What would you do.... warning its a long one....

[MK1980]

Back to work today after a week in the Turkish sunshine. Straight into a team meeting to be told that my boss "isn't sure what is happening with the staff roles"

I work part time for a charity as an Office Manager and it is a funding dependant role. The 3 year fixed term contract was supposed to be up in December this year however my manager paid off another member of staff earlier in the year and told us that we could now work until March 2019 due to the savings. However he told us today he doesn't think that can happen as he has "other things in the pipeline, where his job will be safe but mines and another employees aren't" His exact words were " I will be ok but I don't know about you"

We were also told that our invite to the Christmas event was revoked as it was now only the manager and the Board who can attend, this is a night away in a hotel which is fully funded by the charity.

I knew the job might not last forever so earlier in the year I started doing some freelance work and I am delighted how it has turned out, I have a few clients and regular work. Today I just feel like saying "shove your job" and concentrating on my freelance work.

I'm fed up working for a charity that is supposed to be making a difference to peoples lives but all they do is pay for the manager and his cronies to get regular jollies, half of the money is spent on social events, nights away and alcohol and meal bills! There is so much underhand tactics with the manager only looking out for himself.

I know I would get regular work from my clients but its the fear of walking away from that safety net!

Ouch, that does sound pretty irritating! Can totally understand your desire to walk away. However with a sensible hat on going full-time freelance can be pretty difficult in a different way, variable income, balancing the needs/wants of different clients, clients not paying up, constantly having to look out for new business and 'sell'...it's not always the easy option!

If this is possible could you ask to cut your hours at the charity to maybe 3 days a week? Or looking at getting a different part-time job? You'd still have some stability of income that way whilst building your freelance practice up? Plus keeping a foot in the door of employment just in case the freelancing doesn't work out. The charity might go for it as a way to cut their costs? Good luck!