to leave my current boss in the lurch

[ThatVikRinA22]

im agonising now over what to do!

my current boss refused to take me off probation but also refused to tell me why.(i feel he is simply hedging his bets - if something better came along id have gone by now and i think the feeling is mutual) i have been there for almost 1 year now, its a poorly paid position involving every saturday and a job ive got 10 years experience in, and its a long way from where i live meaning a commute daily.

he is adverstising for 2 other positions and no one is taking the jobs he is offering even in this climate! he has had 3 people turn his offers of employment down. i can see why but he cant.

before i went for this job, i went for one at a local gps practice. in the event i didnt get the job id gone for but the practice manager rang me to say she was very impressed with me and would be in touch if another position became available. i thought "yeah yeah" as you do.
she has just phoned me to offer me a job. even better - she says there are 2 positions so i can more or less take my pick of the hours as she is willing to rejig it for me, and the money is better than where i am and id have no commute as its more or less on my door step.

this looks like an easy decision - but i actually like my current boss and i will feel absolutely terrible about leaving him in the lurch - and i really would be. i am single -handedly running one of his concerns as he cannot get any more staff. also technically because i am still on probation i only have to give 1 weeks notice. (ha ha ha not that i would.) but it will leave him up the creek without a paddle which ever way i look at it. saying that i know he would have no hesitation of getting rid of me if he had to. so do i look after no 1 and take the local better paid position? would it be a Very Bad Thing to do?

Go for the new job, honestly. You'd be a loon not to.

God yes - go for it! I remember years ago, I had loads of issues with my boss - including asking for a payrise i thought I was well overdue. Nothing ever got sorted until I found ANOTHER better job, at which point they were falling over themselves to grant all my requests. I still left! And i felt very smug too!

GPS=NHS-no contest really. You cannot afford to turn this down (IMOH)

Thinking about it further, do discuss the issue of references with your new employer. Some places insist on most recent employers as referees - and he sounds just the sort to stick the knife in. So maybe telling him where to stick it should come later....

thanks everyone - thats a unanimous "go for it" then!

i will be as fair as i can be under the circumstances. i will ask the GPs practice when they would like me to start and take it from there.

my current employer really has nothing to stick the knife in over but he could be an arse over it so i will tread carefully. on the issue of references i could easily ask them to contact a couple of former employers who i know were very happy with my work, but i will explain to the practice manager on monday that he could be a little upset with me as it basically means he will have to close the place i work in unless he can get someone to cover it quickly - which is unlikely looking at how many people have turned down a job in the last few weeks.

thanks again everyone, ill get the details on Monday and ill let you know how my boss takes it!

Yes, take the job-I assume it would be work you would be happier doing?

If you can give proper notice, I would, especially if the Gps job offer subject to references.

But if he had to "let you go", I´m sure he would without a thought, so don´t feel too bad for him!

Good luck Vic- I'm sure it's the right decision!