I'm an Introvert needing feedback on stressful work situation

Just to be clear, during some time periods it's very high volume phones and you must enter date upon half of them. Other times it's slow and you're just transferring the calls to other people. I hate phones. Always have. And it's so redundant the way I have to do it.

let it go and do as you're told.

understand you are not on this planet to do your whim but to serve the whim of others.

kill your ego and you will discover the true meaning of life. pain and suffering are the only paths to self-discovery.

i envy you.

oh no.I'm sorry you have to cope with this. Can you talk to your supervisor and ask for less phone time? Can you look for another job maybe? I know how it feels to be stressed out about going to your job so I feel for you.

nope. totally unconditioned. makes life a lot easier.

Thanks for your response. I do have a supervisor (that I never see cause he works different hours, go figure) so now I deal directly with the managers. I did plead my case briefly to one of them and hopefully he gives it some thought (though I doubt it) the way things seem to be going is they are going down from 3 phone people to 1 and since they aren't doing anymore hiring it seems it will just be me doing it. The other day I just went down to my old office to file stuff when I was done with it and they call me on that phone asking when I'm coming back, its like a ball and chain and I'm so not used to that. For years I was free to come and go freely between offices when I needed to without any pressure it's just so different now and adding to the stress is having to work right next to the managers and having to appear "positive" and being an introvert and quiet it's hard to also have to make small talk with them now, and worrying I might say the wrong thing.

I hate that this is happening to you. But the reality is either adapt to where you can handle it or they will find someone else that can. Some supervisors will push you to see what your made of and in a good market things would be more on your side where you could plead your case. I no longer feel like that is the case now. So be very careful what you decide you can't or won't do. Good luck

I feel for you, as I am also an introvert deep down, just with some extrovert skills.

Too many people, too much contact with others, too much noise can really eat away at us, especially if you are required to concentrate on math/data entry, etc.

I'm sorry to say this, but in this economy, you ARE still lucky to have a job.

If I were in this situation, I'd suck it up and do the best I can during the day. At night when you get home, job hunt!

It's easier to find a job when you already have a job.

Arrange a face to face meeting with your boss and bring notes to stay on track.

Tell him your concerns...he doesn't know how you fully feel.

Remind him of your understanding of the original plan with the other girls.

Offer a suggestion/compromise that will work for you.

Your supervisor values you, and needs to understand your boundaries for you to be a happy, productive employee.

Communication is key!

Yeah, realistically I know you're right. I've been worried that doing this too long will impact my nerves to a point it becomes very unhealthy. But due to the job market being what it is really no choice but to suck it up, find a way to deal, at least for now.

TOh yes, the point you brought up about the other girls is also at the core of my bitterness. The other clerk gets to continue on as mostly normal, no change, while I get stuck with all this bull (and the pay does not go up with it either.) And this is after being lied to by the manager when he stated, twice, that it would be both us having to do this. It's not like I even asked. He specifically stated it as if saying "You're not being singled out." But then when I had reason to ask a co-worker who stays later than I do, I'm told she doesn't do it. Confronted boss (in a nice way) and he says "Oh that's just because she's doing some special reports for (the other manager) It's still just lies.

Yes it makes me so flustered/tired that when I do answer the phones I'm pretty darn grumpy. I'm thinking "Is it worth it to slave away unhappily just to be depressed/get no fulfillment 5 days of the week?" But the other part knows that after being there so long, accruing many vacation weeks a year, and making a decent (nothing grand) rate per hour I might freak out after leaving and starting all over.

Anyways, good advice at the end thank you:)

Maybe it is not lies and the other girl would rather be on phones than extra reports. Keep your eyes and ears open without being too obvious. Maybe you can work out a trade of some sort.

Is the other person an extrovert? She may be miserable in her lonely office doing extra paperwork. Maybe try to get to know her a little better and not just take things at face value.

Introverts tend to internalize things and not always see the bigger picture.

You are obviously the most valued of the employees, as they have kept you on while downsizing.

That said, they have put other people's work onto your shoulders.

Start putting in applications elsewhere. That in and of itself is liberating, looking forward to new possibilities.

Talk to your physician or therapist (presuming you have been diagnosed with ADD) and have him or her prepared to back you up in writing. You may be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires employers to make "reasonable accomadation" for people like you. The only accomadation you are wanting is to do the job you were originally hired to do.

You may also want to consult with an attorney who handles ADA and workplace disability cases.

One small practical thing you could request is a hands free headset for phone work, which at least would allow you to get up and walk around, look out the window, while talking on the phone.

I have been exactly where you have been, OP.

I just put out a bunch of applications and found an infinitely better job within a year.

To this day I never answer a phone, use an answering device at home, and only keep a cell phone off line, and never use it.

you can count how many seeds are in a tree but you cant count how many trees are in a seed

They are trying to make you quit

Start applying for other jobs don't leave until you have another one stick it out until you find another one

I agree!!!

"Fuck'em"

Is the only answer to all life's problems.

23 years and you are still working in the same shitty clerical job for no pay and no respect?

OP - this ^ seems like a compilation of good advice.

So sad that someone puts in 23 years of their life to a job and then are treated with little to no respect.

If you can't work it out, then perhaps you can find something that will pay enough AND feed your spirit, which is very important in this life.

You still have a job and an income. You are lucky. If you knew how many people wished they were in your situation, you would change your viewpoint. At least you are not going hungry.

Yeah, she's more extroverted. We used to be friends and then something changed with her, never understood it. Anyways, even a few years ago when things were being shaken up a bit and there was a slight suggestion of us possibly going to the main office (dispatch) she told me she'd quit before working in there. She likes what she's doing. She gets a lot of freedom. About a year ago a co-worker friend saw me typing away at my desk and he said it doesn't seem fair that I'm always working yet he sees her come in and sit with one of the guys having full take-out dinners just chatting away or walking around the building doing much of nothing at times. Lo and behold I stayed late one night and witnessed just that.

:bitchslap:

Sounds to me like you are being deliberately set-up to fail, but yet you need the job, and don't want to throw away 23 years and have been productive in other roles, less productive in this one.

They on the other hand may figure they can get someone in to answer phones, data input, etc. cheaper.

Don't answer this, but how old are you? How old are the others that are not putting in their fair share of the time on the phones?

Keep answer to self. Just ask yourself this.

Do what poster said above re: ADA and presenting a solution to your managers. Keep possible age issue to SELF, do not bring up with employer.

Take up chain, step-by-step, documented (and kept at home) every step/conversation, etc. you have re: above.

Be pleasant, polite, work with your boss on alleviating some of your issues regarding not being able to devote your attention to your clerical tasks while answering phone, no uninterrupted time, explain to boss you need a few blocks of time uninterrupted to ensure the quality of your work, see if you can't wrangle this out of them.

The quality of your work is/will suffer. You performed well in prior position and want to continue to perform well; however, with being given no break off phones, the quality of your work, efficiency and productivity is suffering.

It's not about you, it's about what you do for the business that counts; do what you do best that helps the company succeed.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions, just keep above in mind. Proceed cautiously, continue to do the best job you can in the process, see if you can't transfer out of position into something else if they can't keep you in your "old" job, prior position.

They are basically changing your position (in a very covert, passive/aggressive way, which is sneaky) without presenting you with new job definitions, so it's up to you to clarify all of this, i.e. is answering the phones all day my new job? Do so professionally, factually, and in a non-defensive manner focusing on what you do best for the company.

You need to draft your questions, type them up, ask for a 15 minute meeting with manager to briefly discuss, and send questions via email in "preparation" of the 15 minute meeting you ask to set up, then keep all documentation (copies) at home if your managers are being less than honest.

Look, company doesn't have to keep you, but at the minimum they can stop the happy horsehit jacking you around and be honest about what their intentions are, the email/questions and feedback will flush any skunks out so you know WHERE YOU STAND and can do what's best for you.

They could be preparing (and/or already in progress)of rolling you big time, or, they could just be lazy and don't like conflict and don't want to "force" the other employees (they made too much of a stink) whereas you just went along with the program so you are the "easy" solution.

Force your manager's to earn their pay in this situation and actually manage instead of passing the buck to the easiest employee to pass it too without conflict or resolution.

23 years and you are still working in the same shitty clerical job for no pay and no respect?


:ser_wtf:


I know, it's sickening when I think about it. Actually respect was not an issue, or at least a big one, until recently. Afraid of change I guess. Had parents who taught to choose what's "safe and familiar." The pay is not bad, especially for a non-college educated person. The benefits have always been good.

OP......

Without SOME level of risk there is no reward.
Your own life experience there should now show you this is true....without question.
You learned it the hard way.

Yes it is very possible, and quite likely they are trying to push you out, but regardless of that,
you should have had SOME LEVEL of ambition to move up ON YOUR OWN during 23 years.

Consider this a FORCED OPPORTUNITY to move on to something better.
You wouldn't do it on your own for 23 years so now they are making the decision for you.

It not the end....it's a BEGINNING.
Move on....move up.

Thanks to all who gave thoughtful feedback, it has helped a lot to get different perspectives. And for those who mentioned the ADA option I hadn't thought of that, it might end up being useful if the situation only gets worse.

Love to all,

Katy

This...

Or they are just taking advantage of you because they know you won't contest their demands.

You are answering telephones not cleaning urinals. Buck up.