When you hate your job - strategies needed

[HipsterAssassin]

Hi so am on a 12 month secondment and can’t stand the team dynamics. Told my oldest friend about it last night, she said ‘it’s like David Brent x 100’.

It’s a small team. Should all be able to get on with our jobs and we do. But the manager is constantly making everything seem like harder work. Nobody knows where they stand with him. Operational issues have no forum for discussion. Just emails sent randomly to the team, ‘do this, no excuses’. It’s all so odd. The boss and tge oddness is the main topic on everyone’s lips when she isn’t around. She really angered and upset a colleague the other day and I had to spend ages (when I should be working) helping him respond.

Basically for me, it isn’t working out.

I checked my secondment contract and there’s no right of termination for me. I didn’t think it would be this bad so it didn’t occur to me. It’s awful. It’s affecting my MH. My mood is low and this is affecting everything. I have had dreams about work every night this week. I considered this weekend, going to the GP for antidepressants. That’s awful.

I have a probationary review (apparently, I’ve been told for ages it’s coming, submitted the paperwork but it hasn’t happened yet). I am praying they will get rid of me!

If I was on a contract I would just leave. I have enough savings to get by. But it’s a secondment. So that’s not an option. I feel trapped. Am holding out hope that they will say I’m not working out (please) but if it doesn’t.....

I need strategies to get through the next 8 (yes 8) months.

Please help!

Oops hims and hers. Decided to change the gender but left some in.

Sorry.

Eight months must seem a long time, but the great thing is that it isn't permanent.

I assume at the end of it you'll go back to your original department? If so, people will know you there and (I bet!) welcome you back.

So how you perform in the secondment doesn't really matter.

Let the madness wash over you, do what you can, and if you can't do something, ignore the no excuses bollocks.

I never normally advocate slacking! But if it's temporary and you already know you won't win, there's no point killing yourself.

I am surprised you have a new contract for a secondment - I would expect your existing T&Cs to continue to apply, as that's what makes them appealing: a low risk way to try out something new. Is it definitely a new contract of employment, or is it a secondment agreement? If the latter (which could explain why there's nothing about notice periods?) then it could be just setting out the additional framework of the placement, and your ongoing T&Cs would continue to apply.

If you feel you'd rather walk away from the entire employment (previous role and secondment) then you could give whatever your original contractual notice was. If you just want to end the secondment part, could you look into whether your original role was been filled, or if going back could be an option?

Have you spoken to your original department and found out whether there's any chance of any early return to your old role? You may not have the right to terminate the secondment early but it would be usual for your original department to be able to ask for you back early if circumstances require it. Perhaps if your old department are willing there could be a convenient 'crisis' and you could go back to your old team to help them out?

Otherwise I would probably just put my head down and try and get what I could out of the secondment experience-wise for the next few months, focusing on what my next step in my career after this one will be (whether that's going back to your old role or something new). I find with types like your boss sometimes not rising to any drama and just quietly getting on with whatever their latest unreasonable request is works OK. Or if it's really got to the point you can't take any more, try and find a new job (in a different company if need be?).

If it is only your boss that is the problem and you get along well with the rest of the team, would it be possible to band together with your coworkers and go over her head? Maybe you can even get rid of her and you won't need to leave.

Thanks for replies (namechanged since then just because).

So I’ve informed my actual employers who have been very supportive. And told my secondment folk I am leaving early. They have been shocked but nice about it.

Feel quite exhausted but can’t wait to get back to old role. Delighted I don’t have to get through 8 months, I just could not have coped. That alone has lifted my mood!

Phew!