A big reminder to myself to never let a company see what I can truly do again. I (24M) have been working full time in my field since I was 14. I have my degree in it, and am employed at a position beyond my years.
When I got this job, it was exciting to get paid better, to have full benefits. I’ve thrived here and have put in great work, hard hours to see metrics climb up to 5x any previous year.
All this lead to a raise, a good one, but still not enough to match what I’ve given them. I accepted this for what it was and continued to work hard. Then, 3 months ago I was given a MASSIVE project, one so large it would take the better part of 40 hours of every week, for several months. I’ve been drowning under this project, because naturally, my general work load didn’t go down AT ALL. I asked for support, made clear I needed less on my plate to no avail.
After 3 months of regularly crying at my desk, falling asleep before dinner, and generally putting in my all for this fucking place, today I learn the truth.
They let slip in a meeting that this project has never been completed in-house before. In every previous year a contracting company has handled this, applying 4 people to the project and completing it in 3 months. They saw how good I am, how quickly I can get things done, and without asking me, assumed I could handle it all.
I couldn’t handle it, no one person could, and my mental health has suffered for a quarter of a year because of it. To workers: don’t be me, just get through the day and know that any waves at work, good or bad, will come back for you. Managers: don’t abuse your best employees, they know their worth.
I’ll be going elsewhere, and I’ll be getting quite the raise for it. The knowledge that leaves the building with me will cripple this place and I just don’t care anymore.
TLDR they gave a 4 person project to 1 guy. When the 1 guy found out, he left.