Trapped!

[Flora88]

I am not happy at work, to be honest I never have been. I wanted another job from my first day, but I stuck it out.

The reasons I don't like it are it's too stressful, and not the line of work I want to be in. It's having adverse effects on my health now, and I know I need to get another job.

My problem is actually having the ability to go to an interview and find other work. I have been at my current employer less than two years, and they have made clear they will sack an employee with less than two years service if they are found to be looking for other jobs. They are allowed to do this as employees cannot claim unfair dismissal before 2 years, and the company argues they don't want the employee knowing company secrets and wasting time being trained if they are going to leave.

So that means a job search would need to be secret. However, they do not allow holiday to be taken without 2 months notice so I cannot take annual leave for an interview without an absurd amount of notice.

We are only allowed to work from home in exceptional circumstances, and if we are found to leave the house during that day we could be disciplined or dismissed. A woman worked from home and popped out to the shop for 20 minutes, she was seen and given a warning and never allowed to work from home again. The company can also tell if we are online as we have a timer software on our laptops. This monitors our lunch breaks, what time we start and end, when we are 'idle' (going to the loo) etc.

If I faked a sickie and was seen out, I would almost certainly be fired. The company does not pay sick pay, but they are ultra strict about sickness.

So I'm asking you all for advice. I feel trapped, as if my only option is to quit.

you could say you've had a bereavement or that you are sick...surely they can't sack you or discipline you for that?

The 20 mins thing is ridiculous. I assume you get an hour's lunch break? What you do in that time is up to you!

Are you the OP who posted about this elsewhere? What happens if you need leave for a funeral? They usually take place on 3ish weeks notice, not 8. Would they refuse to let you attend? You could take a half day "for a funeral" and go to an interview instead.

But sign up with agencies, they won't tell your current employer you are looking. And sign up to LinkedIn. It's a networking site, not (just) a job finding site. Also look for other sites in your sector eg mine is legal and there is a career site called Totallylegal. I recently came across the website Guru as well maybe sign up on there/look for jobs.

They can threaten to sack you if they know you are looking for another job but as a pp said they have to pay your notice. Looking for another job is not a sackable offence but of course in the first 2 years you have no protection unless you can twist it in some way to say they are discriminating against you.