Broke down at work today

Well I was hoping the inevitable wouldnt happen but today it did.

I am an Office assistant at a building services firm, and at the moment my manager is on holiday.

He told me not to worry, that there was nothing outstanding etc etc as I requested a meeting with him to find out what I would be expected to deal with whilst he is away.

As expected, that was a complete fib and there is just tonnes of stuff he left half finished,not started etc. For example, big orders that need to be sent overseas - he told the client it has been ordered and I find he hasnt ordered it at all.For the last week I have been muddling through it all, taking on loads that I am not really authorised to deal with and have never done before. I have worked late every night and the stress has been getting me more and more frustrated every day.

Today it just got too much and I ended up breaking down at my desk. I am very fragile at the moment anyway due to the clock change etc and they know this.

Feel very used but being the only one in the offic e at the moment, if I dont try and deal with this stuff it wont get done and there will be massive problems with our projects overseas etc.

My boss just laughs it off and says 'getting stressed are we?' when I ring him up which is bang out of order and I have told him so.

I understand he is on holiday but he should have arranged to have someoe to deal with all this in his absence - I am only on £12,000 a year to deal with this rubbish!

Thanks for listening, really needed to vent lol! x

Hi Sleepybird
I am sorry I havent replied sooner. I have only just joined the site :(
I am sorry you had a very bad day :( are you feeling any better ?

Hello Sleepybird, Nice to see you back! Good luck with the job application.
Don't know if this is any help but SAD can be categorised as a Disability under the Disability Discrimination Act / Equality Act, so your employer has to consider making reasonable adjustments to your workplace if you have told them of your problems. laughing it off and giving you a hard time when you're ill are not options. Look at ACAS's website for more info.

Oh and Nina, I could actually get them done anyway as I also have water on the brain, and over the 6 years they have always assumed I wont remember anythng I am told and my boss also used to take the mick out of that too. Sad state of affairs eh! x

When do you get to hear about the job Sleepybird?

Hi Sleepybird,

I have to say I'm really impressed that you can do a job interview at this time of year, even through all the SAD. I always think interviews need you to be positive and enthused about yourself and I can't pull that off in December at all - the best I can say about myself is "functioning"! You should be proud of yourself, and best of luck!

Would your doctor sign you off sick for a week. When I pitched up at my GP's in a right mess he decided I needed peace and quiet. I thought he was nuts, but he was insistent that was what I needed. He said 'Go home, look after yourself and just do as much as you feel like doing". And I had a prescription for antidepressants, bought a SAD lamp!

Woooop! Sleepybird! You could get himt to sign you off sick anyway LOL you don't owe them anything if you end up leaving.

Well all wasnt as good as I thought - I kept having to chase this company for an official job offer confirming the salary discussed and what the job role is. The woman was very cagey about it and was also very informal in her emails (didnt give me a good impression of the company at all) and they finally came back with a completely different job description and a very low salary. When I queried it they just said 'oh well things have changed and this is what we are offering now' - it was for basically the same as I do now but for miles less money.

I have decided to stay where I am for now as at least I know the job (even though I dont like it) and will just keep looking.

Totally gutted though!

X