What Do You Do When You Are Miserable At Your Job?
By kittenclaus
@kittenclaus (1393)
United States
June 26, 2010 9:30am CST
I've been with the same company for 18 years now and there have of course been good days and bad. But they are going overboard with what they expect out of us. I'm a manager in fast food and as of yesterday our store manager has decided for every day part we don't hit a minimum of under 3 percent drive thru times the line people, the drive thru cashier and the manger get written up. Along with this for every time each cashier has over 1% deletions on the register both the cashier and the manager get written up. Now there are times we can't help having not hit these goals. Many things can happen in a days time that is not our fault. This means if I have one bad day I could get written up like 4 times. Three write ups and I could be fired! I keep trying to tell them many of our crew members are only earning minimum wage and this is too much stress to put on them, they could just leave and find another low paying job without any of that stress. I've had it. I tried talking to our store manager, who I used to think was my friend (he comes to my home for all the holidays) but to no avail. I know 18 years is a long time to give up now but I can't risk losing my job, which would mean I would lose my home. As of yesterday I'm looking for a new job, enough is enough. I'm a good manager and have always done everything I could over and above my job. What do you think about this? Am i crazy to give up and go somewhere else? I have never been more upset then I am right now. Any advice you could give me I would love to hear!
11 responses
@moonchild1au (6240)
• Australia
27 Jun 10
You are right in looking for another job...I would be doing the same...whenever I hqave been in a job that I didn't like, I would start searching for another job....You just can't risk losing your house because you have lost your job. At least you have got the right idea to start looking for a job before you quit or lose your current job. Good luck in the job hunting & I hope you find something real soon that you will enjoy more.
@moonchild1au (6240)
• Australia
27 Jun 10
I don't think anyone can afford to lose that much either...Good Luck :)
@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
27 Jun 10
Thank you so much, thats the way I look at it too, I just can't risk that much.
@cindystoufflet (299)
• United States
26 Jun 10
Just know that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. All companies are treating employees like crap because they know there are tomany people out there needing a job.
@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
26 Jun 10
I do know that. There are always going to be things we don't like in any job but the fact that they are telling us they could fire us for something that we can't always control is going too far. Company big wigs have stopped caring about their people and more about their own pockets. They need to come into the stores and really work and see what it's like. There was a tv show I'd watched (can't remember the name of it) and that's what the owners of some of these companies did. No one knew who they were and they started out at the bottom. Most of the owners changed alot of things once the week was over. all owners should do this. They seem to forget that happy employees work much harder then unhappy one's.
@cindystoufflet (299)
• United States
26 Jun 10
I have to agree with you there. I spent 7 years at one of the largest companies in the world (wont say who they are) but I had every intention of retiring from this company. I owned stock and everything. I loved my job for about 5 years then it went to hell. The stress make me very sick I would be on my way to work and have to pull over and regergitate. I stayed sick all the time.I put up with this for about 2 years of them treating people like we needed to bow down and be thankful that we have a job. I was a member of the union also and the union would not back us up because of the right to work state.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
26 Jun 10
Hi Kittenclaus, I think your store manager must have some pressure from the top management as well.
Just let things be. Sometimes the top management is so high up that they forget all about the bottom level.
if you are getting the write ups, I think other managers in the same area are facing the stress as well.
I think you can protect the cashier, so that they do not feel the effect of the negative reports.
Just let things run for a while. Sooner or later this stupid plan will peter out. After all, who is so free to write so many negative reports every day. It is a waste of time and money, without any benefit to the business.
@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
26 Jun 10
I'm sure there is pressure on our store manager but putting that much pressure on the managers that run the shifts for him is going to back fire. As for protecting the cashier there's no way to do that. The reports come out after each managers shift and shows exactly what each cashier did. hopefully sooner or later this will peter out but if it's later it may be too late for some of us. I have way too many bills and resposibilites to take a chance and not start looking for another job now. wait too long and I lose my home.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
26 Jun 10
I wonder if talking to corporate would do any good. I think it is terrible that your boss is being that rude. My husband is also having a bad time at work and yesterday he had passed out at work. If I had not been in town I never would have known. He was in no shae to drive and his best friend had to drive us home. His boss also cheats him out of pay and yeterday was payday and it happened again. His boss does not know that we make copies of his time sheet) and because we were cheated out of that money my husband approached his boss and his boss told him that because my husband did not write down the reason for working that his boss was not going to pay him. On Monday my husband is going to the labor board to complain because this is not the first time it has happened. I am almost certain that this is illegal because the hours were written down.
I hope things get better for you. I am looking into working from home jobs that pay a decent wage so I can help contribute to my household income.
Normally, I would say stay were you are at, but your health is more important than a job. I would hate to see the same thing happen to you that happened to my husband, It was very scary.
@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
27 Jun 10
That is horrible the way they are treating your husband but I'm so glad he is fighting back. Please tell him for me that I wish him the best of luck. You're right about how stress can make you sick and I can't live with the stress every day, day after day. Although I've never been one to give up I'm also not stupid. Good luck to you both!
@mhekhies16 (462)
• Philippines
27 Jun 10
That is very stressful thing my dear...tsk..tsk..
Isn't there any good solution for this? I think, they just taking you and your crew for granted..you have been taking good care of your job for a long years for them to treat you like that?
Whenever I get miserable because of my job, I just talk to God and make myself calm..because for me, whenever I involve God in every thing in my life (good and bad) everything will be okay..everything will be okay in the end my dear..if its not okay, then it is not yet the end. :)
@babyretzel (110)
• Philippines
26 Jun 10
if you think you exhausted all possible means then your next choice is just leave. but make sure, you have a new job before leaving them :)
@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
27 Jun 10
I would never leave before having somewhere to go to. I an as we speak in the process of looking.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
28 Jun 10
Sounds like it is definitely time to go looking for another job. I don't see it as quitting. I think it is just time to move on. The 18 years you've put in in this company could be an asset that you could market yourself in looking for new opportunities.
I've read in one of the responses here that you're an optimist. So, I'm sure if you could apply the same pressure you get from your job now, in looking for a new job; you'd find a better one soon. Goodluck!
@kaylachan (57631)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Jun 10
Personally I try and stick with it. Right now especially if you live in the states, isn't the best time to be job hunting. With the way the economy is its hard to get people to do what you want them to do. No matter what job you end up at, you're going to encounter stresses. You are doing the best that you can, and that is all anyone can ask of you.
Try talking to your friend again. See if there isn't something the two of you could work out. Depending on what chain you're working for, your friend is probably under just as much stress because those who give those orders don't know what it's like to work in the position that you are.
Also it couldn't hurt to talk to some of the employees under you. It is possible they have given up and aren't trying. Perhaps they are saying things or doing things they shouldn't which is effecting your quota. So sit down and have a talk with them as well. See if you can't boost them. Its not just you that's effected, but don't give up. Make the job you have work for you as long as possible. Its important to do that.
@theekhoo (64)
• Indonesia
26 Jun 10
Your problem is like watching a Glass with half of water. Some people say " Its Half Full" and others say "Its Half empty". So you can decide which one of you.
when you got this, just relax and remember this word :
" How Painfully on the Jobs, it is more painfull for unemployed people waiting day by day looking for a Job"
If this can not switch your mind from "Half Empty" to "Half Full", I suggest you quit your Jobs. Of course try another job first. But Relaaxxx
@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
26 Jun 10
I'm one of the most optimistic people who you'll ever meet but when it comes to the fact that one bad day could get me fired there is no half full!!!!!! As for relaxing, that is a thing of the past at work now!
@shoburn (8)
• Philippines
27 Jun 10
Well just don't think too much. Do your part in your work and never look at others. Never ever try to compete to others coz' if you do this... you are attracting others to compete against you that can be a reason for you to fail. Always think positive and instead of competing, try to create. Do this with all your heart, visualize what you what and you will see the magic will unleash from you. Happy selling!!!
