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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I walked out on my job tonight!

237 replies

MegaMoon · 06/03/2021 20:18

Literally that. I can't believe it really. Half way through my shift I literally walked out. Phoned my supervisor to explain why. I was so angry at my colleagues I just couldn't stay so I walked out. Phoned my supervisor driving home and explained everything. She said she'd speak to my colleagues and call me on Monday. But as far as I'm concerned now, especially after tonight, I can't go back. I can't work with them anymore. Especially after bloody walking out and complaining to our supervisor about them. If I go back, it'll just be ten times worse. I can't. But I need a job. Can't get my head around it.

OP posts:
SignsofSpring · 06/03/2021 23:06

I'm absolutely sure you can get another cleaning job, I was looking for a cleaner recently and it was quite hard work and I ended up paying quite a bit more than my last cleaner, but my new cleaner is ace, brings her own products and is really expert at some tricky things I've never cracked. Care homes, offices when they return will need more cleaning than ever, there's always a need for good efficient cleaners, or you could start up on your own.

Mittens030869 · 06/03/2021 23:07

I also think you did the right thing, OP. Everyone has a breaking point and you reached yours.

I agree with PPs about becoming self-employed. Or you could work for an agency. I’ve hired a couple of cleaners through an agency in the past and it worked really well. Flowers

ScoobyCat · 06/03/2021 23:13

No job is worth your sanity OP, I think some people underestimate how soul destroying having such a negative work environment can be, it goes far beyond having a few bad days, it impacts every moment of your life, even your sleep.

FWIW I think you did the right thing OP, if you can afford to then take a while out to get your head straight, then start job hunting again. And think about joining your local NHS trusts staff bank if you can, they are very good for flexible working.

BRB2021 · 06/03/2021 23:14

@HoleInBucket is there any chance of you finding something else? You deserve more than to be treated like that x

kittensmittens1 · 06/03/2021 23:15

@XingMing it's still going... get lost will ya!

Op, fair enough! You shouldn't be going home late because of them. If you do want to go back explain to your boss you'll be working hard while your there and leaving on time. And get looking for a new job!

Babyroobs · 06/03/2021 23:16

@MegaMoon

It's so unlike me to do this. I'm quiet and shy by nature but I had a breakdown in the Summer and was off work for months and months. I'm on Anti Ds now that have changed my life but they've also changed me. Since I started there, there's always been an atmosphere of them v me. I'm the newest, they are closer in age to each other, etc. But they are so slow and they waste so much time doing stuff that doesn't need doing and it means we end up working unpaid overtime. This evening it all got too much, it's bloody Saturday afternoon and I just want to get done and get back to my family, I'm slogging away trying to get finished and I noticed they've disappeared, I went to find them and they were doing work but it was work that didn't need doing. Completely unnecessary. I checked the time and explained that we were running well behind and wouldn'tbe finished in time. They basically laughed at me and blew me off. So I walked out. I'm sick of it and I've had enough of people taking advantage of the fact that I'll do the heavy lifting and pick up their slack. I refuse to be walked all over anymore.
I can really relate to this. I also am on antidepressants which have changed me and I am so much less likely to take crap. My colleagues are the slowest bunch of workers ever and I constantly have to correct their mistakes and do the bulk of the work. In 35 years of working I have never worked with people like this, I have always worked in teams where we just all pull together and get the job done efficiently. Most days i feel exactly like you, I have considered just walking out and returning my phone and laptop to the office and just not turning up the next day.
Original poster
MegaMoon · 06/03/2021 23:17

@ScoobyCat

No job is worth your sanity OP, I think some people underestimate how soul destroying having such a negative work environment can be, it goes far beyond having a few bad days, it impacts every moment of your life, even your sleep.

FWIW I think you did the right thing OP, if you can afford to then take a while out to get your head straight, then start job hunting again. And think about joining your local NHS trusts staff bank if you can, they are very good for flexible working.

Oh, now you mention the NHS, I've seen an admin job advertised this evening with the NHS, three days a week which would work for me so I'm going to try and apply tomorrow.
OP posts:
Devlesko · 06/03/2021 23:20

You did the right thing.
If you fight your feelings when you need flight, you'll end up back to aquare one mentally.
This is the new you, not taking any crap, you walked out because you finally realised.
Not a professional, just been there.
Plenty more jobs about, you'll find something.

Mally2020 · 06/03/2021 23:23

please tell me you were at least signed to a union who can support you through this

Bellasorella1 · 06/03/2021 23:23

Re references. 99% of companies’ references are just confirmation of the dates you worked and job title. Rarely do companies give more info than this these days due to legal implications.

Good luck to the OP. Sounds hideous. Get off your high horse to those being judgement.

Another avenue to try for jobs is COVID testing centres and also census work, although the latter likely to be very short term.

ScoobyCat · 06/03/2021 23:29

@MegaMoon

Fab! Research the NHS values, you will be asked about them! And you will be asked about ways in which you can communicate with people, and what specific admin skills you have , think about things like using outlook to do a mail merge, word to write up meeting minutes, and excel to record data.

Good luck !

meetmeinarizona · 06/03/2021 23:31

Don't worry OP, I once woke up from a night of drinking wine to the realisation that I had sent a horrible email that could never be recovered from to my manager and my supervisor and had cc in the full office. And when I say horrible, the words 'go fuck yourself' and 'I would rather suffocate slowly than work another day in your establishment' were used. Oh the shame the next day. I thought my life was over. In my defence through I had put up with 5 years of bullying from them.

Anyways, just wanted to let you know it could always be worse and I know the feeling of the sink has sailed and there's no going back. For me, now four years on, sending that unplanned email was the best decision I have ever made and I have never, ever been happier than what I am today so there's always light at the end of the tunnel when we take these risks, even if not planned.

Original poster
MegaMoon · 06/03/2021 23:37

[quote ScoobyCat]@MegaMoon

Fab! Research the NHS values, you will be asked about them! And you will be asked about ways in which you can communicate with people, and what specific admin skills you have , think about things like using outlook to do a mail merge, word to write up meeting minutes, and excel to record data.

Good luck ![/quote]
Thanks for the tips, that's really helpful. I'll definitely get an application sorted tomorrow!

OP posts:
Pinklemonadewithice · 06/03/2021 23:42

You did the right thing it sounds like your job was very pressurising and you didn’t have a good team to work with which can make it a lot harder to do your job , and no job is ever worth unnecessary stress when they can and will replace you in a heart beat, and ultimately you have to put yourself first OP Flowers

Magnificentmug12 · 06/03/2021 23:46

Stuff that- everyone has a limit- where nice people learn their lesson to grow a back bone.

Don’t go back- get another job, life is too short to do the work of others when they are lazy.

MrsClatterbuck · 06/03/2021 23:49

@QueenOfPain

XingMing continues ranting to herself.
GrinGrin
ElfAndSafetyInspector · 07/03/2021 00:05

Aw, that's a shame, I was hoping you'd be my next employer!

Grin I'd employ you on the strength of this comment if I was recruiting.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 07/03/2021 00:09

I stuck with a job I loved, despite having a pisstaking colleague whose laziness greatly increased my workload, but who was well in with the boss and so got away with it. I kept going, because in all other ways it was a dream job. But eventually my health broke down. I was seriously ill, off work for months, and had to give up the job anyway.

There are worse things than walking out. Good luck, OP.

Nanny0gg · 07/03/2021 00:09

@XingMing

More fool you. Many jobs are shitty and require lots of crap you don't enjoy, but you booting it into touch and putting it on MN means that you have just made yourself unemployable. As an employer, you would be off my "consider" list instantly. If you want to work again, you need to review everything, starting with your attitude.
What? All potential employers read MN do they?

The OP is a cleaner. I can't imagine she'll find it that hard to get another job. Especially as she seems to be the sort that wants it done properly.

eaglejulesk · 07/03/2021 00:17

Workplaces very rarely give a shit about your mental wellbeing or about you in general, in my experience. Everyone is easily replaced.

Aint that the truth. I think you did the right thing OP. Move forward and don't look back.

Jenasaurus · 07/03/2021 00:52

I walked out of my job once, I worked for a well known carbonated drinks company in a depot and was responsible for route planning and paying the lorry drivers wages, one of our directors would visit the depot regularly and was a sleaze, I was only 21 and very shy but he overstepped the mark with me and I screamed back at him to fuck off which was out of character. I was called into the managers office and he was actually very supportive, I told him what had been going on and he asked me to stay but I said I couldnt and walked out. The other girls in the office thanked me as he was doing the same thing to them but were too scared to say anything. I later found out I was pregnant to my change of character I think was caused by hormones.

I felt good standing up for myself and walking out and it sounds like you too have reached the end of your tether with them and needed to leave.

Twoforthree · 07/03/2021 01:04

Drop bthem right in it.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 07/03/2021 01:08

@XingMing

More fool you. Many jobs are shitty and require lots of crap you don't enjoy, but you booting it into touch and putting it on MN means that you have just made yourself unemployable. As an employer, you would be off my "consider" list instantly. If you want to work again, you need to review everything, starting with your attitude.
What an utter load of tosh

@MegaMoon. Life is too short to carry on like that. You'll get another job, no problem. Maybe look at working for yourself - good cleaners are never out of work! Right now you could advertise home cleaning to clean up from homeschooling

Offer considerate (quiet) cleaning for those WFH.

Be positive about what's to come.

sneakysnoopysniper · 07/03/2021 01:14

Op are you employed in a supervisory role over your colleagues? If not then they may resent you telling them what to do and how fast the work should be done. Ive been in this situation myself working in a "team" with people who were messing around and just marking time. The only way to handle it is to just do your own job and then leave when the shift is over. You can't force your colleagues to do things your way unless you have the authority of a manager or supervisor.

Mycatisthebest · 07/03/2021 02:38

QueenOfPain
XingMing continues ranting to herself.

🤣🤣