Anyone fed up of changing jobs?

[Mumtofour1]

Hello All,

Looking for some sharing of stories and thoughts! I am late 40s and until covid times I had always been steady employment and generally stayed in roles 2-6 years until I felt it was time to move on. During covid I changed jobs and since then I've experienced 3 really toxic work environments (bullying/poor management/job not as advertised etc.) and I'm getting fed up and too old for this. I've been in my most recent role 6 months and it is yet another toxic culture and I'm so worried about looking elsewhere in case the next one is the same.

Not only do these job moves look back on my application forms it is damaging my mental and emotional health. I know no job is worth that. I've 'dug deeper' and wondered if the problem lies with me and short of me being more passive and accepting of these work environments I don't know what else to do. I can't change who I am but I have been lucky pre covid to work with nice people. Surely this can't be all covid related? I work in the public sector so possibly so. Looking for insight and shared experiences please and encouragement to move on. I hate being nearly 50 and having to keep changing jobs because my most recent ones are damaging my health and already suffering with hypertension as a result.

Thanks for reading 📚 😀

Hi @Mumtofour1 , I totally relate to your post. I have really struggled post covid job wise. 9 months into my current job after 9 months in a role which had a toxic environment, I am not sure if it is me or whether the job is not for me or what. I do feel that since covid many workplaces have lost the value of 'people' to a certain degree. Its is great that hybrid working is now more widely accepted but online working has also de personalised things hugely.

Thanks for your reply @Musteatcake , is this your second short job? I'm currently in my second short job and discovering it has been such a bad move...again! I think even when you know what you want from a job sometimes the environment you work in isn't manageable. I agree though I think covid has a lot to answer for in terms of work!

Same here.

I had a decent career for about 15 years staying in jobs for a reasonable amount of time in good organisations then I started having major health issues (various surgery needed as a result) and have had to move to working part-time ever since.

I have had the same issue over and over: join an organisation, fine for the first few weeks then it becomes clear the workload is not achievable part-time and they only hired someone with that work pattern to save money. I am also asked to take on duties that have nothing to do with my role/initial JD. Then the bullying/undermining starts especially if/when I declare my health issues. The stress then make my health condition worse and ultimately I end up leaving to protect my physical and mental health.

I am doing some courses at the moment and looking to change sector all together to see if that will improve things. I wish I could just be fully self-employed. I am early 50s as well and frankly I have no energy left to deal with office politics and unreasonable expectations.

Omg @Greenfairydust I could have written the exact same thing!

I hear you OP. I just went self employed in the end. Best thing I ever did. Give your situation some thought and see if you can go freelance or self employed.

I’m another person who could have written your post! I was just like you most jobs average 5yrs.
Up to June 2020 I had been in my job 5 years and it disappeared because of Covid. I worked in NHS.
I thought no worries a change is as good as a rest.
But, how wrong I was, everywhere I went was toxic.
The first new job lasted 3 weeks, for my own sanity and mental wellbeing, I was so stressed as I had never left a band 3 job after 3 weeks, it was a complete car crash.
The second and third at a Gp surgery was horrendous, most of the staff were so cliquey, I was bullied and slagged off behind my back as some were jealous I’d had a job made up for me. After 4 months I couldn’t take any more so left!

Job no 4, it’s now September 2021, I went to manage a couple of charity shops belonging to the hospice I worked in before Covid. I actually loved that job, but the nasty, malicious old volunteers wanted to run the shop themselves and didn’t want a manager ( they were on the rob , donations mysteriously disappeared) they made my life hell, constantly sending malicious emails to head office. It was a good job I had already worked for the charity for 5 years and they knew my good character, otherwise I would have been sacked, for nothing.
The last of my probation I left, I couldn't work with nasty, backstabbing old bags.
Job no 5, back to NHS, thing started out pretty well, just 3 of us in an office, one got a promotion to band 3 supervisor and her mask totally fell off showing a nasty bully. By now I’m thinking it must be me!
I was about to leave but caught Covid and was really bad, I now have Long Covid, a heart condition, scarred lungs, hearing loss and decreased concentration and short term memory issues. I can hardly walk a few feet down the street and rarely drive anymore………Oh yeah, I caught Covid at work and they know it.
Im going to take ill health retirement when someone remembers I exist. If I ever recover ( doubtful) Im 61, I’m not going back to the workplace, I will do something for myself.
So there it is, 6 jobs in 3 years!
I’m just too old and too poorly for all the shit

@Milly699 my goodness what an experience you have had and I really appreciate you sharing what you have been through. I know you said you weren't intending to go back to the workplace and I certainly don't blame you, unfortunately financially I'm not in a position to do that but I'm just wondering how many times I need to keep changing jobs, it's completely soul destroying isn't it.Im going to get as much training etc.out of the one I'm currently in but I'm actively looking but dread the thought of another interview, my confidence, particularly at my age has never been so rock bottom.

If anyone can muster any words of encouragement or support then I'm all ears! All the best to you all x

I no longer hold hope of having a job that makes me happy

Just maybe one where I am slightly less unhappy than before

I left a toxic job 5 years ago and took

Job number 1 not as described, manager wanted a slave/ assistant when I voiced concerns re job not as described I was sacked

Job number 2 not their fault but the work environment was unsuitable so I left

Job 3 OK at first manager turned out to a narcissistic micro manager and made me redundant when furlough ended

Job4 got treated like a robot and like I was box fresh from uni not someone with 18 years experience. Left in probation

Job 5 after a period of unemployment I had high hopes but again treated like shit by management and made redundant along with the whole team

Job 6 significantly not as described not using my skill set, no one talks to me and currently desperately trying to escape.

Maybe its me...

Totally relate. My cv has always been pretty solid, but I’ve had 4 jobs in the last 12 months - it wasn’t intentional.
I am leaving this summer and hope that’s it - I’m heading for self-employment instead.