Should I resign from my job in the hope of getting another one?

alyth

Basic bit of background, I've been working as a legal secretary for 7 months to the most horrendous boss in the world. I've taken things thrown at me, being called stupid, I've walked out and been persuaded to return, I've been hospitalised because of a panic attack caused by stress of work and I basically just can't take any more.

I want to go to uni (I've posted on this and evil boss before) and have an interview for an access course on Thursday. and if successful would start in the middle of August. I would have to get a part-time job as the grant for the course is only £400 a month, but I just think that might be manageable, and I came into some money recently so I would be okay for the access course year.

Should I just go in and resign on Monday - there are a few part-time jobs that I could apply for this weekend in the local papers, cleaning, waitressing, that sort of thing that would give me extra money whilst studying, but I sat at work today having gone through a fairly traumatic tooth extaction yesterday then arriving into work to a torrent of abuse about how I was stupid for letting my teeth get into such a state that I had to have one removed (!!!!!!!) and I just at my desk in a daze and wondered what the hell I was doing there.

I hope this doesn't sound as if I'm throwing my toys out of the pram with regards to the job, the guy's paid out a fortune in compensation over the years to his secretaries, it's only a very small law firm and at least once a week he drives someone other than me to tears, but I've sat and sat for the last couple of weeks since I got the money and just wondered why I'm feeling loyal to this guy and not resigning, when he's made my life hell for half of the year!

Anyone got any advice they could give me?

Thanks in advance.

kiddy_guy

Constructive dismissal ?

alyth

don't think I've been there long enough and quite frankly another lawyer tried it last year on the guy and even though he won his case only got £500 - I wouldn't do it for the money but I don't think the stress factor would be worth it.

mrcow

I'd go in and tell him on Monday that he had a choice:

Cut the crap
Or you're quitting

Let him chose how he wants it to be played. If you can afford to live without it, then why belittle yourself to put up with this sort of abuse.

And whether you're going to see it through or not, I'd still tell him that you consider that you're being forced out by his unreasonable behaviour.

alyth

I tried the cut the crap bit a month ago when i walked out, we had a huge screaming match for an hour, I walked out at lunchtime as was determined not to let him get the upper hand so went back on the Tuesday and we had a discussion and I wondered how long it would be before he lapsed into his old ways, he lasted a week!

he's been warned by the other partner that if he doesn't curtail his behavious then I will walk, and to no avail.

Just wondered how others would play it and whether anyone had been in a similar situation - I know there are some horrendous bullying situations that people have gone through, just never thought it would happen to me!

advent1122

As you are leaving anyway and obviously he will not give you a good reference, I would file his paperwork using a system that would baffle the folks who decoded the enigma machine.
I would also find a use for the shredder - paperwork marked URGENT ususally shreds well.

mrcow

Any mileage with speaking to the partner again?

tbh I'd be inclined to walk. But it's your choice obviously and you have to be clear that workwise - it's tough out there at the moment?

alyth

TBH i did exactly that with a lot of his filing today advent, I shoved it in a carrier bag and brought it home and threw it in the bin!

I know it's tough out there, even tougher where I am up here in rural-shire, that's why I wondered whether anyone had done a similar thing. I'm totally torn between walking and hope I get a place on the access course, which I'm assuming I will, and walking and trying to get another job, but uni is my dream............ grrrr!

scrooge2008

Would you get paid if you were off sick? If so i'd be inclined to get signed off for a couple of weeks to take a breather.

Shouting matches and panic attacks suggest you are right on the edge, and unlikely to be able to think rationally, at the moment. Take some time to get your head together. Absolutely shocking that your boss manages to get away with this though.

Always_Harassed

I think you would be able to get job seekers immediately as you have tried to resolve situation and it is clearly not a good working environment. Check this out at Direct Gov and this could be emergency option. You can study by distance learning to get your qualifications to get into Uni.

Oldernotwiser

I'd stick the job for the next two months and step up your jobhunting for something part time starting in August. If you leave now, two months without an income (as you may well not get JSA) will make big inroads in your savings and you'll need as much money as possible behind you for the next four years of study.

You can put up with virtually anything when you realise it's only for another eight weeks!