Back to work after almost 7 years!!

Just bumping this thread up - for an update.

It has been really tough. I am on a GRTW 4 hours M/W/F .

The training usually takes 3 weeks of full days....so hoping I can increase my hours...and/or days after this week - or it's going to take me 3 months....lol.

We don't have a trainer at the local office, so my training is being done remotely via Skype. There are challenges with that. i have been coming home overwhelmed...very concerned about my memory...or lack of it.
My husband keeps reassuring me that it would be difficult retaining all the new daily information - with a fully functioning memory...
I came home Friday and cried. And have been thinking about it all week-end - trying to recall what I learned on Friday...and how to access each menu that is needed to do the tasks.

The good news is the other clerks there - have been so friendly and kind. One that I hadn't met before (ie she is a newer employee) was in the lunch room taking a break and she asked me how it was going. I told her I was overwhelmed...and she said everyone is when they first start...and not to worry.
Another one came into the lunch room and asked if I was ++++ 's mom. She went to school with my son. She was very nice, too.

I also spoke to two other clerks (they were employees when I left the job) who are working in the office across the hall from me. They told me it's bulls--t that they don't have an onsite trainer. They both said with repetition I will remember it...eventuallly and I'm being fast-tracked and no wonder I'm overwhelmed.

Hope you enjoy your day off today Girlie (Tuesday).

Good luck Girlie and stay positive!! This training process, and more generally acclimating to a new way of life, has to be the hardest part, right? It should only get easier from here on out..

potsnpans said...
Good luck Girlie and stay positive!! This training process, and more generally acclimating to a new way of life, has to be the hardest part, right? It should only get easier from here on out..

I missed the last couple of posts.

Thank you potsnpans
It’s been rough but I’m hanging in there.
A couple of workers this past week said there’s a ton of information/tasks to learn and it will take time - and not to worry about it.

WELL DONE!!
we know what a battle it is to get back on your feet.
be proud you have persevered and are beginning to see the rewards

my partner is now back and working 10hrs days 5 days a week - so it is possible
she to had lots of worries about not being able to do it - not being able to remember stuff, etc in the beginning - but started part-time and gradually worked up to longer hours and is now in a job at the same level she was before getting ill.

Her confidence gradually grew and her functioning also continued to improve

she had one setback when the job she had changed to involve lots of stress and travel into London - which is a 4hrs round trip - and she just wasn't ready for it -and the stress was too much - so listen to your body and go slow.

also, take active measures to manage your stress: meditation, yoga, walks in the countryside - whatever works for you - but do something to offset the stress from the work - especially if it makes you feel overstimulated, wired, anxious or drained - like that in itself can be a big factor in how well you can cope with the additional load of work.

regarding memory problems after Lyme - Stephen buhner recommends Lion's mane mushroom tincture as a treatment for all CNS impairments when recovering from Lyme and similar infections. it helps regrow new neurons and the sheaths around the old ones that are damaged - so v useful. also v safe.
I will be trying that for myself when I feel i am a bit further down the road to recovery.

Well... sorry for the “downer” update.

I finished with the trainer (remote) last Friday - and had a new trainer for Monday - she was in the same office. I was having a bad brain day and had some trouble the last two hours of the day (it was an 8 hour shift)

When my brain gets overloaded and I get overwhelmed it seems to shut down - and I have trouble remembering.

Then yesterday I was put on the desk to go “live” with a trainer in the room - but she had her very busy job to do. Her and the other two clerks were chatting and laughing about non work stuff and it was very loud in the room.
To complete one task, there’s a sequence of steps that need to be done quickly. There are three monitors with 6 or 7 programs running - that I have to toggle to get the job done.

Today - again lots of chatting and laughing between the three clerks - - I had to ask the trainer a few questions - and then the boss called me in and basically said I wasn’t up to par.
I knew I wasn’t but I hadn’t finished my training.
Most of my shifts were 4-5 hours long and two or three times a week for a few weeks.
Usually new clerks get 3 weeks of 7,5 hours x 5 days a week.
With the shorter shifts and 2-3 days per week - it probably translates to 1 1/2 weeks.

Sigh - I need a new job



I think the less hours plus remote training - I was set up to fail.

The boss also said something like “We’ve had people walk in off the street and are able to do the job in three days....
When I went back to do my job - the trainer told me I had made a mistake that she had to correct.
I had no confidence left and I told her to tell the manager I was leaving - I was in tears at this point.
I got home and emailed the Manager and said that I was not going back to that office.

I do think I could have done well at it - if I had more support -

I'm so sorry to hear this. I have to say three monitors with 6 or 7 programs running that you have to toggle between sounds pretty challenging! I'm hoping you find a kind and compassionate space to work - you clearly have a lot to offer the world, as you've held up so many people on this forum for so long.

Sorry to hear that Girlie I was rooting for you.

Girlie sorry to hear that. Maybe a blessing in disguise? Time to try something different, possibly less stressful...wishing you the best!

Worst case scenario - I will have to look elsewhere - outside the company for work...

Thank you all for hearing my rant - I’m appreciative of your kind words

That sounds like so much physical and mental work! I'm so impressed that you are not complaining about being exhausted. I'm glad to hear that folks in this new department are supportive.

saraeli said...
That sounds like so much physical and mental work! I'm so impressed that you are not complaining about being exhausted. I'm glad to hear that folks in this new department are supportive.

It has been a workout - physically and mentally. It’s a huge kitchen!

I have never worked in an environment that has been so supportive as these workers are.
Encouragement everyday - it’s awesome.

I have been doing everything on my own now - even took the industrial dishwasher apart to clean - and was able to put it all back together... lol
- that is a daily task.

That's great to hear. Good work colleagues are so important.