Annoying work vent

I went back to work 2 weeks ago earlier than I had planned after my maternity leave for a variety of reasons. Anyways, before I went on ML I resigned the position I had, which was a supervisory/administrative role so I would have more time to spend with my son.

I decided to go back in just as a "case manager" type of role. A big perk of this job is that I can do a lot of my work from home when I am not seeing clients, and I really don't have to go into the office much at all.

Anyways, since I am very slowly building a caseload now, they have me doing all kinds of "busy" work. Which is slowly creeping into NYC which I told them I didn't want to do any longer. (I live in Suffolk).

To add onto that, they also have me being an "acting supervisor" for some of our staff, and part of this role involves attending team meetings. That's fine, but I have noticed a lot of them lately are planned for AFTER traditional business hours either in NYC, or way, way out East.

I am starting to get annoyed already because I went to one in Queens last week and did not get home until freakin' 8:00 at night.

I feel like I am "stuck" though because the new Director called me into his office the other day to "just remind me they are paying me a F/T salary and I don't have a caseload so I need to appear as busy as possible so they don't decide to let me go".

Yesterday, at the end of the day, he got a referral for a new client who he feels "only I can work with". Guess where she lives?

Freakin' Manhattan!!!

I think there are lots of issues going on here that annoy me though:

1.) My job traditionally expects their employees to take on a whole bunch of extra responsibilities that are not theirs, and work around the clock. I don't mind doing some of these things until I get a full caseload but I don't want it to turn into part of my job as well.

2.) I feel like I am a mom now so my son should come first, but they have me between a rock and a hard place, especially in this economy where it's so difficult to find a job.

3.) I know I should probably just suck it up so I can eventually get the "work from home" stuff I want to do.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What would you do?

FYI: My new boss just had a baby so he understands where I am coming from which I think is a positive ;).

Am I just being whiny? My son is only 10 weeks old!

P.S. My inlaws are my childcare and my SIL is on bedrest at their house now after being released from the hospital after going into early labor. I told my new boss this as well ;).

Re: Annoying work vent

No one?

Re: Annoying work vent

All I can say is "the man" really doesn't care what you have going on at home, no matter how much you think they can relate. Always keep that in mind.

Re: Annoying work vent

So your new director reminded you that you do not yet have a full caseload (which is probably common of new staff/returning staff), yet they are also utilizing your supervisory knowledge and experience, even though you resigned that position and are not being compensated for it.

Basically, as much as you feel you should be grateful, you have to set boundaries, or they will continue to use you beyond the scope of your actual job title. If you are a caseworker, you should only be doing what other caseworkers are expected to do.

Re: Annoying work vent