Is it normal to hate your job?

[Fuschia657]

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?

I fucking hate mine at the moment. Mid level corporate. What I do is quite interesting but the leadership team are awful, I'm in a kind of no mans land of responsibility and was pushed into thinking I was ready to work for a promotion I dont really want and am not ready for so feel set up to fail.

I am physically uncomfortable wfh and have no motivation so my productivity is poor. My work has sort of dried up but I'm off on al in the next week or so so not gonna push that atm.

If we were not in Covid times I'd very much be looking to leave. Very very much. But we are. I'd hate to be made redundant just because I need the income but if there were jobs around I would actively welcome it. But there isn't.

I found I have liked my job less as I've got more senior. I look back fondly on the days when I was more or less only responsible for my own work, and I could devote hours in a day to a given problem, many of which were intellectually interesting.

Now I'm more or less plate spinning constantly and puddle deep in about 200 issues at once. It's challenging, but the wrong kind of challenge - it's logistical and organisational but isn't intellectually satisfying any more.

Still, I've made my peace with it, there are compensations.

I run my own business and if I won the lottery I’d happily give it up tomorrow. Although being my own boss is a thousand times better than working for others!

I used to work in the city and so many people were defined by their job. I would happily not work there are so many other things I would rather do with my time.

I don't hate my job and most of the time I'm happy enough but I'd rather not have to do it. I'm going to retire at 60 so only 7 years to go.

At the moment it's swings and roundabouts with my job.
I work in hospitality and right now I feel like we're despised and abused and the lowest of the low most days - for providing a service most people see as essential in all honesty judging from how people behave when things aren't quite right or when through circumstances beyond our control, something is different now, or unavailable.
Some people make it incredibly hard to give them good service, customer demands are through the roof despite things needing to be different, and I am fed up of being shouted at on a daily basis with the reasoning that 'people are stressed'
People seem to want these places open judging by how busy they are, but are not willing to change their expectations in the midst of this shit storm we're all in. And apparently shouting at the staff facing them will achieve that, only it doesn't does it. My main role in life seems to be a whipping boy for anyone who feels a bit shit recently. It seems that customer service is not about good service, but about never saying no to anyone regardless of health and safety, or the law or Covid or anything.
People cannot stand to be refused anything by someone such as me, because I'm beneath them, no matter what.
It's at the moment a soul and mental health destroying job to do and if I thought anywhere else was different then I'd be out like a shot.
These days the customers who treat you with a bit of respect are more noteworthy than those who are awful, it's becoming the norm.
Most people in the same type of job are feeling the same too, before long there won't be any staff to work these places because we'll all be rocking in a corner somewhere.
But then I bet someone will be along soon to tell me how grateful I should be to have a job in the current climate and need to stop moaning - because people like me are not allowed to have feelings or be brought down by constantly being told we're shit while actually working our socks off - and all so other people can have some fun.

I was in a job I hated some years ago. Sunday evening blues, Monday mornings I could feel my heart plummet into my boots as I walked in through the front door, Friday nights I would be almost hysterical with relief at having made it through another week and would invariably get drunk. Fortunately I moved on to another job that I liked much more. And better still I retired last year.

I’ve hated jobs in the past and it’s definitely the right thing to look for another one if you can. You spend a large amount of time at work so it’s not nice to feel unhappy there.

I dislike my job but I like the opportunities that the salary (6 figures) brings and I like working generally. If I could do anything I wanted, it would be in the travel industry but it pays peanuts. Not to mention is probably not an industry one wants to be in currently.

I like my job, it is interesting, challenging and well paid but I really loved my old job so I keep comparing it and therefore feel a bit dissatisfied. My old place of work was very fun and I had really close friends there whilst this the newer one is more serious and a bit more pressurised. I have to keep on and on telling myself to be grateful as we are treated well and it is the kind of job a lot of people would want, but I do really miss the atmosphere in my old role. It sounds like you could possibly improve your happiness by moving to a different but similar role. Good luck.

I have had some jobs I loved. others quite stressful but well paid.
Generally I have enjoyed some aspects of most jobs I have done.

At the moment I love it- I have turned a creative hobby into a business- so I get paid to play!

@WhereamI88

Lockdown hasn't helped either. It did give me a bit of respite from having to deal with the knobheads at work but I HATE working from home. So that combined with me hating my job has made for a horrible 2020. I should be grateful bla bla bla the world can fuck off as I just want to get Covid and be seriously ill so I don't have to work for a few months. I also fantasize about getting hit by a car when out doing my walks. I stand on the pavement looking at incoming cars and imagine what it would be like if I made just one step on the road. I don't want to die, I just want something to get me out of working, anything.

There, vent over. Sorry you had to read that.

I’ve been there. More recently worked for a different law firm (for some years) and liked some parts but still found myself in tears way too often. I blamed other non-work factors but it’s strange how that’s all stopped since I went in-house.

It’s not too late, it really is worth trying something else

I really like my job, and can't think of many things as bad as hating it. It might be time to change career?

The actual work I do, I love. But I’ve realised I don’t like doing it employed. So I’ve just cut my hours to part time so I can build up my own clients again, set my own hours and charge industry standard. I’m very fortunate that old job want to put me on retainer when I finally leave (it’s rolling until I’m replaced right now).

But it’s a fault of mine really - I’m not very good at not being in charge.

I know two people who adore their jobs and a lot of people that don’t mind them because of how much they make. Everyone else I know hates their job.

Adore my job and would never leave. Love love my boss and his bosses, and the team I manage is fantastic. The work is interesting and challenging and helps consumers. Even though there are 4K people at work, each team I’ve been in has been like a little family. Pays well and fairly too. We work hard and play hard, and I wouldn’t ever want to work elsewhere. I feel very lucky. None of us ever have that Monday morning feeling. We treat each other like adults/friends, and we would all do anything for each other.

Sadly it probably is.

I love mine. Interesting, lots of autonomy, great colleagues and boss. Ethical employer, great environment and working conditions. We get plenty of shit done and have a great time doing it. Everyone is kind and bright and looks out for each other.

I've had a job I hated and the quality of life difference is staggering. You shouldn't not want to get out of your car when you get to the office. I'm looking forward to going in tomorrow.

@Notthetoothfairy I reached second stage in interviews for three in house positions in March....then they all went on pause and then they decided not to recruit someone new, thanks for everything, we will let you know if the position opens again in the future etc. And there's no way I can quit now, I think the economy will tank in the winter.But your message does give me hope there is some light at the end of the tunnel! What is it about law firms, everyone is so miserable!!

I don't mean to derail the OP though, I know many people who think the same, just hate their jobs.

My DP is the only one who loooves his job but it's so poorly paid he can only afford to do it because he had a super high paying job for 10 years beforehand. His job is his hobby essentially.

Thanks all - have to say I am a bit envious at these people saying how great their workplaces are and how much they love it - I’m glad to hear there are some enjoyable jobs!!! It would be interesting to know what these jobs are, maybe that’s a new thread

Definitely time for a change. The economy does concern me though as others have said!!

It's not the worst of both to hate your job but get a great salary.

The worst is to hate your job, have no autonomy/be micromanaged/bullied/repeatedly and knowingly put at risk of harm and be paid next to fuck all for it, whilst any attempts to leave with another job to go to were deliberately sabotaged.

To give an idea of how bad my last employer was, I've already agreed with DP that if any of the main players in senior management ever turn up where I am now, I am immediately handing in my notice and explaining why.

I just find the workplace a nightmate in general. I m dreading going back in 3 weeks. I have loved pottering around st home, not having to deal with everyone"s bullshit.

I think it is fairly common. But doesn't have to be how it is. If that makes sense. However the not hating work can come with other compromises like reduced salary and status.

I loved my job when I first started. Lots of perks. Everything new and shiny, but now I've been here nearly 5 years and the surface has been scratched, the layers upon layers of the sexism, old boys club culture and the laziness of people. It stinks and I detest it.

I hate working from home too. I miss the office. I actually work with nice people, despite the ingrained culture.

I work 20 hours as lo is 2 and I absolutely despise my job. The only plus points are it's nearby and the hours will suit when lo is in nursery etc

I hated my job or rather I liked the work but the management was so CRAP it was impossible to work effectively. I left.

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with my job. Just now I am hating it. It can be very stressful, and I feel we get very little support for this.In fact, we are frequently left short staffed and working on dangerously low numbers.I'm lucky in that I love the team I work with, and have known some of them for many years. I think a good team and manager can make all the the difference, for me anyway. I've worked in areas where the team was fractured, toxic, arrogant, and stuck in their ways. I found it intolerable and didn't stay long.