This week: covering colleagues for unplanned leave, an abrupt termination of employment and working with a highly demanding, ungrateful team. When everyone leaves their work with you so they can enjoy time off, it can feel like you’re being taken advantage of. Lately, team members have been taking unplanned leave during critical periods, often without handovers, which leaves me picking up the slack. I care deeply about my work and the organisation’s mission, but I’m becoming overwhelmed and resentful as I shoulder extra responsibilities and can’t take leave myself. Your work ethic isn’t in question, and it sounds like it is being taken advantage of.