Would you stay?

TillyMoo

I'm in a bit of muddle!

I'm struggling with my work / workload currently as the company I work for keep changing their expectations of me and I now do the job of 4 people in a single week. I'm constantly ill with the stress of it all and have been told that I am 'expected' to work for free in the evenings / weekends to get the workload completed.

I've worked for the company for well over 2 years. I was recently put into the position I am now in from another department, although if I had have known what it was actually going to be like I would never have taken the job.

Alongside this, I asked for my pay to be reviewed as I now manage another staff member and have much more responsibility. This request has been totally ignored and its clear the answers no. I feel extremely taken advantage of and I know they would struggle to find someone who understands their systems and completes the amount of work I do for them.

I'm applying for everything possible and have a possible 3 interviews on the horizon, but with a 4 week notice period, I feel maybe I should be resigning sooner rather than later. I feel the company will get pretty bitter about me leaving and I would like to do as much as possible to get a positive reference (or at least factual!).

I would honestly struggle financially without a job, but I could 'manage' for around 2 months as my OH works and would just about cover our bills / food etc.

Would you take the risk and resign and give it your all to get another job asap?

I feel that if I'm waiting around for another 6 weeks, I'll end up just walking out. However unprofessional that sounds, I just can't mentally or emotionally handle the constant aggressive attitude of managers all of the time. I'm extremely unsupported and feel extremely targeted at the moment.

Just looking for a bit of advice. Please be kind. I understand how fortunate I am to have a job in the current climate, but its hard to feel grateful when you spend your evenings in tears with stress and worry.

Lagoon

If your husband agrees that he can manage to provide the sole income for a couple of months, then in your position I would definitely hand in my notice.

There is NOTHING worth that kind of impact on your mental health, and something better will come along if you look for it and make an effort.

deedee71

I'm currently working notice, in fact I finish up tomorrow. It is very liberating to be able to say, stop giving me new projects as I'll not be able to complete them before I leave.

Things have started to get a little nasty now my end date is looming but I just keep saying to myself, these big fish in a (very) small pond will still be here and I won't.

I agree no job should make you ill but the stress of struggling financially if you aren't successful at these interviews will not be easy either.

Give yourself a goal - say I will hand in my notice on x date because I know I can last until then (agree in advance with your OH). Be strong.

an9i77

I was in a similar position a year ago, desperate to get out of a job I hated more an more each day. It's not a nice place to be. Luckily I did manage to get another job but I was considering just quitting.
If you quit, the disadvantage of this is that you may have to take the first thing that comes along whereas if you can wait it out a little longer you have more choice. I know you're probably thinking you just want out, but you don't want to go from the frying pan into the fire and end up with another job you don't like.

I'm going to throw in a curve ball here, could you take a couple of weeks off with work related stress? Then when you go back, if your employer appears to give any sort of damn, they may be prepared to reduce the workload and make it a bit more tolerable. This will give you time to find another better job.

If they don't appear to give any sort of damn, then you have your answer and should just leave.

nettles

I felt like that at my last job. I handed in my notice with nothing to go to. Then the day before I left, I got a call from an agency - I started a temp job the following week. Not ideal, but its money coming in, and at a better rate than I was getting before. I know it will end soon, but it's extending my looking for work period.
I say go for it - its really not worth putting up with a job that ruins your life.

ValHaller

If you have made up your mind to go, then just stop working for free in the evenings and at weekends. Hand in your notice if they start getting too heavy about it. This will give you a longer time-scale over which to find another job and will leave you able to job search while you work at this place.

hcb42

stop working for free, and yes just go..

I did it two months ago, put notice in with no job, (3mo notice) got job within two weeks so still working notice. It is a total bind!

It differs for everyone and perhaps being in ajob to get another job is a good thing for many, but equally when an employer is taking the absolute proverbial then put the notice in and you ca work it knowing there is an end date in site and you have the upper hand

Littld_2

A LOT of people are struggling with this situation right now (including me!)

It's like being forced out - a cheap alternative to employers having to pay redundancy.

I'm learning to say no more often and sticking to my contract where I can without being awkward.

Mental health is top priority. Take care. Don't accept guilt because other people don't have jobs. Your situation is your situation.

I'm going to add that a good way to get a pay rise is to ask for it with a new written job offer in your hand!

gloria7819

If you have talked to your boss or bosses and they cannot agree on what they want you to do and it is not getting better, then I would give my notice. There is probably a better job for you out there. It will also, be less stressful on you and your family. Good luck on finding a new job!

hcb42

Littld wrote: »

I'm going to add that a good way to get a pay rise is to ask for it with a new written job offer in your hand!

it can work but more money will not chance discontent, have lost count of the number of times I have seen this strategy backfire ad the employee leaves eventuially!