Do I stay or do I go? Undervalued and valued at the same time

Question

I started a new job about 8 months ago. I am quite experienced and skilled at what I do. Since I joined I seem to be getting more and more work piled on. My initial role I still do, but I did it very well. So I also took on the email marketing when they were having issues with another employee. So I was doing my original job plus the design, build, implementation and writing of the quite considerable number of email campaigns they run.

Then the dropship manager left and I now do my original role, the email marketing, and now look after all the dropshippers (which was a full time job for another employee that was never replaced). Now a new key account sales manager has been employed, and with the additional emails he wants, and as the "reliable one" in the office, he now uses me as his sales support, because it seems I am the only one he can rely on to get things done.

On top of that, I now support the warehouse manager with several order systems, so every morning I am supporting him, helping to manage all the orders from multiple systems, for a few hours every day.

Yet, the digital marketing manager, that just manages ebay, amazon and one retail site (which I help fix when it goes wrong as he is not a developer), gets paid more than me, so does the sales manager, the key account manager and the general manager. However, apart from doing the job now of what was originally three other people, plus supporting the customer services staff, plus doing my original job and two others, plus running and managing the other three sales channels, which equal the sales income of the digital managers sites, and managing the same level of growth, I am now being asked to do the digital marketing for the channels I manage.

I work so hard, I am the first in every morning, about an hour before anyone else, I work weekends and bank holidays trying to keep up. I cannot cope with any more, and already I can see the massive overload is starting to affect the quality I can do with any of them.

But, it has been hinted at that I am very valuable and I am treated very well. There have been hints at promotions in the future etc. All the more junior staff say how they enjoy working with me, and how much better everything is since I joined. Even the warehouse staff say these things even though there is a rift between the office and the warehouse, I seem to bridge that gap quite easily.

Now I hear on the grapevine that the whole company is moving next year to a place I have no interest in relocating to, and is, instead of a 30 minute commute, over an hours commute. However, having addressed this directly with the owner, it appears that it is just a possibility, not a concrete plan.

Feeling deflated, undervalued and definitely overworked, I have a CV service writing a CV for me. But I am still not sure if I should start job hunting or let this opportunity play out.

I really like the place, the owner, the people I work with, and in truth, I also get to run around, unquestioned, doing whatever I like. I literally report to no one. Is it too good a role to give up or am I being taken advantage of? I really do not know what to do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. What is the best way to approach my boss about this situation, and what approach could I take to reduce the overwork without affecting my standing. Or does a leopard never change its spots and should I just start job hunting?

Answer 1

The three comments thus far are useful but you want an answer.

You say it's great there, is it a lot better elsewhere; where do the Dropshippers jump ship to? - Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Does your pay increase with each added task, getting rid of paid employees and getting the rest to pick up the slack is common (and cheaper) but sandbagging one person is not; are you the Manager, ask to supervise since 'everyone' thinks you can do everything.

I have found that sometimes the opposite occurs, they hire you but can't afford much because it's slow. Then they hire a half dozen more people. One third of the new hires are useful, one third have never done that kind of work and are looking for a new job, and one third are anti-productive (but they work for the minimum and the Owner accepts no complaints) - all the while you're working like crazy.

Often everyone is everyone's "pal", everyone is great, your the best. Even when you give your resignation "it's all good" - you have to actually (literally) stick your foot out the door for them to believe it, then there's a scene.

I've called places back at Christmas or New Year's to wish everyone well and the Owner seemed to appreciate the calls - once he'd finished running the place into the ground such calls were no longer acceptable.

You shouldn't work too much OT though some is reasonable. You shouldn't have to many Hats to wear and let your working strengths suffer to cover HR's inability to do their own job.

Make certain work equals money, and you have time/energy to enjoy your riches.

Probably stick with it, (all caps) leave your current employer OFF OF your resume and simply generalize what you do (caps off) and how long you worked there - don't risk someone calling your current employer, if they insist to know try elsewhere.

When your certain of a better offer approach the Owner about making some changes. Save up for the company moving and let that be your great reason for leaving.

Don't let a bad week or month sour a few great months.

Cherry pick what you will do, including what you were hired for, and let the other stuff go to the new hires; no one newly hired?, is that why YOU were hired ...

It's got to be fair to everyone, even the customers, who is losing the most ... (shouldn't be the employee who 'pays').

If you have a friend who already left (and isn't going to call the boss) discuss with them if they regret leaving; perhaps they want someone to put in a good word and to return, maybe leaving was for the best.

Eight months is both long to stay (if it's bad) and quick to leave (if it's good) - won't help your resume much if you quit.