What's your job and is it stressful?

[FlippertyFlopperty]

I am stressed to high heaven with mine. I think it might be time for a change. What is your role and how stressful is it?

@4YellowDaffodils That sounds interesting. Would you be able to PM me the name of the agency ?

I hate my job at present and most of the people I have to deal with.

I'm a grade 8 in a central team, so probably on less ££ than you. I was at post doc level before (non HEI) so I didn't have to reduce pay to move jobs. But even if I had taken a pay cut, it's so much less pressure and I have a way better balance so it would have been worth it!

I work in mental health for the NHS. Its a nightmare and nothing like the role I accepted almost two decades ago. Boundaries of who we see constantly being pushed, more and more complex and suicidal people being sent to me when what I do is not advised for people who may destabilize, support services around people so needs are higher and more people coming in to MH services when the actually need social support or better housing. And constantly being pushed to work beyond the limits of our training, which means a lot of colleagues off sick. And declining MH as a whole, so everyone has higher needs. And of course, we have also been through the pandemic, have concerns about CoL, and normal life stresses like everyone. Oh, and you only ever get feedback when something goes wrong, in which case you are to blame until proven innocent. Loads of people leaving, more private companies taking over part of MH care and providing services based on giving the least amount they can to maximise profits. I actually love my job, and I am good at it, but I cant wait to leave.

I'm a teacher (secondary school). I teach all year groups from year 7 up to A level. My job is quite stressful and demanding. I wish I could quit.

I work in education and my role is not stressful compared to being a Head but it is boring.

My boss is the stress- he constantly comes and undoes months of work.

Researcher at a university. It can be overwhelmingly busy but that's normally within my control (I say yes to everything) and it's rarely stressful.

Teacher, and it’s stressful but much less so than my former HR manager role.

Charity. No it's not stressful.

It's not well paid but it's rewarding and the people are lovely.

Me too! I have been a social worker for 24 years and 17 in front line child protection. I am now in management however I have never worked so hard but I love the potential to make positive decisions about children and young people and their families. I am proud to be a social worker!

C level in media. Love it. I'm picky nowadays and have found a company where the culture is great. Integrity runs through the business. Makes a huge difference. I'm leading a total restructure (in a good way) of the business and it's working. I love seeing people see their light at the end of the tunnel and start to enjoy their jobs.

Oh and not stressful at all. I work 3 days a week, mostly remotely and I've found a job that suits what I love doing and am good at.

I used to manage large international teams and didn't find that stressful either. I find doing repetitive, detailed work stressful - because I'm crap at it. I could not do most of the jobs mentioned here. I'd be hopeless. But managing loads of people - walk in the park.

NHS, general (high-street).

It’s keeping people safe.

Public duty.

Academic in an art/humanities role. The stress comes from the fact the sector is crumbling and so we all have massive job insecurity and increasingly have to do things outwith our role, while also performing our role to a high level (e.g. writing and publishing books, giving flashy overseas talks), in hugely reduced time. Plus students have obviously become more demanding and less independent. Really it should be a pleasant, if demanding, job - but when all the admin have been fired so you now have to upload all marks to a database as well as send out all comms about admissions, then get hauled over the coals when mistakes are made…oh and they fired all the marketing team but you get a performance disciplinary because your degree didn’t recruit to target etc…it is maddening.

I am an advanced nurse practitioner on a NICU. It’s incredibly stressful and I regularly work way beyond my finish time but I absolutely love it. It helps that my kids are teens/young adults now and my DH is incredibly supportive, so I can counterbalance the stress with taking the odd duvet day at home if I am at my limits. I know how lucky I am and I’m incredibly grateful.

I work in the independent sector as a clinical specialist. The role can be challenging but my line manager is excellent and I feel well supported.

By turns fascinated by the range of jobs MNetters do and really feeling for those of you under the cosh - especially the teachers (my SIL could have written your posts), nurses and social workers.

Thank you for everything you do and I'm sorry it often feels so thankless.

I am a SEN Caseworker for a LA. it is very stressful. Effectively we are deemed as Social Workers for education with the support that social workers hopefully have access to. I have dual role as a Post Graduate Researcher (doctoral level) who specialises in SEND policy alongside being a survivor of the care system, autistic and deaf with a physical mobility impacting condition.

A frustration is that education settings are not necessarily inclusive or want to be inclusive. Inclusion does not always have a financial element to it. I have worked in education settings therefore have experience working directly with SEND children. In addition to having the theoretical knowledge, I have complex SEND including physical elements and am Autistic. I have had comments made to me that parents would be making major complaints about if it was said about their child

The main stress comes from trying to manage a caseload of 500 young people and the abuse from parents and other professionals. Yet will not take any responsibility themselves for the steps and actions they need to take. The worst part is that money and resources are spent in the wrong places, it is not distributed fairly even using recognition as much as is possible for a child or young person’s individual needs. Therefore all children and young people are being neglected for the few in some cases.

After 3 years I have had enough and am seeking alternative employment even if it lower paid. It is a shame for the parents who will engage and understand some of the pressures, that I do my best and due to having my own complex SEND I experience and knowledge that you can learn from a book. However the daily abuse is just too much and there are children in care and care leavers who need me more.

I own a yarn and fabric store. It's very unstressful, I spend my days knitting socks, thinking up new ways to crochet things and sometimes writing a pattern or two. I'm very much a people person so speaking to customers is very much my thing. I hear their life stories, their ideas and their hopes and dreams. I get hugely excited when someone writes to tell me they have made one of my patterns up or found my advice helpful.

The stressful bits are the VAT returns, keeping on top of tax and payroll and ordering but really that's manageable with calendars.

It's something I would recommend to any creative person but to go in with a business head on you. Change constantly and reinvent the business when you need to.

I work in internal marketing at a manufacturing company.

It is very boring (proofreading / advising on English - I live abroad - / writing articles / fact checking / sitting in meetings) and I can typically do all my work in a few hours a day as I’ve been doing it for so long I’m fast.

After earlier years working in crazy tech start-ups and public relations agencies, it’s exactly what I wanted though.

Pay is about £5.5k/month - but I pay almost 50% in tax. I used to freelance on the side, but I no longer bother with that. I’ll happily stay here until retirement, but I won’t pretend it’s fulfilling and I get a little envious of people who have meaningful careers.

H&S Manager,stressful because I find the work tedious and I am not busy enough! I know that might seem strange,but it is the truth. The job does involve a lot of driving around the country, which has it issues. In reality my job could be done in 3 days a week.I can retire in 12 months, so I will be in a better place soon.
H&S roles in organisations, are only there because they have to have them...Not because they want to employ you,and you feel that every working day...and that adds to your stress and MH issues.

I haven't seen anyone else mention this career and,llllllllllllll))) I changed username so there won't be any doxxing (happened before and THAT was stressful.

People say I don't look like someone who dies this type of work, lol.

I'm now a senior fraud examiner, v'- is different from an investigator, with highly specialist interest in Forensic Linguistics. It's a combination.

The only time I find it stressful is in the run-up to big court cases where I give evidence and explain that evidence in layman's terms for a jury to understand.

I started out as a filing clerk and worked my way up. It's involved many exams, research, thesis until I became a Dr in Counter Fraud and Forensic Linguistics.

There aren't that many of us about so I went self-employed meaning I have a much wider scope of jobs to take on. I then started my own business and now have 9 enthusiastic employees who I encourage to learn and be aware of what and how other people say...

I love my work, and that mitiigates any stress thrown my way!

@catcatlovingdoctor what makes it stressful in particular?

Solicitor, yes. I'm 37 and not sure I can do this until I retire....

I work in a university overseas. The job itself is ok it's the other stuff that causes stress... security issues, banking issues, day to day stuff, oh and some colleagues who really are pointless