This is long, sorry.
I had a great job, hybrid, lots of WFH, part time with regular weekdays off.
Perfect for me with disability and kids, but I was bored.
No progression, not stimulating. Then a job came up that felt more me , aligned with my skills and experience, interesting, challenging, more hours, less holiday but school hours (not term time only unfortunately).
I enjoy the job and know I’m good at it.
I’m the only one doing my role. My predecessor left before I joined, so I’ve been learning as I go.
I was told to make the job my own, which I’ve done. It’s public facing and relies heavily on volunteers.
There was no clear system for seeing customers, people would wait around for ages, volunteers would call my name while I was with someone else.
It felt chaotic and unfair to customers, so I introduced a simple reception process to manage things better. It’s basic, I tested it with colleagues, one said she really liked it.
Every day I introduce it to the day’s team of volunteers, saying it’s a trial and I’m open to feedback. I’ve tweaked it when needed.
One day I was out at a meeting and my boss sent an email to everyone saying not to follow the new process after I’d not been there to introduce it to the team, honestly it is simple and nothing more than you’d be asked at any appointment anywhere .
I explained I needed some structure, then she agreed I could keep using it.
The next week, while working with customers , I overheard volunteers talking about me , through two appointments. Loudly & negatively, comparing me to my predecessor, saying I don’t understand our clients, that I’m inexperienced. It was humiliating and unprofessional.
One came over afterwards to give their collective “feedback.” I told her I’d heard everything they said whilst I was working. She explained why they didn’t like it , she said she didn’t care one way or the other…
most reasons were spurious but I listened, took notes, said I’d adapt it.
She said she’d bring it to their volunteer team meeting.
I left the room and heard them still talking about me. When I came back, it continued.
While they were gossiping, they missed a key security step that could’ve put us at risk.
At the end of the shift she said she was going upstairs to talk to my manager (apparently not about me). She then left, all smiles. Another volunteer left, saying goodbye to everyone except me.
My manager then came to ask if I was ok , clearly the volunteer had said something.
I explained what happened.
She said the loudest complainer always behaves like that, that new staff often go through this, and shared examples.
I was shocked they were still being allowed to volunteer.
My boss said I should’ve run my new process by her, but I reminded her she’d told me to make the role my own.
She then admitted the volunteer lied , there was never a system before, and my predecessor didn’t have a structured one. She said they actually like my professionalism and ‘modern’ way of working.
Mind blown.
We agreed I’d remove my form temporarily while we create a more basic version.
The next day, without it, I was run off my feet.
Whilst with a customer ,
I again heard volunteers whispering about me , different people this time, saying “she’s still learning” and discussing parts of the service outside my remit as though I was doing something wrong but it’s something legally I’m not allowed to touch.
I couldn’t hear it all as working, but it really upset me.
I thought I was doing well. After years of WFH, this has been a big adjustment with my health, but I was excited to prove myself. Now I just feel crushed and embarrassed .
I’ve thrown what felt like an amazing opportunity for a disabled mum just because I was bored .
My old WFH job isn’t being re-advertised, and I can’t find anything similar.
I feel stupid for leaving a safe role for this , and now I’m stuck in a toxic, undermining environment where I feel exposed, vulnerable, and unprotected.
How do I deal with this?