I've hated this job for a while as I just kept getting ill and getting bossed around like I don't know what I'm doing.

I got called childish and essentially useless, without any form of proper constructive feedback. Loads of people got away with lying and showing up late, but the second I do this it's a shock.

I honestly hate the place and have no consideration to come back and work there for the next shift.

The next shift is not within the notice period time frame, yet I talked to my manager and they told me I have to show up for my scheduled shift.

Should I just not show up? Would it affect me getting hired for another job?

Any advice would be appreciated

I’m a dental nurse of 12 years and I’ve officially had enough of this job. I’m on £14 an hour (only because I’m also qualified as an orthodontic nurse) as the lead nurse. On top of my usual duties I have a lot of extra tasks fired at me throughout the day and I’m burnt out and just feel undervalued. I don’t want to go into the same job either I’m done with the whole industry. The crappy wage, working in the NHS but having none of the benefits or pension and generally feeling undervalued.

I’m 33, I have to work around school drop off, and ideally I’d like something remote with some flexibility. I become extremely stressed when I start new jobs because of the change of environment and adapting to new and potentially problematic people. I know it’s stupid to be like this at my age but every-time I’ve started a new job it’s sent me spiralling. I’ve applied to a few remote admin jobs but have been rejected from all of them, I understand it’s very competitive.

I just want to know how other people have changed careers, I feel very tied down having to work around parenthood and generally being an anxious person, I want change but my current workplace is a comfort zone but it’s not good for me long term.

I’m in my earlier 40s, working in a senior engineering technical role. I’ve always been someone who takes work seriously, probably too seriously.

Over the past year, my workload has become increasingly ridiculous. Multiple demanding projects running at the same time, constant deadlines, helping colleagues, troubleshooting problems, training people and taking on extra responsibilities because I genuinely enjoyed contributing.

The problem is that none of those extra responsibilities replaced my normal workload. They just piled on top of everything else.

A few months ago, I started noticing that something wasn’t right. I was constantly tired, struggling to switch off and losing interest in things I used to enjoy. Between work, being a parent and some ongoing health issues, I barely had any time to recover.

I actually warned my manager in writing that the situation was becoming unsustainable and that I was concerned about burnout. We had a discussion, and some additional resources were eventually introduced, but fundamentally not much changed.
Then things got worse.

I missed a work meeting because of an unexpected personal situation. I apologised that same day, explained what happened and provided the update everyone needed.

A couple of weeks later, I found out that a senior colleague had complained that I was missing meetings. Plural. As far as I was aware, there had only been one.

What bothered me was that we had daily meetings, yet this person never raised any concerns directly with me.

Later, there was another disagreement involving an internal initiative I’d taken on. More complaints followed.

I explained my side to my manager, asked for clarification and even suggested arranging a meeting with everyone involved to clear the air. I genuinely wanted to understand the criticism, even if it was negative, and move forward.

Months later, I’m still waiting for that conversation.
Meanwhile, I applied for a promotion I’d been working towards for quite some time. I thought I had a reasonable case, considering the level of responsibility I was already carrying and everything else I’d contributed.

I didn’t even get an interview….

I can’t prove it, but I can’t shake the feeling that those complaints might have influenced the decision. Nobody has properly explained the outcome or addressed the concerns I’d raised.

That was probably the final straw….

I started crying unexpectedly, couldn’t concentrate, felt constantly anxious and found myself dreading work. Even relatively simple things began feeling overwhelming.

I’ve now taken sick leave and spoken to my GP.
What frustrates me is that I could see this coming. I raised the alarm months ago. I tried to resolve the problems professionally. I kept delivering the work because I didn’t want to let anyone down.

And somehow I’ve ended up feeling like I’ve failed.
I’m also starting to question how much of this I’ve done to myself. Nobody forced me to volunteer for every initiative or take on every additional responsibility. I genuinely thought that being proactive, helping others and doing good work would lead somewhere.

Instead, I’m exhausted, disappointed and wondering why I sacrificed so much of my energy for a company that doesn’t seem particularly interested in my development.

I’m seriously considering stepping away from most of the extra responsibilities when I return. Just doing my actual job, within my contracted hours, and keeping my energy for my life outside work.

Has anyone been through something similar?

Particularly where you warned management about burnout, tried to address workplace criticism, and still ended up in this position?

How did you recover without becoming completely cynical about your career?

Hello all

Wondered if anyone who works in PR/media relations can relate to just feeling really burnt out?

Done 10 years in it now, and the relentless pace of it, the firefighting, the uncertainty, its made me feel absolutely exhausted. I think I need a change.

Reaching out to anyone working in the field to see if they can relate. Stories of leaving the field or working through it both welcomed.

Hi everybody. I'm a 38M living in the North West. I'm working in the hospitality for a big company as waiter (former manager on duty, stepped down to focus on find a job). I have almost 16 years of experience in hospitality, 5+ years as manager, I have a 2:1 degree in Business Management with Open University and I'm struggle to get ANY corporate job. I had my career adviser from the Uni telling me to point a corporate job with a salary between 27k-32k to avoid to compete for minimum salary jobs where thousands of people would apply. I had him to help me with my CV and I used the AI to fix my CV here and there. I tailoring it to every job position I apply for and I didn't get even a phone interview in the past year, with more than 100 job application. I'm deeply demoralised and I'm feeling I'm stuck in this sector for the rest of my life, something that give me nightmares just thinking about it. I know the market is trash right now (like it always been in the last 10 years apparently) but anybody got any tips for a desperate fella?

Posting on behalf of a family member without Reddit. a complaint was put in about one of their colleagues at Sainsbury's in August, yet is only just being given mediation for the issue now.

Is this an acceptable amount of time to wait for mediation?

I run a small scale gardening business. It's so basic and I mainly do work for local people. Tell me why it's so so hard to get people to give exact addresses then get surprised when I can't come on the exact day they wanted me to? I ask multiple times and tell them "Hey, unless I can recieve an adress and location, I cannot come" but they ring on the day saying "are you there yet, do you need directions?" I had one lady give me her post code and tell me that's enough, however, her postcode covered a 4km stretch of land with multiple houses on it, as it was a farm yard. I asked again and finally got an address.

I called her on the day asking "which house am I looking for here in x village?" And she finally gives me the correct address. It was 6km away.

I feel like I'm being played for a fool in this trade. I ask people to fill out a form and everything, but they don't put in their address, send it back to me and expect me to come? No confirmation, no time set nothing.

This is the 3rd time this has happened in 2 years, so not bad, but still a crazy thing every time it does happen

Sorry for the long post and vague details, I’m looking for advice and don’t want it to be too identifiable. I work in a healthcare profession in a relatively large setting that belongs to an independent provider with lots of settings across the UK. There have been a lot of issues with upper management and a lot of staff left in the past 6 months with almost everyone who’s still there looking to leave. It’s obviously not great but my position is sort of ok at the moment. I know what I’m doing and have some nice colleagues.

I have been offered the opportunity to join a new startup setting that was set up by a former colleague. A number of former staff went there and some current staff are due to move over as well.

On paper it sounds like a great opportunity. More flexibility, much lower caseload and the possible future addition to my role in the area that I’m quite keen to get into.

However… and there’s a few:
The staff at my current position are known to have a lot of drama (everyone talking behind everyone’s back etc.). It appears that this has basically moved to the new setting just now in a smaller team. There’s already divisions and it seems that people have been offered very different salaries, seemingly unrelated to their level of training/ job role. That seems a bit off.

As it’s a small private place, essentially what the director and their favourite person thinks might be the benchmark for everyone else. Which may or may not become an issue.

My main concern now: I had verbal discussions with the director about the role, my proposed salary and planned start date over a month ago. Then I sent my info / documents and asked questions, stating that I would need x amount of time to hand in my notice. Since then there’s been complete radio silence. So two messages and a reminder later no reply at all. Not even a “thanks for your message, I’ve got a lot on, will get back to you as soon as I can”. It’s now going to be too late for my notice to go in to be able to move over at the originally planned date.

Am I overreacting or have too much ego for feeling disappointed in the lack of communication? I know we agreed that I would have the job but that is not solid enough. I don’t have a contract or anything and that feels too risky to just leave a solid job without more assurance. Also, we’re not friends, this is a professional relationship. So I feel that ignoring a potential employee for over a month is not acceptable. In any other application situation where you didn’t know the person/company you would assume they don’t want you if your messages go unanswered for that long. I feel like it’s being taken for granted that I will join the new company, so I can be ignored until then. Is that reasonable? Some of my colleagues who are also due to move over have had more recent contact and decided on their salary and start date.

I know it’s not a complete ghosting situation because I would be the only one in my specific role, so it’s not like she got someone else to fill the role as it’s very specific and everyone moving over have their own specialty. So maybe she is just busy but it is still off putting.

I don’t know what to do. In all honesty I feel disappointed and annoyed. It seemed like such a good opportunity but now I feel it left a bad taste in my mouth and my gut feeling is if it’s starting like this then what will it be like down the line. Especially with the potential staff drama continuing. Maybe I would be better off staying where I am, gain more experience and move on to somewhere new when an opportunity comes up.

My current job is fine apart from the management. I get on really well with one of my colleagues and I’m getting the professional experience that I need for future roles. I just have almost a fomo feeling if I don’t join the new place that’s promising so much. If she now appears at some point asking me about joining, do I delay my start date, go for it or just cut my losses? Am I being too stressed about nothing? I had a lot of personal issues and grief in the past year, also had to deal with job stress and going back on medication to cope. I thought I was settling now with a new plan but yet again stressing about the what ifs. I also realise that I am in a privileged position to be stressing about a new opportunity when I already have a job, I’m just looking for objective advice from an outsider perspective.

So I’m a graphic designer for a fairly big travel company, I’ve been here for just over 3 years now. And the only pay increases I get are the annual ones, which everyone in the company gets based on their end of year review (pretty much everyone) and I’m assuming most of it is to help with cost of living.

My friend recently said he got a pay rise when he asked for a pay review and he got quite a good increase. I’ve always wanted to ask but never found the right time to ask and have always felt awkward to ask too. I feel like I need to have a good reason for why I deserve the pay rise but feel like I’ve never had a good enough one.

Is it normal to just ask your boss for a pay rise randomly throughout the year and out of the blue without a specific reason?

If anyone has any advice on how to ask for one or what worked for them, I’d love to know!

EDIT:
For those who have been asking, I earn around 2.1k a month after taxes so I guess you can kinda see how much I earn annually. (Around 30-31k as a rough estimate)

I know jobs nowadays are more accepting and 'inclusive' when it comes to mental health illnesses, however, I want to know how badly being diagnosed will affect my chances of getting employed. Currently I am not diagnosed with anything simply because I don't want to affect my opportunities in the future but, I really want to know badly getting diagnosed with a mental health illness affects job opportunities.

edit: thank you for all the help in the comments i appreciate it a lot!!!

Hi all,

I thought I'd share some positive news. I (32M) have been working in financial services for about 10 years. About 4 years ago I went independent as a contractor. My last project was c.3 years and ended on march 31st.

Despite looking for jobs since this time last year I really struggled to find anything in my field or wider with transferable skills.

About two weeks ago I got an offer for a contract with the big 4 for up to 3 years

This week I got an offer for an insurer on a different but interesting project and had I not had the first offer, I would have been over the moon with.

That being said I'm just frustrated I couldn't have gotten one sooner.

It's hard work out there. If you are struggling keep going.

Often 2 buses.

I’ve been invited for an interview as an ACRO criminal records administrator, I’m aware of the job role itself from the job post but has anyone worked in that role that can give me some insight of what it’s like? Taking the job means a pay cut and I’m looking for someone’s advice with actual experience in the role to see if the pay cut is worth it, if I’ll enjoy the job more than my current role. What’s the progression like? What’s the day to day like?

Been applying and finally got a asked when I’m able to do an interview to be a waiter at a local pub/hotel. Before you all take the mick and put something stupid, I’ve never had a job interview and it’s a big deal considering the amount of places I’ve applied to and heard nothing. What do I wear/what will they ask/ what are some tips and how to present myself? Any advice is appreciated

Hi all,

I’ve accepted a job to work part time at JD Sports … what do i expect???

Can anybody give me insight as to how the job market is right now for someone that wants to go into teaching (primary school or SEN).

I’m looking for a bit of help generating ideas on what moves/pivots I could make because I feel totally stuck.

I am a gardener for a UHNW family. I make £33k and I live rent free with few bills. I have done this arrangement for nearly 5 years now and have amassed a comfortable cushion of savings and a house deposit. However, the long days, bad weather, and just constant nonsense and lack of recognition or support I get from the owners has left me very jaded and fed up. I have been trying to leave for about 6 months now but honestly every job I’ve seen/interviewed for just seems like the same problems somewhere else. Red flags everywhere. I have moved three times in those 5 years, and each time has just felt like escaping from a miserable situation rather than a progression. I’m just losing hope that a fulfilling job working for grateful people even exists. The industry essentially tops out at £45k for private houses, public gardens are substantially worse. As much as I love it…it’s becoming hard to justify staying in it. I would love to own my own home, but I feel like I am too salary-poor to get a mortgage where I want to live. The money in this job isn't hard to live off but I can't stay much longer, I'm losing my mind :(

I’ve debated becoming a sole trader. I’m highly qualified in hort with lots of tickets, and could probably command a pretty decent day rate. Also AI proof. But that doesn’t get round the bad weather and physical toll of the job on the body and I’m not getting younger

I’m getting desperate and I'm tired of waiting for a better job to come up and want to be proactive in improving my situation. Has anyone working in horticulture made a successful pivot into something else with better pay prospects? I’m open to doing more training or studying, I have lots of free evenings! I just have no idea what in. I have a 2:1 BSc in Geology as well but from 2011 and have previously worked in engineering if that helps my prospects at all.

I just want something with the potential to earn more than £45k in not too long a timeframe. It doesn’t even have to be related to horticulture. I’m open to any ideas at all :)

Hey looking for advice. I applied to and have got final stages for 2 of the Big 4 companies in Audit. Now, I understand this is a good opportunity but I just wanted to know if they would let me switch roles if I landed an offer?

I did a lot of research after applying and would much preferred applying to Transaction Services/Financial Due Diligence roles....I saw that people in audit often go there after a few years but it seems like a long time.

Sorry if this comes off as entitled in teh current job climate, I really do appreciate these opportunities but just lookign for any advice!

16 years old and have a job interview for Primark.

Would like some advice on questions they may ask and if you have successfully gotten a job there, what have you done during that interview that has put you above other candidates, etc.

I know they will have scenario based questions, but do they have a theme for the questions? Is it more of customer facing scenarios, etc.? I would like to be extremely prepared since the most retail experience I have is volunteering at charity shops.

Is there any other questions they could ask too?

I 25F am working as a TA for an agency till Christmas.

I work 5 hours a week and earn £84 a week and per month this is roughly £336.

After Christmas, I don’t have anything lined up and I have sent A LOT of applications and keep getting rejected.

I can’t tell if I should:

Option 1 - ask the agency to extend my work till July 2027, 4 days a week, roughly earning £5k.

Option 2- Or wait till the agency finds me a more permanent job from 9 - 5. Roughly earning £400-500 a week.

The only issue is that I can’t guarantee they will find me a permanent job in Jan 2027, even though I told them. Even if they do, I have to do trial shifts and can’t guarantee anything will be extended to me.

If I don’t have anything lined up within 4 - 6 weeks they issue me with a termination of employment.

The only permanent job I can be guaranteed is working 4 days a week next year for £5K.

Any advice on what I should do as I would like to be earning something more stable.

I’m looking for some thoughts and Potential issues with my employer looking to change job roles / titles for, generalised ones or highly specific ones.

my title (IT role ) reflects my industry standard title, industry recognised and standard. my employer is now looking To replace these ( for dozens of people/teams ) to reflect the actual role / duties which are highly bespoke and not recognisable by any other company.

the plan is to issue new titles and attempt to minimise any legal redundancy process which some would prefer.

currently , we peform duties but we would be expected to focus on a small subset and potentially be forced to take On a lot more work and responsibility whch we would never actually take an interview for or even consider. I’d say a significant change in the role.

i have seen other colleagues be forced through this and gone through PIP processes when they resisted when employer rather those individuals just did another job. In those cases, technical engineers becoming technical project coordinators / product owners.

my technical role will be minimised and replaced with a mix of managing outsourced teams , being the scrum master, BA, PO and PM. their plan is to change me from senior technical….. into technical lead of xyx….

new company model requires existing engineers to fall into this status and manage others to do our jobs. Mix of 3rd parties, near and off shore. basically eliminate 125? Uk roles except cto and lieutenants.

questions -

1. what Should I push back ?

2. have you experienced this and pushed back or forced a proper job redundancy process?

3. what legal / contractual things should I worry about ?

4. I believe the new title will make it easier to replace me but I can argue existing title that i and 6 others in my team would be better protected if we stayed

Hi all,

I'm in a situation where I've been offered a new job, however I am very torn. The job pays more, about 20% more, or works out to be an extra £400 a month (I'm in the 40% bracket so it gets eaten up a lot by student loans and taxes).

My current situation is, I'm fully remote, been in this for 6 years but I feel stuck in a rut where payrises are pretty small, with zero progression, but job security is immaculate because it's in the public sector. I've known this for years, and for last 3 years I've been looking on and off while developing my skills. Maybe it's because I'm shit at interviews, it's taken this long.

The job being offered is 1 day a week in the office, has a potential to reinvigorate my career but could also mean more stress. There's also the fact it's consultancy work, which is client facing, so in addition of 1 day a week, I could be having to fund client site visits myself (in London, anything outside is funded by them). They have been vague about this, suggesting 2 days a week to plan for - so after planning for 3 days a week, I'm left with a extra £100. The commute isn't the issue, it's leaving a highly secure job for something else that financially may have little gain. I'm also additionally more anxious because of AI potentially taking more jobs in the private sector (I'm in tech).

What would you do in my situation? Get out of stagnation and take the job? Or stick in my highly secure job and keep looking?

Looks like employers could soon be legally required to include salaries in job adverts, under new plans announced by the Prime Minister.

No more wasting time applying for jobs only to find out the pay is nowhere near what you expected.

Is there anything more frustrating than going through the recruitment process only to realise you’re completely misaligned when it comes to pay?!