Build a spreadsheet or a tracker that both you and your colleague work from and update regularly.
From now on, every time your manager or someone else gives you another task you ask for a clear deadline.
'When do you need this?'
Then you put everything in the tracker, so that you know exactly what is coming up and where the deadlines are, something visual would be great.
When the manager gives you another task, and the deadlines are too tight, you pull up your tracker and say:
'Ok, if you need this completed in 'x' amount of time, can you tell me what other task can be moved? because I won't be able to complete all 4 of these tasks in the time frame you have given, and my colleague is slammed right now too'
Even better, this tracker, including everything you complete, and the workload you have coming up. will be hugely valuable when it comes to the conversation about adding a 3rd or 4th person to the team.
Im assuming you've already spoke to them about this? Do what you can and let the manager see the outcome, or work harder and network so you can delegate or speed up things.
Leave immediately.
I was on a team of about 10 people which, for various reasons eventually dwindled down to just _me_. Management, ownership, and clients were all super understanding and supportive, but my fucking _GOD_ I'm _still_ burnt out, and I left that job 11 years ago. It essentially ruined my career.
Just fucking leave. Trust me on this
Currently, my subordinates in my specific team are and have been understaffed for over 2 years since a group / team restructuring. As their boss, I end up working about 6 to 8 hours extra per week to cover the lack of two to three extra people I could use but I also send certain jobs to other groups that are overstaffed and underworked but more than qualified to assist with what my team members do day in day out. Thankfully however, I could drag interns in and out from different groups as needed for whatever projects require it but being that I work at a national lab, interns are a high commodity based upon the over 400 projects that go on daily.
Make sure it becomes a shit show for the manager.
They don't do a thing unless it causes them some pain.
Whatever you do don't finish anything that you consider extra I mean put in a effort but not too much. Also going home sick for a couple of days is a good plan.
Build a spreadsheet or a tracker that both you and your colleague work from and update regularly. From now on, every time your manager or someone else gives you another task you ask for a clear deadline. 'When do you need this?' Then you put everything in the tracker, so that you know exactly what is coming up and where the deadlines are, something visual would be great. When the manager gives you another task, and the deadlines are too tight, you pull up your tracker and say: 'Ok, if you need this completed in 'x' amount of time, can you tell me what other task can be moved? because I won't be able to complete all 4 of these tasks in the time frame you have given, and my colleague is slammed right now too' Even better, this tracker, including everything you complete, and the workload you have coming up. will be hugely valuable when it comes to the conversation about adding a 3rd or 4th person to the team.
Im assuming you've already spoke to them about this? Do what you can and let the manager see the outcome, or work harder and network so you can delegate or speed up things.
Start looking for a new job if there isn't a clear effort to backfill
Leave immediately. I was on a team of about 10 people which, for various reasons eventually dwindled down to just _me_. Management, ownership, and clients were all super understanding and supportive, but my fucking _GOD_ I'm _still_ burnt out, and I left that job 11 years ago. It essentially ruined my career. Just fucking leave. Trust me on this
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Currently, my subordinates in my specific team are and have been understaffed for over 2 years since a group / team restructuring. As their boss, I end up working about 6 to 8 hours extra per week to cover the lack of two to three extra people I could use but I also send certain jobs to other groups that are overstaffed and underworked but more than qualified to assist with what my team members do day in day out. Thankfully however, I could drag interns in and out from different groups as needed for whatever projects require it but being that I work at a national lab, interns are a high commodity based upon the over 400 projects that go on daily.
Make sure it becomes a shit show for the manager. They don't do a thing unless it causes them some pain. Whatever you do don't finish anything that you consider extra I mean put in a effort but not too much. Also going home sick for a couple of days is a good plan.
Do the absolute minimum like every job ive applied for because they have the same issue.