Hey folks,
I'm currently the Head of Digital at a mid-sized company, but it feels more like I'm the only techie in a sea of editors and project managers from traditional print backgrounds. They struggle to understand my role, and whenever I try to explain it, I just get told, 'It's too technical for us.' My requests for support and for just one work-from-home day have been repeatedly denied, while others on my team get to work from home 1-2 days a week.
I'm essentially managing everything on my own, including:
- **Live Web Projects:** I'm overseeing 9 different websites, all built from scratch with varying tech stacks. One site even has 70 client microsites, all custom-built and maintained by me across various platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and custom PHP/JS solutions.
- **Infrastructure & Ops:** I'm leading a big CRM overhaul and a cloud migration, coordinating with various IT stakeholders while juggling different time zones and wrangling constant changes in scope.
- **Creative & Support:** I also handle video and image editing, customer support, and fix all sorts of website issues, plus I'm expected to manage the company's social media channels.
I'm earning £59K, but my commute is 1.5 hours each way, and I sometimes end up losing money with childcare costs. I don't have a project manager or any developers under me — it's all me, and every time I raise concerns, I'm told, 'Well, you're the Head of Digital — it's your job.'
With all this on my plate, I feel burnt out, and I'm starting to question if my salary is appropriate. Is £59K a reasonable amount for this workload, or is this just burnout talking? I appreciate any advice or shared experiences!
5 Answers
Honestly, your workload sounds insane. Just because you have a fancy title doesn’t mean you should be doing the work of a whole team! You need to get clear about what you want. If you see yourself wanting a leadership role down the road, you might not be gaining the right experience where you are.
List out your needs, make a solid case for support, but don’t be afraid to start looking for a new job that values you properly.
Wow, they’ve really got you working way too hard for that salary. I’d look for other options where you can actually have a life outside of your job. No one should have to choose between sanity and work.
It's definitely not worth it if it's costing you money for childcare on top of everything else. You’ve gained a ton of valuable experience — leverage that to find a role that treats you better. It’ll save your mental health in the long run.
Sounds like you’re stuck in a tough spot! I’ve been in similar shoes but earned more and worked fully remote. If I were still in the office, I'd definitely have a limit on what I'd tolerate. Have you considered streamlining some of your tech stacks? Managing so many different techs must be exhausting.
It's a lot to juggle, but focusing on consolidating your projects could simplify things.
I feel for you. £59K seems way too low for what you're handling. It’s usually a team effort to manage all those tasks you have on your plate. Honestly, I’d recommend checking out other job openings — I think you’d find better opportunities elsewhere. Don’t let burnout creep in too deep; it’s not worth it.
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