How stressful should a job be?

LegacyUser

Hi, just looking to get some other peoples opinions here...

Ive been working in an office job for the past two years now. Its a low paying job (net pay around ~€1700 a month), work about 10-15 hours unpaid overtime a week, 20 days holidays a year and no bonuses. It involves demand forecasting, accounting, reporting and so on. Typical office job really I suppose.

The last few months have been very stressful, loads of deadlines, forecasts have been innacurate and over-optimistic as it turns out... Anyway, the last 3 months Ive consistantly been having trouble sleeping, feeling run down and physically tired, really stressed out and all that. Im a male in his mid twenties with little to no work experience prior to this job, so I know that Im fortunate not to be unemployed and am conscientious of the state of the economy, but I hate the stress so much and the fact that Im at the point Im feeling physically unwell because of it. It just seems too much given the pay and terms and conditions in the role...

Are all jobs like this? Thanks

rhapsody

Hi OP, sorry to hear your job is causing so much stress. I am (or was) in a fairly similar position to you- i.e. age, wage, holidays, bonuses. I've also little working experience prior to this job. I've been working a bit longer than you however.

Anyway, I ended up feeling exactly as you do. I'm not sure if its possible in your job, but can you cut down/ out your overtime hours? I was doing about 10 hours extra per week, and then commuting a fair bit on top of that. Its pretty much expected that everyone in my office will do unpaid overtime but in the end I had to say to myself "no I finish at x time, staying an extra hour wont get me any thanks or extra pay". I still do some overtime when its needed, but I make sure to take that time off at another time e.g. come in an hour late the next day etc.

Beyond that, I was constantly thinking about work, checking emails when I was home etc- do you do that? I still do it a bit, but I've really had to re-think my whole attitude to work. Maybe we're taking our 'first real jobs' too seriously? I've had friends tell me for years "work to live, dont live to work" and I only recently took it on board. You can still be a good employee, but you'll do them no good if you get sick (which I expect you will if you're feeling so stressed) and have to miss work.

Do you have hobbies/ hang out with friends in the evenings? I'm not sure how to deal with the stress while you're at work, but keeping busy outside of it should help you to, as they say, "leave it at the office".

I just keep thinking that in 10/20 etc years, I want to have developed relationships, had life experiences etc and not just kill myself at a job- that I do usually like- but that wont miss me when I'm gone. When I'm considering staying late I think of this & go home!

I hope you can make some changes

Lollipops23

OP if you were female I could have written your post

I'm in the exact same boat- female, mid twenties, in a high stress job (pay is slightly less than yours). I'm in early and stay late, but I'm not good at my job and it's starting to show. It's coming to a point where I'm basically wondering if I should jump before I'm pushed....

I think a lot of us who left college around the start of the recession has this notion that you should be grateful for a job (any job!!) and stick it out not matter what....when it's taking a toll on your well-being I think we both know what the answer is. I just spent the last hour crying to my boyfriend about this, he's been telling me for months that it's not worth my sanity.

I have loads of stuff I'd like to do- but it's the idea of walking away from a job that I find very hard. It's nigh-on impossible to get time off at the moment for interviews etc, and it's also the type of industry that it would be quite hard to "quietly" job hunt.

OP I wish you all the best- bottom line, be good to yourself.

LegacyUser

Rhapsody;

I am actually doing that lately, waking up early in the morning and logging in on my laptop the moment I get outta bed to check for emails that mightve been sent since I left the previous evening or check figures on reports. I do play with a sports team, off for the summer, gonna be starting back up in August though. Thing is, most of my friends have left Ireland for the time being, off in Australia and the US right now. Used to go into town every weekend for a lads night out, now I very rarely get to.

Regards the building relationships, had life experiences, thats been on my mind loads now. I stay in touch with my friends in Australia and theyre loving it out there, have already decided to stay a 2nd year, meeting loads of people, going from city to city, etc. Worry when Im in my 40's and havea family or whatever Ill regret not joining them

Lollipops23;

I get what you mean, my huge psychologically block that prevents me contimplating leaving this job is that it was so hard to get a job after graduating. I remember how horrible it was after leaving college being stuck at home all day, having nothing to get up for the in morning and no routine, idea of being back in that position is terrifying!!!! Hope things pick up up for you

Thanks for the replies guys, great getting some insight into this. Have tried to discuss with family before but the reply is always "Youd be mad to give up a job, all jobs are like that right now, etc"

rhapsody

jobstress wrote: »

I am actually doing that lately, waking up early in the morning and logging in on my laptop the moment I get outta bed to check for emails that mightve been sent since I left the previous evening or check figures on reports.

Stop doing this! It will drive you mad!:) I always say "its so I'm better prepared for when I get to work... I'd rather know about problems straight away" etc. but you're letting your job invade your life. I wish I didn't know how to check my work email from home. This is one small step/giant leap that will help you!

It sounds like you might need to get a new hobbie for the summer, to take your mind off work if nothing else; I found instrument practice & going to the gym were great.

Whether you go to Aus or not, it would probably be good to try and work on your work-life balance at this stage, otherwise this issue will come up again.

quickbeam

My advice: Don't quit the job, you are lucky to have one in this day and age.

But ... seriously cut back on the overtime. Companies seem to expect this these days and push for overtime instead of new staff. Think of it, if 4 people in an office do 10 hours a week overtime that's one whole person's wages that you've (collectively) given to the company for free. If less overtime was done, it might encourage the company to hire and reduce the stress on everybody. It might be hard to go from 10 hours to zero straight away, but set a target to ease back over the next month and decide that you'll do no more than (say) 1 hour extra a week, that's an extra 15 minutes a day. If you can't stop yourself checking emails at home, then leave the laptop at work.

When you get home, do whatever you can to take your mind off work. I know that's really hard - I'm constantly thinking over the day too, but do whatever you can to leave work behind once you leave the building.

loser2old4board

"How stressful should a job be?"
Definitely not the level of stress you are under.
You are not getting paid enough for that.
You have got good replies so far so I'll just had two tips.
1. Gradually cut back the hours overtime to half what you are doing at present. (Make excuses if you have to. Important match/meeting, whatever.)
2. Never EVER check your work emails from home.
Managers should be doing this kind of thing, not you.
Try really hard to leave it behind when you walk out that door.
Do not give out your phone number etc, and if it rings from work
don't answer.

Final point to think about.
Nobody on their deathbed ever wished they spent more time at the office!

mikemac

jobstress wrote: »

work about 10-15 hours unpaid overtime a week,

This has to end.
Not cut back immediately but it has to cut back on

The bosses are using you and your teammates as free labour when they should be getting in a new hire or two to ease the workload.

5:30pm, stand up and walk.
If if you get called back then come back but stress to your boss what's realistic

Unpaid overtime and checking emails at home is for managers and directors on top money. They earn big money to deal with this.
Not you on low paid, the company doesn't value you so never take your work home

Get exercising in the evenings, stress buster. Like go running
The worst thing you can do is come home upset, turn to wine and beer and junk food and TV to distract yourself. I know, I did it!

Wompa1

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm 26 and am working a ridiculously demanding job. It's been this way for so long that I'm becomming so tired that I'm sure I'll make huge mistakes somewhere. By being so dedicated the notice I'm getting is rewarding me with more work. However on the plus side I got headhunted by another company and the money I'm on now is more than I could have hoped for.

My friends also went and did the Australia, Canada and America thing. It's depressing as if like me you need to build a career because you don't have any real financial support if things go belly up. If I went abroad and couldn't find work there would be no hand outs available to me, if I had to move home again my parents couldn't afford to feed me. It's just a sucky place to be!

Keep your chin up. Cut down on your overtime though, if deadlines slip, they slip. Maybe it will result in a change for the better

solovely

It all depends on what's important to you in life.

Is this a career job or just a job to pass the time/ live off?

I think most people you will talk to who make it successfully in their careers will tell you they had a few years from hell in their 20s, but it does pass, especially as you progress up the career ladder.

I think people in their mid 20s now are finding it harder than previous generations, because you are stuck earning low wages for longer with less gratification and hope of career progression (and also because of growing up as Tiger Cubs to a certain extent....never knowing any different).

If this job is a step up the ladder into something you really want to do/ be, then try to look at the bigger picture, where this will take you, and what you need to do to get there without losing your sanity, i.e. organise a review with your manager, explain your work load, speak of your ambition, ask them how they feel they can help you get there, and what you need to do to get there while still keeping your health and sanity.

If this is just a job to pass the time, and not something you are passionate about, or if you're someone who in general is not ambitious or seeks career success, then maybe you do need to relook at the area you are working in and look to an area that you either love more, or will be less stressful. Would you retrain/ go back to college?

Have you spoken to your managers at all about this?

poozers

I have a very stressful job too, and im only part time!!! but its the bane of my life and in the past few months ive been feeling physically sick (nausea, headache, hot flushes) and im only 25!! i know these are signs of anxiety and I should not be feeling like that at my age!!!! i think the whole "you should be happy you have a job at this day in age" idea is an absolute load of shi-te!! i do agree that there are no jobs out there to leave a job you have now, as thats the situation im in, but that doesnt mean you should "be happy" about it, or "get over it and do your job". theres nothing worse than feeling like your wasting your life in a place thats costing you your wellbeing!!!!!!

Fentdog84

Look man if you are not happy, you're not happy. You need to look for a way out, difficult as it is in this day and age. At the end of the day the company dont care a tuppence about you or your well being only to squeeze the max out of you so you need to look after yourself. Obviously dont quit immediatley but you need to ask yourself what you really want and what you would be reasonably happy doing. Perhaps a lower stress job, a different work enviroment..or maybe a job in a different country. You always have options..

mikemac

This seems to be a professional office type job you have.

If you need to move on then do it, don't feel trapped
You are not lucky to have a job, you applied for it and were the best candidate.
Just others are unlucky to have lost theirs

Just do not burn your bridges when you leave. So be very careful in that exit interview.
It's easy to get carried away and into a rant (sure we do it on boards ) but you won't be thanked for giving honest feedback, you may well get the opposite effect. Or maybe you will be thanked but it's a risk so be careful

Have seen people lose the head and explode and it's understandable but if you're working somewhere a few years you need that reference

This isn't some summer shop assistant or McDonalds job you have, you may well end up working in the same area again OP for another similar company

LegacyUser

OP here. Thanks a million for all the replies. Ive read all the replies and taken it all on board, and its already made me feel easier about the whole thing.

Bit more background.... The job I have now is quite good, Ive upskilled immensley from it, lots of exposure to all areas of the business (marketing, supply chain, finances, commercial) and so on, so from that point of view I really value it because its all excellent stuff to be able to put on my CV. I definitely want to progress my career in an area like this, but not necessarily with the company.

I do get great reviews from my managers, but nothing in the way of pay increases, prospects of promotion, etc., I generally just get given new tasks to do, which I dont mind as I tihnk its great experience and looks good on a CV, plus I know from experience that if it was at all necessary my head manager wouldnt hesitate to throw me under a bus. Have that fear in the back of my mind that if I lose this job then destined to be unemployed until I give in and head abroad to find work there. Silly, but cant shake it :P

Anyway, once again, thanks for the input, really appreciate getting a new (more realistic) perspective and feel better having read everyones pieces.

greengirl31

OP I worked for a company for over 10 years similar to the one you were in. At the time, jobs were 10 a penny and not like they are now so there is a difference there but in every other way it was the same - deadlines to be met, forecasts to be done, cash and people micro-managed !! It was hell but I stayed there ... I'd B1tch and moan but I stayed. I was in my mid to late 20's at the time so I had little else to occupy my evenings but I resented it all the same - you'd get funny looks if you got up at 5.30 to leave. After a LONG time I realised this was ridiculous and I started cutting back on the OT - I'd only do what was absolutely necessary at month end. Then I got pregnant and I stopped OT altogether. No one ever said anything cause I was never obliged to do it. Anyway, I did a little skip and a jump the day I went on Maternity leave but then I had to go back which was just as the big R was kicking in. I had planed to leave then but then I felt trapped and my working conditions got worse too due to a different manager and reduced workforce. I put up with 2 and a half years of what can only be described as hell!!
I had to leave at 5.30 because of childcare but I'd end up logging on at home in the evenings to finish things I wouldn't have even got near that day. And get snide comments if I had to take HOLIDAYS if my child was ill (it happened once that I had to take a week off as holidays when she had chicken pox.)
I was finally made redundant from that job last year and It's been the best thing that ever happened. I was lucky enough to find another job straight away and my new job is like a holiday camp compared to the last one.
My advice to you would be to start looking for something else - yes there is a recession but there are a few jobs out there and you might be lucky enough to get one. It's easier to get something when you already have a job! in the meantime, cut back on the OT. Gradually. At the end of the day there is only so much one person can do and if you can't do your job there's one of 2 things wrong - Either you're not suited to it or you have to much to do (it's the latter in your case) and these are issues for your manager to deal with - you can be sure he or she is getting paid a hell of a lot more to deal with the stress than you are !!
I'd also agree with MikeMac - when you do leave be careful what you say - Industries in Ireland are very small and you'll never know who you'll bump in further down the line - The day I started in my current job, a guy I worked with years ago was giving me my access card and IT log in's. Thankfully I had got on well with this guy but if I hadn't I might have got started off on the back foot .

globalwarrior

I have just read a few posts here and I am shocked to see twenty something year olds workig so hard and not enjoying life... Hey pack it in and come to Australia where you will all be appreciated and paid well

I arrived here in aussie with only a few bucks and no degree and that was back in the days when there was no internet, I have never regretted it.

I understand, travel is not for everyone - but ya know what, I do believe the saying that happiness is for the brave, I have taken crazy chances in life and its all good

TommyTippee

poozers wrote: »

i think the whole "you should be happy you have a job at this day in age" idea is an absolute load of shi-te!!

Correct. The only people who love this attitude are employers....they will squeeze the balls off anyone who is in fear of losing their job.

You will no doubt see a few in this thread telling the OP to get on with it.

Free overtime......forget it.

globalwarrior

Actually, whilst I agree employers love that attitude ....

So do the goverments and the banks and society in general

Cos God forboid you actually enjoy your life.....too much!


HOWEVER... in your twenties is the time to take risks and

makes mistakes, its a huge part of your personal growth and

thus, priceless!


I'm still doing it (not because its in my nature, cos its not!!!)

but I have come to realise that I LOVE living this way

Feel the fear and do it anyway - you wont know yourself!!!