I need to quit my job/career - am I mad?

Hannaho

I've needed to quit my job for ages, but it's a good salary and I'm 51. I work in healthcare - it's always stressful - though less stressful than the job I used to have. There's always staff shortages and lack of resources - overloaded with managers, things change constantly depending on the whim of is managing at the time. I've witnessed lots of bullying in the past, and experienced it myself. I wake up anxious going to work - this has been going on for years. I feel miserable before work, just thinking about it. I wold love to leave and just do contract/agency work - there is tons of it. I do some at the moment, and really like it - no ongoing responsibility really - you just do a good job for the day and go home, if you don't like the place, you don't come back, or you end up somewhere you like, and stay there for a while. My late teen kids are worried about money, and it drying up if I do contract/agency, but I need to move sideways in my career and train up for something less stressful - the only way I can do this is to go agency/contract, where I have flexibility - employer not interested in providing this flexibility.

Is it mad to think of doing this at this age? Right now how I feel about my job is impacting on my life/family.

WIZWEB

Not mad at all. You're happiness should always come first.

I'm speculating that you're working for the HSE. If so I experienced the toxic management, witnessed and experienced the bullying and was glad to leave it behind me. Certain colleagues thought I was mad. Occasionally I run into them and many are deeply unhappy and several have piled on the pounds and their mental health isn't too great either. Certainly not judging. My physical and mental health wasn't good while there either. I'm financially a lot worse off these days but make time for the good things in my life and am now physically very fit. I remember the never ending swan song of certain colleagues about looking forward to their pensions in years and fearing leaving because of their pay scales. I'm not suggesting I'll live to a great age but physically many look like they won't experience many years of their pension.

s7ryf3925pivug

Depends what your financial situation is like. How would you manage if you had six months without your normal regular income, for example.

Sounds like you need to do something about your work, and this might be the best option, but I wouldn’t risk trading workplace stress for financial stress.

J. Smith

We're all mad! – Some of us just can't accept it. Listen to your gut, then listen to you're mind. Then stop listening to your mind – and listen to your gut.

Not mad at all but just sit down with a piece of paper and make sure you can pay your bills if you quit and ensure you have enough to keep you going until you find another job. It’s very stressful being in a job like that but even more stressful if you haven’t money to pay your rent, buy food, etc. Take a career break or job share maybe initially if this is a possibility while you do the temp work to keep a little security?

JustAThought

All fine but poverty and financial instability is also a total stress and headwreck. If you are healthcare my guess there is a govt pension - what will you do to replace that -you have slim to zero hope of getting a similar one again nor a permanent pensionable DB pension. How about either going off on paid sick leave for a few months (or unpaid) and having a total break and holiday and then returning but asking for a transfer to different duties under mental health or bullying grounds. Might have a similar outcome while retaining your job security, financial stability and benefits. ☺

Teyla Emmagan

I would take JustAThought's advice.

And you are only 51, you could be working another 16 years. Of course you are not mad to think of moving jobs! Sounds like your existing environment is very toxic. Take a break for yourself and decide with a clear mind. No point throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Hannaho

Hi! All, thanks so much for all the advice. Re taking time off on sick leave - the bullying and massive case load was so bad, I was off sick with burnout for three months, and had to go part-time afterwards. I changed job in the Health Service, but the toxic management and bullying is still there. It's not just me that is experiencing it, but many of my colleagues also. Re the pension - because of family commitments, I moved jobs a lot within the Health Service - moved geographical area, moved from full-time to part-time and back to full-time again, depending on family circumstances or took time out depending on family circumstances, , so I won't really have a great pension unless I buy back some years. I am on the old Health Service pension though as I was in work prior to the changes in 2012. I will have some pension, my UK State pension, hopefully or some of it, as I lived there for a while, and am still contributing to it, and my Irish State pension.

Re. income if anything happens - I have enough to last 6 months. I won't be out of a job, unless I break a limb or have some illness. I am with 2 different agencies, and get texts two/three times a day re available agency shifts. I could be working 7 days a week, if I was so inclined. I suppose if there was a recession again, some of this work may dry up. I also have just changed my income protection, so that I am not tied to being a Healthcare employee, but can work in different sectors using my skills.

I thought moving jobs, changing to part-time, moving to a less stressful healthcare job, would resolve things, but I still feel huge anxiety going in each day. I never suffered with this type of workplace anxiety prior to suffering with burnout.

I am trying to balance the fact that my negative mood re my job is impacting on my family, with the negative impact financial stress can have on one's life.

Thanks for all the replies.

It can take a long time to recover from burnout mind yourself and do not make any big decisions which you may regret when you are fully back to yourself. Consider at all times “keeping your foot in the door” just in case you regret a decision you make now whilst stressed and exhausted. Counselling, visit GP, eat well and rest as well as considering career moves would be things I would advise having had previous experience of total burnout. And aim for security financially it really adds to stress when this is taken away.

LegacyUser

Long time lurker. This struck a cord with me and I had to comment...

Just like this poster above I also work in Healthcare.
I am in a similar situation to you OP as I'm miserable and want out. But I am only starting off!

I love my job and helping people. After being worked like a donkey for my student years, i looked forward to qualifying and establishing myself as a professional.
But nothing has changed.

Since qualifying, my life has been consumed by my job with the weight of the world on my shoulders. Every shift, I face rude and unhelpful colleagues, politics, drama and bad managers. And that's just the staff! I'm the colleague who is on the run every 12 hour shift while the usuals sit and chat all day.

I am completely disillusioned and burned out....
I'm in my 20s with no social life or relationship nor do I have time. I've piled on the weight and Im constantly crippled with worry.
I'm lucky to have a supportive family behind me.
But that won't last forever.

I'm afraid to leave this particular area because of the backlash I will receive, the judgement and the drama involved. Not to mention money worries.

I'm afraid to stay because I'm turning into a miserable person and someone I do not recognise nor do I want to be.

OP, I cannot even begin to imagine the added pressure you are facing with a family and bills etc to worry about.
I think the conclusion I have come to and the best way to go about walking away OP is to come up with a strategic plan/budget before leaving and put a time and date on it when you have a clear head.

Speaking as a daughter, I would prefer my parent to be happy, healthy, rested and around for me in the future rather than working themselves into an early grave.



Good luck x