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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My job has changed as all staff have left - need advice please!!!!

21 replies

Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 10:42

Would really appreciate any thoughts on the below as I am really really struggling.

🕳 Been working in compliance for an education agency for 12 months
🕳7 recruiters have left in that time, I've had to pick up lots of their work ontop of mine with no recognition or compensation
🕳 There are 2 other branches that are doing very well, but I work for the 3rd branch, and it's not seen any good success or turnover in 2024.
🕳 The most dedicated (and last) of the recruiters left 2 days before xmas, boss didn't tell me until 2nd Jan, so the company now only consists of me and the CEO (my boss).
🕳CEO says she can't make me redundant as its illegal, as the compliance role is needed for this branch of the business, so she asked if I can do recruitment while she looks for 2 new consultants by April, and while compliance is quieter.
🕳 She asked for honestly, I said I didn't want to do recruitment and it's not my preference, as this is not the role I originally signed up for and I've already done recruitment before for 4 years and it was draining on my mental health, hence why I moved on. She said just needs someone to keep the recruitment ticking and she has set me no recruitment targets. Although she had no intention of bringing money up (as she's asked me to do so much more than my job all year with 0 compensation recognition), I then asked for more money to do it, she said she will look into it as I get basically minimum wage for my job, much less than a consultant. She then proceeded to tell me "Laura I really don't want to do the recruitment, I hate doing it", so she's told me that me and her will do it together (even though she's pulled away from other work this year and left me to do it, so I don't see that working)
🕳 She said she "wants the compliance role to come back but only if she can find new consultants." I can't bank on that happening.

From working there for 12 months, I have seen consultants come and go, and I am expected to train them up in all the operations stuff and then they leave - just feels like a complete waste of time and energy. On 2nd Jan, she asked me if I'm happy in my job (based on all the consultants leaving), and I really didn't know what to say, but I just want to have a job not all the problems that come with it. She's the CEO, if she needs to close the branch, why do I feel expected to give answers and why should I be saying yes to this. I tried to reassure her that the other 2 branches are doing really well, and that she should be positive about that. But this branch is not seeing the results she wants (maybe I wanted her to make a decision I.e. move me to another branch, close this one) to show she wants to keep me, but it seems her mind was on "shall I make (me) redundant, or shall I squeeze her further as a temporary solution to do the crap recruitment (the market gets harder every single year), and somehow magic up placements while I'm looking for 2 consultants who will inevitably leave anyway", like "it doesn't matter who does it, i just need someone to do it" and it happens to fall to me. I feel like I'm just being strung along and she doesn't actually value me in any way, it's just more of "she's here, get her to do it and it'll save me some money" - I don't know.

She has such a sour attitude when people leave, which makes me scared to leave as I have done my job well but I don't want a sour reference because I left to put myself first.

Has anyone ever been in a situation like this and, if so, would love to hear your thoughts on this? Thanks so much

OP posts:
Sallysoup · 04/01/2025 10:49

I'm not sure what your role should be, is an education agency for recruiting teachers? Either way if it's minimum wage then don't be working above or beyond your actual role and hours, and get your CV on indeed and start looking for a better role elsewhere.

Inyourfacebidisg · 04/01/2025 10:52

What does the consultancy job entail? Is it work from home?

username299 · 04/01/2025 10:53

I would phone Acas for advice.

Starzinsky · 04/01/2025 10:53

Do you get paid sickness? I would suggest taking sick leave due to work related stress and ask for your workload and role responsibilities to be resolved in order for you to return. Clearly there is an issue with this manager and you need to prioritise you over the business. Otherwise I think you need to reach out to corporate hr and ask them to review and intervene in the matter.

SleepyHippy3 · 04/01/2025 10:59

So she expects you to take on all this extra work, which sounds like it’s shed loads, for no extra money? That in itself self is utter nonsense. If you are happy to take on extra then ask for more money. If she refuses start looking for a new job. Always put your self first, because no employer ever will.

ThinWomansBrain · 04/01/2025 11:03

why can't they draft in recruiters from other branches?

Is the turnover in the other branches as high? Sounds like the manager could be the common issue. Personally I'd be updating my CV and starting to look around.

Have never worked in a recruitment agency, but from working with agencies as both a client and an interim over a couple of decades, successful recruiters seem to stay loyal to the same agency for years (unless they peel off and start their own agency), plus there's a fresh batch of new graduates every September, who don't stick around for long,
Also whenever I've recruited for HR staff, there's always a good proportion of applicants who went into recruitment thinking it was HR, but hadn't realised that it was really "sell, sell, sell"

Were the recruiters coming into your agency senior and experienced, or new graduates?

Curtainqueen · 04/01/2025 11:07

You can't not leave just because she has a sour attitude towards people who leave. Just hand your notice in and be honest with future employers. What power does she have over future jobs? There's nothing she can put on a reference that is likely to cause problems if you have already told future employers of all the ridiculous pressure that was put on you to do unpaid work for something that wasn't even your job. Sorry but you need to woman up on this. I read through your post thinking who in god's name would keep putting up with that amount of crap fir minimum wage?

Clearinguptheclutter · 04/01/2025 11:13

I’m a recruiter

I really wouldn’t put up with this. Resign if you can or if you can’t, look for a better job then resign. She is totally unreasonable and for minimum wage? Nah

don’t worry too much about the reference, at your next interview just be entirely truthful that you stayed until everyone else had left and that meant that your job effectively didn’t exist anymore even if you technically weren’t made redundant

ChateauMargaux · 04/01/2025 11:19

Can you do the compliance role at one of the other branches - either in person or remotely?

Dust off your CV and find another job..

devilspawn · 04/01/2025 11:20

No one would ever leave a job if they were worried about a reference, you've done nothing wrong and you've got a good reason to leave when interviewers ask why you want to go. Start looking for jobs ASAP.

JimHalpertsWife · 04/01/2025 11:21

Surely if you've worked there for less than 2 years she could just fire you?

devilspawn · 04/01/2025 14:09

JimHalpertsWife · 04/01/2025 11:21

Surely if you've worked there for less than 2 years she could just fire you?

She doesn't want to fire her, that's the problem.

Original poster
Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 15:41

Thanks so much for your advice :) really appreciate it. Unfortunately I am the role of HR as well as most other functions of the business as they've all been handed to me. But I will definitely be seeking some external advice. Thanks so much

OP posts:
Original poster
Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 15:44

ThinWomansBrain · 04/01/2025 11:03

why can't they draft in recruiters from other branches?

Is the turnover in the other branches as high? Sounds like the manager could be the common issue. Personally I'd be updating my CV and starting to look around.

Have never worked in a recruitment agency, but from working with agencies as both a client and an interim over a couple of decades, successful recruiters seem to stay loyal to the same agency for years (unless they peel off and start their own agency), plus there's a fresh batch of new graduates every September, who don't stick around for long,
Also whenever I've recruited for HR staff, there's always a good proportion of applicants who went into recruitment thinking it was HR, but hadn't realised that it was really "sell, sell, sell"

Were the recruiters coming into your agency senior and experienced, or new graduates?

Bit of both to be honest! Yeah it is the way of recruitment at the moment, they either stay in it for years and years and it's in their blood, or the market and pressures of the company make it truly impossible to succeed, therefore dampen on motivation and ultimate leads to resignations. As the person working all around this happening, it's so hard to stay satisfied seeing people just coming and going. Thanks so much for your advice, much appreciated

OP posts:
Original poster
Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 15:45

Curtainqueen · 04/01/2025 11:07

You can't not leave just because she has a sour attitude towards people who leave. Just hand your notice in and be honest with future employers. What power does she have over future jobs? There's nothing she can put on a reference that is likely to cause problems if you have already told future employers of all the ridiculous pressure that was put on you to do unpaid work for something that wasn't even your job. Sorry but you need to woman up on this. I read through your post thinking who in god's name would keep putting up with that amount of crap fir minimum wage?

Edited

I agree, thanks so much for your advice :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 15:46

Clearinguptheclutter · 04/01/2025 11:13

I’m a recruiter

I really wouldn’t put up with this. Resign if you can or if you can’t, look for a better job then resign. She is totally unreasonable and for minimum wage? Nah

don’t worry too much about the reference, at your next interview just be entirely truthful that you stayed until everyone else had left and that meant that your job effectively didn’t exist anymore even if you technically weren’t made redundant

Really helpful thanks so much :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 15:47

ChateauMargaux · 04/01/2025 11:19

Can you do the compliance role at one of the other branches - either in person or remotely?

Dust off your CV and find another job..

It does not seem to be crossing the CEOs mind, I did try and prompt that kind of thinking but she seems so adamant of keeping this branch going... God knows why! Thanks for your advice :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Elbie2024 · 04/01/2025 15:48

devilspawn · 04/01/2025 11:20

No one would ever leave a job if they were worried about a reference, you've done nothing wrong and you've got a good reason to leave when interviewers ask why you want to go. Start looking for jobs ASAP.

Thank so much for your advice, really appreciate this. That is my plan I think!

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyTeen · 04/01/2025 15:48

Just get another job. Obviously her attitude doesn’t prevent anyone else moving on so why would it you.

Original poster
Elbie2024 · 06/01/2025 18:01

UPDATE ON SITUATION

Thanks so much for your advice.

Funny story, I called ACAS today and apparently everything I listed here is normal and the consultant came off very confused as to why I was calling, and nothing can be done about it apart from "talk to your manager".

OP posts:
Original poster
Elbie2024 · 06/01/2025 18:05

username299 · 04/01/2025 10:53

I would phone Acas for advice.

Funny story, I called ACAS today and apparently everything I listed here is normal and the consultant came off very confused as to why I was calling, and nothing can be done about it apart from "talk to your manager".

OP posts:
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