I'm doing the work of 2+ people at work and underpaid, threatened every time I try to work an 8-hour day. HELP

Question

I'm in the middle of a divorce, don't have money to relocate and can't save much on my salary. There are no other companies doing what I do (other than the one I work for) that don't add another hour to my commute. Because of my work schedule, I have no personal life anymore. Management asked me to drop everything and travel (not in my interview) where I was housed in fleabag hotels and worked 12+ hour days. Since the bout of pneumonia I had this spring (caught on travel for the company), I have lost a lot of my stamina -- and now they are piling the work on again -- and my work partner is leaving. I'm feeling desperate.

Answer 1

sharon, my "information" is that this a load of bs, and that you are an apprentice sociopath. get some help :-)

Answer 2

Do you belong to a union or a professional association? They'll go to bat for you. If the abuse is blatant (such as 12 hours days) document it and take it to the labor relations board if you can't get any other assistance.
Slavery is illegal. That means you can't be asked to work over-long days unless you agree to, and unless you are compensated for them. It means you can't be forced to live in substandard conditions. And you can't be forced to do the work of two people.
It's tough that this is coming right now, when you have enough stress in your life from the divorce, but you truly need to resolve this problem, even if it means filing suit against them.

In the meantime, relocating might not be such a bad idea. You say you don't have the money to relocate right now, but if you are paying rent where you are, it isn't a big deal to pay rent in another city where your work options are better. You can even get low cost housing the YWCA while you look for an apartment. Be assertive and think positively. It's YOUR life they are messing with, and they have no right to do that. By accepting more and more work, you are only making it easier for them to continue to abuse you.
Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Sounds like you need to get out fast. Think outside the box. What transferable skills do you have that would get you into another field? You don't say what you do, which would help. You're in a situation where you may need to downscale your living standards, in order to survive at this point. It may mean taking a job where you don't make as much, but where the pressure is not so incredibly intense. Even a job waiting tables where the money can be good is a viable alternative from my point of view. At least at the end of the day, the pressure is over and you have a nice wad of cash in your pocket.

Answer 4

Don't tell me... Non profit organization? psychiatric or medical perhaps?

Been there done that... It always starts out where you feel you're doing good and its worth the sacrifice, until they patients become more and more demanding and belligerent, a nuisance! Then, the organization bleeds you half to death because you can't say no and they know you are a perfectionist and will do or die...

All the stress you can take in the *** for $8.00 per hr! Whopie!
And with time, goes every ounce of , sympathy and apathy you had left to give.

You should have been looking for another job while out sick!

Answer 5

I'd be job hunting.

You can try going to your boss and asking how long the travel will last. And that you were not told about business travel in your interview. Now that may piss them off and they may start harassing you.

Also ask about a raise. More work deserves more money.

If they insist on travel tell them you need better hotel accommodations and that the previous hotels are flea bags. They are going to write it off on their taxes anyway. So you should stay somewhere nice.

Answer 6

I think you must get some money from your friends, to let you have time to calm down and think carefully.
see this circumstance as an inflection point in your life, and please think no situation is eternal.
about your laboral situation, i think if you live at USA there's not much you can do about it.
in the long term, i think you must leave that job and find something else to earn your living (if your professional market is so reduced).
about the "middle of divorce" thing, living at USA, there's not much you can do about it.
just try to talk to your friends, asking for their understanding. a very good friend may have a better perspectibe of what to first, with your inminent needs and consecuences.
but, your health is first, and posting this question, i think you're prioririzing it!, good!!!!
just think about your the things you consider are vital to you, a let everything else, go.
don't work for things, live for yourself.