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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it normal to hate your job?

147 replies

Fuschia657 · 10/08/2020 13:32

Trying to work out whether I’m just being a moaner or whether this is not normal. On a day to day basis, if you have a job (full time really), do you like it? Like, really, do you feel happy on a day to day basis?

I’m finding more and more than I’m struggling for any motivation whatsoever - it’s boring me to death but at the same time I feel overwhelmed with demands and stress, could work evenings and weekends and still have more to do (senior level corporate job, for context). Working from home probably doesn’t help!

So AIBU - is it normal to hate your job? Am I just being pathetic?

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 10/08/2020 14:06

I've never had a job I've liked, best case scenario for me is a job I don't hate and doesn't negatively impact my lifestyle too much. The only thing that kept me working is not wanting to be judged by others for being workshy.

Choochoose · 10/08/2020 14:09

I like my job, but sometimes dont enjoy working (if that makes sense). As in, I do enjoy the work but there are definitely days where I'd rather still be in bed, or when I just need a break and start to find it hard going. Overall though I think it's not that unusual to hate it, I definitely loathed my previous job, to a level way beyond what is healthy. I was fortunate enough to be able to take the time out and the financial hit and retrain, which has made the world of difference, but not everyone has that chance.

JorisBonson · 10/08/2020 14:12

I don't hate my job, but I hate working and hate the fact that I have to get up and go to work every day for the next 30 years.

Another lottery hopeful here.

Poppyismyfavourite · 10/08/2020 14:16

I'm not convinced about mine atm... I did love it but now I have good days and bad days.
However... I'm pregnant and their maternity package is excellent, so I can't afford to leave now.
...so the plan is to stick it out for 6 months, take a year of leave, come back for 5 months (it's fixed-term project) then look for something different.

Quorafun · 10/08/2020 14:17

I love my job.
Why would you continue doing something that you hate? Change is hard, but not impossible. You just have to be willing to make the sacrifices required to make your own life better. And enjoying what you do for the majority of the day is super important imo.

Sloth66 · 10/08/2020 14:17

I’ve gone part time in a charity job. The pay is low, but there is no stress. I’m sleeping better and feeling more relaxed. It’s a nice job.

EuphegeniaDoubtfire · 10/08/2020 14:21

I don't hate my current job but I did hate one before.

I used to dread every day. It was boring, my manager was a cunt, I was moved to a junior role as punishment for refusing to change my hours. I used to cry at my desk.

In the end, I told my boss I was going to a doctors appointment and never returned. What actually happened was I'd cleared out my desk before anyone arrived that morning and was signed off following a telephone appointment.

userd · 10/08/2020 14:23

I don't think it's normal to hate your job or love it tbh. Most jobs have ups & downs. I did have one job I started to hate so I left. Is it the role or the company?

Stuckforthefourthtime · 10/08/2020 14:24

I have a full time senior corporate job and feel exactly the same - simultaneously so bored but also unbelievably stressed with long hours and so much leadership politics. Nice team but tricky management.

There are likely redundancies coming, and when my manager quietly reassured me that I'm safe but we'll need to make more of our team redundant I could have cried. Lovely people losing jobs, more work for those of us staying, and I am desperate to leave and retrain for something that has part time options, but as the main earner in a pandemic don't want to risk leaving and training without the extra cash cushion of a redundancy payout.

What would you do if you could choose?

Trashtara · 10/08/2020 14:31

Overall I really like my job. At the moment I just can't be arsed - think I am suffering a bit with lockdown really, I was doing really well in 'proper' lockdown but this local lockdown has really messed with me and I'm generally a bit down.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 10/08/2020 14:32

I like my job, but the boring bits are starting to take over. It might be time to move somewhere else. I've had jobs I hated and jobs that were amazing. It shouldn't be the norm to hate your job. Much of it is about the people; there's a saying that people don't leave bad jobs, they leave bad managers.

thecatsthecats · 10/08/2020 14:32

I dislike my job. I'm a COO, and I don't like the responsibility for so much, in a small organisation where there's not many people to delegate to. I've inherited a lot of shonky work practices and feel like I'm constantly playing catch up.

However, I'm not so starry-eyed as to ignore the following:

  • The salary of circa 60k is great.
  • The amount of control I have over my work and our working conditions suits me.
  • My job is fairly secure.
  • My industry has great flexibility for parents.
  • Our CEO is ex-union, and is shit-hot on making staff circumstances nice. I don't have to work overtime.

I live near work (wfh atm), and can live a nice life. Doubtless I'd be happier doing a better job for me (ideally I'd be a writer or work in animal care), but at the moment the advantages are definitely outweighing the dislike of my work.

VeganCow · 10/08/2020 14:33

Aged 18 I had a job in the dole office and I hated it. The older women were bitches and I was so glad it was a temp job. Had a couple after that I wasn't keen on but never dreaded going in. Now I am self employed and I love it, can pick and choose clients, working times and I often have a 3 day weekend.

Original poster
Fuschia657 · 10/08/2020 14:34

@Stuckforthefourthtime

I have a full time senior corporate job and feel exactly the same - simultaneously so bored but also unbelievably stressed with long hours and so much leadership politics. Nice team but tricky management.

There are likely redundancies coming, and when my manager quietly reassured me that I'm safe but we'll need to make more of our team redundant I could have cried. Lovely people losing jobs, more work for those of us staying, and I am desperate to leave and retrain for something that has part time options, but as the main earner in a pandemic don't want to risk leaving and training without the extra cash cushion of a redundancy payout.

What would you do if you could choose?

Sorry to hear this - sounds very similar.

I’ve spent many years training and developing in my area of work so I don’t think I’d want a total career change but certainly a different type of role within the same field. It’s not even the company that’s the issue really, I can’t even put my finger on what it is, I just feel like I increasingly hate it! It’s not even like I’m bored and can just twiddle my thumbs and enjoy the pay cheque - it’s really hard, mentally challenging work. Worst of both worlds really??

OP posts:
Somewheresun · 10/08/2020 14:36

I hate my job but I work with an awful team who are rude and ignore me, I brought this up with with hr who's response was "the team had treated everyone who's held your position the same way, no one seems to stay". HR is aware of the problem and don't seem to want to deal with it as its easier to turn a blind eye. I dread going in each day.

Lyricallie · 10/08/2020 14:41

I don't hate it but I don't love it. I'm so bored. Then I feel guilty for not doing enough but at the same time I'm not being given stuff to do. It was getting quiet even before lockdown and I was working on getting experience to change teams but then obviously this has all been halted now. However the money is good and my manager is great so I'll muddle through.

bobbiester · 10/08/2020 14:43

Yes

user1493413286 · 10/08/2020 14:45

I like my job; there are frustrations and stresses but 75% of the time I’m happy in it.

notacooldad · 10/08/2020 14:46

I dont think everyone hates their job.
I love mine. It can be emotionally draining, tiring, challenging,funny, boring, busy. rewarding depending on what's going on. No two are the same. I can go into work with a plan of what I want to do and get told I'm doing something completely different!!
Ds lives his .
Other ds likes his but is looking for another for career progression.
Dh is happy and looking at expanding his buisness.

Thesnacklady · 10/08/2020 14:46

I do wonder if it’s WFH that is exacerbating the situation.

I’m similar, since lockdown my team were initially furloughed and now made redundant meaning I had to cover 3 people’s roles, working longer days, not much autonomy for a managerial position and all for zero recognition!

All of this has meant that I job I used to love (don’t get me wrong there were bad days) is now a job I very much dislike.

Made worse now with a tight jobs market, lots of people feeling like they are stuck.

This week is my last week until I go on mat leave and I can honestly say I’m fortunate for the timing.

vanillandhoney · 10/08/2020 14:48

No. I don't think it is normal.

I think too many people are happy to accept shitty work environments, though. I know people who have stayed in certain roles and companies for years, complaining the entire time, but refusing to consider a change in career or company - something which is very odd to me. Life is too short to spend the vast majority of your waking week unhappy!

I love my job. I set my own hours and workload, get to spend most of my time outdoors, get plenty of exercise and I get to walk and play with dogs! I work about 16 hours a week, bring home around £350 per week and have an amazing work-life balance. I wouldn't swap it for the world.

MistyMinge2 · 10/08/2020 14:48

I have moments of hating my job when the work load spirals, but generally I'm just totally bored of it. I don't want to be in this sector any more, but I've been doing it so long now I don't think I could do anything else and it would also probably mean a pay cut unless I totally retrained. I don't think working from home helps. I'm back to the office in a few weeks, which I was initially dreading but now think it's what I need. I hope it will give me some much needed enthusiasm. I envy people that love their jobs.

Ylvamoon · 10/08/2020 14:53

I love my job, it's varied and interesting. I do believe that 50% of any job "enjoyment" are the people who you work with, the other half is the actual work.
But I also have had my fair share of jobs that I hated. My advice is, if you dread going in every day, change jobs (I know it's very difficult at the moment), as no amount of money or convince is worth the misery!

PumpkinPie2016 · 10/08/2020 14:54

I love my current job. It's demanding, busy and at times stressful but it's also great fun, never boring and very worthwhile. I didn't like the previous place I worked (doing the same job). It wasn't the job but my manager was crap and had no people skills. Loads of people were unhappy so the atmosphere wasn't great.

If you really hate it, can you look for something different?

BeyondMyWits · 10/08/2020 14:58

I like my job it is varied, interesting and I feel valued. But, it is just a job... I attend, I earn the money to live. Life outside of work is more important to me.