Need some advice

Magic_Sister

Just looking for some thoughts as I don't have anyone to mull things over with.
I have worked 2 contracts for a year now- I'm a self employed NVQ Assessor. Main contract is pretty much full time, and jogs along nicely- my boss is an innovative and supportive woman and it works well for everyone who works for her.
2nd role started small, just a few hours a week in the evenings or weekends. It's a small company and I have supported the MD through some tough times, including helping her to see that another contractor was in danger of bringing the Conpany down. Having said that, I have seen her fire 6 people in that time, and she turns into a snidely, angry, horrible person in the lead up to the dismissals.

Fast forward to now. I have ended up with too much work, and am struggling to do all that she throws at me. And then the snidely comments have started towards me. At a meeting on Thursday, she was so foul towards me that I actually had a panic attack. Whilst I was in the throes of this, she shrieked "It should be ME having a panic attack" and when I managed to ask her to stop raising her voice at me, she shrieked louder that she wasn't. I managed to leave and 2 hours later was fit to drive home.

So my dilemma is this.if I leave the 2nd contract, I can survive financially on the main one but that's it. I will struggle for anything over the basics. But I will have time and no stress. If I continue with the 2nd contract I will be able to have some spare cash but will have a lot of stress to deal with.

I know the answer really, but need to hear some opinions, as always making these major decisions alone is so hard. For background, I am 54, have 1 DD still at home (Uni student), 3 other children and 3 grandchildren.

Thanks for your time.

jackieblack

In your position, if I was treated/shrieked at that way I would walk.
It sounds like she could be getting ready to fire you anyway.

DCFC79

Id leave, I wouldnt want her to treating me like that, look for something else to fill the gap.

getmore4less

easy to say, but the problem is not you and you have the get out I am leaving or you can put in boundaries to stop the too much work creep, something like I can only do stuff Sat for X hours for the next 6weeks.

If the 2nd boss has calm periods it may be worth an attempt to try to get them to see the root cause of the problem that causes them to become Mrs Angry.

eg. if it is too much work then firing people won't help just make it worse, she needs to be recruiting now to make the problem go away.

The key thing to point out is getting angry at you will not solve any problems and firing people that are doing an OK job has not helped(examples of problem when people were fired previously).

you could if you think she has any sense of humor tell her that if she wants to include shouting at you as part of the job you will need to get paid more.

emsywoo123

I am an Assessor as well, although admittedly an employee rather than self employed, as a Lecturer and Assessor.

Which areas do you assess? In my area, there is constantly work advertised in most vocational areas, and if you can use e-portfolios and are a qualified IQA as well, then it must surely be worth looking for other options.

Are you up to date with the changes from Frameworks to Standards?
If anything, the stress is likely to ramp up over the next 12-24 months, with the Levy as well. It certainly will not get easier!

Personally, I could not work for someone who was "foul" towards me. :mad:

Savvy_Sue

Definitely, if you can survive on the main contract, get out of the other one as fast as you can and then look for other bits 'on the side'.

Magic_Sister

Hi All, decision made, quit today! No negotiations were possible as attitude continued. Thanks for your help ��