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AIBU?

To walk from my job

21 replies

Szeli · 04/07/2015 19:18

Well my major contract. Been there 7 years, things keep getting worse re: pay, treatment and conditions. I'm self employed but no outsider would know it... (legally I think I should be a 'worker' but heavens knows)

We'd really struggle financially but I'm at the point of thinking it's worth it.
I have a 5 hour commute that eats around a quarter of my gross and I think the job wont be there that much longer anyway. As it stands, if they lay people off I'll be the last to go but still - doesnt make for a great atmosphere.

I'm really ill; bipolar, ptsd, chronic pain, hs, ibs and hypotension - lots of fainting. Many HCPs have said they're suprised I'm managing work at all but tbh I'm not, it brings back the dark thoughts and most of my conditions are stress related but if I come out of work where does that leave me? Stressed about money I'd imagine and stressed about dealing with the dwp, not sure which is the lesser evil.

I am in a specialised field but currently willing to do anything. I will miss my friends, they're all in the city I commute to but that's it.

Today they've accused me of lying about something, i didnt but im sick of the drama, I don't need pissy texts at home, it's supposed to be a job that stays at work. I'm freelance ffs!

Gahhh sorry for the rant

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TiredButFine · 04/07/2015 19:22

Leave. I did and it wasn't actually that bad. It's amazing how long and slow burnout can be. Your friends can email/fb/call you. You can get work when you are better. I've done it, It was the best decision.

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Pedestriana · 04/07/2015 19:29

I left a job six years ago because I was ill and they kept ringing me at home 'to see if you're feeling better....oh, do you know when you'll be back?'
I had to have surgery to correct something that left untreated could have killed me.
When I got back to the office I resigned.

I'm retraining in a different discipline altogether. It's been a huge learning curve and I've worked really hard, BUT it is infinitely less stressful than the job I used to have.

Health trumps jobs any day. Nobody on their deathbed has ever said, "I wish I'd worked longer hours at the office."

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BigChocFrenzy · 04/07/2015 20:00

Safeguarding your health should be priority number 1.
Also, if that gets much worse, you may find you are completely unfit to work, for a prolonged period.

Quit now and you can use the hours freed up to, hopefully, find another contract with a sensible commute and hours. Or try to get a lower level part-time local job, to top up your other contract income.

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nannyplumislostinspace · 04/07/2015 22:00

Leave. No question. Your health is more important.

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Gabilan · 04/07/2015 22:14

Leave. If you're prepared to be flexible you'll be able to find something less stressful and more local that will pay the bills.

I've been in godawful work situations more times than I care to remember but you can find more work that suits you better.

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MamaLazarou · 04/07/2015 22:15

Leave. Your health is the most important thing. No-one at work will thank you for making yourself ill over it.

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FluffyPersian · 04/07/2015 22:15

Could you get them for constructive dismissal? Do you belong to a union? I'm going through something very similar at work at the moment, however they've not accused me of lying, but have changed my job a lot in very negative ways.

If you do resign and want to potentially do them for constructive dismissal, I'd suggest talking to your Union / ACAS and writing the resignation letter in a certain way so it's an option later on.

Sorry you're going through this, it's utterly horrible and your health IS more important - take care of yourself.

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WanderWomble · 04/07/2015 22:19

Christ, the commute would finish it for me. Mine's about an hour total and that's enough.

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Hoppinggreen · 04/07/2015 22:21

Sounds like you are employed and as such you have certain rights.
You need expert advice ( maybe get this moved to employment) but if you can be proven to be employed not only will your " employer" be fined but you can get dock pay etc.

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AlpacaLypse · 04/07/2015 22:29

Go. You'll feel so much better. Also Hoppinggreen is right, you're almost certainly actually employed even though your employers have been trying to pull a fast one with self employment. Whether it's worth chasing this one up or not is another matter though.

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Hoppinggreen · 04/07/2015 22:34

I meant sick pay not dock pay

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Szeli · 04/07/2015 23:33

Thanks guys

A rival company were investigated a few years ago and owing to a (very slight) technicality I'm definately not an employee. We are treated very poorly but it's a like it or lump it attitude and jobs are thin on the ground.

I have a nearly finished job application for a cab office that I'll drop in tomorrow and hope they have speedy response times. I'm due in my place monday and i really dont want to go. wish i could speak to someone at cmht but my nurse has been cut, you are all starting to convince me but I want to check it's not just me having a bipolary urge to bolt

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taxi4ballet · 05/07/2015 01:32

What was the (very slight) technicality? The law might have changed since then. You need to check this out to be honest.

Are you registered as self-employed with HMRC, raise invoices to your client for payment and pay your own NI contributions and tax personally? Do you do work for anyone else? Are you allowed to set your own hours and take holiday whenever you like?

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Szeli · 05/07/2015 07:26

Yes to all of the above except the setting of hours.

It was to do with us being able to provide somebody else to do our work for us.

At the last place, they set our hours, chose our holidays, wouldnt allow replacement staff etc but as we provided our own equipment hmrc decided we couldnt be classed as employees

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Szeli · 05/07/2015 07:39

Sorry ignore that last, wrote it without opening my eyes and it doesnt make sense.

At my last job; they dictated hours, holidays, breaks, wouldn't let anyone cover for us, cancelled your work if they found out you were working elsewhere on days off but we provided half our own equipment. Due to the equipment we weren't classed as employees another department had their equpiment provided and the company had to repay their tax and holiday pay for the length of their work there.

Where I am now; we choose our days, state when we will and won't work - although most staff must give weekend availability or they won't get weekday work. We can find suitable replacements (not necessarily known to the company) to cover a day for us and we can leave when the job is done (usually). They however again only provide part of our equipment.

It was only a couple of years ago the last big investigation so if things have changed great!

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quietbatperson · 05/07/2015 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Szeli · 05/07/2015 14:04

Just been doing the maths. If I leave I'll have £40pw after bills - which is doable, just. If I get this cab office job tho i'll be up by £85 a week for being out of the house less!

Really, really want this cab job now! It's making me feel sick thinking about it. Must.Remain.Calm!

Thanks for your advice

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Fatmomma99 · 05/07/2015 14:10

Good luck with new job app.

TBH, stacking shelves in your local shop sounds better than what you've got at the moment.

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Szeli · 05/07/2015 14:21

I'd love to - the wages are great but my back/fainting won't allow it Angry

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Szeli · 11/08/2015 00:48

UPDATE: thanks for the push. I haven't quit yet but have reduced my hours to fit in my NEW JOB Grin I'm there now on nights doing some very relaxing colouring in. Things are looking better

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ilovesooty · 11/08/2015 00:56

Glad things are looking up.

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