Work

[westlondonmist]

I worked in a office for 2 years and one person called me Colin the whole time, which is not my name and not remotely similar. After a while I figured it was probably too late to correct her. 

[Carbomb]

11 hours ago, DCW said:

Realised today that my new manager since before Christmas doesn't know my full name, and has put my wrong surname on my folder in the shared drive that we tip stuff in for them to review. Interesting to see how long she takes to cop it. Being kind, they don't strike me as a person overly burdened with excessive thoughts, so I reckon at least another month. Starting to feel a bit Frank Grimes-ish!

Should send her a box of chocolates with a photo of you in the bottom. Make sure the sour quince log is right over your face.

[Your Fight Site]

7 hours ago, westlondonmist said:

I worked in a office for 2 years and one person called me Colin the whole time, which is not my name and not remotely similar. After a while I figured it was probably too late to correct her. 

Why after a while? Why didn’t you just say the first time she called you “Colin”?

[westlondonmist]

12 hours ago, Your Fight Site said:

Why after a while? Why didn’t you just say the first time she called you “Colin”?

I  introduced myself a couple of times or introduce myself to others in front of her. She was polite, just a little scatty so was afraid I was being mean if I directly corrected her. I think she was just confused as a bunch of us transfered to her office and one guy was actually called Colin. 

[Tamura]

We did a survey a few months ago at work, one of those "how happy are you here" type things. Last night the lead manager got all our team in to discuss our feedback. Apparently across all stores the lowest answer to the question "Would you recommend working here to your friends and family" was 83% saying yes. That's apart from our team of course, who managed a paltry 26%! In amongst a mostly positive discussion he mentioned that he's trying to force people to transfer from days onto nights to fill the many vacancies, and how people on days aren't getting any overtime right now only contracted hours and people are being forced to take unpaid leave. It's only nights that are exempt from all this apparently, but he slipped in unrder the radar that we're now expected to do all the work that day shift won't be able to do any more. Looks like it's time to update my CV and start looking for a new job.

Edited April 12, 2025 by Tamura

[Monkee]

I recently left a job because I was threatened by my manager, ridiculed and patronised by him, clocked up 36hrs of TOIL in 2 weeks because of his meddling in a project and various other things that were apparently “not proved”…

I’m now sitting back and enjoying the shit show of him trying to do what I did and watching it burn. He’s posted the same thing 4 times to Instagram today. And those posts used the same image as a different post he did yesterday.

?

[westlondonmist]

Work is a shit show at the moment. I work under our Waste and Street cleaning team but manage the public conveniences on top of my street cleaning duties. Neither my line manager (level has a starting pay of 10k more than i earn) or his line manager (starting salary of about 32k more than me but he's on about 60k more than me) want anything to do with the PCs so I end up taking on a lot of their job's responsibilities with regards to the service. The councillors come directly to me, people at my level usually have zero to little contact. I've been told to project manage a capital project and deal with a contract extension and variation, all well above my job. Giving me no support on who helps with the legal side of any reports, not helping with the process of going to cabinet member for sign off. I handed a paper in May and July to go to cabinet member sign off and neither have read it yet, saying they are busy. Well your paid over a 100k to be busy you lazy cunt. The contractors then get angry at me because we can't move forward.

Other teams give out 3-6 month secondments to do this shit, and get support. I'm expected to do it for "experience" and "learning opportunity". Fuck off. Although a recent secondment they advertised didn't pay any extra, I complained as they didn't say it until after the interviews. But at least that person gets it officially on their job history when applying for internal jobs.

 

I'm now just looking for work, preferably just move to a different section of the council to keep my pay level, annual leave, sick pay and pension. Which I don't really want to do as I enjoy my day to day job. I feel I'm at a point where I may have to take up grievance.

 

[DavidB6937]

Went back to the office for the first time in 5 months. Quite emotionally overwhelming but proud that I did it.

[Chris B]

Could do with some positive freelancing/business for yourself stories or encouragement.

My job seems to have gone tits up - I work in content/marketing, and it's a realm with lots of opinions and different directions. I'm burnt out, stressed and my work isn't good right now. Despite being very happy with me up until a month or so ago, there's been a 'serious turnaround in the next couple of weeks' talk (rather than a 'something seems to not be working - let's fix it to avoid this' talk).

I have long-term debt issues, so it's not a great time for it, but I've been through multiple redundancies (one a month after a max rated annual review), and I feel like I'm pushing water uphill trying to find stability in this career. I've got a lot of skills in content, B2B, B2C, video, editing, etc, so I'm thinking freelance is actually betting on myself in a longer-term way.

It's also scary. But almost everyone I know in a similar job has ended up freelancing. I've spent time out of work doing a little freelancing, but always while searching for in-house. I'm thinking reversing that and focusing on freelance as the job is the way forward.

[DavidB6937]

@Chris B I think everyone I know in those types of roles are all freelancers. Stressful at first but actually it's worked out a lot better for them in the long run. Obviously it comes with its own risks but it's not like having a stable job doesn't come without its own potential down points too right?

Arguably either way is a risk but it sounds like you're in a position where changing a focus in strategy could be worth a shot at least. If it doesn't work then it doesn't work but at least you'll have tried. And if it does work you'll be glad you gave it a shot.

[Sergio Mendacious]

I'm about ready to just jack it all in.

We got taken over 2 1/2 years ago, and there was no production designer on the team at all, so I stepped in to do it. Happy to finally use all my Creative Suite skillz.

They said I was doing a great job, and promoted me to the manager of the new Production design department, ie me and one much younger guy just starting out.

My promotion was partially predicated on Production Design taking over a lot of book layout, in conjunction with the design team. But the design team are dead against that, so we're kind of in limbo — doing the work put in front of us, but unable to take on the new tasks.

There's a companywide AI/automation focus, so my boss said "you'll be good at that" and put me forward for the first echelon of people doing that. Except, he kept changing his mind, and convinced himself it would take up too much time, even though I don't have enough work to fill my time (I'm very efficient).

Then, we were told "go all in on AI, and using it for low/no-code projects. We'll teach you Python coding, go make stuff."

So I did — made some tools for automatically checking and fixing files, made a script that pulls old content into new books for reuse. Built a SUITE of puzzle creation tools.

But now, the focus is being shifted, and suddenly it's a negative to have "gotten too into the automation side, do your job"

I genuinely love the actual work I do, including the automation stuff, and I like where I work, but it's becoming untenable.

[SuperBacon]

One of the biggest challenges to finding employment when coming to the UK is the language barrier.

You need English to get employment, but being in employment helps your English massively. Plus there are SO many types of ESOL courses, from lower level, to higher level like IELTS, and if you're a medical professional you most probably have to take the OET (Occupational English Test) to register with the GMC. Same for dentists (which is so expensive to do it'll make your head spin, which makes no sense as dentists are highly sought after)

Anyway, I've just presented a webinar to over 100 people on all of the types of courses and qualifications there are out there, from lower level, to how you can become a tutor yourself. 

A massive achievement personally and that's 100 more people who hopefully have an understanding of what is right for them, and that can be supported to learn English to better their employment opportunities. 

Not often I love my job (as you all know I'm a miserable sod) but I enjoyed that.

 

[Chris B]

On 9/25/2025 at 1:00 PM, Chris B said:

My job seems to have gone tits up - I work in content/marketing, and it's a realm with lots of opinions and different directions. I'm burnt out, stressed and my work isn't good right now. Despite being very happy with me up until a month or so ago, there's been a 'serious turnaround in the next couple of weeks' talk (rather than a 'something seems to not be working - let's fix it to avoid this' talk).

This has been the weirdest fucking week.

So, I gave this some serious thought and handed in my notice. I knew I could turn it around, but I've been doing the same cycle for years of chasing stability and being made redundant. It's the first time I've had performance issues raised in any serious way, and it was all a bit sudden, but it made me realise stability might mean going into business for myself.

My manager couldn't accept it quick enough. HR person, on the other hand, jaw-dropped to hear I was resigning. My manager had told THEM that I'd been having issues and they were trying to help and fix it. I'd been told 'major turnaround in two weeks or you don't work here any more, and HR is aware'. A very different conversation.

CEO brings me in for a chat, because he's shocked - I explain the same again, pointing out that I've seen people in this company let go for performance reasons, and I need to control my own exit, so if anyone needs someone, they think 'Ooh, I know a guy', rather than 'Well, I know Chris, but he got let go for being shit'.

While he is struggling with the idea that I'm choosing to leave for stability over staying there, he tells me the best decision he ever made was going into business for himself, and he respects that - if he can help, let him know. Reference, testimonial, etc. I made clear that if this is just a change in the relationship and I can do some freelance work for them, I'd love to. We shake hands, all is on good terms. The co-founder gives me a hug later and they both make clear that I'm well-liked internally, and they're sorry I'm leaving and thanks for all the hard work.  My last day is tomorrow.

Today, they just told everyone they've let go of my manager.

Fucking hell, that came out of nowhere. It's almost certain it's a performance thing overall (very little has been achieved, and in hindsight, my issues have been tied up with their issues), but I'm pretty sure my resignation was the last straw - either I unintentionally made clear I was being thrown under the bus, or it was a bad look for a senior member of the team to decide that having no job was more stable than being in their team.

Don't think they're going to ask me to stay, but I wouldn't be surprised if I get asked to do some freelancing after a suitably discreet amount of time has gone past.

[Carbomb]

Wow. Just...wow.

I'm more pleased for you than narked, as it seems like you keeping your head up and asserting your value may have negotiated you some work while earning you some freedom, while at the same time causing an incompetent senior to get their comeuppance for once, instead of getting away with throwing a subordinate under the bus.

[westlondonmist]

A bit of a rant. Got called into a meeting today with my boss and his to talk about my role. For context I'm a council officer who works in Street cleaning, but got given toilets as everyone else refused. That was 4 years ago. Toilets is moving to parks with two roles a manager and an officer (my level).

 

They said street cleaning was too high a priority to have one eye on and one eye off. Were they trying to say I half arse it? I dunno. I got the feeling that they want me to be the parks officer and not the manager. Which is shit I've taken our public convenience servicefrom failing to awards. I'll apply for the manager and likely decide on if I'd go for officer based on who's the manager and if I could snag a pay rise out of it. There is definitely some hanging about the organisation that I wouldn't want to be working under. 

 

At the very least I have been told I have my current job if I want it.