Remaining Positive during consultation period

mangadarkogirl

Hi All.

I would like some advice on remaining positive. The company I work for are in the middle of a consultation (90 days). We have all been told we are at risk.

There's a couple of things I need help with.
First, while it's not visable to just 'plod on', my colleagues and myself are trying our best to continue to do our jobs well (we work in a hospital on the frontline.)

I know I have a duty of care to the people in our care. But it's so hard to not get depressed as there are many negative people around. Mainly my manager is so woeful. All they do is moan, and groan about their job, how hard work is and how they are not coping. We are all in the same boat. Their workload has increased slightly due to our team being cut in half through people leaving and being off sick. I try my best to ignore it and knuckle down but I can't always avoid them. Any ideas?

The second thing is advice on how to job hunt when working full time? I've been applying and hunting for the past two months and had nothing but rejections. To top if off I come home and I am having issues with anti social neighbours. So quite a few stressors atm.
But I am determined to find a way. I want to career change but don't know where to start. Mainly because I don't think there is a future in the NHS for people below band 5.

Hope someone can help. Thanks.

I_wanna_live_for_free

Didn't want to read and run, hun - I'm in much the same boat, our jobs are at risk unless we want to relocate 300 miles away. I keep looking for other jobs but it's so early days yet that I'm still bursting into tears at the thought - this is the 2nd redundancy in 6 years for me but this one has really got to me. We've to carry on regardless too.

I do hope that you get some good news soon and that the other stresses fade away - our psycho neighbour moved away 3 weeks ago so it's not all bad... Do look after yourself xx

tryingtobegood

It's hard to remain positive during a 90 day consultation. I was positively raging!! Top that with a lot of stress and I ended up in hospital myself.

The only thing that kept me going was the money. I was taking every penny I was owed. To get this I had to work as if it was in a normal situation....hhhmmmfff so try and hold your head high for your own personal esteem and ignore the whingers...you won't have to work with them soon anyway .
As you said you have a duty of care so you need to keep your standards up and give them no excuse to "let you go".

My employer allowed a reasonable amount of paid time off for interviews in the last working month, is there anything in place for yourselves yet?
Try and find your happy place in your head and visit it often

Salz

If you find the answer, please tell me mangadarkogirl - I am in the same boat and finding it very difficult to stay positive. I have my meeting on Friday, so Happy Christmas

mangadarkogirl

Thanks for the replies. They've started announcing and sending out letters in our trust now. We've got two weeks in our department before we know. I am just carrying on job wise, I've found the way to sort out glum people is to try and cheer them up a bit then swiftly leave to get on with my caseload.

I doubt we'll get any time off for job interviews etc. They are trying to get rid of people by inserting ridiculous zero tolerance policies that will only trip people up. I'm focused on finding a new position now. Best way to start the new year I think.

Immense

Hi mangadarkogirl.

I recently have been through a NHS restructure and can sympathise with your feelings. I too am employed below Band 5 so relate to your situation.

Fortunately, I was in a big department (greater than 40) so had different colleagues in various teams to discuss concerns with and everyone, apart from 5 had to re-apply. It was quite stressful and having been made redundant for every job in the last 6 years, I was not feeling confident and felt cursed!

This spurred me on to apply for other jobs in the NHS and gave me confidence that a few of my applications were considered for interviews, although not successful.

My advice would be concentrate on the things that you enjoy at work, speak to the people you trust the most, preferably who wont be your competitors and in a similar role, apply for jobs if you feel a change might be good. If you're not successful, at least it will put you in good stead to reflect on your skills, qualities and experiences if it comes to re-applying for your post.

I had to sit through a re-sit through a interview with my managers to regain my post. Bizare to answer questions on what you do but they had me lined up I was told anyway. I felt the managers do prejudice and have in mind who they want to let go. The facts back this up as they let go of someone with sickness and productivity complaints.

Don't fall for all the equal opp stuff in my geniune opinion, it's only to cover their backs in case of appeals etc.

As for your neighbours, maybe try doing some apps in a different environment or get someone to give you hand. Not sure what to say on that really.

Good luck!

Immense

Oh, and utilise your one-to-one meetings if there is a HR rep. I wasn't joined on the Union but if you are, get your trust rep to come as they will back your corner as often managers and HR imply pressure on you by trying to give your a 'push' for you to decide on 'jumping' i.e picking up on sickness absence, disciplinary record etc often if there has been a trust merger to use the excuse of implementing zero tolerance policies.

Take a list of key questions. I made a positive and negative list so it didn't appear I'm panicking. Pay attention to details, i.e length of my service and subsequent entitlements, potential re-deployment, likely regrading of job or duties etc.

Don't feel shy to speak out, no matter what Band you are as I felt they picked on the lower grades to satisfy saving managerial posts. Also be mindful they will be judging your informally at all times. Remember, many people haven't been through redundancies so if your manager appears to be blowing hot air or fobbing your questions/queries away them it may be a sign that they don't know themselves.

Conversely, if they appearing over supportive, asking for too much of your views in consultations, wanting lots of written feedback then I've realised this is used to send you on a goose chase and easy way to build false hope and expectations while actually wasting time. My opinion from personal experience.