How to know it’s time to leave a job?

[Woodlandwitch]

There are some good points.
I loved it when I first started. I get paid well, it’s local and somewhat flexible.

But the bad points are recently ramping up.
People are leaving.
The ones that remain aren’t happy.
The workload is increasing.
Everyone is working way more hours than they are paid for.
There is no thanks.
Micromanagement has increased 10fold
It feels like it’s impossible to do a good job due to lack of time and people interfering
Management who are in the office just send passive aggressive emails to people copying in other bosses when things aren’t going well
When I raised the issues with my boss he saw no issues with it.
I have become so stressed that I’m having migraines regularly and last night it was the worst of all and I was sick multiple times.
Because of the extra hours everyone is putting in my family are suffering as I’m having to even put extra work in when I’m home with young toddler.
DH sees how unhappy I am and even friends I work with are either planning on leaving themselves or have left.

Only problem is I am pregnant.

DH says health is more important and says I should leave, but even working part time I am the main earner.

I’ve taken today off as sick leave and am considering being signed off for a week or two, but there are critical projects I’m working on at the moment that would normally need my input and I’m worried I will be letting people down.

Am I just being emotional or should I be looking for something else?

On the upside I have been offered work elsewhere. I’m known well in my field and regularly get offers but I never take them as they are full time and inflexible which wouldn’t work with toddler or especially a new baby.
I could take a pay cut to work for a smaller company though and be a lot happier.

[Legomadx2]

Stay for the mat leave

[MoneyM]

Yeah, I'm sorry - you need to stay for the SMP unless you either can afford to do without the cash, or are early enough on in your pregnancy to qualify for it elsewhere. Does your current employer offer an enhanced package? If not, you could basically be counting down to your last day at the company as your last day before mat leave as, if I were you, I wouldn't be going back!

[anonnancy]

Hi OP.

Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit miserable about work - there's nothing worse!

Your DH is right. Your health and well-being comes first, especially if you are pregnant. IMO if you could afford to start a new job where you potentially do not qualify for SMP, I would do that.

But if you need the SMP then my advice would be to grin and bear it until you go on M/L, then look for further employment whilst you're on M/L.

Hope things work out for you! X

[Woodlandwitch]

Thank you.
It’s going to be tight just with SMP so can’t afford without.
Have decided to stick it out and maybe start ML earlier than planned.

Luckily I won’t have to return after ML and have an offer of other part time work when I’m ready.

It’s going to be a long 6 months.

I saw my GP yesterday and he recommended working reduced hours for the next few weeks.
Not too sure how work will take that but it’s got to be better than being signed off I guess.

Nothing worse than being micromanaged

[madcatladyforever]

It sounds exactly like my last NHS job to the letter. Especially the micromanaging bit.
I hated it, had been there for 15 years and just about had enough - got a new job recently and it's great, there are no team managers. We manage our own workload.
However, given your circumstances you need to grin and bear it and stay for the maternity leave.
You can accept a new job later on. You'd be mad to leave now and miss out on the leave.

[madcatladyforever]

Micromanagement is the absolute pits, it strips every last bit of enthusiam and initiative from people.

[mindproject]

It sounds very similar to my place, except mine isn't well paid, not at all. I wish I had left a long time ago, but my self-esteem has taken knock after knock and now I feel like nobody else in the world would want me. I've been stuck for a very long time.

[Blurryeyesoul]

Echo others and say stay for the mat pay (assuming its more than mat allowance) and be less emotionally invested in it, find ways to relax and you can look for new job after.

If its affecting you health wise and you cant have sick leave or time off, and you have some savings, its possible to look into quitting and go for maternity allowance i think?

[Isleepinahedgefund]

I'd stick it out for the mat pay.

But generally I know it's time to leave when the bad outweighs the good rather than vice versa.

[Drabarni]

when you get up in the morning and don't want to go.
If you can afford not to go, or to look for something else, just don't do it.
Life is too short to not enjoy every day.

[Strawberry72]

Look after your health and get out as soon as you can! Sounds awful!

[sunshinegirl28]

Stay for the mat leave. If the job is stressing you out and affecting your health get signed off by the doc for as long as you need. This shouldn't affect your mat leave pay. Good luck