It’s mostly because my workload went up a lot when we switched to remote learning . It hasn’t changed since the school return since I am essentially having to rewrite a practical curriculum to be delivered with little practical work possible. That and the added restrictions around staying in a box, changing rooms every lesson and so on have made it worse.
As my OH is also a teacher we’re finding it hard to support each other due to the workload. Friends and family with the luxury of working at home all day don’t quite understand although they try. All this ongoing since March when I was burned out by then anyway and I’m more tense and pessimistic than I can remember
I work in a very different field to you but that all sounds very familiar. Only been back in for a few weeks and already I could happily re-enact Falling Down!
My company got rid of about 50% of the frontline staff, oddly no managers or directors were deemed surpluses to requirements, when the furlough scheme initially wasn't extended. And of those that remain its heavily weighted towards those in the most junior positions, ie the cheapest to employ, who with the best will in the world can only do the most basic tasks.
Of course the workload hasn't really changed so its just more work being pushed onto those who are left. Already getting complaints about the backlog of work and how long it is taking to begin work on things. Pointed out we needed more staff and got told I was wrong and we just needed to work smarter whatever that is supposed to mean.
Although covid has been blamed its just a continuation of what has been happening in the last 10-15 years. Wage stagnation while everything else is stripped away. First overtime was replaced by TOIL and then TOIL went. My contract might say 40 hours a week but I can't remember the last time I had a 40 hour week. Benefits chipped away at until the final ones fell away at the start of covid so just left with literally the minimum possible in terms of pension and no other benefits.
Being on furlough really showed how much of an impact work has on my mental and physical health. Didn't take long for things to return to how they were. Even in times that you can't see your mates just speaking to them on the phone they've noticed a difference since I've been back at work but as others have said when you're in your forties a career change can be tricky. Even if you can work out what you want to do and find someone that will employ you in that field there's a limit to how much you can drop your salary and still be able to pay the mortgage.
