What do I do? Do I leave?

[lilybit2025]

Been in my job 3 years. Events. I travel 6 times a year and hate it so much. I dread it more than anything. It's entirely work from home which is a perk. We are constantly short staffed and I'm just so miserable. I was asked to cover a client call which isn't part of my role and I have a doctors appointment where I said I have to attend I can't miss it. No, I am expected to cover and cancel my appointment. Do I hand my notice in and leave without a job or keep going until I find another?

id love to go self employed (not sure doing what) but had enough of working for other people! I have enough savings to live on for a few months and I'm mortgage free so haven't got to worry about not being able to afford it... partner has said do what I need to do he will support me. Any advice welcome

(My job is) events.

You do realise @lilybit2025 this will involve leaving the house occasionally due to the nature of what it is?

I travel 6 times a year and hate it so much. I dread it more than anything. I

I hear this. Do you think it will be better elsewhere, really, if you stay in the sector? You will probably be required to travel if you do events somewhere else?

it's entirely work from home which is a perk.

Believe me, that is a huge perk if you work in events. Will it really be better elsewhere?

We are constantly short staffed and I'm just so miserable. I was asked to cover a client call which isn't part of my role and I have a doctors appointment where I said I have to attend I can't miss it. No, I am expected to cover and cancel my appointment.

I see why that would be annoying, but I am one of those who believe it's all about give and take. You don't have to"cancel" - you could "reschedule" but make it clear to your employer that for your health you have to attend, and you're doing them a favour. It goes a long way.

Do I hand my notice in and leave without a job or keep going until I find another?

You already know the answer to this ...

What does your contract say about medical appointments?

If you have to go you have to go, tell them you cannot rearrange and are attending your appointment and will make up the hours. Most places have a lot of paperwork to do before they can fire you anyway so I'd just do it and start looking for something else.

but make it clear to your employer that for your health you have to attend, and you're doing them a favour
Oh god don't do that! If you are contracted to working hours than any absence needs to be approved, paid or unpaid. Working from home doesn't change that. Cancelling an appointment that needed authorisation in the first place is not doing a favour!

JacquesHarlow, I hear you on the 'nature of the beast' regarding events, but I think 3 years is long enough to know that the 'beast' isn't for me anymore. If I’m dreading the travel that much, it’s a sign I’m in the wrong sector, not just the wrong company.
Passaggressfedup, you’ve hit the nail on the head regarding the appointment. There’s a difference between ‘give and take’ and being told my health is secondary to a non-urgent client call. Since I am mortgage-free and have the savings, the ‘fear’ of being fired for attending a doctor’s appointment is pretty low.
My plan: I’m going to attend my appointment. If they make a scene, it only confirms I need to leave. I’ve decided I’m not going to quit today without a plan, but I am going to stop ‘over-delivering’ for a company that is permanently short-staffed. I’m going to use my evenings to figure out what that self-employed life looks like—maybe something in project coordination or admin that utilizes my events skills without the travel.