I'm concerned about someone at work.

I joined the company 6 months ago, at which point there were two graphic designers. One of them left shortly afterwards, leaving just the one guy, J. There was no reduction in workload, so he's been doing everything on his own. Recently though we've been winning business and taking on extra work for existing clients, plus he's got to redesign the entire website for us personally...the poor lad is sometimes still there at 8pm at night, and I know he takes work home too. I know he works on weekends. He went into the office during the Christmas holidays to work. There's no such thing as overtime pay or TOIL, and I just feel terrible for him.

There's absolutely nothing I can do to help him because I'm not a designer, and sometimes I get myself in trouble because I feel so bad asking him to do things for me.

We need to take on another designer. Desperately. I think this fact has passed the boss-men by because they just keep piling the work on him and nothing's ever said about new people. We're a small company in an open-plan office so there aren't many secrets.

I'm only work-friends with him, superficial friendship, so I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable by asking him if he's ok, and I don't want to go behind his back and tell the boss-men that I'm worried about him.

BUT, I don't feel right about watching all this happen and not doing anything, and to be honest if I was him then I'd be looking for another job. Totally wouldn't blame him but the company would be left in the doo-doo.

What would you do?

Even though you're not close friends, you could bring the issue up during the day to day chit chat between colleagues. Example: "Gosh, it's amazing the new business we've been getting! Have you heard any talk about taking on a new designer? You're working so much compared to earlier this year," or something to that effect. You don't have to say you're concerned for him, you don't have to ask how he's feeling, you can keep it inquisitive.

Hmm... it's a tough one.

What would you be hoping to achieve by saying something to this guy? Do you have enough influence to try and get some changes pushed through to make life easier for him? Because if you don't have that much of a rapport with him and you aren't in a position to help then i'd guess he may wonder why you want to talk to him about it or it might make him feel worse.

I'm in a bit of a similar situation myself, the guy I sit next to at work has a ridiculous workload and I know he's feeling unhappy. We talk about it, but it's because we've developed a rapport and i'm allowing him to use me to vent to as and when he wants. I have no powers at all to help him except for when i'm not busy i'll ask him if he's got anything I can do of his. That's obviously not something you will be able to do as you're doing completely different jobs.

I think this all hinges on how likely you think it is that a change could come out of your intervention. If you don't have any influence with someone who could help then unless you have a relationship with him where you can do something like I do for my co-worker you might be best off letting him decide what he's going to do with his career. So it's a bit difficult for me to say one way or the other without knowing your organisation and your co-worker, as what works for me in my company might not for you.

My philosophy is that each person has to be his/ her own advocate in the workplace. So if this guy is feeling overworked, it's his responsibility to have that discussion with the supervisors, not yours. You can, however, encourage him to do that. As DG said, keep it inquisitive, and ask him if there's any talk of hiring a replacement etc. If there isn't, you can gently push him towards bringing it up with the supervisors. But I don't think it would be right for you to have the discussion with anyone else.

I realize academic science is quite a bit different from the corporate world, but I'd be really annoyed if one of my colleagues started talking about how I had too much work. Right now I'm working about the same schedule as your coworker (12 hour days plus extra work at home, some work on weekends, no extended holidays). If someone told the boss I was overworked, I'd take that as a sign that my coworker thought I was dropping the ball on my duties. How much work I have is nobody's business unless it affects them directly (e.g. I leave others to pick up the slack). I don't know the culture at your work, so maybe this interpretation wouldn't cross anyone's mind. But be careful that your good intentions are not misinterpreted.

I used to work for a company that had a team of four graphic designers, and their workload was ASTRONOMICAL. Toy catalogues, DVD catalogues, DVD covers, posters, order forms, business cards, website stuff, and when the trade shows rolled around they designed ALL the booths, all the advertising material, all the programs, all the promo stuff such as programs, signing cards, orders of business, agendas, etc.

They were terribly overworked. It got to the point where I took on some design duties pertinent to my own job just so I wouldn't have to ask them to do stuff for me that I could do myself. It sounds very similar to your workplace, only we had more designers.

This isn't something you can get involved in as far as fighting for him, but it's certainly something you can encourage him to do something about. Design work is bloody hard work, and the main reason the higher-ups at my company didn't understand the workload being put on our designers, was because they didn't understand that just because you're doing something with a computer, doesn't make it a quicker or easier job.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

You've only been on the job for 6 months so it is unlikely that the people with the power to hire and fire will seek or even listen to your advice. As hard as it is, let this man handle this himself.

You might offer some support in a friendly way without crossing the line of butting in. Next time you bake, bring him some goodies from your oven and say, "Here's a little something to keep you company while you're burning the midnight oil." Everyone loves cookies, and everyone feels better when others notice their hard work. If he does a task that you've requested or does something that benefits your job be sure to say, "I know you've got a ton of work lapping at your heals so I really appreciate you doing this for me".

The company may be searching for a way to lighten his load. They may be hiring someone else, or they may be compensating him in some way you don't know. I'd just be really kind and appreciative to him personally and perhaps it will give him the push to speak up for himself. Then again, he may love his work and not feel put upon at all. Who knows?

Keep On Dancing*

All fair points, glad I asked. Strangely though it did get brought up by the boss' PA and another admin lady today; they were looking through some work experience applications and said they hoped a design one would come through soon to help J out. Neither of the big bosses were in the office (or J for that matter) but a middle boss was and some discussion ensued about how we needed someone else. So...we'll see. Thanks folks.