At my wits end with work and need to get out

hey all,

as the title suggests I am at my wits end at work and can't seem to find a solution. I'm hoping somone can help.

I've been working full time since I was 16 and I have never had a job that depresses me as much as the current one. I've been in it for 3 years and it has progressively gotten worse. We are under constant pressure of meeting targets, the management are forever making mistakes that make our job harder and we are put under serious pressure to do all overtime asked of us. I've already been off for 8 weeks due to stress and have went back to try and stick it out. There have been changes made at work such as hours etc, but I am still close to tears every morning going in. I have been applying for jobs flat out for the last 4 months but to no avail. I don't perticularly want to be on social nor can I really afford it but I'm afraid that if I don't get out of this job it's going to take a serious toll on my mental health (I have been treated for mild depression in th past). i have kept a record of all email job applications and I have proof from my doctor that I was off for stress. The thing is that I don't know if she will write a letter stating what this job is doing to me. Does anyone have an idea if this is a good enough reason for the deciding officer to not delay social payments? I am actively seeking work so it's not like I'm doing it just to get social.

sorry for the novel but I don't want anyone thinking I'm just too lazy to work!any help would be appreciated

Mel
if you voluntarily deny yourself an income you may not get jobseeker payment for 9 weeks. However with medical details you may get a payment in the meantime from your local c.w.o

You really need to look after your health as #1 priority. Will staying in that job make you better or worse? If worse, then my advice is to leave.

If you'd rather be on benefits than in this job, maybe this can help you not to stress so much about it? I mean, the worst that they can do to you at your job is fire you! If you are not afraid of that, then what's the point stressing? Try not to let the job get to you, just take it easy - work to rule, don't agree to overtime, don't rush for deadlines etc. If you get fired, you'll then be able to get benefits while looking for another job. If you don't get fired, at least your life will be more bearable, with stress reduced.

Some years ago I had a terrible job that I didn't want to quit just yet (as it had been hard enough to get even that) - I decided to stay in the job for a year and then start looking for another job. It helped me to draw a small line on our living room door when I came home from work, then at the end of the week I would put a cross through the lines for that week and feel one week closer to the time I can start looking to get out
Maybe it sounds strange, but it did help me to keep going

Is it possible that you are suffering from depression and in need of medication?

roker said:

Is it possible that you are suffering from depression and in need of medication?

Click to expand...

and what will chemical medication do for her except mess up her brain and mask the problem. I recommend getting rid of the source of the stress which is her job.

cheers to all who took the time to reply to me. it's much appreciated im definately not depressed. ive got a great life and im happy with every aspect except work. i thought though if you get fired through your own misconduct you couldnt get social? the crowd i work for would find a way to sack me by saying i wasnt being flexible with the companys requirements etc and surely a decidin officer would see it as my fault for not doin overtime when so many other people cant even get a job?

Mel, I don't know whether you'd get social if fired for misconduct. I wasn't suggesting misconduct though, just to work to your contract and not to bother about the employer's feelings Is it in your contract that you have to do overtime whenever employer demands? If not, than refusing it isn't misconduct, is it? With pressure to meet deadlines etc, if you can't work any faster, then you can't and it's not misconduct and there is no point stressing over it.

If you perform your duties within reason but not killing yourself to do so, you can hardly be accused of misconduct. The company might not like it, but it will be their problem, not yours