again, so what would you have done in my shoes..."

And then hope you can check off all their ideas.

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By *uper SaiyanMan
over a year ago

Birmingham

I work for different NHS trusts and my humble opinion on this is the the managers in the NHS dont have a clue whats going on. I think you should make a list of what you have achieved and the reasons why you couldnt achieve other thing (for example not having the staff) because when that rollicking comes that will be your ammunition to fire back.

Using what you have posted here if you managed to do more than 33% of the tasks, then you have been more of an assest than a hindrance

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"The good old NHS. Not sure where or what you work in but my experience (with NHSE) in dealings with management/commissioning over the years is that they cut staff a lot lot lot. So you situation is quite common unfortunately.

Now most tasks are either not finished in time or completely abandoned. Constant restructuring and time limited contracts for staff to help out make things worse.

What helped for our area was setting priorities and pushing at least those through. 1 can't do the job of 3.

And with their salary structure there is not much motivation either. From me personally there is no goodwill left.

If possible get out before you burn out. Good news if you plan to stay: They have serious trouble to hire staff so will think twice about loosing staff I guess.

Apologies for the bitterness, just my experience."

Hi thank you. I work in the estates department. What sector were you involved in?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I'd query if these other 2 members of staff are actually budgeted for, and have the roles been advertised? I ended up being the only member of staff left on a 3 person team, & although there was initially a lot of talk about recruitment. I also knew that on the grapevine the project was changing... There was never going to be anyone new hired on a contract "

Hi the roles have been advertised 3 times now.

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