What would you do?

LegacyUser

Hi, I need advice please. Basically, I started a new job a few months ago. I was told by my boss when I got the job that he was having some staff issues and he would need me to inform him of any 'goings on'. So it turns out that all the staff are middle eastern (as is my boss's ethnicity) and they are all either closely related or friends from back home. All very cosy. So if there's a mistake, they all get together and cover it up. So I was required as part of my job to bring any of these type issues to my bosses attention and expose these things.
Being the informer and being in charge of stuff and being the only Irish person and being the only girl, I have managed to become public enemy number one. I went to my boss about this and all he did was yell at them all since they have been ignoring me and my instructions etc consistantly. So that yelling only intensified their hatred. My boss will never fire them as I have heard from long term pat timer that three others have left before me from similar issues, but the boss has close friend/family ties to some and is worried about firing any in case their family members in the company resign in protest.
Then last week sunday night developed overpowering nausea and headache that wouldn't go away. Went to doctor and he said I had acute stress from the work environment. He wanted to prescribe anti depressants but I don't want to go down that road. I took a week off, told boss it was tummy bug and am now back in work and miserable.
If I quit, there are no jobs out there. Plus I can't sign on if I've quit. Plus I feel so guilty talking about quitting when there are so many desperate for a job out there. I'm so confused. What would you do?? Thanks so much for reading.

mjg

You have my sympathies, it sounds like a terrible position to be in, particularly as the economy is in the state it is.

No one can operate under that level of stress and it's obviously affecting you already. As from your post quitting is not an option and you are already public enemy number one, all you can do IMO is put the pressure back on the staff. Bring a lot more to your bosses attention for a few weeks and hope that he becomes sick enough of giving the hairdryer treatment to the staff to make proper changes and that the staff themselves get tired enough of being on the receiving end that they go with the flow (which involves dealing with you civilly). You are already disliked there, relax and go with it.

I wouldn't advise bringing every little thing to his attention, you want him to be gratefull to you for helping his business and not annoyed at you for bringing yet another small and petty thing to him.

You have rights also, I'm not an expert but surely your boss is failing in his duty of care to you as an employee by placing you in this situation. Maybe you can speak to him about the pressure that you are under and log the conversation and the outcome as the start of the preperation for a case of some sort?

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, best of luck with everything.

ogriofa

What about running this by someone at the social welfare?
Just to check out what the options are.

I had an issue years ago and they were VERY accommodating.
We came to an agreement, kinda met half way.

Feel for you though. Tough it out

LegacyUser

Leave.

There is no do-able job here, its a poisoned chalice. Thats why all your predecessors left.

You won't get anywhere by the sounds of things if you try to go through the proper channels to correct things.

I worked for a short time in a clothes wholsalers many years ago, also for middle Eastern gentlemen. I had to leave after 2 days due to a very similar situation to you. That particular job had bosses with expectations of a woman in the workplace which were imcompatible with the 20th Century.

minidazzler

Is there anyone higher than the Boss that you can go to? The owner or some such? Take it where it needs to go to get sorted out.

LegacyUser

OP here,
No my boss is the MD and owner. The people I am having most negativity from have been there for 7 years and are the sons of friends of the owners family. They are not likely to be going anywhere no matter what I say or do, nor will they change their behaviour since they have been doing this sort of thing for 7 years and gettign away with it. There are no consequences for these guys, so there is no insentive for change.
They are actively making my life miserabl so that I will quit. I hate to give them that satisfaction, but immature stubborness aside, what would I do with no job? My mother and boyf are worried I am on the way to a nervous breakdown based on the severity of my condition last week (the nausea and trembling is still there) so now I have their worries to consider. My father would go ape if I quit cos he's the 'never quit' type, and neither am I usually.

UGH! If I stay I'm seriously risking my mental and physical health.
But if I quit I am jobless and no way of getting an income/surviving through signing on. I'm at a dead end :-(
One thought is...
If you resign due to medical reasons that have been diagnosed by a doctor, then are you able to sign on until you find an alternate workplace? I am so stressed it tkes my forever to type this cos of the tremors in my hands (the lads are up to their usual sadistic games today at work).

LegacyUser

Hi OP,

I would advise to get out of there at all costs, can you go home and live for a while, how come you cant sign on do you need an address? Start looking for work while your still in this job and see what you can do? You have to get out of there though, its a loosing battle. Dont tell your dad anything, you may even have a new job before he even knows you have left, situations like this will bring on more anxiety and panic. Best of luck.

LegacyUser

Dont stay because your dad expects you to or because you think the staff would have one over on you. Leave for your own health & sanity.

I hung on in a job where I was badly bullied for a number of years for similar reasons, and I can tell you that the day I finally came to my senses & left was the best day of my life. I walked out without a job to go to but I can honestly say two years down the line that no job is worth risking your health for and I should have left years earlier.

Go to your doctor & get a cert that specifically lists work stress as the reason. Then investigate with social welfare how you would be treated if you left because of this. Even if you do leave work of your own accord, you will get a social welfare payment after 9 weeks - could you survive for 9 weeks? I think you have to be in a job for at least 1 year before you could bring a constructive dismissal case against your employers so this wouldnt work for you. Why not contact citizens advise also?

Best of Luck!

Miss Fluff

There's a thing called constructive dismissal which you should look into and get backed up with a doctor's cert. Perhaps have a chat with your local social welfare office and see if this is an acceptable reason for claiming social welfare.

kittenkiller

What would happen if you just started doing a really half arsed job while you're there?
It's possible that you'll just keep floating along, but your boss might just get sick of it and let you go.
If that happens you can claim the dole and might even get a pay out for from him for the trouble.

If you've gone to him about the issues and nothing has been done, I can't see any harm in it!

Fiend-Foe

You will be able to get on disability if you are suffering from acute stress. Go to your doctor and ask him for the certs for social welfare. Its the same amount as jobseekers allowance. Try seperate work from the rest of your life and don't let it get on top of you. Hope you feel better soon.