Problems At My Job

[Miss_Understood]

I work as an assistant manager in a retail store. I was honest about my problems with my traumas from the beginning. I'm a very good worker, in fact I give too much to my job. I come in early, stay late, volunteer for shifts, go above and beyond, and do whatever they ask of me. I recently broke my collarbone on my way to work because I closed them opened 6 days in a row, I took 2 months off. When I came back the attitude had changed, now I'm not doing a good enough job, I'm not "happy" enough, my manager says I don't have passion anymore.

This really irks me, I literally give my soul to this job and they crap on me. I hardly get breaks, I get called in on my two days that I get to spend with my wife. I feel like they don't care anymore or that they are setting me up for termination due to my traumas. The more I think about what I was told, I get more angry. It's hard for me to deal with people, let alone do it with a smile on my face. Then they have the audacity to say I don't have passion? I'm literally disheartened about this.

Right now I need to work on myself, this job is the source of a lot of problems. They have made my feelings of worthlessness and burdening worse by only telling me the things I did wrong. They have helped in making my relationship worse, they have pushed me into a corner.

I think that I'm done with this job. It's not worth the negative aspects, it doesn't even pay that well. I think I need to look into other jobs. I also want to go to school and they aren't working with me. I'm realizing that I let them take advantage of me and it's ending.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

This is just my angry talking really, so forgive me....I used to work retail. It was the most thankless and unfeeling job. I was easily replaceable and I clearly didn't matter to them. They used me, clearly I was only valuable if I kissed ass and I was sleeping with one of my bosses.

I have noticed that employment laws don't seem to matter to the retail world. It's to easy to get away with treating your employees badly.

Have you thought about looking for another job?

 

[franciemarnie]

Excuse my French, but screw them. Definitely get another job. A whole lot of employers will appreciate you because most people only do what they have to on the job. You are a real find. Good luck to the place you work at now after you leave. They won't find another you.

 

[Miss_Understood]

I have thought about finding another job. I am moving to Northern California in 4 months but if I stay at this job I'm gonna go nuts. I've worked retail since I was 15, not to sound arrogant but I know more than some of the big kahunas and I scored the highest on the food manger test 98%. Yet, I do not have passion? Haha they have go sit and spin and realize all that I do. I'm over it.

 

[rightkindofme]

Retail is soul sucking. I'm sorry.

 

[mamachick]

I applaud you for recognizing what they are doing. I often question myself when someone points the finger at me and end up blaming myself which is not healthy. Your mental health is more important than any job. I only worked retail for about a year many years ago, but I do remember what it was like. Long hours on your feet all the time and everyone very replacable. Take care of yourself and keep reminding yourself of your worth. Dont let them make you feel bad.

 

[kahlan]

Retail sucks even for someone without traumas! I did 6 years at a large chain and it was horrible how the hourlys were treated! Now still in retail at a smaller venue its much much less stressful, ten times the work and less pay but smaller crew means everyone is more like a family than random people you work with. Don't stick around just because you only have a short time left! You deserve better than dealing with the bs!

 

[Miss_Understood]

I'm talking to the store leader tomorrow and if this's isn't resolved I'm leaving. I find myself getting more upset as each hour passes. I'm agitated enough I don't need to have a breakdown for a job that doesn't even pay me $12 an hour and doesn't care for my mental well being. I am thinking about applying for partial disability for ptsd? I am just not the same person. It's hard for me to work with the public. I can't keep lying to myself and pretending I'm ok when I'm really not at all and my job is making it worse.

 

[squireparty]

I hear you. I come from a background of waiting tables for years - lots of stress, lots of drama, everyone very easily replaceable and rarely any thanks. I stuck with it through the boom as I was making very good money for awhile and during that time I was not as easily replaced. That sure has changed since 2008. I can't handle dealing with the public at that rapid fire pace any more, it is too triggering for me. I wish you the best on your journey - for me it's self employment/going back to school/slicing my bills down as far as I can.

 

[Miss_Understood]

So more lame crap at my job. I only get paid $11.35 an hour and I get treated like a slave. I'm so over this job.

 

[Miss_Understood]

I got coached yesterday for taking an early break after a co worker came up behind me and frightened me. I honestly feel like they are pushing me to quit or pouncing on everything I do wrong so that they can terminate me. I feel like it's getting worse and worse. I feel if I quit that I'm just giving in to negativity. Although if I stay I might have a breakdown, I dread going to work everyday, I'm stressed, angry, anxious and spread thin. I don't know what I should do. I need some insight, advice, kind words and/or tips please.

 

[Venusian]

I feel so bad that you are in this situation. There is no way to prove anything. You said you were moving in 3 or 4 months, could you remember that when things get bad? I don't know what the regulations are where you live, but here if you quit a job it is really hard to collect employment insurance. There is a circumstance where "constructive dismissal" can be used as a reason. It is when your employer makes the job atmosphere so intolerable you have no option to resign. I am taking an excerpt from Wikipedia.., "constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge, occurs when employees resign because their employer's behaviour has become so intolerable or heinous or made life so difficult that the employee has no choice but to resign."

Keep a record of all the incidents, times, who was there, every detail that you can. Check your local employment laws or maybe even talk to a employment councillor to get options. It is a hard place to be but there are options and just remember, it is already another day down.

I hope you find something else in a better job atmosphere you can do until you move so you at least won't have to worry about finances.