We keep losing people and they're not being replaced. My manager keeps ignoring our requests to hire help but we can't last much longer than this. Is it smart to go over his head? Will I just be putting my name on the next layoffs list - or even be fired - if I do something like that?
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Universities need to teach senior students before graduation to research the offer you are being given to find out the truth. They need to cite this site as an example directly!!!
Never wrong, always right!
Back in 2008, I had to borrow admins to help type documents for me. The Company laid off 3 people in my group and expected me to do all the work until we were allowed to hire more people.
My guess is the OP works in Model e. Probably in connected vehicle. We've been hemorrhaging talent since the August layoffs and haven't been backfilling. We are down to a skeleton crew barely keeping the lights on. No chance at developing new things. My only guess is that all development both in the cloud and in the vehicle will be outsourced.
Read the tea leaves. If they aren't letting backfills happen they've stopped investing. When a company stops investing in a department/division then that department/division is not long for this earth. Get out while you can on your own terms!!
@OP. You don't have to do anything. I was in that situation a few years ago, and I couldn't deal with all the assigned tasks. So I asked in writing to my LL6 then (now an LL5) to prioritize which tasks should I work on. I didn't accept the "work on all", nor the "do what you can" answers. Then work your hours on the top priority and deliver when possible.
Do you know what happened? I am still at Ford, that LL6 was promoted, some of the workload was passed to other teams, and some of the workload was not that important nor urgent. Yes, it was stressful, but remember you don't have to shoulder all the problems in the company.
I suggest you leave the company.
Post on this website. That will drive applicant flow and solve issues.
Work your 40 hours and let things go undone. Push back on any additional assignments citing workload you already have.
It’s your manager’s job to properly staff the department properly and if things are still getting done, why would they increase resources?
If your manager could backfill, they would. It is possible your manager cannot backfill jobs or it is in process but moving slowly, which could be outside of their control.
Managers are protective of headcount and know that if a position is not filled, they could permanently lose the open slot.
Going over your manager's head makes you look like a whiney baby. Never a good move at Ford or anywhere else.