Job related, what would you do? Bad atmosphere at work.

[BlueRazz]

I work in a nursery and at the moment, between quite a lot of staff members it’s like being back in school. A lot of drama being caused, a bad atmosphere at the moment and tension between staff. I am just there to do my job but a lot of staff are stressed and also talking about others when they are out the room and I really enjoy working with the children. It is also very handy for me as it’s school hours and it works well. However, an apprenticeship at my daughter’s school has come up for a teaching assistant role that I’m very interested in as this is something I have been looking into. The pay will be less though. What would you do, would you apply or stick it out?

Could you get another nursery job for the same wage instead?

That is another option but I have heard a lot of nurseries are the same, sadly.

I would take the other job. Once a toxic culture has become established it is very difficult to stamp it out

I would take the other job. There is usually training and lots of ways to progress once you are in a school.

I have previously worked in an office where the atmosphere turned toxic. Bitching about people behind their backs etc, similar to your situation. It was an awful atmosphere to work in. The worst offenders were close to the boss so I knew nothing would ever change. Best to get out!

If you work with children, particularly in a nursery, you can most likely walk into any number of other jobs, there’s such shortage of experienced staff. Don’t waste your time working somewhere where the environment is toxic. Just be wary of frying pan into fire.

OP I have worked in care and childcare settings and a lot of the time this environment happens. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s a lot of female staff in close proximity and different characters. It’s hard. I’d go for the other x

Unfortunately, dear OP, this is a case of "same old, same old".

Staff in Nurseries can tend to be like that.
You can be lucky, you can be unlucky.

But, quite often, you can find yourself in a situation where everyone thinks they are the central character in their own soap opera.
Anyway, the apprenticeship route, at your daughter's school, sounds very interesting. Don't think so much about the drop in wages, instead, think about the new opportunities, the excitement of learning, the chances this route might offer you. Go for it!

Become a childminder. You have lots of experience, it's the same as what you currently do, except in your own home, and you will probably earn more doing it yourself!

I'd take the school job, once you have your foot in the door at a school, you have lots of opportunities. I have a friend who started as a dinner lady, but she's ended up doing all sorts of things over the years, and has loved every minute.

Every nursery I’ve worked at has been just like this. So much bitching and nastiness. I’ll never work in one again. I’m planning on being a childminder once I move and have a bit more space/bigger garden. Could you do the same? Or have you considered nannying part time. My SIL is a nanny and has had a few jobs where she only works school hours term time nannying for teachers