Under pressure, don't know what to do.

LegacyUser

I don't really know where to begin.

I'm doing a course at the moment, it's two years long, and there are assignments that I have to do over the summer so I can get into the second year of the course. We didn't have summer exams.

I work part time for a company that sells stationary supplies, and I'm only supposed to work 12-16 hours a week. I don't have a contract because my boss keeps forgetting to make one for me. I don't even have an ID card or swipe, because she always forgets to make them up for me.

My boss had exams in May for her course (which she does at night) so I worked 4 40-hour weeks so she could take time off to study, do the exams, and go on holidays with her husband. There was no problem with me doing that for her, because I figured if I made myself flexible at the time she'd be a bit more flexible where I was concerned when it came to time for me to submit all my summer assignments (which is the 10th of August). It did put me under a bit of pressure to keep up with my work though. But I did it because she needed the help.

It's the 1st of August now, and I have loads of work to complete. I have three essays that I set dates to have done by, and the deadlines I set have sailed by. I'm mixing up orders and making all sorts of stupid mistakes, because I have so many things on my mind, the other woman who works in the office with me has had to take time off because of her bad back, and my boss expects me to do twice the work. I've been staying late most evenings, and working up to 5 days a week. It's making me so frustrated, and I'm too tired to work when I do get home in the evenings then. I stay up until 2 in the morning studying, but getting nothing done, and I feel like crying all of the time.

I have a half day today, and I've spent the afternoon trying to sort things out for work tomorrow. The boss has called me three times since I left work at 1 with queries about accounts I don't even deal with, and now she wants me to come in this evening (I live 10 minutes walk from work) to sort out an issue with a new client. I really want to quit, but I need the money. I feel like crying all the time. I keep saying to myself that if she gives out to me one more time for fcuking up, I'll just walk out, but then realise I can't.

I just really need some advice before I scream at her and lose my job, since the course is going down the pan. My family and friends keep telling me it'll be ok, but they don't listen when I try to tell them how much pressure I feel I'm under. Help?

StormWarrior

Do you need the money that badly? If you don't need it to survive and it's just pocket money, then I would say your education is more important.

pwd

could you take a holiday from the job to allow yourself catch up with coursework?
Could you get a loan instead of working in this job?
You need to stand up to your boss. You are not obliged to come in evenings and so on. Just say you can't - have other things you need to do.
If it starts effecting your health you need to go to a doctor and get a certificate for sick leave.

LegacyUser

Yes, I do need the money. I already have a loan for course fees and living expenses (rent) and I have to extend that in September for next year. At the moment it's only €220 a month, but I don't get any grants or anything because I'm 22 and I'm considered a dependent of my parents, who just about earn too much combined for me to get a grant. Although my Dad gives me my train fare when I go home (once a month max), I can't live on the occasional €35 - which I have to spend in order to get in the first place - and I really need the job.

I am taking next week off as holidays to get the work done, but I have almost 20,000 words worth of assignments to do in a week - I don't know how I will do it. I don't know if I'll even get a weekend off before I go back into classes, and I'm so worn out. I spent all last night working and only got 500 words written, and looking at them today I think they're awful.

Civilian_Target

Ditto. You need to stand up to your boss. She's walking on you and you're obliging. If you're as useful to them as it sounds like you are, they're really unlikely to sack you, so just say you need and just take it.

lucernarian

Whatever happens, don't get frustrated with the boss. She's only asking you because she can. You have to tell her calmly that you are not able for the extra work and that you are under pressure with your own requirements already.

And try to talk to your boss before it gets any worse. You'll feel better for it. Don't be worried about your job. If you talk to her reasonably, she shouldn't respond badly. Your health is more important than the boss' opinion of you.

Take it easy and consider how your boss can forget about her responsibilities as an employer, but won't forget about your work, responsibilities or otherwise. A little courage now will save a lot of hassle in the future. Talking to her will only make things better.

StormWarrior

Doesn't your college have a hardship fund for people who are struggling financially?

aish

I know that you need the money, but - your educartion is more important -if only to have the opportunity to get out of working for a wench in the future! tell her that you have alot of assignments to do ie explain your situation- you will prob be faced with 2 responses- she gives you time off ( therefore you can do your best to complete assignments) or she doesnt not givce you time off- then you should walk! is there any way your parents could loan you enough to pay your bills while you complete assignments- you could sign up with an agency and do temping- regular and stressfree work- you could prob study while working(this is what i do!). youl get uncome and be able to apply for other jobs at the same time, while keeping ontop of college work. Just a thought but is there anyway your college could give you an extension on the deadline?

hope this helps, best of luck!

biko

Tell your boss
A) to give you free mobile phone if she wants to ring you off hours.
pay overtime for hours worked longer than the 16 originally agreed upon.
C) put these things in a contract immediately.

You could say "My uncle in the union is worried that I'm being taken advantage of here"

Electric

Walk away from the job. College is infinitely more important! It's not like your were going to be there for the rest of your career anyway.

I'd try the temping thing. The money can be pretty good and they usually assign you to places for a week or two so you could decide when you needed time off etc.

Speak to your lecturers and see about an extension, some of them can be pretty reasonable especially if they know you are struggling with work and study.

Possibly see if your parents could lend you some money to tide you over for a couple of weeks till you get your assignments finished. Failing that could you borrow some money from the credit union or something?

seamus

Civilian_Target wrote:

Ditto. You need to stand up to your boss. She's walking on you and you're obliging. If you're as useful to them as it sounds like you are, they're really unlikely to sack you, so just say you need and just take it.

Pretty much.

Make it clear that you're studying and doing personal work outside of your job, and that you can only do what you should.

"Can you come in this evening?", "No, I have to study this evening". Just be firm. There's no need to get angry or raise your voice, even if she does.

There's a trick they teach in assertiveness courses about repetitiveness. If you can't satisfy somebody's request, then just continue to repeat that, no matter what they say. Just continue to say (calmly), "I'm sorry, but I absolutely have to study tonight". Over and over and over. She will get the message.

I would also recommend switching off your phone or leaving it in another part of the house. If she can't reach you, she can't annoy you. If she asks why you didn't answer, just say "I didn't want any distractions from studying, so I turned it off".