Work sucks when you’re the only one left

Let's talk about the people who didn't join the Great Resignation. As my colleague Emily Stewart points out in her most recent piece for Vox, ["there has been no shortage of stories about the Great Resignation, the Great Reshuffle, or whatever you want to call it."]( This is true: for months, the prevailing narrative about work in America has been that things are not good — so much so that people are leaving in droves and customer service has declined everywhere and the system is evidently very, very broken. But there's more to the story here than that. Much of this reporting hasn't focused on the people who are still at work, stuck in the weirdness and overexertion that comes with picking up the slack. Employees who are forced to fill the gaps in their workplaces are struggling with their physical and mental health, and are being told to do more with less. [This insightfully reported piece]( is a reminder that it's worth remembering to be courteous and kind when interacting with any institution right now — everyone is being stretched incredibly thin. —[Melinda Fakuade]( associate editor of culture and features   Work sucks when you're the only one left [illustration of person at desk with head down, appears like stitched fabric onto more fabric]( Carol Yepes/Getty Images When I reached out to Paige to talk about a post she’d written online about feeling stretched at work, she first had a question for me: Was I her boss secretly trying to trick her? She was a “little paranoid” about it, and rightly so — the Oregon receptionist has not exactly had the warmest feelings about her place of work lately. Paige, who asked to withhold her last name in order to retain said job for now, has felt extremely overworked lately. She was initially hired in late 2021 to work part time at a local medical office, but they’ve since lost a ton of employees — the last receptionist on staff besides her just quit (when she started, there were four). She now works 12-hour days, spending her lunch hour at her desk since there’s no one to cover for her, and when she asks about what’s going on, she’s told to be a “team player.” Recently, it seemed like there would be some reprieve when the office made a new hire, but the person was let go after three days because the manager — the owner’s daughter — didn’t get along with them. [“The vibes weren’t good,” Paige said she was told. But, as she said, “Vibes don’t matter when you literally have employees that are struggling.”]( There has been no shortage of stories about the Great Resignation, the Great Reshuffle, or whatever you want to call it. The rate of people quitting their jobs has declined somewhat, but it still remains above pre-pandemic norms. There are still about two job openings per every unemployed worker in the United States. The labor market remains incredibly tight. There has also been no shortage of stories about the impact all of this is having on consumers. Air travel sucks. Restaurant service is a disaster. Customers are throwing full-blown hissy fits in public. What does this add up to for the workers still on the job, trying to make their situations work under increasingly tight and stressful conditions? The “labor leftovers,” if you will, are being asked to do the same amount of work or more in order to compensate for their current situations. And, to put it plainly, it sucks. [Read the full story »]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   Two dozen tech founders living in a mansion. What could go wrong? Launch House promised young tech founders community. A Vox investigation found what happens when clout and cash are paramount, and protecting members falls by the wayside. [Read the full story »](   How to (actually) stay friends with an ex It’s possible to have a platonic friendship with someone you used to date. Here’s how — and whether you should try in the first place. [Read the full story »](   Will you help us reach our goal? We’re aiming to add 5,000 financial gifts from readers by September 30. Give today to help keep Vox free. [Give](   More good stuff to read today - [The beginner's guide to running]( - [Cookie pop-ups have taken over the internet. Here’s how to stop them.]( - [The subtle power of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign]( - [Does Taylor Swift want an Oscar? Perhaps (ahem) All Too Well.]( - [What's at stake in the freight rail labor fight]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=goods). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.