Situations at Work 3: Double the Work & Zero Improvement

This continues our series presenting difficult situations at work. Please leave a comment describing what you would do in that situations?

Cheryl worked in the human resource department for a large regional bank. She earned a graduate degree and a promotion around the same time. She encountered a situation at work common to hundreds of thousands of workers each year. As the economy and competition pressure companies to reduce overhead, they frequently lay off or do not replace employees that leave. Instead, they redistribute the work among remaining staff.

The Problem

Cheryl hoped her promotion.would enhance her satisfaction. She provided human resources for an off-site group of executives and investment bankers. She enjoyed supporting this team of incredible specialists. Her workload began to increase significantly. She

• Felt the pressure mount as the company increased demands on her work
• Worked an average 60 hours a week for several months without a break
• Estimated that her per hour salary averaged less than she made in college
• Felt out of control and unable to maintain production standards of her job
• Perceived that her job would continue becoming more difficult
• Discovered a colleague accepted a job at another bank to escape the pressure
• Received his responsibilities and had to maintain her own
• Received an offer for a receptionist position that
• offered a better environment with a company that respected employees
• possessed one of the best, most prestigious reputations in the community
• required much fewer hours
• provided an opportunity for advancement
• paid more per hour than her current job based on real hours worked

What Would You Do?

While Cheryl recognizes that taking a position this much lower than her 10 years in human resources indicated, she also relishes the reduced responsibilities, reduced hours, and feeling more in control. She considers the following in making her decision:

• Could she recuperate professionally from taking a step that low?
• Would a promotion to more responsibility in a better environment restore calm?
• Will the situation at the bank improve with time? Will abilities improve to cope?

Please leave a comment below sharing what you would do.