To stay or to leave a happy, comfortable job?

[finebutfedup]

I like my job. It is worthwhile, I am needed and appreciated on a daily basis. I’m lucky to be doing it. It’s in the public services. There are loads of good points:

• Great colleagues
• Non-competitive, collaborative work culture
• Good pay
• A chance to make a genuine difference to people
• Intellectually stimulating.
• Potential for excellent work-life balance (I struggle with this, but that’s because of me, not the job).

However. I’m really frustrated because my colleagues (and line manager especially) is sooo resistant to change and service development. I have ideas for new projects, things we could research, ways to get public feedback and engagement… all a big Nope. I suggested a new initiative today, something really exciting and could bring so much value to what we do. But manager just blandly said, ‘Ah yes but we do X, so we don’t need that.’ X being the old way. She wasn’t interested in hearing more about the new initiative, why I thought it could be good, nothing. Just killed it dead in the water. And it’s like that with almost everything. Her motto seems to be “if it ain't broke don’t fix it” but the sheer mediocrity and lack of ambition is extremely frustrating for me!

I work in a role which isn’t available everywhere. There’s only one employer for me within 50 miles, and that’s where I work. So if I were to move, I’d have to relocate which is a big deal because I’ve put roots down here. And there’s no way of knowing whether a new employer would have the considerable positives of my current workplace which aren’t to be sniffed at. For the same reason I’m as sure as I can be that my line manager (age 57) isn't going anywhere. And she’s said she’s here for at least another 10 years.

So, what would you do / suggest? My options seem to be:

1. Accept that no workplace is ever perfect, swallow my ambition, keep my head down and just work to get paid and count my blessings. Focus on embracing a healthy work-life balance. Work on feeling less frustrated and put-out. (YABU)

1. Uproot my life in search of greater career satisfaction, albeit a gamble because more ambitious workplaces may also be quite a bit more cut-throat and stressful (YANBU).

How old are you?
As i think that will influence the advice.

Fwiw i have worked in some fairly difficult workplaces and am yet to work for a boss as decent as yours

Hi, thanks for replying. I’m 37. This is a second career, I went back to uni aged 30 and qualified 4 years ago. I am single and happy that way, but my friends are very important to me and live this area.

If I did move though, I would move closer to my mum and sisters.

I left a well paid intellectually stimulating job with nice people because I wanted to ‘make a difference’.

Not only did my new job not really make a difference to anyone, it was also badly paid with unpleasant colleagues and pretty boring too.

Look before you leap! In your situation I’d stay with what you have.

Your line manager has her eye on retirement and does not want to rock the boat take on work

Do you have other commitments such as children or interests which take up your time outside work? If so, you can say to yourself at this point in my life, I want to focus on the other thing to make it mentally easier if you feel you are threading water in your job and being blocked from making a difference. Nothing wrong with that.

But if you are ambitious and want to go places and maybe earn more money, then 37 is young and you have a lot of working years ahead of you. No working place is perfect. Just like no job is forever.

Nothing ventured nothing gained. I have always learnt from all of my moves (once every 3-4 years) for more money and seniority. Keeps it fresh. Cut throat is the flip side of energy and innovation. I wonder whether this is the divide between the public and private sector.

Are you sure that your innovative new ideas are as good as you think they are? One of my colleagues regularly suggests new ideas that those of us with more experience can see won't work or have already been tried.

You should leave. You sound unhappy.

Someone else would love and appreciate your job, so call it quits and why not let someone else have a go?

You need to manage up. Read How to Win Friends and Influence People. It’s a very short, easy to read, cheesy book about finding the win-win in a situation. Basically - how you sell something makes a difference to whether anyone will buy it. For example, “I have this great idea. Let’s do a survey online. I’m not sure how it works but I reckon I could pick it up” will not generate much enthusiasm, but saying “Jane, I’d really value your thoughts on this -if we did a survey online instead of face to face we could get the same outcome but it would save you a lot of work and we wouldn’t have to do any data entry”. The idea is to think carefully about what’s in it for her, and then pitch your idea so that she gets something she might want out of it.

I would love to work in a job with all your good points. Honestly, jobs aren't perfect but it sounds like you've really got a good set up there. I'd be very cautious about giving up all you've got.

Sounds like a job to keep and be grateful for IMO - the grass isn't always greener to be sure

I have left good jobs to go elsewhere (for more money). Then the old job changed and the new job changed. Everything changes all the time. And no job is perfect, people move on and new ones come in, the job changes.

Will your current job stay the same?

I am normally an optimistic, go for it type person but in all honesty I have become very cynical about the modern workplace. Your job sounds fine and there are SO MANY awful shit workplaces and bosses that I honestly wouldn't risk it.

I've worked for companies that run competitions for new ideas & implemented the ideas
I've worked for companies that ignore suggestions & I feel your frustration

I would concentrate on your out of work life & make this more exciting

Honestly or doesn't sound too bad at all.

I've worked at places way worse

What about your line managers upline?;would there be an opportunity to request a meeting with them to discuss your concerns about the business with them?;could you explain to them you don't really feel as your moving anywhere in your role and nether is your department and you feel as though things have stagnated and share your concerns about your line managers unwillingness to change and that you don't feel as people are heard?

Are there any other departments you could move to?

At 37 you have been around the block.
There are some seriously dysfunctional shitty workplaces out there.

I'd proceed with caution qs your job has a lot of Pros and a fairly minor con.

I am qrpund your age and The main driver of moves for me now is money or new experiences and/or skills (which help me stay relevant/ earn more money) OR escaping toxic workplaces/bosses.

I would think twice unless the move to your mum and sister creates a lot more balance for you (ie being close to them was your primary driver for move)

Omg they just need rebranding in their minds.
It's so frustrating. Sadly I talk from experience in the voluntary sector. I changed departments and it was like 2 decades.behind. I seriously actually blubbered privately after a few hours.
I almost got beheaded by my boss when we were having a social chat and aired my opinion.

There are far too many good points to your current job.

I'd stay put. There is no such thing as perfection and the grass is not necessarily greener.

Your job has a lot going for it, decent pay, nice work place, not doing long hours, nice colleagues and it near where you currently live. You gone to your boss about making changes and they are not willing to try what you have suggested.
Is their another department/area in the business that you could move to due to the experience you already have?
Due to the nature of your work you said that you have to move near your mother and sister to get a new job. You could take the new job, have a horrible boss, be over worked and under paid ect. Meanwhile you have moved away from friends for this new role.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I think I would stay where you are as on balance there is a lot of good that couldn’t be guarentee Elsewhere.

However you have these fabulous ideas, I would look to channel them elsewhere by joining a board of a charity etc

Nice colleagues
Stable pay
A career you trained for

Stay. You can try to change the world slowly. Imagine being a boss and someone has a good but untested idea that will mean lots of work, possible money spent and no guarantee of success. Would you go for it, even if it was a great idea? The boss might not even be allowed to!

I’m reading on other threads about people being verbally abused, constantly criticised, left out of Whatsapp groups, demoted, only given a few hours work and not being paid for the work they do. Better the devil you know!

Interesting question, OP!

On reading this, my first thought was - have you had an adult-to-adult conversation with your boss, to explain you feel you are already meeting all your objectives, and you're keen to develop more in XX project / YY speciality? Have you presented your ideas in a way which is time-saving / money-saving / constructive overall ? have you considered the total impact of your new ideas (e.g. they may be great ideas but would they mean having to hire more staff to implement them and perhaps your boss has no budget for that ?) Have you asked your boss if there are areas where you can deputise for her (e.g. when she's on holiday /busy etc) and gradually start to learn more ?

Could be that your boss is feeling lack of ambition, as you said. Could be that your boss is restricted by political agreements / lack of budget / other concerns that you don't know about.

What about sticking with the job but maybe study something to keep your engagement going. if you are in the public sector might you be able to take advantage of adult apprenticeships (work 4 days & study 1 day)

Well, I wouldn’t jump ship. Way too many positives.