Fed Up With My Job

questricky8

I have been at my job for five years however the last two or three months I have been getting tired of my job. One colleague in particular very frequently keeps calling in sick or makes an excuse to say she can't come into work. There doesn't seem to be any repercussions for all her absences.Nine times out of ten its me that steps in to do her shift. Even on my week off I get called into work because she is unable to do her shift. If I say I can't do it they just say well the store will have to close and I feel guilty.

Also, there has been alot of animosity and all round bad atmosphere in the store.I am working like a slave for cr*p money. I feel mentally and physically drained. I have been looking for other jobs I have one interview coming up but there is no guarantee I will get the job..I thought about just quiting however, I have been told if I did that I won't get any dole money or whatever its called now is that correct? I'm getting to the stage where I dread just the thought of going to work.

MikeJXE

It sounds like you're a hard working dedicated MUG 

What is a job if its not a happy job, I don't know I have never been in that situation

I worked from 15 years old until I had to retire at 63

Every single day I couldn't wait to get to work, they were undoubtedly the happiest days of my life.

Move and getter a better job, it doesn't have to be more money if you are happy in your work 

Cherryfudge

If it's affecting you so much, could you consider calling in sick? The first week you can self-certify (with stress or anxiety) though after that you need a doctor's note. That's not a permanent solution, and repeated bouts of sickness (as opposed to one long one) may be frowned upon and have negative repercussions like losing a pay increment. However, if you're dreading going in, it's a possibility.

Why is it you who nearly always covers your absent colleague's shifts? If it's too much or you don't want to, say no. 'No, sorry, I can't' is much more effective than giving a reason, because people can argue against any reason you give.

It may also be that there are repercussions for the absent colleague that you don't know about - management probably have an obligation to keep it confidential. Or they may be asking to take it as annual leave rather than have the repercussions.

I don't know for sure but I think if you just left, you wouldn't get benefits, at least not at first. I don't know exactly how it works though.

It's clear this job isn't for you in the long term, but don't put that across when you go for interview, as it could put prospective employers off. Talk about how you saw the advert for the new job and it sounded perfect for you, you would love to work for them and so on. Be positive, and they will be more likely to employ you.

YBR

Echoing previous comments, covering your colleague's shifts and keeping the store open is not your problem - it's your manager's. Decide what you can do and what you can't (which is presumably middle way between no overtime and covering everything) and stick to it. Don't give reasons, just "Sorry not available, you'll have to ask someone else" or similar. Maybe just don't answer the phone to your boss on your week off?

If you just resign, then it's very limited benefits so I wouldn't do that, and it's also much easier to get a new job from employment than from unemployment. Start planning to move though - having a secret exit plan can make you feel much better. Brush-up the CV, apply for everything that suits ... it's usual to take several interviews before you're good at interviewing, and ask for feedback if you're turned down.

You don't know what health problems your colleague is battling, so despite what it feels like to you, they may be managing the best they can in their circumstances. Try not to focus on that, but on what you can do yourself to not be dragged down by the bad atmosphere, and to create that exit plan.

housebuyer143

Think of it this way. If you died tomorrow they would replace you in a few days - you owe them nothing so stop being taken for a ride. 
Do not offer to come in on your days off when someone calls in sick, don't do more at work than you feel comfortable with and if you can't get it all done without being rushed off your feet explain to your boss that you have done as much as you can in the time you have been given. 
Put yourself first and know you have job security due to length of service. 

elsien

questricky8 said:

I have been at my job for five years however the last two or three months I have been getting tired of my job. One colleague in particular very frequently keeps calling in sick or makes an excuse to say she can't come into work. There doesn't seem to be any repercussions for all her absences.Nine times out of ten its me that steps in to do her shift. Even on my week off I get called into work because she is unable to do her shift. If I say I can't do it they just say well the store will have to close and I feel guilty.

Also, there has been alot of animosity and all round bad atmosphere in the store.I am working like a slave for cr*p money. I feel mentally and physically drained. I have been looking for other jobs I have one interview coming up but there is no guarantee I will get the job..I thought about just quiting however, I have been told if I did that I won't get any dole money or whatever its called now is that correct? I'm getting to the stage where I dread just the thought of going to work.

And there is your answer. Their staffing issues are not your problem. You don’t need to go off sick, just stop caving in to every request. There seem to be more than two people working there, and the other people are saying no to the extra shifts with no difficulty. You just need to do the same. 

You need to be assertive and tell them that you cannot work because you have other arrangements. You are under no obligation to say what those arrangements are. 

They are walking all over you and you are letting them do it. We appreciate that making a stand can be difficult, but I am coming from the perspective of someone who did what you are doing, ended up quite poorly and having to give the job up anyway.

With regards benefits and being sanctioned if you do leave your job voluntarily, yes, it’s possible, but no one can tell you in advance if that will happen or not, because it will depend on the decision maker for the benefits at the time and your rationale.

Marcon

questricky8 said:

I have been at my job for five years however the last two or three months I have been getting tired of my job. One colleague in particular very frequently keeps calling in sick or makes an excuse to say she can't come into work. There doesn't seem to be any repercussions for all her absences.Nine times out of ten its me that steps in to do her shift. Even on my week off I get called into work because she is unable to do her shift. If I say I can't do it they just say well the store will have to close and I feel guilty.

Also, there has been alot of animosity and all round bad atmosphere in the store.I am working like a slave for cr*p money. I feel mentally and physically drained. I have been looking for other jobs I have one interview coming up but there is no guarantee I will get the job..I thought about just quiting however, I have been told if I did that I won't get any dole money or whatever it's called now is that correct? I'm getting to the stage where I dread just the thought of going to work.

Why are you letting this happen? You've put yourself in this position and are allowing it to continue, so your employer has no incentive to change the status quo.

Check if your local authority runs courses on assertiveness - they often do, at a reasonable cost, and many such courses only last a day. Failing that, your library will have books on the topic.

The JobCentre could delay your claim for JSA by up to 26 weeks if you resign without good reason - and just 'not liking' your job isn't a good reason.

stu12345_2

stop answering your phone when you see the caller id as your work.
I used to get calls at 5am on days off, eventually my wife would answer and say sorry my husband is asleep and I'm not going to  waken him up.

then at around 11am I would call back and say hey what's the emergency , work would say never mind now., such and such phoned in sick , that was 6 hrs ago 

 then it came to a point , I switch phone off on days off or on holiday or just ignored work calls 

TELLIT01

Lack of staff isn't the OP's problem.  It's something for management to sort out.  Helping out occasionally is fine, and a positive thing to do.  Always giving in and covering absence is not doing the OP any favours, as they clearly realise.  They have to say 'No' and stick to it.  Let the managers cover the absence and they may actually do something about the levels of staffing.

Simplest solution is not to answer the phone when it's from a work number.

EnPointe

fundamentally you have three choices 

1. start going sick etc yourself  as it's obviously getting  to you  - this might work but  equally you may just find yourself being run through attendance / capability  and   exploring the opportunities at  dept P45 with little come back if the process is followed 
2. buckle  down smile on the outside and apply for roles elsewhere 
3. flounce / rage quit   and  then  have to explain why you flounced / rage quit from your previous role to new employers  and run the risk that  the DWP delays your  claim for JSA/ UC if you need to claim

Marcon

EnPointe said:

fundamentally you have three choices 

1. start going sick etc yourself  as it's obviously getting  to you  - this might work but  equally you may just find yourself being run through attendance / capability  and   exploring the opportunities at  dept P45 with little come back if the process is followed 
2. buckle  down smile on the outside and apply for roles elsewhere 
3. flounce / rage quit   and  then  have to explain why you flounced / rage quit from your previous role to new employers  and run the risk that  the DWP delays your  claim for JSA/ UC if you need to claim

Fourth and more sensible choice: learn to say 'no'.