Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To quit my job with nothing to go to and risking a sanction on my UC

66 replies

TheMentalLoad · 17/03/2022 20:40

I literally hate it. My anxiety is through the roof, I don’t sleep for a few nights before I have to work and for days afterwards I go over what I’ve done and think about all the things I did wrong.

I’m on 0 hours and cut my hours right down to only 4 a week but I’m still not coping and work keep asking me to do more and more and I just can't. I know it’s the job that’s the issue not working in general as my last job before this was in a completely different field and I loved it, but the job disappeared overnight due to covid and I had to take what I could to keep a roof over my DDs head.

But I’m at the point where no amount of money is worth the effect on my health. I had a few months off before Christmas and into January (got signed off) and overnight my anxiety levels decreased, my IBS cleared up and I was eating better and much more myself according to friends.

Then I had to go back (my MH nurse wanted me to try it to see if the break helped but have 1 shift a week) and my symptoms returned within hours.

I’ve battled on for over 4 weeks now but I can’t do it anymore. I’m a single parent to 1 DC but my DC has stopped sleeping the night before a shift, I suspect they’re picking up on my anxiety, so I’m going into a shift sleep deprived and I’ve had enough. DC also has some health conditions so I'm juggling that as well.

I’m likely to be sanctioned by Universal Credit for quiting, but I am actually at the point where I don’t care, it’s not worth my mental health.

I am desperately looking for other work but I think I’d be in a better place to get a job if I didn’t have my current one hanging over me.

I know I am very UR, but I just can’t take it anymore.

OP posts:
HereComesTheSum · 17/03/2022 20:50

I just don't get this sort of thing. I can't imagine not working so little yet it bothering me so much - if the job is bothering you then find a new one. Unless you're highly skilled in a very niche industry and will struggle to find a similar role etc then just get another job- any job you like the sound of - Then quit this job. Pull up the big girl pants as they say and crack on with it. Just my opinion.

Nicknacky · 17/03/2022 20:53

What is it you hate so much?

EinsteinaGogo · 17/03/2022 20:54

Tell us about the work, OP.

What is it you do, and what is it that worries you so much?

SilverHairedCat · 17/03/2022 20:54

What's the job? What's making you so distressed?

PenStation · 17/03/2022 20:54

OP Can you get your doctor to sign you off sick for a few weeks to give you the breathing space to find another job?

I don’t suppose the job is modifiable to make it more bearable in the meantime?

You don’t understand mental illness @HereComesTheSum

Orchidsonthetable · 17/03/2022 20:55

What is it you do that even four hours a week of it has you like this?

Orchidsonthetable · 17/03/2022 20:57

Also what’s a shift now? Do you work like one morning a week?

Original poster
TheMentalLoad · 17/03/2022 20:57

It's call centre work from home, both inbound and outbound depending on where work put me.

They moved me to inbound only as I found that easier, so people calling me but I still get sworn at, and regular complaints about me. I also get told off a lot as I'm not reaching targets.

I just hate everything about it, there's no flexibility in the actual role so I can't change what I do to match the customer/circumstances I just have to follow the script.

My previous job was working in a charity and I was client based, I loved it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheMentalLoad · 17/03/2022 20:58

@Orchidsonthetable

Also what’s a shift now? Do you work like one morning a week?
@Orchidsonthetable Yes one morning or one afternoon a week at the moment.
OP posts:
HereComesTheSum · 17/03/2022 20:58

@PenStation

OP Can you get your doctor to sign you off sick for a few weeks to give you the breathing space to find another job?

I don’t suppose the job is modifiable to make it more bearable in the meantime?

You don’t understand mental illness @HereComesTheSum

You don't even know me!! I've had depression and PND and various other issues. I still work my arse off even when I feel I can't or don't want to because I have a family to support! Nothing can be that bad that most people couldn't just suck it up for 4 hours a week whilst lookin for another job.
SevenWaystoLeave · 17/03/2022 20:58

I can totally understand why even four hours a week is triggering your symptoms again - when you've been so stressed and anxious you return to the place that made you feel that way, it all comes back. Sounds like you need a clean break. If you can afford to take the potential hit to your UC, then yes quit. If not, I echo the advice to get signed off sick again and use the time to job hunt.

SilverHairedCat · 17/03/2022 20:59

@HereComesTheSum "nothing can be that bad" - FML. Clearly it is.

HereComesTheSum · 17/03/2022 21:00

Call centre work is around minimum wage I would have thought. Just start applying for similar jobs elsewhere.

SevenWaystoLeave · 17/03/2022 21:00

Just read it's call centre work - oh yes that can easily be that bad, drove me to the brink of nervous breakdown when I did it. Totally understandable.

Original poster
TheMentalLoad · 17/03/2022 21:05

@SevenWaystoLeave

I can totally understand why even four hours a week is triggering your symptoms again - when you've been so stressed and anxious you return to the place that made you feel that way, it all comes back. Sounds like you need a clean break. If you can afford to take the potential hit to your UC, then yes quit. If not, I echo the advice to get signed off sick again and use the time to job hunt.
@SevenWaystoLeave I've lived on less money than I got from UC when I wasn't working, so in theory I should be able to manage. I do also now get a small amount of CM from DDs dad which I didn't before.
OP posts:
RewildingAmbridge · 17/03/2022 21:07

I'm a pretty resilient person and now work in a role in the justice sector that would turn most people's stomachs and where burn out is high, I'm fine. The worst job I've ever had was working in a call centre when I was a student, more for the little Hitler type managers than anything else, I used to dread going in and used to do about 12 hours a week. Charities sector are usually constantly recruiting OP and the money isn't always good but neither is call centre work.
Put it behind you and try and find something else asap

Squidthing · 17/03/2022 21:07

Call centre work was the worst work ever, for 4 hours a week it's not worth it. You'd be better off cleaning.

britneyisfree · 17/03/2022 21:10

Anyway you could dm so I could apply.... I'm looking for work from home inbound..... sorry to jump on your thread with no advice Thanks

petshihtzu · 17/03/2022 21:22

My friend does call centre work but it's for a charity fundraising so it isn't people swearing at you or anything like that. I asked around a lot as when I was a student I needed work but decided against it as i found other stuff. She says most people are fine, and its people that would have opted in to know more about the charity/be contacted. She'll call like on behalf of Greenpeace etc. They pay about 10 something an hour, it's all remote. Ik it still call centre but thought I would share :) she seems happy with the job ATM, the hours are very flexible too.

bluedodecagon · 17/03/2022 21:25

Just switch jobs. There is a massive shortage of labour at the moment. You could work in a CAFE or a restaurant. You could work as a cleaner. They would all pay the same as CallCenter.

libby09 · 17/03/2022 21:28

I totally understand. I imagine the constant asking if you can do extra hours is really draining, you end up not being able to relax and then you spend your time off feeling guilty for saying no. Or you do it to avoid saying no and feel even worse. I used to wake up dreading being asked.
What's the sanction likely to be? Could you afford it?

CannaBelieve · 17/03/2022 21:29

its WFH? so you don't go out of the house?

Hwory · 17/03/2022 21:32

The worst job I ever had was at a call centre. Gave me terrible anxiety. I walked out without another job to go to.

I would get signed off work so you don't get sanctioned.

Original poster
TheMentalLoad · 17/03/2022 21:32

@libby09

I totally understand. I imagine the constant asking if you can do extra hours is really draining, you end up not being able to relax and then you spend your time off feeling guilty for saying no. Or you do it to avoid saying no and feel even worse. I used to wake up dreading being asked. What's the sanction likely to be? Could you afford it?
@libby09 Not sure but I've lived on less than I got from UC when I wasn't working and that was when I had just split with my ExH so I had little DD then too. So should in theory manage, I do also get some CM from ExH now which I didn't get when I split up with him.
OP posts:
Walkingalot · 17/03/2022 21:33

I shudder at the thought of call centre work. I did it and it completely destroyed me. It wasn't so much the clients, it was the exceptionally high expectations from management. Every minute of my work life was calculated, even toilet breaks. I went off work with stress.
Call your Dr's asap and get signed off with stress. Give yourself a breather and search for something else.