Anyone else fed up of the whole work culture in the UK?

[Dietstartsnextweek34]

Just a number in a large chain, I fully know I'm replaceable. Paid a low ish wage, we all got a £50 bonus recently which was something but generally it's a patronising 'thank you for everything you do!' Email from senior management on triple our salary and a pat on the back.

Compulsory monthly 'wellbeing' check ins with line managers who pretend they care just so they can tick boxes. Same line manager sends out emails telling us all off like children for trivial things like swapping office days, because we cannot be trusted.

3 days a week compulsory in the office where we don't actually speak to anyone in the office, on Teams all day to people who are mostly at home.

I know I'm very fortunate to even have a job let alone to have sick pay and a good pension. But I'm also fed up having to sit in the office in a coat every time because it's freezing, every single minute of our day having to be recorded because of a very small few who take the piss, and so on. Another 30+ years of this.. I know I sound ungrateful, but being able to pay my bills and have a roof over my head should be a minimum?

I'm aware self employed comes with its own limitations, and I am willing to work hard, I'm just fed up with the whole performative office culture. Anyone else just a bit done with it all?

Yearly mandatory training for more box ticking, fire safety etc. Is obviously very important, but some of it is just for HR to cover themselves.

My workplace is nothing like that

Financial services by any chance?

What industry do you work in? And are they hiring?!

I'm in a customer facing operations role working in welfare

Sounds like you have a lot of transferable skills, and your workplace sounds horrible. No harm in applying elsewhere!

The endless emails saying they care about mental health are complete b*llocks

Exactly, constant promotion of wellbeing, employee assistance and so on, just to cover their backs.

'Anonymous' staff surveys but nothing ever changes.
I know I sound ungrateful, some people would jump at the chance to do my role. I also don't want to just jump from one office to another with a similar culture, but I've started looking into other roles.

Agree wholeheartedly.

And that goes right out the window when restructuring comes calling.
Redundancies to you and me.

I'd be fed up in your shoes OP.

Thankfully when in the office we talk to each other (and it's only twice a week), I have a decent line manager, and there is less of the box ticking you refer to.

Given levels of unemployment overall have increased, it is not an employees' market.

It has nothing to do with the "whole work culture in the UK", just your specific work culture. So no, you don't have to spend the next 30+ years doing it.
I currently work 100% remotely. Before then, I was part of an incredible team in the NHS. Before then I worked for a university in reprographic services which was arguably the most fun job I've every had. And before then I was working in hairdressers which was nothing like an office job at all.
You can change jobs, retrain to do something completely different. It's not just a choice between being stuck in a cold office or be self-employed. I've been very lucky throughout my life to have worked in amazing places with amazing people.

YANBU to feel that way. I like my job, the team I work with and my line manager is amazing. That’s why I stay but I do feel burnt out. I have another 15 years of work maybe more if Reform raise the pension age as they’re threatening to do, should they get in.

Workers in Amsterdam have been trialling a 4 day week without loss of pay and their productivity has actually increased.

It’s like if AI was developed to help humanity it would be a different story we could have shorter weeks but it’s not. It’s designed to make more money for its owners. There will be no such thing as basic universal income when AI replaces our jobs. The rich don’t even want to pay their taxes so we’ll be in some weird hunger games/mad max hellscape.

Our line manager in emails keeps telling us 'This is what I have to do with MY manager, so why should it be any different for you?" Sometimes does feel like a teacher telling pupils off.
Also management only have to go in twice a week, we used to be twice a week but they increased it to 3 for whatever reason.

That's true, I'm the maker of my own destiny. Once I get some money together I can look at more retraining options, I have also applied as a probation officer as it includes a level 6 qualification which would be great.

Have you been able to bring up the problems you're having in the office like the lack of heating?

Change jobs.

Yes, back in the days when they didn't talk about mental health, they actually seemed to care about their staff, and did look after mental health even without using the term (generalising I'm sure, but too many older people I know say this for there to be no truth in it). Now, it's box-ticking. Same with DEI/H&S in some of the places I've worked.
But OP, I don't think it's only the UK that's like this, and small business owners say recent government initiatives have made their lives so difficult that I would think carefully before changing (as you say, a lot of people have it worse-doesn;t make it ok, and you have my sympathy).

I feel exactly the same. Bored yet trapped. I know I'm lucky to have a job but after my mortgage and bills have gone out, I barely have anything - and I have a "good" job! I don't know how I'm expected to keep living like this for another three decades, minimum.
I live on my credit card. Can't afford to go on holiday. Can't afford to renovate. I don't like that we're expected to just work to survive and be grateful for the few scraps thrown our way. It just doesn't feel worth it.
YNBU.

YANBU I work in a min wage job with a high turnover, you get a £50 bonus for ten years service 🙄

not all jobs are like it I assume, but the idea of working five full days a week every single week (bar four weeks ‘aNnUaL lEaVe), having to feel sorry or guilty for being sick for the rest of your good years whilst not being able to afford a decent quality of life… meh

Yes exactly very performative, I have emailed about the cold and was told 'We'll look into it' which amounted to nothing. Maybe I just feel the cold more than others but it really is horrible, especially on a Monday.

The standard 'triggers' after 3 instances of sickness, again there are a small number who take advantage but most don't.

Yes I've heard things are tough for business owners and it's not something I think I've got the skill or talent to go into. Maybe I just need to move away from office roles/operations.

I hate the whole fake appreciation from senior management.. thank you for continuing to line our pockets and help us look better

I work for a charity and you give everything to them but as soon as something goes wrong management don't want to take any responsibility. You are just disposable really. I am being made redundant soon, well fixed term contract coming to an end and no funding to keep me on. I'm not unhappy to be leaving as sick of it anyway. Just not sure I want to work anymore at all. i may just take a private pension early and try to get by.

The other week we were told by management 'The pressure has been put onto us, so now we're putting the pressure onto you.' Urgh.