Do you hate your job?.......
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free skin care · Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:09 pm

I do!! I really dislike my job but have no choice cuz I need the money. I totally don't like my boss as he's too demanding at times. He likes to ask me to get his lunch for him almost everyday. It really bugs me as I won't have enough time to do my work and sometimes it's cutting into my lunch hr too. Also, he would like to ask me to do his personal stuff for him at work! Mad

And of course I don't have the guts to tell him that it's not part of my job duties.

Another issue is, he said he's retiring next yr from now. Although I can't stand him no more but if I quit now, it's hard to get a reference from him and I won't be elligible for EI (compensation from the govn't). If u were me, what will u do then?

free skin care · Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:54 pm

hmmmmmm....tough question. Have you made a list of pro's/con's?
Do you think you could tough it out til he retires, or no?
If you can't quit, and don't want to look for a different job, you *could* just adjust your own mindset and tell yourself that this job will do for the time being, but it doesn't have to be permanent! I always think that's easier than going thru the whole resume/interview/steep-learning-curve thing again. Gads I hate being the newbie! But if you utterly are making yourself sick over a job.....DON'T! Maybe it's time for a change.

free skin care · Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:20 pm

fawnie wrote:

hmmmmmm....tough question. Have you made a list of pro's/con's?
Do you think you could tough it out til he retires, or no?
If you can't quit, and don't want to look for a different job, you *could* just adjust your own mindset and tell yourself that this job will do for the time being, but it doesn't have to be permanent! I always think that's easier than going thru the whole resume/interview/steep-learning-curve thing again. Gads I hate being the newbie! But if you utterly are making yourself sick over a job.....DON'T! Maybe it's time for a change.

I guess I can tough it out for another yr but that's it! No more! I'm doing it for the EI cuz it helps a bit while I'm looking for another job. If I quit now, I get nothing since he's not retiring yet. Also, it's hard to ask for a reference if u get what I mean... Sad

free skin care · Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:32 pm

Whenever I have an "I hate my job" moment, I remind myself of the following:

- Every job has it's issues...NO job is perfect.

- Being unemployed and unable to pay my bills would probably be FAR worse than being in my current job.

- If a job was fun ALL the time, they wouldn't call it WORK...they would call it PLAY, and you wouldn't get PAID.

- My job description is to do whatever my boss asks me to do...except sleep with him, or anything else to do with sex. Many of the things that I thought I was above doing in my 20's, I do willing today. Why? Because my manager appreciates them, and that means more job security and higher raises for ME.

However, if a job is so draining/miserable/etc. that it TRULY impacts your mental and physical health, then one should not waste any time in making a change. Life is too short to short change your health and happiness.

I also believe in changing jobs before you become a negative, bitter employee, and it is obvious to everyone that you hate being there each and every day....by then, people are just waiting for you to leave, and are probably looking for opportunities to help get rid of you.

These are lessons I have personally learned from working at some of the top companies in the world for many years...both as a manager of large groups, and as an individual contributor. They may not work for everyone, but they certainly help me keep things in perspective and a little happier at work on a day to day basis. Very Happy

free skin care · Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:24 pm

It's not clear cut. What is your job? I'm concerned that he's having you run personal errands for him regularly, could it be because you're female? If you are a personal assistant/secretary, then this does not apply. I have a partial solution- if you run errands for him, they should not be cutting into your lunch hour. You should take a lunch hour that's separate from the errands. If the errands take half an hour, then lunch break is 1.5 hours total, simply explain that it took you a half an hour to do whatever he needed you to do, and now you're going to go have lunch. However this doesn't help much if you don't have enough time to do your work and then you have to stay late...

Do you have any coworkers you can ask for a reference? I don't think references are a big deal in general, but it depends on your field. I believe that a background check simply checks out if you did in fact have that position for that period of time. You are always free to look for other employment. Nobody is irreplaceable. You shouldn't burn bridges, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't look for another job that you'll be happier in and/or that will pay more. I don't think getting a new job has to = burning bridges. But no, you really shouldn't quit until you have an offer.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:59 pm

Do you get job reviews?... Those are great in lieu of a reference... As a former recruiter I used them all the time. In fact, when a company says that won't give a reference I just ask to confirm the validity of the review... as a recruiter I also ask other kinds of questions... Is it normal for you to keep a person on a job for 5 years if they are doing a terrible job? (usually no.)

You don't have to complain about doing the errands... I would tell your boss something like. I don't mind running this errand. I'll do it after, or before my lunch. However, I just want you to know it's cutting into my time to work on xyz project and I have to leave on time today. So, if you're ok with it not getting done, I'd be happy to do this for you.

Yes... I've had a job that I hated. I don't recommend keeping them. Look for a new one while you're working. Take interviews on your lunch, prior to work or after work. A new hiring boss should be appreciative that you're not interfering with your own work.

I had a job once where my manager could not get her day organized enough to train me. I'm not talking that she had a lot of work to do herself. She was regularly and consistently on the phone with her friends, and taking care of personal matters (we could all hear her conversations.) When I complained to her that I wasn't getting adequate training (as promised in my interviews) she decided I should stay after work and for an extra hour a day to learn from her. UMMMMM Sorry, I had to writer her (and management) a letter explaining that I was not going to give up more of my day to learn things I should be learning during the day. I had taken a lower paying job than my qualification demanded in order to learn an industry that I was interested in. They were taking serious advantage of my other skills and not making a fair trade... The job ended quickly... I happen to know that I'm an excellent employee and I give 120%. If an employer can't at least offer a nice environment. Without UNNECESSORY drama... they don't get me... they can have some dolt barely worth their wage... they will get what they pay for...

Good luck!

free skin care · Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:44 pm

I've started to really hate my job over the last year.. Actually I had a complete reversal of my "values" Cool

in terms of work-life balance..
I was up for a promotion (committed in writing in my performance evaluation), and at the same time i got pregnant (it was MUCH and LONG awaited), was working my tail off until the delivery date, late hours, lots of stress, etc, etc. The only thing - my doctor did not allow me to travel (in my company we travel a lot for long-long cross-continental distances) -- since with the pregnancy i could not handle some 20-hour flights to Asia and the jet lag, plus i didn't want to end up seeking emergency medical care in a country which doesn't have a reliable health care. My boss was aware of my pregnancy and limitations from the start, and rearranged my work program to allow for more "desk" work while keeping the necessary level of "challenge".. Throughout the year we had a number of performance 'status check' meetings, and i was told everything is great and i'm on the sure track for the promotion..
Long story short, in the middle of the year we got a new 'big' boss (boss of my boss) who just decided at the very end of the year that he will not honor any commitments/promises of his predecessor, and my promotion was denied at the last moment with some b/s (sorry) excuse.. With a new baby I had no will or energy to fight about it, but it really really crashed my motivation, career aspirations, and ahhhh almost belief in my professional capacities Crying or Very sad

It also happened so, that in a few months I got pregnant for the 2nd time, and now i am taking it REALLY easy at work.. I know that they don't really appreciate me, and noone will "give me a medal" there, while my health and attention to my family are of a paramount importance.. So my plan for the next couple of years to lay low, do the minimum at work so not to get fired (anyway, my direct boss does feel VERY guilty about this whole situation, but it doens't help Sad

), get my salary and concentrate on the family. And then, when the kids are a bit bigger, and my spirit is hopefully back, i'll revisit my career aspirations Smile

free skin care · Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:16 pm

Let me start by saying I am sorry that you hate your job. I LOVE my job, my supervisor and all my employees and co-workers. I could not think of a better place I would rather spend more than half my life at than my current job. I am a firm believer that everyone needs to find a job that they like, bills or not, find your passion, get the schooling you may need and find a job that you love to go to. We spend so much time at our job that if had to go to work everyday hating it, hating my boss I would probably be so depressed. My job was the very reason that I got through my divorce years ago with "flying colors" (lack of better words). My job is so positive and most people that I would with are my "family", so it is wonderful each and everyday. I do know that is rare! I never take it for granted.

free skin care · Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:27 pm

bethany, thanks for your quotes. They're great! I'll keep that in mind when I feel down.

Nimue, I'm a medical assistant. I work for a neurologist. Most of the time, I do transcriptions, phones, and billing. My lunch hr is from 12-1 and it's hard for me to take a longer lunch as there're patients booked at 1pm. I don't have any coworkers to work with me and the doctor is my boss. It's just the dr. and me.

fitmama, I don't really have job review. He usually raise me every yr and talked to me a bit but that doesn't seem to help. He can actually ask me to stay 1/2 an hr later to finish up on a time sensitive task. I did tell him can I do it another day and he said it would be too late. So I have no choice but to do it without getting OT. But I'm usually late 5-10 mins in the morning so I guess that balances it out? Very Happy

NataliaT, I hope u take care of your body and don't be so harsh on yourself on the job. Perhaps look for another job if your current job is not offering u wat u want?

bergquis, I'm glad that u like your job but not many ppl can enjoy what they're doing! I wish I can be happy going to my job but it's hard. The problem is, I don't even know what I enjoy doing....

free skin care · Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:56 pm

Stardusty, it sounds like your job fits into the secretary/personal assistant category. Unfortunately, doing your boss' errands is one of your unofficial duties. Basically your job is to make your boss function more efficiently, because his time is more valuable than your time. However he should be aware of the time you spend running his errands as time on the job and it should be outside your lunch hour.

Maybe you could alert him to this and you can both try to juggle the timing of any errands you have to do around the lunch hour? Maybe half an hour before the lunch hour, or whenever there's a quiet period, ask your boss if he wants you to pick up his lunch for him, or anything else and do it right then so you can have your full lunch hour later and come back by 1 pm.

Stardustdy wrote:

bethany, thanks for your quotes. They're great! I'll keep that in mind when I feel down.

Nimue, I'm a medical assistant. I work for a neurologist. Most of the time, I do transcriptions, phones, and billing. My lunch hr is from 12-1 and it's hard for me to take a longer lunch as there're patients booked at 1pm. I don't have any coworkers to work with me and the doctor is my boss. It's just the dr. and me.

fitmama, I don't really have job review. He usually raise me every yr and talked to me a bit but that doesn't seem to help. He can actually ask me to stay 1/2 an hr later to finish up on a time sensitive task. I did tell him can I do it another day and he said it would be too late. So I have no choice but to do it without getting OT. But I'm usually late 5-10 mins in the morning so I guess that balances it out? Very Happy

NataliaT, I hope u take care of your body and don't be so harsh on yourself on the job. Perhaps look for another job if your current job is not offering u wat u want?

bergquis, I'm glad that u like your job but not many ppl can enjoy what they're doing! I wish I can be happy going to my job but it's hard. The problem is, I don't even know what I enjoy doing....

Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:25 pm

Stardust... are you in the US? You can not be required to work overtime without being paid overtime... totally illegal.

Now... you don't get a written review... but you get raises... Maybe you should work with a recruiter who can do all the footwork for you. Additionally, no one will be calling your current boss for a recomendation... that would jepordize your job most likely. Regardless... I find it rare that a boss hands out raises to people that don't deserve it... So, when you interview... you can say... Well, I don't get formal written reviews but I get raises every year.

Here's the deal... Either you like your job or you don't. You deal with it or you don't. If you're skilled you can find a good job even in a tough market... Regardless, it's hard to find quality employees EVERYWHERE... or you can come up with a ton of excuses why can't do something for yourself. Which unfortanely comes through to your boss... and is most likely why he treats you with disregard (plus so many Dr's have attitudes.)

To the mom that was denied her promotion... OUCH! that's totally unfair... and seems a bit like retaliation for taking care of yourself and family. But, I can see why you would just skate through your job now as opposed to fighting it legally.. Who needs that. Well... Hope all works out for everyone... I work from home now a days. I find that I don't play well with people that don't play by the rules.

Oh... I would also like to say... being a secretary does NOT mean that you run errands for your boss. Unless you agreed to that somewhere a long the way. Is he reimbursing you for car maintenance? GAS? Which, you can submit for repayment. And your bosses time is NOT more valuable than yours. Generally, they can NOT function without you. And they already pay you less. You're not making their salary. Just because certain jobs require more skills and background does not make the person more worthy than you...

free skin care · Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:09 pm

Of course her boss is not more worthy as a human being than her. Reimbursement for gas didn't occur to me because I assumed that the errands that she has to do don't require a car. I live in a city, though. If the errands require the use of a car, then yes she should be reimbursed for gas.

free skin care · Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:07 pm

fitmama, I'm in Canada. It's only that once he asked me to stay 1/2 an hr more so I really don't know what to say. Like I said, I'm always 5-10mins late so I don't know if it's a good idea to say no to him?

Yes Nimue, you're right about running errands nearby. It's about a block or 2 away. I guess I'll ask him what he wants for lunch so I'll get it earlier!

free skin care · Sat Sep 13, 2008 4:29 pm

fitmama wrote:

Stardust... are you in the US? You can not be required to work overtime without being paid overtime... totally illegal.

That's applicable ONLY if you are an hourly worker, yes?

free skin care · Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:25 pm

bethany wrote:

fitmama wrote:

Stardust... are you in the US? You can not be required to work overtime without being paid overtime... totally illegal.

That's applicable ONLY if you are an hourly worker, yes?

I'm actually based on monthly salary not hourly... so yeah I'm not sure.

free skin care · Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:19 am

Sorry to hear about your job issues. We're at work such a large portion of our life that it should be something that you at least feel comfortable with. If he's retiring in a year shouldn't you be looking around now for what you want to do next? How about night school classes in something you're interested in that could lead to a new career? If you were working towards something maybe you would feel better? I don't believe that just quitting would make you feel better. You need to think about what you would really like to do (or if you like what you are doing but just not the environment/person).

P>S> I love what I do (I teach and do research). You might be happier if you were in a workplace with more people to interact with. That's partly what I like about my job.

free skin care · Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:00 am

Uuuughh...its so draining to hate the job you're in. That's why I am going to school to be an esthetician...

free skin care · Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:55 pm

After 22 years of working with disabled children, I am burnt out and hate the job, not the kids, just the job. I actually dislike most of the adults (administration). It's become very political and isn't about the teaching. I stay because I need the money and I still have a little bit left in me to help the kids. Thank G-d I have a terrific supervisor who appreciates my work and it surely has helped keep me going when I was just about to give up.

I cannot wait to retire and live according to my schedule.

free skin care · Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:19 am

i hated it, so i quited!
i do not regret!

free skin care · Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:59 am

I DID like my job!!

I'm a secretary working for a fair sized company in the UK. Have been there for nearly 15 years, so a fair amount of loyalty going on for them!

Unfortunately, due to the financial crisis all over the world right now, my company is in the same boat as a lot i guess and they are making redundancies.

So, i'm at risk. it's still up in the air due to all the moving about of departments, but it's pretty much definite they are not going to need me (I'm a secretary, who'll run the company if i go!!!! rofl

)

But, the annoying thing is not actually being laid off (although i AM getting quite bitter and twisted abou it), i'ts the fact that i'm pregnant and if i'm made redundant, they won't have to pay me maternity pay. so, i'll really be in it - nobody will hire me if i'm pregnant and due to leave in six months.

Also, am buying a house, which will obviously fall through if i'm made redundant as my mortgage offer will be rescinded. Boo hoo

Still, y' know what. i've tried to get pregnant for six years and that is more important than any job!!!!

free skin care · Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:13 pm

I do not hate my job, per se. It is definitely not something I want to do the rest of my life, but I'm attempting to find merit in what I do as incentive to pursue a better career.

I was thinking of going into Law Enforcement for awhile, but now I have settled on going back to school to get my law degree. While it won't be for a year and a half or so, I have taken steps to get closer to my goal.

As what I do now will be pertinent to the type of law I want to study, it has completely changed my outlook on my job, despite being highly stressful and ugly at times.

That said, I am very thankful I have a job. I have several friends on unemployment and finding anything that will enable you to make ends meet is extremely difficult in my area. And as our Town Code requires there to be someone in my position, I hope to have some job security for awhile.

But it does get to be too much sometimes...getting yelled at, told off, the works. Ugh.

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