Anyone else preparing themselves to go back to a job they hate?!

[NewYearNewJobNewHome]

I'm going back to work today. Worked one day so far since Christmas but was a short day and wasn't too bad, but back today and tomorrow usual hours.

Anyone else preparing themselves for it?

My aim for January/February is to find a new job and hand in my notice ASAP (which I can't see going down well!). Until then I just need to keep my head down and get the place organised for when I leave. Think I'll spend the next few weeks going through everything, stock and paperwork etc, so if it ends badly and I leave without working my notice someone else can just pick it up straight away.

But I've decided. I'm only going to accept my next job if it's right. I had gut instinct doubts about the last 2. And I was right. Never again.

@Oblomov20, wow you quit your job, well done! DH kept telling me to just quit but I thought it would make it that much harder to then find another job.

If you're in a position to not have to accept any job that's offered then it absolutely makes sense to hold out for the right one.

@NewYearNewJobNewHome, thanks to your advice I've been offered a job! I prepared so much better for the IV and it seemed to have done the trick.

The only thing is that I'm now having a wobble about leaving my current job, the one that I hate! It's been ok this week although I had a sleepless night on Tuesday worrying about a meeting with my manager which in the event never happened. I know I have to leave here, it's affecting my health but it is so up and down, sometimes I don't mind it.

And the new job is in a great organisation, and it's more money and good benefits but I'm worried about the hours. It's a job share and the other person is the temp they've had in. They've told me they are completely flexible about my hours but really it depends on the job sharer to be flexible. They have told me she will be but I still feel slightly uneasy as she's already working there.

But I have no choice, I don't want to wait until the absolute perfect job comes up and even if it does there's no guarantee I'll get it.

So, will be handing in my notice very soon. It's all happened so quickly, finding it hard to get my head around it.

Well done Dimsun! Brace fave on! Onwards and upwards.

well done @dimsum123 I hope your good luck rubs off!

So I've had a letter from my work saying my sick pay is coming to an end and from January I will get nothing. nada.

I've been on LTS for nearly a year and the main reason I've been off sick is because I've been waiting for them to put additional adjustments in place as per occupational health and GP advice. They haven't. They seem to want me to return to work before they do any of that.

Whilst I could work, I wouldn't be able to do my job properly without these adjustments. The annoying thing is that I've had these adjustments from them before but now it seems to be a problem?

I feel they are using my financial situation against me. I feel forced to return to work before I'm ready. They've literally done nothing to get me back to work. They did give me a grievance outcome but it isn't satisfactory and I'm appealing and going to a tribunal.

If I return to work, they could turn around and say "well if it was that bad why did you come back etc"

I'm really upset today

@strictlymomdancing I'm sorry you're feeling so down and cornered and by your current employers 😔 have you spoke to your Union? Can they approach them and ask what changes will be made if you were to return when your sick pay runs out at the end of this month? Can you afford to stay off and not get paid?
Hopefully you'll hear something back regarding the position you applied for!

@Oblomov20 great that you could leave your job straight away! Hope something suitable comes up for you soon 🤞🏻

@dimsum123 that's fantastic news! Huge congratulations to you, so glad I helped in as all way have you handed your notice in yet? How did it go? I dread the day that I have to do that... I feel so guilty just looking for something else.

@strictlymomdancing, thank you, yes fingers crossed for you too. Although in my case I think it was less down to luck and more down to proper preparation, which I only did thanks to the advice I got on this thread.

Sorry about your work situation. They are not treating you very well.

@NewYearNewJobNewHome, thank you. Yes I handed in my notice on Friday afternoon. I called the HR manager from home as I finish at 1pm and didn't want to call him from the office as it's open plan.

He was very very surprised and kind of speechless when I told him, which was a bit weird and said he didn't see this coming at all. I wasn't exactly going to go round advertising the fact that I hate the company and my job and that I'm looking for something else! He must be used to people handing in their notice all the time as I'd say our staff turnover is about 40%.

I'm dreading going in tomorrow as everyone will probably know and am not sure what the reaction will be. And I just don't want to go in and do the actual job whilst I work out my notice. Hopefully I won't have to do the whole month, the HR guy said I could probably leave earlier.

It all feels a bit surreal, I hadn't expected to be able to find another job so quickly, I can't quite get my head around it, feel I'm in a bit of a daze.

Ooh can I join in please?

Started new job in October. Absolutely hate it with a passion:

1. My manager is a complete micro manager. Horribly so, to the point I cannot agree anything without his say so (I'm supposedly senior), and he uses Skype to keep tabs on us.
2. I was told at interview they were happy for me to work from home one day a week per my last role. This has now been revoked because it's apparently not a good idea due to other staff working from home on various days. My work/life balance is non existent and I have two young children. I leave the house at 5.45am and don't get in until 6pm. Life is too damn short for this shit.
3. They fucked up my tax last month by not submitting my p45 properly so I was paid less than half what I was expecting. And refused to fix it.
4. My commute is much worse than I could ever imagine.

I've had another interview which I think went well so just waiting for feedback. In the meantime I am dreading tomorrow and feel sick at the thought of going in. I just feel so annoyed at myself and them for believing the lies they pedalled at interview about the role, the autonomy and the work/life balance. I can't just quit though, as I'm the main earner.

to everyone else who is feeling the same horrible way I'm feeling tonight.

I was in tears last night. I'm so worried about finances. I can't afford to be on zero pay but DH says we will find a way if we have to - cut right back, borrow off family if we need to, but I just feel really guilty.

My dad is texting me constantly asking if I've heard anything from work yet and saying "you need to get back to work". He and mum are rather old school - sometimes supportive and other times telling me to 'pull my socks up' more or less.

I have spoken to my union yes, but not much back from them and I don't want to keep badgering them. Last time I spoke to the rep, he asked me what outcome I wanted from my appeal but that's not really an easy answer is it? I want to be happy at work - it sounds simple but it isn't really. I want them to make changes and acknowledge what they've done to me but that's impossible I guess.

I'd love an exit package but realistically anything they offered would run out before I'd find something - I'm disabled and its harder to get employment if you're disabled.

Welcome @madasaboxofcats your daily hours sound awful. Have you tried complaining? Are you in a union?

No @strictlymomdancing, I'm not unfortunately. That does include my commute though, which is 90 mins each way. Just sick of it all and needed to vent. Not sure how I'm going to afford petrol this week!

applied for another job today. same university. quite a lot of jobs coming up at this university. Feeling more hopeful now and trying not to focus too much on the financial worries. Interviews not til end of this month and end of next month for the other one though. That's if I get an interview. I'd be gutted if I was unsuccessful for both of them.

Good luck @strictlymomdancing, everything crossed for you

having a wobble again this morning . worrying about my ability to do these jobs I've applied for.

I have the work experience, I don't have the qualifications or software experience though. They are not asking for this but I worry they might expect it. I could do the jobs easily and pick up what I don't know easily but they might want the specific qualification even if the advert doesn't say this.

I've looked into the qualifications. They are either really expensive £4000! or you need to be currently employed in such a position and supported by your employer.

I guess I can only try and see. Why is it so hard to change jobs??

just got two rejection emails . did not get invited for interview.

@strictlymomdancing I'm so sorry you didn't get invited to interview - please try not to feel disheartened! I know this is easy for me to say, I'm all too familiar with the rejection but I find it easier to think 'on to the next one!'
May I ask if you're being too 'specific' in your job search, are you having to meet a salary expectation? Or can you be quite flexible now and anything is better than nothing? How does your disability affect what you can apply for? Please tell me to mind my own business, I'm just wondering if I can help do a search in your area for something you may not have already thought about

I'm half expecting a phone call over the next day or two to arrange an interview. It's for a Digital Marketing Assistant, and I think they want some admin work thrown in there too. I'm a bit disheartened as it's not really an area I was expecting to work in, or the industry! It's also NMW which isn't great (maybe negotiable, though I'd have no idea how to negotiate, having never done it). But I'm thinking do I just go for it (if I was offered)? Just to get me out of where I am now and to get some more experience.

Hi, I don't mind answering some questions although to answer them all would be very identifiable.
I'm currently on £35,000 in a public sector role with a good employer pension contribution, annual leave, flexi leave etc. So although the people I work with are horrible, the actual conditions are good.
Its a very niche sector.
My employer is the main employer of my qualification so to leave would be kind of akin to a doctor leaving the NHS really. Not easy to find alternative employment with the same pay and benefits. I've tried to get additional qualifications but to use them would mean dropping salary to like £16-£20,000 and I really can't afford to do that.
I've always been disabled. My disabilities are sensory. When I got this job it was straight out of university and I wasn't as disabled as I am now. I didn't even know about reasonable adjustments!
My disabilities have deteriorated since then but thanks to an operation, they have stopped detoriating and wont' get any worse. Thankfully I have never needed to give up work or take any time off work other than 1 day per year for hospital consultant check up visits. Its only been in the last year that I've taken sick leave and that's because of how I'm being treated.
I am only able to keep doing my job with reasonable adjustments in place (eg magnifying software and loop systems) but my employer is constantly looking for ways around this. Cheap and easy solutions rather than what actually works. Sometimes flat out refusing me adjustments. They know about Access to Work scheme but still aren't keen on making the adjustments I need. Only, as I said, the quick and easy and cheap ones.
I have an assistance dog now and that is also a problem. Legally they can't refuse my dog but certain members of staff have an issue with her even though she's super cute and well trained.
Prospective employers, I suspect, are not keen on my dog and potentially see my disabilities as a problem overall. They don't care about the fact I've been in employment since 16 and never been unemployed. They don't care about my undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. They don't care that the government can help fund specialist equipment etc. They just see my dog / disability and think arrrrgh too much hassle!
I wont try specialist agencies because I know them through my work and they only deal with low paid low skilled jobs and its like that;s all disabled people are good for. I'm not allowing that to happen to me.
Sorry for the rant.
Good luck with the potential interview. IME if somewhere states a salary, then its unlikely to be negotiable but nothing wrong with asking.

don't know if I'm the only one on this thread now.

Today I found out a job I went for went in another organisation and did not get, went to someone else who was leaving my current organisation.

This person was a graduate intern, 1 year out of university, whom I mentored and helped a lot.

Feels like a real kick in the teeth and makes me even more convinced that my disabilities played a part.

@strictlymomdancing I am still here! My apologies I haven't been checking back as often as I should, have been quite depressed recently but the last week or so has felt like a bit of a turning point. Not 100% yet but will get there.

I'm so sorry to hear you were unsuccessful in that role 🙁 I'm guessing your sick pay has came to an end now too? Are you managing to still stay off work?

Yes its come to an end and I'm going to have to return to work but no return to work plan in place yet . I have to go back though. I have no money not because I'm better

I have my grievance appeal meetings this week and next so that will be difficult for me. Wish me luck.

Still job searching (and playing the lottery with money I don't have in the stupid hope I win something )

My lot also goes from bad to worse. In a surprise move my boss offered me a different role in the company. Its turned into a complete shit show and I'm so annoyed at the moment that I can't have the conversation I need to have because I just know I'm going to cry from sheet frustration. After many discussions with dh I have written everything down that I need to ask in the hope that I can get the frustration out and then have a sensible discussion.

I had my interview, which went really well and I am through to the final stages, I am expecting to hear from them next week. I am praying I get the job, it sounds like a fantastic opportunity but even if I don't I shall continue looking and then tell the current lot to go swivel.

good luck @Yorkshiremum17 one of us needs good news!

I haven't heard anything re: my recent applications

My appeal meeting didn't go great. They kept asking if I felt the grievance was conducted properly - I'm challenging the outcome not how it was actually done. So I have doubts as to whether the appeal will go my way either.

@strictlymomdancing thank you, I'm so over this company now and hoping the New job comes off as hoped.

Do you have union representation in your appeal? How frustrating that they are more interested in the process rather than the outcome. I hope something falls toy way son.

Your way soon!!

@Yorkshiremum17 good luck with the final interview stage! Hope it goes well, be sure to come back and update  🤞🏻

@strictlymomdancing sorry it's all still not good for you. Have you actually gone back to work yet?

After much discussion with DH, and the acknowledgment that how I feel about work is now affecting my family time at home negatively, he's told me that I just need to hand in my notice. The branch where I work is due to close shortly, and then I'd be getting moved, so I'm going to tell them I'll work until the final day mine is open and then that's it. Was going to hand it in yesterday but lost my nerve 🙁 need to be t it done on Wednesday, think it'll feel like a weights lifted.

that's a shame you feel you can't take it anymore. How are your finances? My finances are such that I cannot just walk out, much as I'd like to, and it wouldn't go down well with my family who are very much of the "sticking it out" opinion, don't leave til you get something else etc.

Yes I'm still off work but I have a welfare meeting with a manager this week. I am very angry about a lot of things and I don't see that meeting going well. I have no idea how I'm going to get through each day when I go back as little to nothing has really changed

We've always managed the finances so that we could manage on one wage if either of us was to lose our job, so it'll be tight but manageable.
I'll get straight into job hunting and hopefully be successful with more time to put into applications and no worries about whether I'd be able to get time off work to interview.
My role will change in 6 weeks and I don't really want to be there when that happens, now is the 'easiest' time for me to leave.