Disheartened at Work
I worked overtime the past weekend (we're usually off on wwekends), to do the annual cleaning of my department. Which means wiping down all the shelving. It's a lot of work, as I need to remove all the product from each shelf to wipe the wire rankings. Working in the Operating Room, we have a 12-foot wall of sutures. 2 sections, 8 shelves from top to bottom. If you Google what a box of sutures look like, you'll have a better idea of what I have to move from each shelf to clean the shelving.
So, this 12-foot wall took me a total of 3 hours to clean. I organized and stacked everything neatly, which I think, looks different than before my cleaning.
When my colleague came to start her shift, I asked if she saw a difference. She said, "No, it looks the same".. it took me half my shift to clean it, and she doesn't even notice any difference. Very disheartened to hear that she doesn't appreciate the time I spent on the weekends to clean and organize the suture wall. She didn't even make a comment when I told her I spent the past weekend cleaning the area.
No one noticed the dust-free shelves and surfaces of things around the department. All my efforts seemed like a waste of time and purpose. (Working this past weekend, I'm on a 9-day work week streak).
I couldn't stand the lack of appreciation, so I went to tell one of nurses that I cleaned the wire rack in the Operating Room she usually works in. I told her, the rack was so filthy, wiping it down, I had to wring out my towel twice. For that, she thanked me.
I have one more Saturday of cleaning, then I should be done for the year. This time, it is a request from that same colleague. So, if she still doesn't make a comment after I cleaned what she requested, it will be even more disheartening.
@Jaeteuk awww honey. Hugs you ❤ everyone seems so busy in their own bodiies and minds, that things really do go unnapreciated😥 it's sad, and it always seems to be the way in work settings. But be proud of yourself, you did a great job, you worked very hard, and you know you did. So appreciate and proud of yourself ❤❤❤ your doing an amazing job ❤❤
Thank you. I find that my workplace can be depressing, when my teammates don't appreciate my efforts or acknowledge the work I do. Yesterday, being short-staffed, I was on my own from 6:30am to 12pm. So, tasks that are supposed to be shared with another colleague, I had to do everything myself. By 10am, I had over 8,000 steps already! I also worked an hour overtime. The morning was super busy, when that colleague started at 12pm. She asked me how were things in the morning. I told her it was super busy, and I didn't start my job until after 9am. So, I was behind. Her response was ,"Oh, it's always crazy busy on Mondays and Fridays".. she didn't bother saying, "Oh, you must have been so busy because you were working by yourself all morning."
Today, the other staff started her regular shift at 7:30am.. and yet, I still feel like I'm doing all the tasks I was doing when I worked on my own the day before. She's really of no help, when it comes other tasks that are not her primary job tasks. At least she's retiring next year, but her replacement might be just as hard to work with, if not, even more work will be put on me and no one will take my side. I'm not looking forward to those changes next year.
@Jaeteuk wow! You do so much, you work so hard ❤ I'm sorry you have to do this with so little appreciation😥 it's very very sad. Just one thing I would say. If this is to much pressure and stress on you. Then please take a break a holiday. Don't make yourself ill. 😞 I've never actually worked, I'm disabled and stuff, so I can't work. I'm not the best person to give you work related advice. But I can listen and and hug you ❤ I'm actually kinda worried about you. I wish the people you work with wake up and see how much you actually do ❤
Sometimes, I try to tell myself that I'm not doing the work to be recognized or appreciated, but it wouldn't hurt if someone thanked me for my efforts. I always thank others when they help me, why can't they do the same to me? You know how we're always told that we should treat others the same way we'd like to be treated back? Well, no matter how kind or polite I am with my colleagues, they apparently don't feel the same way with me.
Tomorrow is my 9th day (thank goodness, I feel physically tired today during my shift, walked slowly and took my time), I'm off Thursday and Friday, but back to work on the Saturday. I'll have to catch up with sleep on Friday and Sunday instead (got doctor's appointment Thursday morning). Next Monday will be another crazy busy morning. Short-staffed again, by myself until that colleague starts at noon. It's only 8pm here, and I'm already winding down for bed. Had been sleepy and yawning at work today, might have to wake up a bit earlier tomorrow morning, because I'll need a few extra minutes before I leave the house to take the garbage out.. tomorrow is garbage collection day. I got out of bed a little later than usual this morning, and I was almost late for work.
Thank you for listening. I have hoped the same thing with my colleagues too. But at most times, I feel they just treat me like a kid, and take it for granted that I should be doing all the work because I'm much younger than they are. (My age is the same as their children, in the 30s). Maybe that's why they never feel thankful of my efforts, because it's expected that I do more work than they do.
@Jaeteuk it shouldn't be expected of you at all. And if they don't thank their children or you. Then their not the best of people. I'm so glad you can rest after tommorow you definitely deserve too. Maybe worth mentioning about the stress you feel to your doctor, just a suggestion. Honestly I think half of the people in this world just don't think, they just don't remember their manners. It's sad. You'd think the older generation would be more polite towards you. It's just not nice, I'm sorry sweetie, sleep well earth angel ❤ huggs you
@Jaeteuk haven't we all been there. Hope things are fine now. *hugs
We sure have and I'm well aware that every workplace in the world, no matter which industry, there will always be people who are not mindful of each other. That there will always be someone who we just don't get along with. In general, it is quite saddening.
I have one more thing to vent about. My shift starts at 6:30am, another colleague starts at 7:30am and a third one at noon. The one starting at noon is usually on time, you'll see her right on the dot. Yesterday, she was 5 minutes late, turns out, probably on her way to the department, she bumped into the 7:30am lady on her break and they were chit-chatting. After entering the department, they continued to stand there and talk for another 20 minutes! The lady starting at noon usually starts working right away and help with things that I had been doing all morning. While they were busy just standing there chatting, I was running around doing my work. Doing things that she would've taken over doing already. I looked into the room a few times after noon, that is how I realized they chatted for at least 20 minutes. And then afterwards, I see the one starting at noon sitting at the computer.. we usually use the computer during our breaks or when there's nothing to do and want to check our emails.. she's not really a technical person either, so, on the computer, she spent another 15-20 minutes trying to figure out how to enter her vacation request. So, that's like using the first hour of her shift doing nothing! Then, first things she does, is question my work. She left a note for me the night before for the morning. Asking me to call Security to get access to a room so I can retrieve 3 oxygen tanks. Thinking about it, I only have 2 hands. How am I supposed to get 3 on my own and it's not like the 7:30am staff would've helped either. Why couldn't she do it the night before? I don't understand why she always asks me to do it, and never just do it herself. Quicker to do it when you notice it yourself, rather than passing on a message and get someone else to do the work for you. I know her back has problems and it may be painful carrying the tanks, but she's got a group of nurses in the evening which I'm sure who wouldn't mind helping her with it. While during the day shift, it's super busy, and everyone is working. I don't even have time for a break, and she wants me to take 5-10 minutes of my time to get the tanks? While she wasted the first hour of her shift? That, does not make any sense me. We could've gone together then, and get 4 tanks back.
I once worked for a supervisor that would never give out compliments or atta boys.....his frame of thought was "its your job" so why would I. There are going to be people in every place of employment that take others work ethic for granted, do just enough to get by to collect a check, etc. Work ethic changes from person to person. While we all need to work, not everyone revolves life around work. And that is fine. If we have a high standard of work ethic, we need to realize that we will probably end up picking up the slack, doing more, and be taken advantage of. We need to find ways to deal with that and not let it bother us so much. That is hard for me do. Which is why 7Cups is my outlet. My safe space to say whats on my mind about things in my work life. When things at work start getting to me, and they are things I know I can't change, I tell myself "it is what it is" and just do what I need to do to get through the day. Then I try to remember all the positive things about my job(which there aren't many), and why I'm doing what I'm doing. Keep up the good things you are doing at work, no matter how hard it is. You can't let someone else destroy your good work ethic or drag you down with their opinions or lack there of. You need to do you. Keep your head up. You have support and a safe place to vent here.