[NYFLAgirl]

So I'm coming here to vent and see if anyone can relate to what I'm dealing with at work right now. Lately, it seems like I've been taking on a lot more responsibility at work in the form of "special projects." Basically, stuff that is not apart of my job description but I get tasked with doing.

Frankly, it's starting to bother the crap out of me. I get it-no one in any sort of job setting does specifically what their actual job entails. You are not only expected but should have the desire to go above and beyond your job. And I have, since the day that I walked into this place. But now I feel like I'm the "good horse that gets the whip" in the sense that because I get things done I have received even more work. Which is fine if any of this equals a promotion or a raise but it has not (I can't complain too much about a raise-I've only been at my job for a year and a half).

The last project I received really was the last straw. I was essentially told that the reason I am receiving the assignment was because the person it was originally assigned to just couldn't be bothered to work on it anymore. How is that acceptable? Meanwhile, the original person tasked with the project just came back from a three week long vacation. But I digress...

At this point should I just suck it up? I'm talked to my supervisor (she's not the one giving me the projects-there coming from our bigger bosses) but she's overloaded with work as well (she is also someone that gets projects loaded up on her). I know this is pretty commonplace that if you are hard working you are rewarded with more work but I'm starting to drown here and its negatively effecting how I feel about my job which I used to love. These special projects are also starting to take up more time than my actual job responsibilities and that's not good either.

Anyone else dealing with something similar right now?

[Amy8888]

That must be frustrating! I would suggest just keeping track of everything and updating your resume, and when you have your next review meeting ask for a raise/promotion and cite all the extra projects you handled.

I understand the resentment about having to do all this work, but do you actually hate the tasks themselves? Can you find a new way to approach them so maybe you'll get more out of them personally?

And...since you are starting to feel like you are drowning can you just find a way to say no on occasion? "I really wish I could help with your project, but I'm still trying to finish up X, Y, and Z."

[NYFLAgirl]

I definitely need to be better about saying I'm still working on X,Y, and Z Amy. Sometimes it's difficult because a few of these projects have come directly from the head of our agency so it's hard for me to say no to the #1 person in charge.

I appreciate the suggestion about approaching the tasks in a more meaningful way. It's something I also need to work on because frankly these assignments aren't going away so I need to make the best out of a bad situation.

[amyhill]

I use to be in the same position as you as I use to work as an accounts payable clerk and the majoirty of people in the accounting department never really did more than just the minimum. Before I knew it I was the one that got the bulk of the work thrown on me be because I was the one that got work done.

You wanna know how I solved the problem? I quit!

And trust me, quitting really is the only way to solve this type of problem becuase once they know that you'll put up with it they will just keep on piling on the work till you hit a breaking point.

Trust me...

[Palestrina]

There is always the option of speaking up for yourself. You don't have to be angry and mean about it, but I would approach your immediate supervisor and calmly explain that you feel you are being stretched too thin and that you're noticing the workload is not spread evenly amongst the other staffers. It might be a good idea to also have a solution on hand if you're asked. There is nothing wrong with speaking up this way, as women we tend to want to be seen and not heard and we fear what will happen to us if we speak up for ourselves.

Something similar happened to me, I did speak up for myself and efforts were made to rectify the situation but in the end I had to quit.