Work is an utterly miserable word.

[London Female]

Well it is at the moment anyway. I started a new job on 27th August and basically, I hate it. There are lots of things about the place I work at that worry me and I have put my concerns in writing the the manager, as a result they arranged for me to speak to the regional manager and some other bod from head office. I am still not happy, they say all the right things but I am not convinced it will get better.

My contract says I have a 3 month probationary period. As I started on 27th August I assume that means my probation ends on 27 November and if I resign anytime up to that date I can give just one weeks notice. I am seriously thinking of just resigning on the 26th November. One person says I should not do this as it makes me look bad for leaving a job without another one to go to, like a quitter or unable to cope, someone else says just go.

 

[Glow worm]

Go with your instincts. I walked out of a job I hated once and it was the best move I ever made, though I was terrified at the time. There's no point in wasting the few years we have in life doing stuff we hate.Whatever you choose, good luck

 

[mark st1]

Why are you not convinced they will get better ? Seems a shame if you went the bother of meeting with the hierarchy that your not going to give it a chance. Care to share what the problems are with us ?

 

[Ganymede]

One person says I should not do this as it makes me look bad for leaving a job without another one to go to, like a quitter or unable to cope, someone else says just go.

Friend of mine gave the advice to another friend of mine that you either have to quit straight away or give it at least 18 months. If you've only been somewhere a couple of months it's explainable in future. You can even leave it off your cv (eventually) as the gap sort of disappears. Leaving quickly can make you look decisive, but you have to really think how you would explain it if someone asked you about it in an interview. (ie no whinging!)

The chap of whom I speak left quickly - the person who was taken on at the same time as him got stuck there and hated it, only put up with it because she'd relocated and needed to stay put. Chap got a new job quite quickly, but we work in a rather free-lancey business so perhaps it wasn't too hard for him.

I'd say think carefully about how easy it will be for you to get another job, and think carefully about the "narrative" you can build about if you leave. It's perfectly possible that other employers in your line of work know how cr@p your current firm is and will totally understand, but I'm afraid it's always a gamble.

 

[Ganymede]

PS one thing that is always a worthy explanation is if the job, when you started, was not what you had been led to believe it would be. As an employer (and I am one) I would listen to someone who said "I was hired as someone to run projects but all I did was run round doing errands for the MD".

You do sound as though it may be a management problem for you?

 

[London Female]

Why are you not convinced they will get better ? Seems a shame if you went the bother of meeting with the hierarchy that your not going to give it a chance. Care to share what the problems are with us ?

Because part of the problem is they can not recruit enough staff and one of the people they have recruited and is currently on their two week supernumerary period speaks and understands hardly any English, so how I don't understand how they think this will make the job easier. I stated this in my letter to them and they have not really addressed it.

 

[Ganymede]

Because part of the problem is they can not recruit enough staff and one of the people they have recruited and is currently on their two week supernumerary period speaks and understands hardly any English, so how I don't understand how they think this will make the job easier. I stated this in my letter to them and they have not really addressed it.

I'd say that was quite an unusual problem...

Is there a safety issue with this lack of comprehension?

 

[London Female]

PS one thing that is always a worthy explanation is if the job, when you started, was not what you had been led to believe it would be. As an employer (and I am one) I would listen to someone who said "I was hired as someone to run projects but all I did was run round doing errands for the MD".

You do sound as though it may be a management problem for you?

Yes it's a management problem. Staff do not like working for this manager so they all leave and they can not recruit any staff, the only one they have recruited speaks hardly any English. I am not sure how they are allowed to do this, I will be taking advice from my union on this matter. The manager now sees me as a trouble maker and is being difficult. She has made it clear to one of our regular agency staff who come she will not authorise holiday or shift swap requests to make it difficult for me to attend interviews.

 

[London Female]

I'd say that was quite an unusual problem...

Is there a safety issue with this lack of comprehension?

I believe there is which is why I put it in writing to them and refused to have them work with me during their supernumerary period.

 

[Haitch]

Explain your position to the manager/regional manager/bod from head office and try to get firm commitments from them as soon as possible. If you feel confident about them, reconsider walking out.
See P&O (this afternoon if possible) and explain your position and ask how they can help you (if not improvements in your current work, perhaps a transfer within the same organisation). Ask them when your probation term runs out.
Don't slam the door on the way out.

Good luck

 

[Mile195]

When I came to my current job I hated it. I'd worked for a very "old school" type of company before where everything was done properly and the standard of work was high. When I came to where I am now I felt everything was done in a very slap-dash manner, and nobody cared what the quality of what we did was. I very nearly left, but at the time there wasn't much work about in my industry.

Anyway one of our major clients went under and there was a massive cull of staff. I was kept on - one of only 5 in my department out of a team of 15. That was 4 years ago and since then I've taken over the department and it runs well. The company has many more varied clients and jobs to work on and I now, for the most part, really enjoy my job. I wouldn't get half the opportunities in most companies as I do here.

It may well not apply to your situation, but it just goes to show that sometimes things can change so do think carefully before you jump ship.

 

[Ganymede]

I believe there is which is why I put it in writing to them and refused to have them work with me during their supernumerary period.

Seems to me that it's one of those management situations where they feel paralysed - they don't want to lose the manager, because then what would they do, but they must know she's a liability, as she keeps losing staff. Very frustrating. Good to put these things in writing as it covers your back.

 

[Bryony]

I got a job last year and on my first day one of the staff told me that I probably won't stay there long, no one does! Thought it was a bit of a weird thing to say but just shrugged it off.

Well I soon discovered why they couldn't keep staff. It was extremely stressful when it didn't need to be, the running of the place was awful especially after my supervisor left, one of the managers took her place until they found someone else. He had never done that job as he went straight into a management position and so he didn't have a clue and it was a shambles. The rotas were all over the place he had loads of staff when he didn't need them and not enough when he did. He put me in an area I'd never worked or been trained in then b*****ked me when I made mistakes. You were told to do something in a certain way and then when you did it they had a go at you and said you don't do it like that any more (well thanks for telling me!) There's loads more examples but if I wrote them all down it would be the worlds longest post!!

Anyway the stress of it all put me in hospital for a week! I have a heart condition and the stress caused me to have problems and I got taken into hospital. After being discharged I was told to find another less stressful job and that they would sign me off sick till I found a new one!

I was so glad to get out of there and since I left there a year ago my health has never been better! So if you really hate it that much and if it's causing you stress get out of there!! Life's too short to put up with things like that.

 

[Maverick Goose]

Second that...I'd go !

 

[Booyaa]

If you don't like it best off to go. Good luck finding something else.