Issues at Work

Sorry for the late reply.  I don't always get chance to go on.  I'm off with work related stress at the moment.  It seems to be a pattern for me i.e. stress/anxiety build up over time, then I blow.  I'm due to go back on Monday.  (sarcastic "Yippee, cant wait!")  Like you say,  we need the money so don't have much choice.  I'm looking at other jobs at the moment but will be hard to find one that pays the same and works around my children. Hey ho, we struggle on!  Thanks for your comment and best of luck in your search for a job you'll love.

excellent

Hi, so sorry you're going through a tough time. It's really hard to be somewhere that is causing stress. And hard to know what to do as sometimes it is a case of " better the devil you know" yet there could also be better things out there. Money is always a barrier, we unfortunately need it to live.

I've bern off work sick " not because of stress" and now the thought of returning is giving me anxiety. However I need the money. I've found what I would love to do, but it will take a lot of time and effort, with no guarantees. I wish the best and hope that things work out for you.

I won't quit.  I've worked hard to get where I am and I'm not going to throw that away. I think the stress/anxiety builds up over time until I just blow.  Will try the colouring you suggest.  Thanks for you advice. Much appreciated.

I'm sorry to hear about your current situation. It sounds very stressful for you. 

You could look at doing yoga and exercises to manage your stress. CBT is something positive which will help as well. I also find colouring is really helpful when it comes to stress.

Sending you positive hugs!

Hi, Thanks for your advice.  Yes, I'm accessing CBT through work at the moment and my first session is in 2 weeks.  I have had line management training and was ok with it until 3 years ago when they restructured and moved me to a department with nightmare staff.  I don't think I'll quit.  I've worked too hard to get where I am.  I've tried looking for other roles but it's difficult finding the right hours as it has to fit around my children.  Trying to stay hopeful.  Thanks again for your advice. Much appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to reply and for your advice.  Much appreciated.

Thanks for your advice.  I have always struggled at work but am quite a determined person which I think is why I've stuck with it.  I worked hard to get where I am so don't want to throw it all away.  I've accessed CBT though work so I'm just waiting to start that.  Thanks again.  Much appreciated.

Hi, Thanks for your advice.  Yes, I'm accessing CBT through work at the moment and my first session is in 2 weeks.  I have had line management training and was ok with it until 3 years ago when they restructured and moved me to a department that already had issues with staff.  I'm waiting to hear from the Union and would consider a downband rather that quit altogether.  Will see what they suggest.  Thanks again. Much appreciated.

Sorry to hear this, I can relate to the difficulties trying to maintain a job, and you have amazingly managed for 20+ years, that definitely deserves respect and that isn't even considering you work for the NHS of all places; which cannot be easy with covid.

I understand the feelings of incompetency: even when I did the job "well" if it was a highly repetitive task I could do it in little to no time to a unhealthy degree as long as I was left alone. The fact you can manage your job with it likely requiring lots of human contact and such would stress anyone out I imagine, never mind us.

Best thing I can say is: try your best to find some ways to unwind, I realise this is extremely hard to expect as it is never as easy as that, but you will need it for your sanity. I cannot understand your living situation and hope the union gives fair and helpful advice and doesn't simply fob you off.

Hello NAS63927, I'm not sure if I'm going to be reiterating what others have said but I'm wondering if you've used the NHS's employee's counselling line to at least access some emotional support to help you through this or any of thier other well-being services for employees? 

I totally understand you're difficulty with line managing people, I have not been in a management role but in my last job I was responsible for leading a project and getting others to carry out their roles within that was a constant battle, but with the typical autistic difficulties for me of building, maintaining and developing relationships as well as lacking in social skills and being totally clueless with 'office politics' it was doomed to fail in this regard and I ended up doing most of it myself, which in some ways was good because I knew it was getting done right but that was not the procedure for how things were to be done and that was exceptionally stressful to deal with.

However, you are to be commended for getting as far as you have AND you also have two children, that to me, is impressive.

If you work for a large NHS Trust there should be opportunities for redeployment however if you take a step back from line management you may find that only lower banded jobs are available. With the recent agenda for change restructure I‘m not sure how it would work with pay as the spines no longer overlap, you may be top of a lower band which will now most probably be less pay. Have you been given any leadership or management training at all? I’m assuming that they restructured and decided your band was now a supervisory position? As much as some people are “natural” leaders there should still be training provided to people in those roles. Does your occupational health department have any courses for stress or any discount/free codes for things like Headspace? Our hospitals also have areas with comfy chairs and fluffy rugs and blankets etc where staff can go and chill if they’re feeling overwhelmed

it looks like you have been made a manager ----- but not everyone is good at management.

Did u get training in management ? --- if not you should ask for some.

You could ask if you can move but in reality that is difficult thing for any organisation

and you could end up somewhere much worse.

you need to take up something to tackle your stress levels  coming from the 2 sources of autistic children and your job.  I mean attend the free 6 week course StressControl ( no space between Stress and the control ) classes available in UK or YOGA  or similar like Zoomba. Something to put your mind into,,  that isnt work or kids.

please do not resign or go sick for a long time. You could look for a management job in another company and the easy way to do that is to register with recruitment companies ---- they ring you when they have a post to interview for based on your CV.

its pretty bad that you are being undermined by your job share thats so unprofessional and in fact could rebound on her.

try to do a little management as possible ---- some of the best managers do next to nothing.

so sorry you are having such a miserable time. You are doing a great job showing that autistic people can work.

And you actually work at the NHS. 

I just need a big pause button right now...

Its a bit lower at 22% 

www.autism.org.uk/.../new-data-on-the-autism-employment-gap