24 September 2025

Each week Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on workplace, career and leadership in her advice column Got a Minute? This week: covering colleagues for unplanned leave, an abrupt termination of employment and working with a highly demanding, ungrateful team.

I work at a non-profit organisation where resources are tight, and we are expected to cover for each other. Lately, team members have been taking unplanned leave during critical periods, often without handovers, which leaves me picking up the slack. I feel like they are taking advantage of the arrangement. I care deeply about my work and the organisation’s mission, but I’m becoming overwhelmed and resentful as I shoulder extra responsibilities and can’t take leave myself. How can I reconcile my work ethic with the reality of my team, and avoid burning out?

Your work ethic isn’t in question, and it sounds like it is being taken advantage of. What is lacking seems to be a process, developed and overseen by your manager, of how any gaps in staffing levels are adequately addressed.

Speak to your manager about your workload and the impact it is having on your mental and physical health. If the cover you are providing for others is taking up a sizeable portion of your role on a consistent basis, document the extra work you are doing so you have a record and some data to rely on. It sounds like your organisation may be hoping they don’t need to hire someone else, especially if they can rely on your goodwill and generosity to pick up the slack.

The lack of handover is another issue you are best to speak with your manager about. A handover is the bare minimum for providing cover when someone is away to avoid you wasting a lot of time. Your manager needs to step up and sort this out.

I was working part time as a consultant when, after a year, my supervisor asked whether I would be happy to become a casual. After some thought, I agreed and outlined my terms. Once that was settled, my supervisor then told me there was no work, and I was to finish that day. The whole experience was soul crushing. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to my colleagues and found the whole experience dreadful. It has impacted my mental health and confidence, so much so I haven’t worked since. How can I move on?

There really are plenty of jerks in the world and your former supervisor sounds like one of them. As you seem to indicate, the issue was mainly the way the end of your last piece of work was handled.

Just because this happened the way it did, it does not reflect the value you have to offer. It does not define you or your capability. You were caught up in a very poorly handled situation that says much less about you than it does about them. How you handle the situation you have found yourself in is really all that matters.

Take small steps to get back in the game and rebuild your confidence. Perhaps take on some smaller project work with a clearly defined scope to begin to put the last experience behind you. Once you start to feel a few wins under your belt, the pain of this experience will lessen.

I work in a team that services internal parts of our business. One of the teams I look after is of relatively low importance, but they are high need, often requesting complex materials at short notice. They don’t seem to understand their area is just one of many I cover. Despite repeatedly meeting their short notice requests, they never say thank you! How would you suggest I could reset this working relationship onto a more respectful and professional keel?

You made me laugh imagining a not-so-important part of the business that are convinced they are, of course, the most critical. So critical they can’t even stop to say thank you. Sadly, I think everyone has worked with a team like that.

Next time you get a complex request at short notice say something like: “I can prioritise this now, but in future that may not be possible given the X number of other teams I also service. Can we work towards X amount of notice next time, so your needs can be met?”

If that doesn’t work, you may need to speak to your manager and explain the challenges you are having. They will probably have some good ideas on how you can balance priorities and give you some “top-cover” in case you need it.

To submit a question about work, careers or leadership, visit kirstinferguson.com/ask. You will not be asked to provide your name or any identifying information. Letters may be edited.