SCRIPT A
John. nervously Sorry to bother you Mary but can I have some time to talk to you about a work matter?
Mary. distractedly What? Yes, yes that’s fine.
John. Well…, well… it’s really hard for me to admit to but it’s to do with my current work load. It’s to do with what’s happened since the re-structuring took place. Pause.
Mary. Right yes, yes the restructuring.
Pause continues
Really sorry John, don’t mean to rush you and all that but I’ve got a pile of things I need to be getting on with, so bit short of time…
John . Well, well, when we worked out together what my new role would involve it all looked pretty manageable on paper but for some reason the reality of it seems very different.
Mary. Not sure why that should be John – thought we’d both agreed that it looked fine to us at the time.
John. Erm yes, yes I know but I don’t think I’m coping very well at all. I think perhaps you erm we misjudged how time consuming some of the smaller tasks would be and I’m really struggling with it all at the moment. More softly I feel pretty useless actually.
Mary. Ah well you needn’t feel like that John, we all struggle at times – even me! - so don’t feel bad about it. I can’t remember anyone else saying that you weren’t pulling your weight so maybe you’ve just got it all a bit out of proportion. I’m usually pretty good at organising work loads so don’t think that can be the problem.
John. hesitantlyWell… yes, yes I know but I’m not eating well, I’m not sleeping properly anymore, I’m constantly feeling sick. I’ve even been starting to wonder whether I should consider resigning.
Mary. Oh come on Johnit’s not that bad surely? I know we’re busy at the moment and that the restructuring has caused a lot of disruption but I’m sure you’ll settle down with it all in time. Everyone else seems to be ok with it – why don’t you ask some of them how they’ve managed it. Anyway John, in all seriousness I don’t think it’s a very good idea to be thinking of leaving now, not with the economic climate the way it is and everything.
John. Oh, maybe not er yes, I suppose so. Would it be possible though to arrange a time together so we could look at why I’m struggling so much – maybe see whether there are areas which I need more training in or whether I could designate some of my duties to others. That sort of thing?
Mary. Well yes we can if you want but I’m really not sure that its going to be necessary. Tell you what I’m away for two weeks now, let’s see how you’re feeling when I get back and then, if you really want we’ll sort something out then. That ok? Good, good, glad that’s sorted then. And remember John you can always come to me –always got time to help if I can.