Does anyone hate their job? #2

[WeepingCassandra]

In my desperation to get out of my current role on my return from maternity leave I've found a couple of jobs I'm now applying for.

One of them is asking for a free form answer about the values of the company and how they relate to me and the role advertised. Only allowed 250 words. Do you think it's too on the nose to just state the values and then explain how they relate? For example, one of the values is Collaboration- so I was going to list them and then put "The values are Collaboration, X/Y/Z. Collaboration to me means not just that I work with colleagues on difficult problems, but also that I am a strong team player and offer my skills to others as required" (or something along those lines, it's very much a draft stage atm).

 

[Sheeeet]

In my desperation to get out of my current role on my return from maternity leave I've found a couple of jobs I'm now applying for.

One of them is asking for a free form answer about the values of the company and how they relate to me and the role advertised. Only allowed 250 words. Do you think it's too on the nose to just state the values and then explain how they relate? For example, one of the values is Collaboration- so I was going to list them and then put "The values are Collaboration, X/Y/Z. Collaboration to me means not just that I work with colleagues on difficult problems, but also that I am a strong team player and offer my skills to others as required" (or something along those lines, it's very much a draft stage atm).

I'd put the value (just 1 or 2 words) followed by a concrete example of each from your work experience, or make one up if you really have no relevant anecdote to do with that value

 

[WeepingCassandra]

I'd put the value (just 1 or 2 words) followed by a concrete example of each from your work experience, or make one up if you really have no relevant anecdote to do with that value

Trouble is it's only 200 words and they also want what I'd expect from an organisation with these values and how I could progress them myself!

 

[J3N1800]

I've been off two days sick and today, whilst I wasn't well enough to go into the office/potentially spread whatever lurgy I have to the rest of the team - I was able to work from home.

I attended our usual Weekly meeting between me, my supervisor and our manager
The meeting is to discuss what works in progress, any issues, questions ect

My manager started the call by saying "I know you're not better so we'll try keep this one short..."
My supervisor responded "...it's usually J [me] who has a lot to say anyway...."

Now, I'm not deeply offended by that standalone - but this is the third comment, along those lines, that I've received from her.

Earlier in the year a spreadsheet was changed because I 'wrote too much information in the boxes' and made it too 'large' of a spreadsheet. So now it's on Word. (Note: She writes even more than I do now it's been carried over to Word)

Second time - she sent me something, asking me to check it was mine. It wasn't, so I sent this on to another dept thinking it was neither of ours so, must belong to them. Turns out it was hers, she hadn't checked and just let me do the leg work. She sent a Teams message saying "Sorry F [colleague from other dept] I didn't realise I has asked you for this information" but sent that to me, instead of F.
I responded with a "??" and got no response.

Ontop of all the above, she is paid significantly more than me for doing the same job. Our boss agrees we do the same role, but because she moved over from a supervisory position, he can't dock her wages to match mine (fine, but delegate her more work?)

I have gone to management numerous times, I got a small payrise (still not close to hers) which she is aware of and brings up occasionally "...at least you got a payrise, I haven't."

I'll probably bring up at my end of year employee one to one with management above her

 

[tomato_paste]

I've been off two days sick and today, whilst I wasn't well enough to go into the office/potentially spread whatever lurgy I have to the rest of the team - I was able to work from home.

I attended our usual Weekly meeting between me, my supervisor and our manager
The meeting is to discuss what works in progress, any issues, questions ect

My manager started the call by saying "I know you're not better so we'll try keep this one short..."
My supervisor responded "...it's usually J [me] who has a lot to say anyway...."

Now, I'm not deeply offended by that standalone - but this is the third comment, along those lines, that I've received from her.

Earlier in the year a spreadsheet was changed because I 'wrote too much information in the boxes' and made it too 'large' of a spreadsheet. So now it's on Word. (Note: She writes even more than I do now it's been carried over to Word)

Second time - she sent me something, asking me to check it was mine. It wasn't, so I sent this on to another dept thinking it was neither of ours so, must belong to them. Turns out it was hers, she hadn't checked and just let me do the leg work. She sent a Teams message saying "Sorry F [colleague from other dept] I didn't realise I has asked you for this information" but sent that to me, instead of F.
I responded with a "??" and got no response.

Ontop of all the above, she is paid significantly more than me for doing the same job. Our boss agrees we do the same role, but because she moved over from a supervisory position, he can't dock her wages to match mine (fine, but delegate her more work?)

I have gone to management numerous times, I got a small payrise (still not close to hers) which she is aware of and brings up occasionally "...at least you got a payrise, I haven't."

I'll probably bring up at my end of year employee one to one with management above her

Harsh question but why would they pay you more when they're still squeezing the same amount of work out of you for less pay than her?

She probably feels threatened because you're bringing up docking her wages instead of increasing your own and seeks to undermine you.

I'd apply for another job and quiet quit in the meantime.

 

[Lico]

You need to move jobs. That is the only way to go up money.

 

[J3N1800]

Harsh question but why would they pay you more when they're still squeezing the same amount of work out of you for less pay than her?

She probably feels threatened because you're bringing up docking her wages instead of increasing your own and seeks to undermine you.

I'd apply for another job and quiet quit in the meantime.

thanks for your reply, i have asked for pay rises and said I didn't mind if she was paid more, if work was delegated in favour of that.
There's only us two on our team and I'm doing the same as her because that's how it's being distributed by management.
Im often told by management they're trying to 'grow me' by giving me the extra work, but I was in a redundancy situation two years ago and kept on for 'about a year' - I'm trying to bide my time there because if it does close, I'd get 6-7k redundancy.

 

[Gossipdollxoxo]

They are just not my sort or type of people, have zero in common, I ask them all the time about their families, kids etc & they never ask about mine. It’s like I feel I couldn’t be far enough away from them, hence my body just being in fight or flight mode.

following on from this I was basically assaulted on Thursday in work, told my manager who WFH didn’t receive a phone call yesterday around it & her response was apparently sitting in her drafts all day 🫥🫠 I have no words for that. I have also reported this healthcare professional to HR physical abuse & aggressive behaviour. Absolutely awful! Then HR email me back to ask if they have any protected characteristics that they need to be aware of?! Yet to actually speak to someone from the company.

I feel like I also want to report them to the regulators & healthcare board.

 

[cushtybert]

I was told by my manager today that I would have to attend an information day, this is a yearly thing where the head of department informs us about what’s going on. The meeting is filmed so people can see it in their own time, however I was told today that everyone has to attend even though it’s being filmed. It’s running on 2 dates, one is when I have Annual Leave booked the other is on a day i don’t normally work. Can I be made to attend this even though it’s being filmed and I could watch it anyway?

 

[Codiaeum]

I was told by my manager today that I would have to attend an information day, this is a yearly thing where the head of department informs us about what’s going on. The meeting is filmed so people can see it in their own time, however I was told today that everyone has to attend even though it’s being filmed. It’s running on 2 dates, one is when I have Annual Leave booked the other is on a day i don’t normally work. Can I be made to attend this even though it’s being filmed and I could watch it anyway?

It can’t hurt to ask and point out that that meeting is during a day you normally wouldn't come in an emphasize that it will be recorded. If there's a good reason why you can't come in that day (e.g. child care) I'd explain that as well. And if they really really make you come in, get it in writign that you can take another day off for that instead.


_____

News on my gaslighting team member: After some really tough escalation, they "decided to leave" the company. I'm not sure how much free will that was in the end, after an HR case was opened, but it's over. Since the news landed I've been in such a good mood, I hadn't even realized how much it was pressing on me. Since ~January, maybe even before this, it was a constant battle and it's just over now.

 

[camotea]

My little bit of the civil service is in the middle of a big recruitment event, including jiggling our jobs about and splitting some of it into a higher grade. I applied for one (that I was dubious about*) and didn’t get it but closing date > sift > invite to interview was 24 hours! Unprecedented! For the private sector, let alone for CS. I applied for another 14 days ago and… have heard nothing Back to business as usual. I also managed to retain the application momentum, plus getting some amazing advice on a personal statement, so I have applied for another eight CS gigs, and got one interview (0 rejections) so far. Am torn between promotion in the nearest big city or staying at my grade in my town. Tbh I’d probably be happy to stay lowly then be able to walk to work, saving £1.5k pa in commuting costs and associated kerfuffle.



Anyone else in the civil service?



* this is my personal bull about being scared to try so being half-arsed

 

[Codiaeum]

My little bit of the civil service is in the middle of a big recruitment event, including jiggling our jobs about and splitting some of it into a higher grade. I applied for one (that I was dubious about*) and didn’t get it but closing date > sift > invite to interview was 24 hours! Unprecedented! For the private sector, let alone for CS. I applied for another 14 days ago and… have heard nothing Back to business as usual. I also managed to retain the application momentum, plus getting some amazing advice on a personal statement, so I have applied for another eight CS gigs, and got one interview (0 rejections) so far. Am torn between promotion in the nearest big city or staying at my grade in my town. Tbh I’d probably be happy to stay lowly then be able to walk to work, saving £1.5k pa in commuting costs and associated kerfuffle.



Anyone else in the civil service?



* this is my personal bull about being scared to try so being half-arsed

Would the benefits of working in the next bigger town outweigh your current benefits? Being able to walk there is a huge plus, not only in gas cost, but time and maintenance for a car or commute costs.

 

[camotea]

Would the benefits of working in the next bigger town outweigh your current benefits? Being able to walk there is a huge plus, not only in gas cost, but time and maintenance for a car or commute costs.

Soz, I wasn’t clear. I currently commute to the big town and it seems like that’s where all the higher grade stuff is. So I’m thinking I’ll stay on my grade for a job that’s walkable You are right that the benefits of no-commute can probably would outweigh the benefits of more money. But that’s mostly for my well-being, not for more amorphous stuff like household income etc. Hopefully, I’ll get several offers and have to decide

 

[FrumpyCat]

Would the benefits of working in the next bigger town outweigh your current benefits? Being able to walk there is a huge plus, not only in gas cost, but time and maintenance for a car or commute costs.

I would go for the walkable distance. I live a few my minutes walk from where I walk and would not even look at commuting.

I'm part of the CS, currently a band above my responsibility ; there is a lot of job inflation in my section as the pay is poor they can't recruit - after years of war freezes and no spine progression. lower bands are essentially on minimum wage.

 

[WeepingCassandra]

I'm wondering about freelance work from home careers that I could potentially start looking into now to make a career change in the summer of next year (when my commitment to my current job runs out); or even just a bit of cash on the side.

Growing up I absolutely loved making youtube videos for people, particularly ones set to music (misspent youth, many were drinking in a field at 15 - I was sat at a computer either on neopets or fiddling with Windows Movie Maker ). I don't like being in front of the camera myself but would quite happily sit and edit someone else's videos and that led to me thinking - some of the vloggers I watch mention occasionally that they have an editor who creates the actual video for them from the clips they send them. Is that a viable option? Is there a specific website to start it on? I found one that wants the editors to use Adobe Suite products, that's not something I have or have access to but if I could get a version of it am sure I could produce some decent stuff.

 

[Bubbledoggyyeah]

I started a new job a few months back, and I feel they weren’t truthful at all in the interview about what the job actually was and it’s really getting me down. Annoyingly (or not) it pays £16k more than I was on before, and I’d be hard pressed to find a role earning what I am now, but it just isn’t doing what I want to be doing.

I’ve worked my a off, spent thousands in qualifications to get where I am, am part of a professional body for the work I do and I genuinely enjoy the career I have worked towards and I want to carry on progressing. This job just isn’t that - I am the only female on a board of executive senior men, who basically have no respect for me and ask me to do things like… changing lightbulbs, or fix the coffee machine. If I try and communicate regarding my actual job, I get ignored so I’ve barely done anything since I’ve been here. I passed my probation and my manager (who is based hundreds of miles away) thinks I’m doing great. In some ways I’m like sure, if you want to pay me 50k a year to be an office runaround then okay, but I keep crying as I’m losing all my knowledge and I feel like a mug. I don’t know what to do.

The extra money is a godsend as I live on my own and my mortgage is due for renewal soon but I’ve never felt so disrespected, ignored and belittled as I am here. I’ve been lied to, I feel like no information is provided to me, it’s like a cryptic puzzle game trying to actually obtain information and then usually after I’ve had four hours of meetings, I find out the first person I asked had what I needed all along.

 

[Sodivine]

I started a new job a few months back, and I feel they weren’t truthful at all in the interview about what the job actually was and it’s really getting me down. Annoyingly (or not) it pays £16k more than I was on before, and I’d be hard pressed to find a role earning what I am now, but it just isn’t doing what I want to be doing.

I’ve worked my a off, spent thousands in qualifications to get where I am, am part of a professional body for the work I do and I genuinely enjoy the career I have worked towards and I want to carry on progressing. This job just isn’t that - I am the only female on a board of executive senior men, who basically have no respect for me and ask me to do things like… changing lightbulbs, or fix the coffee machine. If I try and communicate regarding my actual job, I get ignored so I’ve barely done anything since I’ve been here. I passed my probation and my manager (who is based hundreds of miles away) thinks I’m doing great. In some ways I’m like sure, if you want to pay me 50k a year to be an office runaround then okay, but I keep crying as I’m losing all my knowledge and I feel like a mug. I don’t know what to do.

The extra money is a godsend as I live on my own and my mortgage is due for renewal soon but I’ve never felt so disrespected, ignored and belittled as I am here. I’ve been lied to, I feel like no information is provided to me, it’s like a cryptic puzzle game trying to actually obtain information and then usually after I’ve had four hours of meetings, I find out the first person I asked had what I needed all along.

It’s a gift, until it’s not. I used to work my backside off for less than I was worth, until the company increased my salary (by a significant amount) and I was paid £75k a year to do very little. Yea it was great, I basically spent my time doing “home” things and very little work, but it’s boring and professionally not progressive. If I were you I’d start looking to be honest because it won’t get better. Ultimately money is good until you’ve got nothing to show for your time there and it has longer term implications. In the meantime, enjoy it and don’t feel guilty. For now, it is a gift.

I now (after a settlement agreement payout) earn slightly less but have a much better job with greater progression and much more fulfilled, more stable, and I don’t feel surplus to requirement. With bonus I earn no less than my last job. Sometimes money isn’t enough.

 

[liff.laff.luff]

I’ve worked my a off, spent thousands in qualifications to get where I am, am part of a professional body for the work I do and I genuinely enjoy the career I have worked towards and I want to carry on progressing. This job just isn’t that - I am the only female on a board of executive senior men, who basically have no respect for me and ask me to do things like… changing lightbulbs, or fix the coffee machine. If I try and communicate regarding my actual job, I get ignored so I’ve barely done anything since I’ve been here. I passed my probation and my manager (who is based hundreds of miles away) thinks I’m doing great. In some ways I’m like sure, if you want to pay me 50k a year to be an office runaround then okay, but I keep crying as I’m losing all my knowledge and I feel like a mug. I don’t know what to do.

sounds like they needed a woman on board and earning equal for reporting purposes. I can't imagine how frustrating it is to earn your position and still be treated like a token.

 

[WeepingCassandra]

I started a new job a few months back, and I feel they weren’t truthful at all in the interview about what the job actually was and it’s really getting me down. Annoyingly (or not) it pays £16k more than I was on before, and I’d be hard pressed to find a role earning what I am now, but it just isn’t doing what I want to be doing.

I’ve worked my a off, spent thousands in qualifications to get where I am, am part of a professional body for the work I do and I genuinely enjoy the career I have worked towards and I want to carry on progressing. This job just isn’t that - I am the only female on a board of executive senior men, who basically have no respect for me and ask me to do things like… changing lightbulbs, or fix the coffee machine. If I try and communicate regarding my actual job, I get ignored so I’ve barely done anything since I’ve been here. I passed my probation and my manager (who is based hundreds of miles away) thinks I’m doing great. In some ways I’m like sure, if you want to pay me 50k a year to be an office runaround then okay, but I keep crying as I’m losing all my knowledge and I feel like a mug. I don’t know what to do.

The extra money is a godsend as I live on my own and my mortgage is due for renewal soon but I’ve never felt so disrespected, ignored and belittled as I am here. I’ve been lied to, I feel like no information is provided to me, it’s like a cryptic puzzle game trying to actually obtain information and then usually after I’ve had four hours of meetings, I find out the first person I asked had what I needed all along.

Is it worth recording what is going on and building a bit of a case for sexual discrimination? I guess it largely depends on what your field is and whether you can be arsed to go through it all.

 

[Gossip101xoxo]

Does anyone else just feel stuck in their job? On the face of it I have no reason to complain, I get paid well and I like the team that I work with but those two aspects are about the only things I actually like about my job! Something happened today (I won’t go into detail because it’s quite a long story) but my job is quite stressful, I’m not coping that well with the stress but I feel like I’ve invested so much time into my qualifications for this job that it would be a waste to give it up. My qualifications aren’t transferable and I don’t know what else I would actually want to do. Has anyone been in this situation and have advice?