Understaffed and poor work culture
Pros
This role wears many hats so there is constant development of an employees soft and hard skills. Management is open-minded and constantly introducing new methods, techniques, and interventions to improve work ethic.
Cons
Insufficient Training: The training is based on what task needs to be done at the time so staff are working with gaps of information. There is limited direction so you learn through asking the right people (if they're available) and, trail and error. Ineffective management: Management uses micromanaging and shaming to promote faster work ethic as speed is a prioritised skill here. Also, accessibility is limited therefore I wouldn't recommend disabled individuals for this role particularly if physical health is affected. Lack of Work-Life Balance: Due to this role being chronically understaffed, overtime is expected. This unfortunately creates a culture of tension between staff who are unable to perform to that level on a daily basis and the staff who have to stay late and pick up for them. It is not uncommon for management to tell staff that they have to stay late until the work is done. High-turnover: Due to the physical and mental demand this role, employees tend to leave within the first year. Toxic Culture: Because of everything stated before, the culture can be hostile. Lack of communication between staff and departments is a daily occurrence. Everyone is rushing to complete their tasks by 5pm, so consideration about workload within the team is non-existent and mistakes are just as common. Management will regularly talk about employees to their other team members, further contributing to the culture of blame when these mistakes arise. It also creates a division within the team, separating the people who are favoured by management and the people who are not.
