My colleague has taken a last minute holiday and left me to present a major project alone… Help!
BOSSING IT My colleague has taken a last minute holiday and left me to present a major project alone… Help!
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.
Here, Karren gives her expert career advice to a reader who has been left to present a stressful project alone after her colleague took a last minute holiday.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Karren Brady gives you career advice
Q: My colleague and I have been working on a stressful project for the past six months and it's finally reaching the crunch point – but she's chosen to take a last-minute holiday over the two weeks we need to deliver the project and present it internally, then put it in front of the client.
I understand the whole process of getting the project to this point has been difficult and meant some long hours, but I feel abandoned and like I now have to carry it all on my own, which is causing me huge anxiety and stress.
What should I do?
Amelia, via email
A: First, speak to your manager about the situation as soon as possible.
Explain clearly that with your colleague away during such a critical phase, you're concerned about the impact on delivery of the project and don't want the workload and pressure to compromise the final result.
Ask whether some tasks can be reassigned or if extra support is available.
Set firm boundaries – don't take on everything alone, especially at the cost of your physical and mental health.
Keep a written record of your agreed responsibilities and decisions during this time to protect yourself and manage expectations.
When your colleague returns, have a respectful but honest conversation about how this affected you, so it's less likely to happen again.
Apprentice star Karren Brady terrified after burglar launched FOUR raids on £6m home in 16 hours taking designer gear
Most importantly, prioritise your mental health and wellbeing – take breaks, ask for help when you need it and be clear about what you can and can't do.
As tough as the current situation is, moments like these can highlight your resilience and capabilities, and will give you a chance to show your manager how well you handle pressure and take the lead when it counts.
Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Millions of households have just DAYS left to make key bill check in order to get £150 free cash
Plus, we reveal how you can get help with energy bills below HELPING HAND Millions of households have just DAYS left to make key bill check in order to get £150 free cash Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of households have just days left to check their bills in order to get £150 free cash. The government scheme is an extension of the Warm Home discount plan, which aims to help struggling households with their energy costs this winter. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Households could get £150 off their bills this winter Billpayers who receive mean-tested benefits in England and Wales are eligible for the discount but they need to be quick. Households must verify they are named on their electricity bill before August 24 to automatically receive £150 off their energy bills. This applies in particular to those who have recently moved house, as their name may not be on their new electricity bill. ARE YOU ELIGIBLE? Households who receive the following benefits are eligible: Housing Benefit Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income Support Pension Credit and Universal Credit Over six million households are now set to benefit from the Warm Home Discount scheme – an increase of over 2.5 million households, including 900,000 more families with children. Customers on pre-payment meters who use a key or card to top up will also need to ensure that their household's account is registered in their name. Urging the public to spread the word about the discount, Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: "We took decisive action earlier this year to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving more working families certainty and peace of mind before winter. 'I now want to make sure as many eligible households as possible get £150 off their energy bill, putting more money in their pockets as part of our Plan for Change. 'If you know someone who might be eligible – please start spreading the word to family and friends, encouraging them to check they are named on their energy bill.' Save money over summer on TV, games and even FOOD with app tricks How can I find the cheapest fixed deals? To find the best fixed energy deals, start by visiting price comparison websites, which aggregate various offers from different energy suppliers. The best sites include and MoneySavingExpert's Cheap Energy Club. Enter your postcode and current energy usage details to receive a list of available deals tailored to your needs - it'll take you less than five minutes. You'll then be able to compare the rates, contract lengths, and any additional features or benefits offered by each deal. Next, visit the websites of individual energy suppliers to check if they have exclusive deals that are not listed on comparison sites. Sometimes, suppliers offer special promotions or discounts directly to customers. Compare these offers with those on the comparison websites to ensure you get the best possible rate. Finally, consider customer service reviews and the overall reputation of the suppliers. Once you have identified the best deal, follow the instructions to switch your energy provider.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year – see who is eligible
Find out how you might be eligible for a free grant worth up to £2,000 to cover energy bills below HELPING HAND Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year – see who is eligible Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of people are set to receive a free £290 payment this year. The extra money comes via the Carer's Allowance Supplement which is issued to households in Scotland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 You could be eligible for a £293.50 payment later this year Credit: PA The supplement is paid twice a year to those on Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance and each instalment is worth £293.50. The first payment was made in June to those receiving one of the qualifying benefits on April 14. The second will be made from December if you are getting either of the two benefits on October 13. If you're due a payment later this year, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland letting you know you're eligible. Anyone who qualifies does not have to apply as payments are made automatically. If you don't get Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance because you receive other "underlying" benefits - you don't get a Carer's Allowance Supplement. Around 90,000 were issued a Carer's Allowance Supplement in June, meaning a similar amount can expect payments this December. What if I don't live in Scotland? You might be able to get Carer's Allowance Supplement if you have a "genuine and sufficient link" to Scotland but live outside the UK, in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or Gibraltar. Some of the factors the Scottish government considers when deciding whether you have a genuine and sufficient link to the country include: you have spent a significant part of your life in Scotland you have worked, or have previously and paid social security or tax contributions you have Scottish bank accounts or other financial products you have the right to any rented or owned property in Scotland you have any family members living in Scotland you have frequent contact with family members in Scotland Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Some of the countries that fall into the EEA are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain and Norway. For Social Security Scotland to determine whether you're eligible for Carer's Allowance Supplement while living outside of the UK, it goes over some residency details before making a decision on your application. More information on what types of details it will ask for, visit - Other available help It's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits - it could boost your bank balance by thousands of pounds a year. Some benefits come with added perks as well, like Pension Credit which can unlock a free TV licence for those aged 75 or older. Meanwhile, if you're struggling with the cost of food, check where your nearest food bank is. The Trussell Trust has hundreds of food banks across the UK- you can find your nearest one here - The Trust's food banks issue emergency parcels to people who cannot afford to cover costs themselves. If you have fallen behind on your energy bills, you might be able to get a grant to wipe any debt. British Gas and Octopus Energy, the UK's two biggest energy firms, both run schemes offering customers grants worth up to £2,000. Some energy firms will debt match any repayments as well. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Unexpected UK city to charge £4.90 MORE per night in ‘tourist tax' that's higher than Barcelona or Venice
They're not the first UK city to introduce the tax either TAXING TIMES Unexpected UK city to charge £4.90 MORE per night in 'tourist tax' that's higher than Barcelona or Venice Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VISITORS to an unexpected UK city are set to be hit with a new tourist tax that's more expensive than Barcelona or Venice. If you plan to visit the city and stay overnight, you could be charged an extra £4.90 per night under the new measures. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Visitors to Aberdeen are set to be hit by a new tourist tax Credit: Getty 2 Aberdeen is set to introduce the new tax in July 2027 that will charge £4.90 per night Credit: Getty The new 7 per cent tax on overnight stays will be introduced by Aberdeen City Council in July 2027. At an average room rate of £70 per night, visitors will have to stump up an extra £4.90 per night. Any non-resident staying overnight in Aberdeen will have to pay the fee which is expected to bring an extra £6.8 million a year into the city. This money will then be reinvested in the city's tourism sector. Stephen Gow, chair of VisitAberdeenshire, said the city received over 2.2 million overnight visitors last year which generated £500 million. He called the new measures a "well managed scheme" that will "drive continued growth of Aberdeen's visitor economy". He added: 'The headroom for growth in the leisure and conference sectors will be fulfilled through effective investment in promotion, events, and development of the tourism sector." Who will it apply to? The tax will apply to hotels, B&Bs, self-catering accommodation, campsites and caravan parks. For specific events like arts festivals or major conferences, councils will be permitted to adjust the 7 per cent figure. But the type of accommodation subject to the tax won't be able to change. Mini tourist train crashes in Brit holiday hotspot with carriage overturned injuring 20 with four in critical condition There are exemptions, however, which include motorhomes and people receiving disability payments. Aberdeen City Council's finance and resources convener, Alex McLellan, said: "The income generated from the visitor levy, paid by those visiting the city, will provide a huge boost to our local economy and allow us to invest in bringing major events and conferences here on a more regular basis." The tax will also support large-scale events, productions and festivals through a special fund. Other tourist taxes Aberdeen is not the first Scottish city to introduce such measures but the 7 per cent rate is the highest so far. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow introduced a 5 per cent levy earlier this year which are due to come into effect in June 2026 and January 2027 respectively. McLellan added that tourists are paying similar amounts per night across Europe. "We should do the same to ensure we can compete in terms of attracting both business and leisure tourism to Aberdeen," he said. The new levies come after the Scottish Parliament introduced legislation to impose a levy on overnight accommodation. There isn't an equivalent law in England but Liverpool and Manchester, for example, have already found alternative ways to raise money in the same fashion. The new charges come as another popular UK destination imposed a tourist tax last month. Holidaymakers who take a trip to Wales will be thumped with an extra £1.30 per night after proposals were given the nod.
