an Employee's dilemna.. to go or not to go?

@chiyosan (30184)
Philippines
January 26, 2012 7:11pm CST
I hope our fellow mylotters would be able to share with us their opinions on this one. I have a friend who is really torn into decision making and we know for sure this is going to havea huge impact - or will ultimately change the course of her career. So here goes, she is no longer happy with her work, has had experienced feeling really sad, even to the point of crying whenever she goes to work because she is simply feeling she was no longer needed or important in the company because they always leave her on site. she is about to renew contract of 3 years in this company and he advised them she might not renew anymore because she has issues and 3 year contract is too long and she would be bound by them. Her immediate supervisor told her that she has been promoted to team leader and will give her a raise. she is already 3 years in the company and she has had a few increase in salary and her salary is indeed very low. they are telling her they might even give her a regular position with all benefits in a year's time if she renews... but with the company obviously the chances are slim and she might not even get that.. only tied with a contract of 3 years where she needs to pay for it to get out... which meant she can miss out a lot of opportunities out there. If you were in her shoes (please do share on what yo can suggest or advice us on.) I would like to give her options as we, her friends only told her to pray for it and decide on whatever feels right for her.. considering that her chances would dim if she stayed there.
2 people like this
15 responses
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
What's stopping her to resign? As far as I can see from what you've told, there's only negative consequences if she stayed, the future is bleak and she doesn't see anything positive. So what's keeping her in that company? My advice is she finds another job. It maybe difficult to find a new job nowadays but if she's no longer happy and satisfied with her job, then I guess it's best to get away from it and find a new job. She may get unemployed for a while but she can consider it as a vacation until she finds a new job. I hope things get better for her.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
hi secretbear, its been a long time since we got to see each other again in mylot. =) missed you a bit he he Well, i think she is scared because there are no other offers yet(as of this time) and she may need to decide on it already before march. which meant she has got to know where to go before leaving the company.
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
So she already applied to other companies and just waiting for their replies?
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
yes secretbear. she has applied already and is just waiting for their replies. =)
• Kenya
30 Jan 12
I've been in her shoes and i understand the confusion. It feels like slavery doing what you hate. She should not renew the contract.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
oh yes, exactly what i felt in my work before too.. and i can only tell her and let her know i understood her because i have been there myself... i wish that she would be able to get hold of her thoughts and the things that she should do.
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (16584)
• India
28 Jan 12
I was in a similar situation two months back. I was very unhappy with my job and the bosses were promising me a lot of goodies but I was sure I would never get the better position that they promised or the raise in salary. As soon as I got a better offer I accepted it and since yesterday I have joined my new job. My previous employers were reluctant to release me saying that they would give me a high package in a few months. But I somehow did not trust them. I finally thought of my own future first. I think your friend also has to think of her better future and make the decision.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
thank you so much for your response. i am glad that you are really happy now with your new found work. it is really waiting for you then and i am glad everything you worked for before has now paid off. =)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
First of all, I will consider my environment. If I feel that it is not fulfilling for me anymore to work on the same company, I will immediately try my best to get out of the company and find another job. If she try to continue with her recent work, she might not be able to perform well and later on might affect the her work and the company, which can lead her being axe. So I think she should really get our of the company and find other jobs which she think can be fulfilling for her.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
that is true, she is bothered herself and tthat she is really just hoping someone would drag her out of the place. but of course i know she has very well think about it. because it is not easy to let go of a work without having to hold into another one right?
1 person likes this
@rooftop (110)
• Malaysia
28 Jan 12
Hi chiyosan, I have been there. I mean I know this familiar situation your friend is facing. For my case, I was lucky to get a job in time. I started on a new job as soon as my contract ended with the old firm. I did pray hard on getting the new job. I was 47 then. I believe your younger friend can get another job if she decided to leave. MyLotters are giving all the right comments but the final decision is hers. All the best to her future endeavours. Have faith be brave.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
oh wow. thank you so much. at 32.. it is quite considered a bit old here most companies do have some age limits in their qualitfications as well.. i was even wondering myself why this was the case for us. but your response... it made me realize that if God is with us... no one can be against us.
1 person likes this
27 Jan 12
i would say if she is unhappy with her work, it will affect her level of performance. and what's keeping her from quitting? But of course, if she quits, it will mean job hunting; new peer; new boss; everything is new. There is no point to renew the contract if it would mean for her to sacrifice her well being.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
oh yes... =( she will have to sacrifice the comfort zone she was in right now.. maybe we should convince her and tell her its a win win situation because she might find her partner if she transfer to another work. hehe
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
27 Jan 12
Personally it sounds like they are hoping that she will choose to not renew her contract so they have to keep their end of the contract. Depending on what type of work she is doing could she not find something comparable somewhere else for about the same amount with promises of more? Personally if it was me, this is not the place I would want to be and hope something greater would come. I think it is time she start checking out her other options instead.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
i think she is trying to see what her options can be. but of course being us, people we sometimes are in our comfort zone and it keeps us from taking risks...
• United States
30 Jan 12
Is there another position that your friend is looking at? If there is, I would advise her to try out the new position. There is no amount of money worth working at a place where you are miserable. But at the same time, if she has no prospects to go to, I would suggest updating her resume and searching for a job right away. As you said before, they may or may not sign her for that three year contract. Even if they do, Some jobs may be willing to buy out the contract for her; even if that is not an option, it would be well worth it to be at a job that pays more and she will have peace of mind, so even still see if the old job will work out a payment plan for rest of the contract, if it comes down to that. Your friends are right to tell her to pray and decide on what feels right, but after she prays she has to take action by finding out what options are actually out there for her. God helps those who help themselves; once she begins to look He will lead her in the right direction.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
13 Jan 13
hi my friend, my friend has finally decided to stay and she already got to be in a good position than where she was previously in the same company. i guess prayers worked and she got to feel what would happen and when it is due so she blindly took the contract. =) im glad she did and she is already a permanent employee. thank you for your response. :D see you around the site!
1 person likes this
@eunife (165)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
what's her fall back if she quits? i'f i'm in her shoes, i would look up for a better job first before resigning. if the company asked her to stay and promised her advancement, that's a good thing in my opinion. she should negotiate with them, tell them what she wants and her issues. if all problems will be resolved, she has a reason to stay. now, if the 'issues' are not resolved, then step out.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
that's the thing, she still has no other job waiting for her.. we know how some companies who does take time before they would invite someone for an interview, right? i believe it takes a while for them to be able to shortlist and i am afraid they might be calling her a month too late, that is she already has accepted the renewal and by then, she is already tied to a contract.
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
27 Jan 12
I agree with what the others said above.. If its me I would say no I will not renew the contract as it will just make my life more miserable. She is no longer happy with her work and it seems that she got no support from her colleagues. I am not sure if the other co-workers are trying to let her down intentionally but if its so there is not way she could work in there anymore. She should seek for better options and hope she will get it before she is quit from the company.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
thank you very much CT for your response to us... i guess sometimes we are just too scared to take risk and maybe i think that is what is her set back really is about. she knows she has to leave but she is scared to risk her current job... but i know there are many other opportunities though i want her to explore and not be scared.. i am not able to give her an assurance of what she may be going or looking at if she turned down the renewal...
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
that's true CT. she has applied already but i guess she just wants to play safe for now.. but of course i was telling her not to do that.. and she need to take a risk.. bigger risk... bigger returns or rewards right?
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
27 Jan 12
yes, I know it is simple said than done. I am sure she will feel scared to do both-to renew the contract, stay at the same department, continue being unhappy or get the new job as there is no certainty that she will get one. But I think with her experience she might be able to find one. May I know how much time left before she need to renew her contract?
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
If she isn't happy working in that company, then it's really time for her to resign. But before resigning, maybe she could at least take a leave of absence , so she may be able to apply for a job. When she already finds a new job, then she can already resign. Meanwhile, she can tell the company to hold the contract while she mulls on what to decide about it.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
we actually tried to talk to her and gave her suggestions to renegotiate the contract and instead of the 3 years they are offering, she can tell them to just give her 1 year contract so she won't be tied too long in the company...
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
30 Jan 12
That's more like it. I hope she can haggle the number of years to a shorter one.
@eljayo (1105)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
Hi! I believe if you are not happy with your job you cannot optimize the work you are doing. You cannot work with joy and the job's worth is gone. I guess she better leave that job. It will be risky but if shes not happy then why should she let herself suffer.I hope and pray that God will guide her to a good decision.:))
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
that is right. i have been there myself and it sure has troubled me too because it is never easy to go to work everyday and stay there late and be burned out and be worried about what could happen to you yet again, right?
@caryle (34)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
there is no point in staying in a company if you are unhappy. If that feeling has been chronic and unremedied, she better leave. When you are unhappy you become unproductive; while that is unhealthy for her, it is also unfair for the company. one of the things she should do is to set her priorities and to find her passion. Money would come after she has made her decision. Success comes to people who are happy.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
thank you so much caryle. =)
1 person likes this
@caryle (34)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
there is no point in staying in a company if you are unhappy. If that feeling has been chronic and unremedied, she better leave. When you are unhappy you become unproductive; while that is unhealthy for her, it is also unfair for the company. one of the things she should do is to set her priorities and to find her passion. Money would come after she has made her decision. Success comes to people who are happy.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 12
hi there caryle. you sure gave a very beautiful insght about happiness and success going together. =) i will tell my friend to keep it in mind that she should consider her happiness.
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
If you ask me, she might decide what she really want. If she is no longer happy with the job she is in, she will not accept it or renew even if she is being promoted. It is hard to work when you are not happy on what you are doing. There are people who are only working for money, and fooling themselves and forcing themselves to like the job but it can exhaust you in the long run if you keep on insisting you like a job that you isn't like. It happens to me before and I chose to let go of the job but I make sure that when I went out, I have another job to be transffered in because my family depends on me and it is not right for me to lose a job without any job to follow. She will not be happy if she stays there. Anyway, is your friend have a family that depends on her because it will be a big problem if she just resign without another job. She have to make it sure first. But if I were her, I let go of that job because i am no longer happy and I hate fooling myself and faking everything, however, that is her life, let her decide for it. We just have to keep praying for her.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
27 Jan 12
she does not have a family but she is not getting any younger, we all are actually. of course it would be hard to find or to change work somehow after few years from now, right? i think that sure is part of her dilemma...