Mariana Holostenco May 11, 2022
Working too much for a long time will backfire at some point, and you will be the first to experience the negative effects. Even if you are a diligent and ambitious employee, you need to draw the line somewhere and speak up.
Your managers might not realize that you are overwhelmed until you let them know. Here are a few things you can do and say, without sounding unprofessional, to make your boss realize that you have too much on your plate:
We will discuss these steps in detail a bit later in the article. First, let's see if it's normal to raise such an issue.
Keep in mind that you are not the only person in the company who encounters such difficulties.
Nearly half of employees say that they are stressed because they have too much work or that there are unrealistic expectations at work. And more than half of them are dissatisfied with their salaries.
Some surveys conducted by the American Psychological Association show that:
In the same survey, the following experiences were most often mentioned by employees as the negative impacts of work-related stress:
If you, as an employee, are stressed for various work-related reasons, both the productivity and the quality of your work will decrease. Nothing good can come from such a situation – only inconveniences and shortcomings will result.
For these reasons, you should show your superiors that you have too much work to do.
They will certainly analyze the situation and take the necessary measures. This will avoid the complications that can arise if you become burned out due to working too much.
Yes! It's definitely okay to tell your boss that you have too much work.
You just have to find the right way to do so, depending on the company and the situation.
Now let’s look at the impact that working too much can have on you as a person.
The short-term side effects of working too much might not be severe and will not endanger our health, but they will definitely cause discomfort. Among the first symptoms, we might experience some of the following:
If we continue to work in conditions that overwhelm us, complications can arise.
The long-term stress caused by too much work can severely affect us physically and mentally.
Whether we are talking about short-term or long-term effects, neither are desirable, either personally or professionally. Therefore, it is essential to identify the signs of burnout as soon as possible and take the necessary steps to improve the situation.
Not sure if you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed by too much work? Here are some clues that, along with physical symptoms, can help you determine whether you are close to burnout:
If you recognize yourself in these clues, take action. One of the most important things you can do is get rid of what is overwhelming in your workload. If you can’t do this yourself, ask your superiors to do something about it.
However, don’t do this on impulse, as you might not get the result you want.
We present a 6-step strategy to tell your boss that you have too much work to do without risking being fired.
The first thing to do is relax and cut yourself some slack. Feeling overwhelmed at work does not mean you are not a good employee. Most organizations try to do more with less to ensure a favorable bottom line. You just happen to be part of that process, which means you have more work to do – and less time to do it.
If you have already proven yourself, turning down a request or two or asking for a reprieve should not hurt. If your manager or boss is understanding and professional, the decision will not reflect badly on you. In fact, it might even increase your credibility, as your employers will realize that you understand your potential.
Most bosses want you to speak up if something is preventing you from performing at your best. Yes, it will be uncomfortable at first, as no one wants to admit they cannot handle an assigned task. However, this is the responsible and smart thing to do.
Think about it. If you are overwhelmed, you will not be able to meet your commitments, much less the organizational goals. Once you realize this, the stress of confronting your boss with your request should ease.
Before you confront your boss about the extra work you are assigned, determine whether the effort is worth it. Here are some things to consider:
If you are convinced that you want to keep your job, make sure once again that the problem is with the workload.
For a while, carefully plan all your activities, estimating the time you need for each one as accurately as possible.
Do this directly in the Calendar because it allows you to be flexible with your plans if unforeseen situations arise and you must make changes. Also, you can initiate the time-tracking for the task you intend to work on. Just select the desired option from the list.
On the Dashboard, you can see your schedule at a glance. No one and nothing stands in the way of your efficiency now. Work hard, track your time, and draw the necessary conclusions at the end of the day.
This is the most effective way to obtain accurate information to support your point of view in front of bosses.
In addition, you might discover time management flaws that you didn't know about. Then you can work on them to dramatically improve your productivity.
Before setting up that meeting with your boss, ask yourself some basic questions. These will help you internalize your intent so you can demand a lower workload without flinching:
The answers to these questions will help you determine what you expect to gain from your hard work. After this, you can move ahead and ask yourself the following questions:
Once you have the answers to the aforementioned questions, play out the entire scenario with someone you trust. Begin by explaining the situation to them; share your feelings without sounding accusatory. Then, ask your partner to be you as you play the role of your boss.
Play out the scenario this way, taking note of both reactions and the words used. Then, switch roles and repeat the rehearsal. This way, you can gain insight from your own actions as well as someone else’s perspective and enhance the way you navigate this tricky meeting.
Once you have a good idea of what you need to say, broach the subject with your boss. The meeting request should include the nature of the issue. So, instead of saying, “I want to have a meeting with you regarding my massive workload,” say, “I have been going through my performance objectives for the last few months and have some ideas I would like to discuss with you. Would tomorrow at 3 pm be a good time?”
By veiling your request as a business solution, you will have a much better chance of scoring an in-depth meeting. Remember, the company is not yours. You just work there. Your boss determines your workload. However, if you let him or her know how you can perform better with a compact yet efficient workload, you might even be considered for a promotion.
Most conflicts between employees and supervisors are the result of assumptions. Both parties think that they know everything there is to know about the other’s situation and that they are in the right. However, there are always two sides to every story. Maybe there’s something you’re not aware of about your boss and why he or she is overburdening you.
Instead of marching up to his or her office in a rage, demanding less work, step back and explore your and your boss’s stories.
Professionally support your plea by presenting accurate data. You don't have to do any calculations for that. Once you've made your plans and tracked your time in PlanArty, you have reports that give you all the information you need, such as the Daily Timesheet or the objective Planned vs. Real Day comparison.
You might assume that your supervisor knows that you are overwhelmed, and that he or she doesn’t care, but it is much better to provide examples indicating the situation.
The truth might surprise you and even make you a better employee. The key is communication and understanding perspectives other than your own.
If your boss refuses to reduce your workload even after you use the aforementioned tips to discuss the issue with him or her, you’ll have to learn how to say no. This will be uncomfortable at first, but these simple tactics can help you turn down your boss easily:
In other words, propose a proactive solution rather than a refusal. That way, your boss will realize that you are overwhelmed and that you are diligent enough to come up with a solution rather than a complaint. In other words, you will be seen as an asset rather than a complainer.
Moreover, a time management system helps you justify the answer by showing your schedule. More than likely, your boss will notice the importance you place on your tasks. Also, the seriousness with which you approach efficiency and productivity at work will most likely be noticed and appreciated.
We all feel overwhelmed at our jobs at some point in time. When work starts to intrude on your personal life and health, it becomes a problem. However, you still need the job to pay your bills, so a diplomatic approach is best. If you are overwhelmed, meet with your boss and have an open and honest discussion using the aforementioned solutions. If nothing works, the job might not be worth the hassle.