Work stressing me out.

LegacyUser

Sorry if I'm blowing this out of proportion, and sorry this is so long. I could do with some advice. I've been in my current job for a few months and am glad that I'm employed, lots of my friends are still looking for work since we finished college, but my current job is not in any way what I would like to be doing long-term. That's not the problem.

My supervisor in work is difficult. She is a few years older than me, but not much. She constantly picks on me all the time, and I am not the only person who has noticed this. The other member of our team (lets call him Bob) has mentioned a few times when the supervisor is not around that she treats me differently to how she treats him, and she treats him like he's inferior to her. He has been working in the company for about twice as long as I have. Bob is going to Australia in June, and has said it to me and one of our other colleagues, but he hasn't let the company know officially yet. Our group team leader (who is over the supervisor) thinks the sun shines out of her a$$ and has made some comments since I started work that make both Bob and me think that she has him convinced we're so inept that she carries us, that the team wouldn't get anything done without her.

I am so jealous that Bob is leaving, not because he is going to Australia, but because he is getting away from her. I've been applying for jobs since about 3 months after I started, but I've only had one interview and the pay was less than I'm on, the job had less responsibility and was generally not as good a job. I regret not taking that job so much. I feel like I am stuck now and cannot even get an interview for anything else.

I only realised how upset I was about the whole situation today when I met up with a friend for lunch and nearly had a panic attack about going home to get ready for work tomorrow. I want to point out that I don't really over-react too much about things, and I was so shocked that I was upset about something so silly, but I actually didn't want to leave the restaurant, because the minute I was back on the bus I was pretty much on my way to work. Even now I'm getting a bit anxious thinking about it.

I don't think I should be getting this upset about work, and the work itself isn't bad, it's the pressure the supervisor puts us under. I'm not allowed to do anything without it being double checked, even though if I make a mistake and she doesn't catch it, it's not just my fault I made the mistake (which I accept, I have no problem taking responsibility for what I do) it's also my fault she didn't catch it. I make more and more mistakes because I'm being so closely watched, I can't turn around without her being on my shoulder watching what I'm doing. If I make a small, inconsequential mistake it's made into a big deal and I'm made an example of. Bob is the same, but to a lesser extent. I don't think it's because he's a guy and I'm not. I'm not very pretty, which is the only reason she hired me. I've seen people come in and interview for other jobs in other departments and any pretty ones are almost ignored by her, and then bitched about when they're gone. We are not allowed to talk to our co-workers on other teams, we are not allowed breaks other than lunch (she takes regular tea breaks) and she leaves early each evening while Bob or I (or both of us) stay late to clear the boards.

The team leaders and group leaders on all the teams on our floor seem to think she is amazing, but she treats everyone who is a regular team member like they are inferior beings, with only one exception.

There doesn't seem to be any regular work available, and I would be willing to move anywhere in the country for work. I can't afford to temp, it's too irregular and I have to make a regular income. Any advice would be very welcome.

underflowers

Wow that sounds awful....i know what it's like to have someone standing over your shoulder all the time. I started a job once and the team leader was horrible too and just treated me like an idiot and made me do the most pointless things just because I was new. Luckily she went on maternity leave after six weeks and the team was so much more relaxed and the work still got done!! Everyone was just happier....when she came back it was miserable for everyone, no chatting at the tea trolley etc. Thank god my contract was up the next week because it's no life to be dreading work everyday due to one person.

I'm sure you know yourself that there's zero jobs around at the mo but is there anyway you can apply for an internal transfer to another team?? Or is there a confidential complaints procedure maybe?? It's hard but try to just remember that its her that has the problem and nothing that you've done.