Work

I don't normally write much about my job as it is relatively steady compared to the events at home of late. Recently though, I have been finding it more and more stressful. It has started to affect me outside of work so I think the time has come to do something about it. Let me explain...

I work in a small farm shop. Initially, I applied for a job in the cafe just for a few hours a week to fend off my post natal depression and allow me to socialise with adults a little each day. Somehow, over the next couple of months this turned into me being a full time shop supervisor on a salary. I loved the responsibility and making a difference.

Due to the events at home, I had to reduce my hours although my job description didn't alter much. I started to bring work home so I could keep up with it all. Gradually the staffing has changed round but there has been little discussion about who is doing what. This has led to some confusion over roles and responsibilities. Jobs aren't getting done or they are being done twice. It is pretty chaotic to say the least!

Recently, one of the longer standing members of staff have been encouraged to leave. They are the latest in a line of staff that are seemingly being filtered out for one reason or another. The reason they gave for this person was totally pathetic given that they are one of the few that will turn up at a moments notice, work in positions they are not employed to do and are totally reliable. Unfortunately, due to an exhausting shift pattern they wrote the wrong time on the time sheet.

The following day - gone. With no word to anyone. Not even the respect to tell the rest of the team they were 1 person down for the rest of the shift. Nothing.
I have to be honest with you, I cried all the way home that night. I could not believe they could treat someone like that who has shown them nothing but loyalty and commitment for the last 3+ years. The impact that will have on the persons family. If that is how long serving members are treated, what chance is there for the rest of us?

It made me realise that however much work I put in for them I am just another mouse on the wheel. There is no loyalty to me at all. I asked what my job description was the other day. I was told that rather than everyone having an individual description, there would be a list of duties for each post so whoever is assigned to that post will be expected to do those jobs. On the drive home I realised I no longer have a position within the business. I am just a casual fill in. That was quite a tough pill to swallow having once been in a position of responsibility. I was also told there was no possibility of increasing my hours to what they were (even though they are my contracted hours) as they have been reducing staff. I was also told a new lady would be starting at the end of the week to help with the gaps in the rota!? Although I loved working there, it is not the same place that I started in. I will continue to do my job but I have come to realise its not worth bringing it home with me as I will get no thanks or recognition for it.

I am looking into becoming self employed again so I can still have some time with my babies. I am unsure which way this will take me but it is much more worthy of my time and energy than a business that doesn't care for it's staff...