Please could I have some perspective on this?

[grumpmitchell]

I am in a situation at work that I'm not sure I can cope with. I don't want to put too much detail here as it is fairly identifying as to my employer.

I work at an organisation which is in its final year of being open. It closes next July. The atmosphere is awful. Staff have been steadily being made redundant since last June and the organisation gave let far too many people in key jobs leave. As a result the work has been spread out between the remaining staff, some of whom have applied to be allowed to leave earlier but have been deemed 'key' staff and do they're expected to stay until next July before they're allowed their redundancy pay.

The job I do is customer facing and we are expected to keep things going to appear to our customers that all is well and to avoid them complaining. We have a new site manager who is intimidating and a bully.

I am currently sitting up worrying and dreading going into work. I need to work to pay the mortgage but if I didn't I would leave. The feeling in my stomach about going into work is dreadful and I have been in work wanting to cry. I don't think I can hold it together for the customers.

My question is what do you think I should do? I am obviously looking for other work but I fear I can't sell myself well when I feel like this. I would forego my redundancy money if I could get another permanent job.

Any advice please? Would I be out if order to ask the doctor to be signed off for a bit, just to give some reaching space? Am I wrong to want this? I'm so deeply into the situation I'm not sure if I'm over reacting.

[minipin]

No real advice OP but sympathy as am also awake worried about work. It's awful. Can you talk it through with your GP? I have had a short spell off work before and found it helpful. This could give you the space you need to take stock and prepare for something new.

[3luckystars]

My bil was in a very similar situation for about 18 months while his company closed, it was absolutely awful and a lot of his colleagues got very depressed. It was really hard on him and his family, but he had to stick it out.

is there any chance at all of you getting your redundancy now, could you apply in writing to leave now?

Please Dont forego your redundancy money or leave early because of this bully , just because you only have a year left doesn't mean you have to put up with that shit in an already stressful situation. You have to deal with it the same way as if your workplace was staying open, go to your gp for support if you need to. Is HR still operating? Is there anyone you can talk to at work? So sorry this is happening and best of luck.

[HelpfulChap]

To coin a cliche, I would take it one day at a time. You know you are out of there in in 10-11 months. It will fly by.

Unless a really good job comes up, I wouldn't forego the redundancy unless you know it isn't worth hanging around for.

Good luck.

[FinderofNeedles]

You don't have to answer this on here but to follow HelpfulChap's point, if you stay to the end, do you know how much you would actually get? It will depend on your salary and your length of service. Use an online calculator. The minimum isn't very generous, and that may be all you get, depending on the reason for closure. My guess is you will be surprised at how little you will get, which will hopefully make it easier for you to decide it's not worth hanging on.

Once you decide to look seriously for another job, I guarantee you will start to feel better because you are taking control of your life.

[flowery]

I agree with Finder. Your mental health is suffering and I think the redundancy pay-off for waiting another 10 months to leave would have to be extremely big to make it worth it. The sense of taking control and the relief of leaving this situation are likely to be far more valuable and make far more difference to your life.

I think focus all your energies on finding something else. Milk as much as you can from your current job in order to help you do that, in terms of thinking how you can maximise/best express and emphasise the skills and experience you've gained from being there.

Turn up to work, go through the motions, but consider your 'main job' at the moment being job-hunting and preparing yourself for interviews etc, with the end goal of getting yourself out of this situation as soon as possible.

Taking control over one's own situation makes a huge difference.

[JaneAustinAllegro]

I wouldn't normally advocate this, but bearing in mind how little trading time the company has remaining, and apparently with an allocated redundancy pot, it would be unlikely that they would start to performance review someone who was having repeated sickness time off - which frankly you sound like you'd be entitled to get a sick note for anyway.
Raise a grievance against the new manager. Make yourself a nuisance to the organisation while remaining within the terms of your contract, and you may find that early redundancy is offered.
it's a very risky strategy if you need a good reference from them (though with a company that's closing, new employers won't be able to follow up on the basic " x was employed from y to z" standard one).

Keep looking for a new job because if something fantastic comes along, you'd be mad to miss it just to hang on for a payoff (UNLESS - you've been in the organisation for a long time / are over 40 / they are offering enhanced redundancy - CHECK what the package is and work out what your statutory entitlement is - it's never particularly shiny)