Am I Mad

twc58

I applied for Voluntary Redundancy from my employer(bank)and have been accepted.I have worked there for 35 years - I am 52.
I have known since the end of last year that there were to be both Voluntary and Compulsory Redundancies.
Finanicially I am ok ,annual pension of 15k and redundancy payment of 50k.
I thought I had prepared myself for this but now feel a sense of sadness and am not as upbeat about leaving as I think I should be.
I cannot talk to anyone at work as they will think I am crazy.
My reasons for wanting to leave were increased stress, fewer staff left afetr all these redundancies to do the same job and also concerns about the future of the Company plus possibly the last chance to get a decent redundancy pay off.
I now seem to have got it into my mind that I will never get another job
What is wrong with me!!!!!

LillythePink

Nothing is wrong with you......you're just worried about being out of your comfort zone (no matter how much it stressed you out etc, it was still a comfort to know that it was there)

Now you are going out into the big wide world again where everything has changed since you last had a job interview!

Sorry - that probably sounded like you really wanted to hear that, but think of it as an opportunity to do something that you want to do now and not had to because it was too scary to leave or the money was good etc

Put it this way - you made the choice to leave - it wasn't forced on you, as you say, you are ok financially - I think that you deserve a medal - you probably saved someone who really did need the job!

Is there anything that you fancy doing now you're going to be a lady/gent of leisure???

twc58

Thanks Lily
I think thats part of the problem I don't know what I want to do.I dont finish until the end of Nov and then hope to have a couple of months off before I start to look.I hope to get something part time.
I am thinking of doing a counselling course for 2 years but it is 4k per year and am concerned that I am rushing into something new when I am not 100% sure.I need to decide on this by the end of next week as the course starts on the 19th.

skintbint_2

twc58- try some voluntary work first before you make any final decision and it would probably help with your course if you go ahead- there will be another course next year i presume, dont rush into anything as you have been in the same business for so long and i think you may make a decision through panic rather than reason(i have been in my job 26 years and think i'll be facing the same thing) = why do you have to pay for your course?

poet123

twc58 wrote: »

Thanks Lily
I think thats part of the problem I don't know what I want to do.I dont finish until the end of Nov and then hope to have a couple of months off before I start to look.I hope to get something part time.
I am thinking of doing a counselling course for 2 years but it is 4k per year and am concerned that I am rushing into something new when I am not 100% sure.I need to decide on this by the end of next week as the course starts on the 19th.

I wouldnt advise rushing into anything, least of all counselling. I work at a college and these courses are full of people who have been made redundant or who have other life issues, and you have to dig deep into personal experiences which many find they are not ready for, it can be very unsettling. Add to that the dearth of opportunity in that sphere because of the numbers doing these courses and it starts to look a bit of a waste of money.

My advice would be to volunteer in a sphere which interests you, often, volunteers get the paid jobs when they occur.

A friend of mine took voluntary redundancy from a bank and is now a doctors receptionist, and she loves it. So, dont rush into a new direction, take your time and find your niche.

Good luck.:D

getmore4less

twc58 wrote: »

Finanicially I am ok ,annual pension of 15k and redundancy payment of 50k.
I thought I had prepared myself for this but now feel a sense of sadness and am not as upbeat about leaving as I think I should be.
I cannot talk to anyone at work as they will think I am crazy.

The feeling is normal and it will take time or another job or crisis for that to go away.

Make sure you really are financial secure, if your spends are more than £15k then you are eating into the £50k get a solid budget that works long term based on the £15k.

Then you can consider just about any other option in your own time.

Do you have any hobbies or passions that you would like to spend more time on?