Back to work next week - Dreading it

mylovelyhorse_2

Hi. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to put here, or why I'm even here, but here goes...

I've been off work for about 2 weeks now, and I'm due back on Monday, and I am really, really not looking forward to it

Basically, to cut a long story short, I've got a bit of a reputation for my bad timekeeping. I've never been warned for it or anything, but it's become a bit of a running joke, I suppose

I've been looking at getting a promotion to a manager for quite a few years now, but I've alway been let down - empty promises, dead ends etc. I was told before I left for my holiday by the regional manager that I was no longer under consideration for promotion, due to my attitude towards my punctuality. She said there was no way I could change her mind, and that I was never going to be considered to be put forward as a manager whilst she was in charge. She said 'to use a clich!, I'm out' This kind of hit me for 6, as I didn't think that I was that much of a liability. But looking back, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. I also suffered an injury in a car accient about 6 weeks ago, and this was mentioned as well. I feel that this has contributed to my lack of motivation and ability

The regional manager offered me 2 options - move to another area, or stay put. He said to let her know ASAP - I promised to inform her of my decision a few days later - this was 2 weeks ago, and I still haven't said anything. I've had a few calls, but ignored them

My problem with the punctuality is that I have trouble motivating myself to get to work on time. I don't intentionally mess about and think 'I couldn't care less if I'm late'. I've been like this for a while now - no motivation at all. I thought that the new job in another area would be the best thing - a fresh start - but now I'm not so sure. I was told it would be fine if I did stay, but disciplinary procedures would commence

I'm at the doctors tomorrow regarding my injury, and I'm thinking of mentioning the way I'm feeling about my motivation. It's not just work, either - at home I'm not motivated. I feel I've got a lot on my mind at the moment, and I'm CONSTANTLY stressing about money. I'm in a bit of debt (about £8k) and my pay is only just getting me through the month. I'm worried that if I get signed off, I might not get fully paid. I think I'm entitled to sick pay (not sure how much, though). Is there a chance I'll only get SSP if I'm signed off? I can't afford to lose anything, but if I don't get my head sorted, I can see me losing my job. I've been with them for about 7 years, and am on about £18k PA. I work for a well known high street retailer

I don't know what to do. I'm sorry for the essay, and I'm sorry if anyone thinks I'm just whinging and I've wasted their time, but I'm really dreading the thought of going back, as this all happened on my last day before my holiday

Any opinions appreciated

bluenoseam

Speak to your doctor, sounds like it could be depression/stress - however that's only half the story.

If you've been looking for a promotion yet continuing to have poor timekeeping then i would consider that very cheeky to be perfectly honest, very little surprise that the RM has told you you won't be promoted on her watch, you might see them as empty promises but many employers would see the running joke as reasons to put you on warnings which could have lead to a sacking. Second to this you promised to inform her of your decision a few days later & didn't as well as ignoring phone calls, well that's another thing which makes you look less than professional - that being said it's unclear, i would await advice from someone more in the know because without making assumptions it sounds like you're signed off by the doctor, during which most companies would have a "check in" procedure to keep them up to date.

The warning i would give is that you've been warned that disciplinary procedures will commence - that means if you don't pick things up you WILL be dealt with, don't take that as a running joke, that could wind up with you going from working to the dole queue! That's not to sound nasty or condescending, but they've clearly said that hoping to light a fire under you.

SarEl

Ditto - get your health checked out, get advice on managing your debt better, and stop mucking your employer about. A manager has to lead by example, and now way is a manager who is always late and demotivated going to be what the employer is seeking. I would try to avoid being signed off - which doesn't mean that the GP cannot help - because trankly this is not going to go down weel. It will look like another form of evasion, and may result in hardened attitudes about you (or even worse ones anyway - I think they may have already hardened from what you say). You have been given a very clear set of options, and at least one of those is going to lead to disciplinary action. The employer is not beating around the bush here, and you cannot afford to either.

Sambucus_Nigra

The only way to get promotion is to up your game, not down it. If your current pay isn't stretching, then how do you think JSA would cover your expenses?

Get up earlier, get in early or on time and change those perceptions; otherwise you will never get a promotion.

lizzywig

It sort of sounds to me like you're stuck in a rut. Do you think you would be able to motivate yourself a bit more by setting yourself goals and targets, i.e. this week I'm going to be in work every day by 9am etc, even if that's 30 mins before you're due in. In fact my advice would be to arrive at work extra early with a decision for your boss on your first day back. It might not sound appealing but it might show a change of attitude, or at least a start, but you'll need to keep it up.

One of my colleagues is in a similar position to you, everyone starts work at 9am and most people are in by 8:45 to make a cuppa, have a chat & turn their PC on ready to start work at 9am. However he doesn't usually roll in until 9:15am, none of the bosses say anything and probably haven't noticed because they're always in/out of meetings but his colleagues notice and there is a running joke. His attitude is lax too and he's always joking about work and not caring about it and only in it for the money, it comes across really badly and annoys a lot of people who do work really hard. I'm not putting you in the same boat but I'm just saying that it's really easy to go down that path but look at how others view it. I'm sure you don't want to be categorised in the same way.

Perhaps you do need to see a doctor about your general wellbeing but from what you've said I personally think (and this is just my opinion so take it with a pinch of salt, I am no dr!) that you would be worse off for being signed off work. I wonder if the way you feel about your job has rubbed off on your motivation at home, after all who can be bothered when they have nothing to look forward to. IF you were signed off there would be even less to look forward to and you would have the worries of debt (which yes can be looked at later).

Having been signed off work with depression myself I felt so much better for going back to work, I felt like I could tackle things head on....that's just me though and everyone's different. I would try to show your boss that you've changed your attitude and take it from there, keep your chin up, work hard and if they don't notice or they still think of you as the same old running joke then maybe look for a new job which you will find more rewarding.

t0rt0ise

You sound as if you need a new job, something to look forward to and give you some motivation. Have you considered moving jobs altogether?

Hammyman

mylovelyhorse wrote: »

I've been looking at getting a promotion to a manager for quite a few years now, but I've alway been let down - empty promises, dead ends etc. I was told before I left for my holiday by the regional manager that I was no longer under consideration for promotion, due to my attitude towards my punctuality. She said there was no way I could change her mind, and that I was never going to be considered to be put forward as a manager whilst she was in charge. She said 'to use a clich!, I'm out' This kind of hit me for 6, as I didn't think that I was that much of a liability.

As a manager should be the first person there and you can't even manage to get to work for the start time, just how did you think it would be viewed?

I am surprised you've not got a warning or been sacked if it is so bad it has become a running joke.

Margey

You need to start to get to work on time. Is it your job that is affecting you, and that is why you don't want to get up? Maybe a change in career may help, because then you might have something to get up for.

Why are you ignoring your calls? Maybe this is your step to get a move on and get yourself back on track. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier and start doing something with yourself.

You need to be the complete opposite of everything you are saying here, about your bad time keeping and not following up on potential promotions.

If you know you have problems, then why don't you do something about it!?