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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To quit new job after 2 weeks?

51 replies

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 07:19

I started a new job 2 weeks ago and I was told it would be a difficult project. I naively thought it would be OK. The last project manager quit after 3 weeks due to the hours we work 830-530 they were doing 7-7. I'm doing all hours and it's affecting my family. I've been getting up at 5 to do some work before the children get up and working from 7-9 in the evening as well as core hours. This isn't sustainable. It's a 6 month contract and I turned down 2 jobs for this. Aibu to quit?

OP posts:

LookItsMeAgain · 27/08/2021 08:25

My advice is to take a day (yes it probably will take a full working day) and write down what should be delivered in the project in Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Phase 4.

Phase 1 is the mission critical stuff that underpins all of the other phases.
Phase 2 are the next level in important deliveries
Phase 3 and 4 are the "nice to have" and everything that appears to have been added on to the project because no one actually took the time to scope it out and put these phases in place.

Then announce to everyone in the project that this is what you're all going to be working towards with an end date in sight.

Hopefully by the time you've delivered Phase 1, you'll have a different job and whoever takes over from you will be very appreciative that you took the time to work out these phases. Even if you don't get to see Phase 1 past the finish post, narrowing down what is to be delivered in it will be appreciated by ALL.

Dozer · 27/08/2021 08:53

Resigning with no job to go to means OP experiences financial detriment.

Remaining there, working reasonable hours, then resigning once she has a firm start date for a new role means that unless fired with little notice she’ll have no gap in earnings.

Savoretti · 27/08/2021 08:56

If you were brought in at the last minute, knowing someone else had quit after 3 weeks surely the workload is not a surprise? Or were they not honest in what it would involve? If the latter then I would take that up with my boss immediately

Oblomov21 · 27/08/2021 09:33

Why are you so flustered by this?How experienced are you? This happens, surely you've encountered this before and dealt with it. You document it all and if they don't accept and react you will have to quit.

Danikm151 · 27/08/2021 09:34

Time to set boundaries and tell them you feel that you were misled during the interview stage.
Work life balance is important and you either get that or find somewhere that can provide that for you

girlmom21 · 27/08/2021 09:37

Speak to your employer first. Explain to them it's not manageable and that the role needs a lot more support.

Worst case they won't offer it and you quit, but it doesn't hurt to try first.

Original poster

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 09:46

They told me I would be busy there was a lot to do not the pm had left . No handover just thrown in on a system I'm not familiar with. No pm processes as we don't have time. No requirements documentation raid log reports etc.

OP posts:

ManifestDestinee · 27/08/2021 09:50

You need to tell your employer this - they are facing losing another employee due to burn out and how are they going to handle it?

You can't claim burn out in 2 weeks....

Duetorain · 27/08/2021 09:51

How easy will it be to get another job?
My worry with this is that there is nothing defined about extent of the project. It does should like a job you would out in extra hours. That might be fine if it was a month and you knew it would then go back an expectation of your normal hours.

Original poster

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 10:20

There are lots of jobs around at the moment so I'm not that worried. I have 2 interviews lined up

OP posts:

Oblomov21 · 27/08/2021 10:33

Have you told your boss what you've said on this thread?

Oblomov21 · 27/08/2021 10:34

Send an email so you've got a paper trail. Ask for a meeting to discuss.

Original poster

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 10:35

I've got a meeting with her today

OP posts:

Scarby9 · 27/08/2021 10:40

If the option is that the company has tofind someone new to do your job and they also may not be able to cope, is it possible to split some of your responsibilities off to a separate job and suggest they appoint someone (less qualified and therefore cheaper?) To work alongside you?

I think it would be worth making a couple of suggestions to them, alongside making it clear the job is undoable as it is and that you will quit if something acceptable can't be put in place quickly.

HundredMilesAnHour · 27/08/2021 11:05

@Lochnessgiraffe

These are all classic project mistakes and why they fail. Your job as PM is get this back under control and/or escalate to the project sponsor/senior management. What was their response when you did this?

In the gentlest possible way OP, are you fairly new to project management? The points you're mentioning in your posts are all fairly standard issues and as a PM, you need to sort these out. You haven't mentioned that management have pushed back on you so I'm wondering if you're just suffering in silence and haven't escalated? (with your proposal to change things)

I'm sympathetic as I was brought in to take over the project management of a project that was failing (failed 3 years in a row and was on track to fail again) in an investment bank (so you can imagine the pressure). On my very first morning, I spotted an issue (that shocked me) and I escalated straight to the IT head with my plan to fix it. This has continued - so far I've identified 65 (!!) points of failure and I'm remediating them in parallel with trying to deliver the actual project still. It's long hours, very political, and a lot of pressure.

Your job as PM is to grab the project by the balls and drive it forward. That's easy for me to say as I have many years of experience. If you don't have much experience with difficult / failing projects, it'll be much harder for you and literally make or break you.

Are you empowered to make changes to the project? You sound very passive so I'm wondering if you don't have the authority (or the inclination?) to do this.

If you've already lined up interviews despite only being there a few weeks, it seems like you've thrown the towel in already? That's your choice of course. But it would be useful to know if you've done everything you can but management aren't listening and that's why you're walking away?

GoWalkabout · 27/08/2021 11:07

Walk away if work isn't an issue and no risk of reputational damage (which it sounds like might be worse if you stay). Good luck.

HundredMilesAnHour · 27/08/2021 11:14

Just realised my post might sound a bit arsey. Apologies for that, I am actually trying to help. Happy to make suggestions re what you can via PM if you need some support. I've been in programme/project management for 20+ years, and was the UK head for one of the big consultancies in this area so have seen an awful lot of project disasters that need fixing/a miracle.

daisychain01 · 27/08/2021 11:37

Your points are well made @HundredMilesAnHour but I bet the OP on a six month contract and probably on a fraction of the salary you're on and zero job security is being asked to move mountains. Not saying that to undermine your points, but just to highlight the massive imbalance of power in that organisation,

The company sounds like a basket case and nothing is likely to turn that rotting tanker around. I'd be like a rat leaving a sinking ship if I was the OP, they'll get no recognition for being a hero.

Original poster

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 11:48

hundred no problem my first few days I did make a list of improvements and suggestions ran it past by boss who said when you have time. But I don't have any more time. Also I'm doing the work of a business analyst as well

OP posts:

rookiemere · 27/08/2021 11:56

You can't be BA and PM OP. It's so hard to get out of the cycle of working long hours particularly if that's what others are doing and all the suggestions from others require headspace to do them.
Basically just sounds like a rubbish environment.

Can you afford a few weeks no pay until the other contract materialises?

Tractordiggerdump · 27/08/2021 12:02

Someone’s eff’d up and it’s not you. Leave.

rookiemere · 27/08/2021 12:08

Oh and getting emails during the night - unless people are in different time zones- is a sure indication of a dysfunctional culture.

Original poster

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 14:38

I had a meeting with my boss and she asked me outright if I want to leave and apologised for it being a shitshow her words. I'm going to reassess over the next week and put my cv out there see what happens

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 27/08/2021 17:22

@Lochnessgiraffe

Did she help put a plan in place for how you'll work together for it to run more smoothly and ensure you're only working your contracted hours?

Original poster

Lochnessgiraffe · 27/08/2021 17:44

No just we need to do whatever to make this happen. I've got an interview lined up next week which I'm excited about

OP posts:

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