Nc for this as quite identifying.
I started a new job as catering asistant in a school two months ago. I do 15 hours - 3 hours per day.
I was overjoyed to get the job. Dh works away a lot and youngest dc has sn so working school hours is perfect. My previous jobs have included retail and childcare so I've worked a lot of evenings and weekends so doing school runs and having evenings, weekends and school hols with the dcs is perfect.
I had visions of a happy team working together to feed the school children. I knew it would be hard graft and was very prepared for that.
However, it's awful. I was chucked in at the deep end. My promised 'training' hasn't happened yet. I just have some folders of safety stuff to read. I didn't even get a tour of the kitchen so it's taken me ages to find out where everything goes.
My 3 colleagues are unsupportive and seem to dislike me. They get huffy when I interrupt them to ask for help, even when I needed help with the huge industrial dishwasher as if I should magically know how it works! I get a lot of the cleaning tasks- fair enough- but I sense a lot of the time they don't think I've done them properly as they sigh and clean again where I've already cleaned. I try harder but then it takes longer and they say I need to speed up.
I'm obviously a bit slow at food prep as I've only ever done it at home and I keep getting told 'we have to be fast at this' when I've got a massive knife to chop stuff. It makes me on edge and more likely to be slower or have an accident. I was rushing and accidentally dropped a tray of fruit and profusely apologised but I was ignored and they just sighed.
The teaching staff pop in and out of the kitchen as they keep stuff in the fridge and freezer but none have said hi or introduced themselves, even the Headteacher - how can he not want to be introduced to someone who works permanently in his school?
My colleagues have asked me nothing about my life. I had one vague conversation where I mentioned my youngest dc. I ask them stuff like what they are doing at the weekend and just get a gruff 'housework' in reply. They talk amongst themselves a lot. I of course listen in - it's a small space - but if I try to join in the conversation dies.
How can people who are 'grown ups' be so rude? I'm a decent person with lots to offer but I can feel my self worth slipping away with each day I go there. I have had lots of jobs that have been hard work but the saving grace has always been friendly supportive colleagues working as a team and having each other's backs. There's none of that at all in this job.
It's only 15 hours but it's the loneliest 15 hours. I try to battle through and think of the dcs but when I do that I feel like I am going to cry. Dh asks me how it's going and I say it's ok but try not to say more as he has his own stress at work. I know he would tell me to leave without a thought, he would hate to think of me being so unhappy and we can get by without my wages but I have a need to bring bread to the table!
I don't know what to do. I feel so unhappy and disappointed that I dread going to this job that I was thrilled to get and eager to start. I'm looking for other jobs but sadly there's nothing that offers the same school hours.
There is an area manager but he rarely comes in. I could call him but saying 'I'm unhappy as no one likes me' seems a bit pathetic.
Does anyone work in the same industry? Does it take long to learn everything? Is it likely to get easier? Should I just battle through? Will these colleagues eventually thaw towards me?