My job is a low-paid, basic administrative role. My manager is going on maternity leave and although there is money to recruit a replacement, this will not happen and I will be given the majority of her tasks. My workload is already high but because I tend to work quickly, my manager expects that I should do every imaginable task in a short period of time. I recently stood up for myself and said I’d have to work at a slower pace if I’m expected to do a manager’s job on top of my own. Since speaking up, the atmosphere has been horrible and she is trying to catch me out over everything: accusing me of taking too much sick leave, which isn’t true, and denying me certain annual leave dates because they don’t suit her. I can feel myself getting sick from stress and desperately need advice as I’m heading for a breakdown.

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