#124 from R&D Innovator Volume 3, Number 10          October 1994

FORUM—from our readers

Help! We're Working too Hard!

I'm an engineer working with six other engineers and four assistants.  Management is constantly piling new assignments on us, but they're not taking old assignments away.  The other problem is that they don't put priorities on the work.  "Everything is critical!" they tell me.  I can understand such pressure every once in a while, but their mode is to operate in "permanent crisis."

It's just too much!  We hardly have time to think.  Errors are more common.  Morale is low, and it's tough for us to feel good about coming to work. 

There's a way out.  Much of what we do is routine, and could easily be taught to someone with no technical training.  They would only need to be attentive, follow instructions, and stay under close supervision until they have the methods down pat.  I'm sure most people could become fully competent within a week.

This kind of help would remove a huge burden from our shoulders--but that wouldn't be the ultimate benefit of hiring these people.  The best reasons are these:  we would then be able to raise our skills to the next level of competence; errors would be less common; and we could even accept additional tasks.

I've tried explaining the need for these "helpers."  They wouldn't have to become permanent employees (if there is such a thing).  They could be hired for just nine months at a time.  There should be no trouble finding people in the area who would accept such conditions.  The cost to the company would be minimal--and this would also allow the company to assess people for permanent positions that become available. 

Great idea.  Too bad the person I report to is fixated on "head-count," rather than overall productivity.  None of us has yet been gutsy enough to go over his head.  Certainly, I want to stay with the company rather than deal with the uncertainty of looking for a job.

What I may do is orchestrate a letter to the company president, explaining the situation, to be signed by "members of the R&D department."  It would be a gamble, since I risk being fingered as the instigator by someone in my department.  But the work pressure on me, and I believe on most of the others, is just too intense.  Something has to be done. 

I guess I’ll take the risk; for to do nothing but moan only gets my insides boiling.  If I do get “caught,” I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of; and I can’t imagine they’ll fire me for suggesting a way to help the company.  I’ll be sure that the memo will be calm and logical, and that my colleagues will have an opportunity to edit it.  Besides the pressure that will be off our shoulders, our supervisor also should appreciate the additional help:  his productivity (our work product) will surely increase.  I’ll let you know what happens.

Anonymous