8 signs it’s time to change jobs

I guess it’s time for me to leave my part-time job. So much gossip along with exclusion. I have stayed way too long anyway and not fulfilling my potential. One person rules and they instigate 80% of the gossip. Can you believe this is the person in charge? How sad is that in a Christian institution? Good luck with keeping people when this non-sense goes on everyday. Good luck with the reputation work as well.

I worked at a Veteranarian Hospital part-time and everyone was nice except for one of the doctors. He had a relationship with one of the employees-(turned fiancee) (kennel help, turned manager). Once it went sour, he treated everyone like crap. Because I am sensitive, it felt like he zeroed in on me. I hate when people of authority take advantage of their authority and bully others. That is exactly what he did. I am jobless now, because I quit but I wish I still had that job and the other doctor fired HIM!! Many people have quit over the years because of his inflated attitude. I ask, why do people like him ALWAYS get away with it! He was angry at his fiancee and punched the wall. The result, 1 year in therapy and FULL pay!!! He still continues on, now that he has impregnanted another woman and still acts pompous!!

after reading this, I’ve learned that in the past, I let myself be mentally destroyed by a verbally abusive and selfish boss/owner who will cost me many years of therapy to come. I wish I would have read this article sooner since it will take me a long time to forget the trauma I have dealt with in the past with that company. Thank you for opening my eyes.

Julie, I think your other post says it: If you possibly can, get out of there and away from this boss! She’s toxic, and she isn’t going to change.

Dear Annie,

I wish I have read your blog earlier. I’ve been with the same job and same company for a year now. I feel that my boss doesn’t take me too seriously and she doesn’t take my decision into consideration at all when it comes to what’s best for my team and my department. I thought that if I step outside the box and try something new to boost sales up to 100% in begining of January 2009 I might have earned her respect and trust. I have learned it the hard way. It’s a waste of time and it’s best for me to get another job.

Currently I’m in a job that my supervisorconstanly taking advantage of my ideas and work that I accomplished. She never gives me any credit. Sometime if I make a good suggestion she would say no to me but she turns around and send a memo out to everyone, implement my ideas into her policy. She would take a management procedure that I created and change the name on the document into her name. What should I do or should I say anything about it? Give me some suggestions. Thanks.

I am currently in a job whre my boss hired a family friend to be my boss. And she is so fake and backstabbing it is awful. But you cannot say anything about her or to her, because of her relationship to my boss. It is awful. Another person was hired because her boyfriend is friends with my boss. They have this clique thing going that is poisoning my work environment and I think it is time to leave. I hate them and their little meetings that exlcude me and always involve a trip to Starbucks. Lately I am being pooped on left right and centre, and it sucks. Funny thing is is that I have a union who is supposed to be able to deal with these situations, but they say there is nothing much to be done because the head bosses have decided who they want to keep. So now I am stuck with bosses who have told me outright that they do not feel I am dynamic or creative enough for the job. Really hard on my self esteem and it is making me physically ill and exhausted due to stress. I have been on sick leave for a week due to physical problems stemming from work. I am beginning to realize that work is not worth my health. I feel no respect and just distain for my bosses, so it is time to leave.

This is good advice for all. My ex husband would not allow me to work, went back to school and received an AA in Criminal Justice, was going for a BA but because of divorce, could not complete all four years. I remarried a boy from Pine Bluff, Ar and could not find work in the criminal Justice field, became a bank teller for 3 miserable years. I kept trying to get off the teller line and find something within the bank that was more conducive for me and my skills but they only hired Pine Bluff people for those positions, my blood pressure rose sky high and I had a TIA, doc told me to quit or go part time, I went part time and was moved from branch to branch as a floater. I had to quit or spend big money on my health. Looking for an employer who appreciates my dedication and organization, hopefully, not as a bank teller again.

teaching jobs
Most positions begin with the opening of the academic year. So you need to be available as of August 1 or thereabouts. That means you must begin your search no later than the previous November. Arrange to attend regional and national conferences where interviews are held. It will allow you to look much further afield without incurring the initial travel expense.

Started a new job, thought it was going to be nice, but everything about the job just really irritates me, makes my blood BOIL. The boss has been talking behind my back how un-happy he is hiring me. Talking to hr people saying he should have never hired me….and yet they want to keep me. Worst job ever.

my opinion of the company I work for, what a waste of time.

My boss simply made my skin crawl.

For nine months I worked for a person who slept with most of the administrative staff for sport(most of them lived in his house). He once planned and conducted a meeting where he belittled and cursed at our department for hours infront of the executive team as well as visiting employees from another location. He would repremand us if we did not hire illeagal aliens. I had daily and nightly anxiety. What made matters worse, was he totally ignored a dire need for security at the facility. A few months after my office was broken into, I witnessed the severe beating of a patient, by a trespasser. The beating resulted in her death. I went into work one saturday cleaned out my office and never looked back.

I was miserable in my first job out of college. I dreaded going to work, cried daily, and even developed a serious anxiety disorder, complete with panic attacks. I stayed for several awful months, not realizing that no job should make you this unhappy, and that it didn’t mean that I would hate every job in my industry. Taking the risk to find something else is infinitely better that playing scared.

I quit my long-time job with a large company after 15 years. I had transferred into a new department where we were overworked, and I was given so many tasks that were out of my realm of knowledge that I went to work daily with migrains. Finally I said to my husband that I wanted to quit and he was supportive. I waited until my annual review and went in with tears in my eyes because I wasn’t used to “being defeated” but I gave in and left the company. My migrains are gone and I am so happy now!

When you take a new job then you find out that you’re the sixth person in the position in five years – don’t plan on sticking around. I lasted nine months. Much happier now!

Ms. Fisher, wow has your article hit right at home. I worked for a company for over 9 years and had to leave after I was transferred to another state. The company is wonderful for the boss at my new location made it so I dreaded coming to work for 2 1/2 years. I finally left my job in search for a new one and hopefully be happy going to work again. After many months of searching and finding very little, I took a job that seemed to be tailor made for me even though the money was less, I figured that as long as I am happy, that would be fine. Well, it was like jumping from the pot to the frying pan. I just turned 50 this year and I feel that my age is keeping me from getting hired. What does a person do after they get to be a certain age about a good job? I saw 60 minutes last night about how companies now have training for employers and management as to how to treat the younger generation with kid gloves because they will loose their staff. Oh My God, I almost can’t believe that employers would sink that low to hire young people when they have older citizens willing to put it all out there for their job but they ignore them because they are older. We as older citizens have a lot to offer and believe me I am as up to date with technology as any youngster. What can we do?

I worked at a place for over a year. In that year I was given more and more work to do. A lot of it was not what I was hired for, but I consider myself a team player and was more then happy to help out. Plus I figured when my year came I would get a review and would be compensated accordingly- Boy was I wrong! I was angry at myself for thinking that a family business would value their workers more. For over a year I dealt with the owners severe mood swings and verbal abuse when something did not go his way. I dealt with sexual harrasment on a daily basis from other co-workers and customers. The company would lie or at least alter the truth to fit their needs and not what they promised to the public or their customers – but they were VERY sucssesful anyway. I watched people who were considered “above me” get what they wanted because they were family and not because of their work, or lack there of I should say. I always ignore the office politics and just go in to do my job and go home. But after my year came and went without so much as an acknowledge meant I decided to see what was up and listen in in the office gossip (keep in mind that And 1/2 of the people who worked there were related in some way. One girl that worked for “the family” moved up because she slept with Dad (the founder),the General Manager, one of the car detailers, and a couple of the customers (It was a really messed up-borderline disgusting situation!). The more I listened the more revolted I became. I knew that I was in a no win situation and I had to get out as soon as possible. The grass is not always greener but at least it’s not always tainted yellow. Only you have the power to change something you do not like.

I absolutely despise my job. I sit at a cubicle, answer complaining customer’s, and watch a computer screen all day long. Not to mention, my management has now made it a requirement to do the job of our sales department without the increase in commission compensation. This article has helped me realize that I’m not acting irresponsibly. I miss work because of the anxiety attacks that overwhelm me just by getting dressed in the mornings. Thank you for the 8 signs. I must act now before I destroy my working repitation.

I just found this web page and haven’t read down far yet but have to make a comment.In response to “Jamie” and Unhappy employees I wouldn’t bet on anything. I just quit from a job here in NC. I’m from NY so that means I’m a yankee which true southern people hate with a passion. I’ve had people tell me they would rather see illegal mexicans here than yankees. On my interview my soon to be boss told me he needed to hire me for the skilled position to “light a fire” under there butts because they sat around all the time. I took the job and soon after started getting hit with nuts, metal pins and all kinds of stuff. Later they started shooting a air nail gun at me. Not to mention harassment of all kind. Eventually myself and another employee ended up talking with a VP and the guys got 3 days off and the only thing that stopped was the throwing of things. After trying to contact numerous lawyers who never return your call after interviewing on the phone, and after trying to reach numerous state run agency’s on what employee rights are, and ending up at the state capital in Raleigh,NC and hearing the guy tell me it’s an “At will” state and “I would just get another job if I was you” I finally quit! The company president is golfing buddy’s with the guys and knows of everything. The VP later told me his hands were tied because the president didn’t want to take it farther. I’ve been slugged with a board as I walked by trying to be adult about everything and ignoring it but it would have never stopped. There are no harassment laws here or anyone who is ambitious enough to do anything including the company when I tell them people are driving by my house. Even with proof don’t hold your breathe. Hostile work environments are still around and nothing is being done at some places.

I knew it was time to leave when I found that all my motivation for my work, which I loved doing, was gone. Another sign was I didn’t want and found it difficult to get up every morning knowing I had to go to that job. I was late every day and didn’t care. None of these things fit the person I am, so I knew I had to leave

Boy, I hope the author of this letter did go ahead and start job hunting. I toughed out a similar scenario where every day I went in and dreaded what other infraction of my supervisors personal rule book I was supposedly breaking. I did end up getting discharged and just like a felony conviction, I now have to explain why I was let go when I interview.

I have worked in an office with seven men and I was never told anything that was going on by my group leader. If I scheduled a week ahead for a day of leave, he would schuled for a meeting with the “big” bosses without my knowledge. Needless to say, they always wondered why I wasn’t there. They were never told. The team leader has moved on to his second job in two years and isn’t liked where he goes now because they can see him for the trouble maker that he is. I also have moved on and am the happiest that I have been in years. I don’t know why I put up with him for eight years.

I work for a division of a well-known Fortune 500 company. 7-1/2 years ago when I started as a secretary, the director of marketing communications quit. I picked up the ball. I became “marketing communications administrator” a title non-existant in the marcom industry. Now, 7-1/2 years later, and after an annual review in August stating I was to continue “managing” the various areas of marcom, they have hired a young man, 22 years my junior, with a life’s total of 7 years of work experience to be the new marcom manager. I have turned my management responsibilities over to him, and am now his secretary. I have had stellar reviews each year, above average increases, and the “due for promotion” box marked with 30 days to 1 year each time. I have been taken down the path and this is where I landed after doing a manager’s job duties with a secretary’s title and pay. Had I even been titled marcom specialist, I have lost $75,000 in wages over the last five years. Manager would add $100K to that loss. Based on mid-range salaries on Salary.com for my city.
I am a 55 year old female, and this reeks of discrimination. This is what you get for “pitching in” and “helping” a bad company.

I worked at a position for 2 years that was a nightmare. It was a customer service position. We had 6 people who were to provide service to customers. Another lady and I were the only ones who would work. The other 4 workers stayed in the office talking and laughing with the supervisor. She would never make them work. I needed to work at this time, so I stayed until I found another position. The other lady found another job, too. In my position now, I do not have to worry about having to do other peoples’ jobs for them. The day I left I had a good feeling knowing that they would finally have to start working instead of staying in the supervisor’s office. This supervisor is losing her job. What goes around comes around.

Unhappy employees: You may have some obvious legal issues against the company re discrimination, sex or age or otherwise so be astute! I know of someone who has had quite a career and now, is constantly bullied by her two bosses. They want her out and are exercising some nasty methods, which are very discriminatory, excluding her, speaking down to her,etc.. She has a case and is documenting her experience in this company while she is looking for another position. The interesting thing is these buffoons are realizing new business via her contacts and she will be in a posiiton to take them away once she is gone; she is not prevented from doing this contractually or otherwise, so these bosses have little foresight and are burning an important bridge.

I agree with Annie’s article and all of the bloggers. I worked for an agency for three years. The first two were great (great boss, flexible hours, benefits, etc.,). While working for the agency, I obtained an MBA degree. Everything went down-hill when I took a position as a supervisor. My boss told me that the position was manageable and that she would “help me” because the last person who held the position left a heap of backed up work behind. When I accepted the position, my boss did not help me, I could not catch up with the back work, which prevented me from catching up with my work. I developed migraines, anxiety and high blood pressure. My boss left the agency and the Assistant Executive Director tried to develop a working relationship with me because she knew that I had the MBA degree and that I was struggling with the position. She was trying to keep the staff that she had left because we had such a high turnover rate over the past eight months. She praised my work and dedication to the job and asked me what could she offer me to stay. I told her that an increase would help but I ultimately needed for her to restructure my position (for some reason, my position as a supervisor held three times the responsibility as the other supervisors). I was very reasonable with my suggestion on restructuring the position. I was still willing to go above and beyond my duties because I cared about the reputation of the department and about the people who we serviced. She told me that she realized that I was struggling and that I seemed very anxious and that I should “take it easy”, “relax”, and stop trying to do everything, things will get done when they got done. I took her advice and eased up on trying to do everything. She nevery lightened my workload and never gave me the increase. My co-workers who all complained and told me how sorry they were about my health problems and how much work I had and told me that I should quit before I had a heart attack or ended up in the hospital They took every opportunity to go back to the Assistant Executive Director and tell her how much I changed, how worried they were about my health,and how much I complained about the job. She then started telling me that my personality changed, I was not forfilling my job duties and that if I continued, she would put me on probation. She also said that if I was unhappy or if the job was making me sick, then I should resign. She talked about me leaving so much that I finally took her advice, I put in my resignation one day when my doctor told me to go to the emergency room if I felt chest pains on the day that I went to see her because my pressure was elevated so high. Two physicians told me that I should change jobs because the nature of the work was affecting my health.

I know that I made the right decision to leave, the pay was bad and I became physically ill. But now with a MBA, I am having such a hard time getting a job, I dont know what to do with myself. I applied for unemployment but I dont think they will approve it. So now I stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Might I add yet another sign to the list : you’re bored senseless at work. Don’t confuse this with having nothing to do; you have a lengthy to-do list but every item on that list is ‘grunt work’ and worse, just plain meaningless.
“All that you have to do is do the job and make as much money as possible.”
Posted By Yadgyu, Harkeyville, TX
Hope that money will help you feel better when you’ve spent it on the car loan that you service, in order to keep the car that you drive right back to work everyday.
Or when you’re paying it to the doctors and nursing aids who are caring for you when you’ve lost your mental and physical health.
Or when you realize that not one cent of that money will buy back the time you spent or the family you may have lost, all because you were doing something you couldn’t stand.

“I say give me the money and let the others live on praise and lunch with the boss.” – Posted By Hershel Brown Pine Bluff, Ar

This is genius!

Too many workers worry about being special and feeling important. But work is not about feeling important or making friends or gaining popularity. Too many workers are looking to be the “it” guy/girl at work.

The truth is that you are a number at work. You have no real worth as a person. You are there to do a job. All that you have to do is do the job and make as much money as possible. Making friends and being popular isn’t going to get you anywhere if you aren’t bringing in big bucks. People need to get over their own egos and come to the realization that they are disposable. Recognition and praise does not pay the bills.

The Golden Rule Of Work says: “The money made from the job is more important than the job itself” – © Yadgyu

Wow..great article! I was at my job for six years, and the past 3 of them were literally killing me. I would cry myself to sleep on Sunday nights knowing that I had to get up Monday morning and go to work. They were becoming a revolving door of employees and the politics were so deep you could barely walk through the door. I was bogged down with more and more work every day because I was always picking up the slack for the other who did nothing on a daily basis. I expressed this to the management but they were more concerned about having a body than having no body. Well, sometimes somebody is worse than nobody, if you know what I mean. I couldn’t take the backstabbing and the bickering, and the overload of work with no help any longer. I was making myself physically ill, and I looked awful in the meantime. My life felt like a huge dissappointment. You hate to give up seniority and vacation and everything you earn over the years, but there comes a point when none of that matters anymore. I told myself when it didn’t matter, it was time to move on. Well, guess what, I came to that point. I finally decided to search for something that was going to make me happy, and found it. It was the best move I could have made in my life, and I am truely happy that I made the switch. Making career changes is scarey, and very hard to do, but for all of those who are fearing it, DONT! It will do wonders for you health!

I say why not be a maverick and make the whole lot miserable.I am of the belief contrary to Hershburger money is the greatest motivator,after all,that is the product of work.I say give me the money and let the others live on praise and lunch with the boss.

Boy do I wish I had read that article back in May 2007. I too had a similar problem at my job that I reported and after that everything seemed to get worse. Unfortunately I tried to stay for insurance reasons and ended up really sick. Now I am unemployed and desperately seeking work. It is so hard for me to get my foot in the door.
What advice can you give me in finding another job. It seems like you have to know somebody these days.

Dear Anne Fisher,

I just read the article of Dr. Bayer regarding “The 8 Signs When Your Job Is In Jeopardy”. Well, just to blow off a little steam, and also to let you know that the relating story was almost identical to my work experiences. For 45 years I worked under all 8 signs. besides the lower paying jobs in the early years of my life, I have been working for the past 21 years as a medical assistant. After 10 years with one medical clinical (with those “signs”), I updated my resume and went to another medical clinical. I soon found out that this was like jumping from the red hot skillet into the fire. I have worked at this company for almost 12 years, up until my retirement this year at age 66. I have a theory of went wrong in my work life; my theory is that I opened my self up to vulnerability. I believe that I was over anxious to please, and to be accepted, due to my insecure nature. And this was obviously detected to all, especially the bosses. I can recall on many occassions, while I was doing patient care, I would encounter a meeting with the entire staff, except me. And later when I asked my boss why wasn’t I notified of the meeting, she would simply say something like: “Well, it was nothing that major to discuss, and someone had to stay on the floor with the patients.” That someone would always be me. Sometimes there would be staff educational training, computer update training and seminars; everyone attened except me. And to top it off, a few days later, one of my co-workers would appear just when I was about to process the standard test on the patient (the way we always did), they would inform me: “Thats not what we are doing now.” Embarrassing and unprofessional, don’t you agree? Even though, on occassions, my boss would hand me a personal appreciation card which commented that she “appreciates my hard work and dedication,” and I always got good work reviews,I still felt confused and worthless. I also relized that even if I quit this job and go to another I would be placed into the same catergorized work status.

I believed that is not always that the company wants to get rid of you, but I believe that most managers/adminstrators are given a considerably heavy load of work which they must see to it that it gets done. So this manager seeks out to prey on whomever they can find who is vulnerable, and that person will be the victim to take on the heaviest, and most unfair work load.

In summary, I feel as though I have been a prisoner all my work life, confined away from moral and equal freedom, and I have finally been released to society. The problem is I am not ready to adapt to society because of my emotional and physical exhaustion at work.

If I had to relive my work life, on my initial job placement interview, these would be some of my priority questions: Does your compnay execute equal opprotunity to EACH, INDIVIDUAL employee?; regarding time off work for all employee staff meetings, company sponsored, educatioanl training programs, etc? And if this information is not in the bylaws and agreements of the company, I would ask for a written and signed agreement on this issue and keep this on file in case I needed it for reference. I would certainly not be the prey that I allowed myself to be those 45 years. In essence, I am now working on my social identity, as I rely on my spiritual being to guide me. And I started a membership at the health club today!

Sincerly Signed,
Victim of Work Circumstances

I saw the signs and as the only woman on the executive team, and the only one with c-suite expereince, the men (including the owner) made sure I got the message to move on. My replacement, by the way, is a man. Not all male colleagues operate this way, but this company sure did . . .

I don’t work in a office, but I do in a kitchen. The 8 signs it’s time to change jobs hit home with me. I just need the job I have right now until I find a new job.

I had a job that I loved and management changed. I guess the new manager wanted to make a sweep and hire her own staff. I was miserable. I am an elected official in local politics and finding another job was hardly an option. I tried. Meanwhile she took away all my decision making and humiliated me in front of ‘her’ staff and the customers. To top it all off I was convinced she was stealing from the company. Finally she moved on and yes I was right. She had stolen the company blind. I am convinced she was intimidating me because I was the one person who could eventually find enough evidence to blow the whistle. But I felt unprotected, vulnerable and angry with the owners. The job was spoiled for me. I did leave the first opportunity I got. I have a great job now and wish it had come while I was working with her.

Annie, sorry, I have to be anonymous, because of blacklisting concerns. Maybe after you read this, you’ll understand why.

The dot com crash was not that, it was the H-1B crash. Today, I’m training people from overseas in basic computer science, while the corporate stooges in congress loudly debate affirmative action. I have a good job, but after being laid off twice to make room for H-1B Visa holders, my attitude has gone into a major shift. I do what I can to survive, but I’m no longer loyal. No more weekends. No more late nights. Make the right friendships, but the core loyalty is gone. The companies bought my representatives in congress, I’ll never trust them again. I’ll do my job, but my focus is my own business. Need I say more?

gosh, i love my work. everyone is so nice, the hours are great, and the coffee smells so good when i come into the office in the morning. this is a really a swell place. now, if they would only pay me. oh well, i guess (3) out of (4) ain’t bad

Jenna from Miami has a good question: How do you explain in an interview why you left an employer…

I usually say I was laid off due to cutbacks. If they ask why me, I say I think it was because of my higher pay rate.

(this has been true, but even if not, I think it’s a legal quagmire for the employer to badmouth you when someone calls to verify employment. Usually they can just verify your title there, and your dates of employment.)

Or you can say you took time off to go to school, raise children, or whatever.

Or you can say it turned out to not be a good fit (HR loves this term) because of the long commute, or some other non-blame reason.

Just try to never badmouth that company, as it makes YOU look bad.

My previous job started out well enough. As the months rolled by, my supervisors started acting strange.

I always got assignments that played to my weaknesses and my immediate supervisor kept all the good projects to herself. The main supervisor always tried to belittle me; asking me to fetch her something from the cafeteria, telling me I have no power, don’t act clueless, etc.

I must have been reprimanded for something every day. One day I was so annoyed that I decided to comfront the problem. I asked for a meeting between the three of us and asked them if I was doing a poor job and how could I improve it. Silence. They said I was doing a good job. But the abuse continued.

I was never included in any decisions, I had lunch by myself everyday, I had no friends, and I felt like I did nothing all day.

Finally, I decided to look for another job but by then I was already seeing a therapist because I didn’t want to believe I was being abused in the workplace.

I found a higher position within the organization, did part of the training and they decided not to hire me because I was so affected by my previous job. I was working and training at the same time and my employer made me take my vacation time to do the training.

Suprisingly, when I left-my supervisors were annoyed and angry that I would want to leave them.

A week before leaving, ironically, the director of the organization sent a mass email saying that he knew about the workplace abuses and hostile work environment complaints that went univestigated by Human Resources. And further they were setting up committees to solve the issues. Good grief!

My problem now is that I don’t dare use them as a reference. This is hard to do. So, I interned somewhere else in another field of interest to me and am now working freelance- just to get enough distance between jobs so I don’t have to use them. I feel like I’m getting back to my old self. It’s a shame though- it was my first job out of graduate school and I worked really hard at it.

So, if you are working someplace and you see it’s not going well— get out before you can’t use them for a reference anymore. Get out before you have to see a therapist. And get out before you are so discouraged that you can’t smile during your interviews while you discuss your previous job.

I’ve been on my job for almost 25 years. I have had 4 bosses including one that I hired onto my team. What I am seeing is that a lot of old timmers (50 and over) are being shoved out. They are being replaced by people who don’t have the experience and are trained by the people they are replacing. My new boss did some shady things to get the job, and now, I’m helping her because she isn’t really qualified for her new position. I have my resume out there now and I know that I’ve made the right decision. But one thing I did will crack you up, I DYED ALL MY GRAY HAIRS because there still is discrimination out there.

I am working in a office for last 3 years, as a manager. I hate my boss’s policy of changing his stands. there is no policy or procedures to follow. whatever the boss say is the policy, which results in great unequality. Last year when he told me that “whatever i say has to be done” that was the limit. I am a fighter so i survived so long. i am sure it would be hard for most people to work in such conditions.

Just a few more signs of disaster:
1.Your peers with no particular faults are “let go.”
It’s not just THEIR problem, it can be yours!
2.Your boss bad-mouths about his or her people behind their backs.
Yes, you are the target, too, of his dirty criticism when you are not around.

I am leaving my job of three years. I get along with pretty much everyone in the company but my boss, and my job is secure (he immediately hired my replacement), so this was a tough decision. Once I made my mind, though, I realize how badly stressed I have been and wonder how I could last this long. In fact, I find it extremely hard to complete the final two weeks because he has become increasingly hostile since I submitted my resignation.

Ultimately, job change is the result of inner growth. When you grow beyond the job’s capacity and your boss’ expectation, you just have to find new clothes that fits better.

I wrote a short article about “The Real Reason Your Employees Leave” at my site http://www.gratitude-magic.com. Please check it out.

Annie,

Darn! I wish that I had read this article a year or two ago.

After working 2 1/3 years for the same boss, I was let go for the simple reason that my boss’s style and mine were completely at opposite ends of the spectrum (he is anal; I’m quite easygoing). The part that killed me was that my efficacy was called into question even though my current performance AND near-term (next year or two) forecasts were way “up and to the right.” This guy’s last words to me were that I was perhaps too nice of a guy and that the business sector we worked in (electronics) sometimes called for someone who was a son of a bitch – and that wasn’t me.

Right on with your source’s observations!

I’ll be a devoted reader of your blog from now on.

Regards,

“I outta here” — Detroit, Michigan

WOW! Wish I would have read this article about 3wks ago. As of 2007, I just had started with what seem to be a career building job with a new and rising company. My first thought about leaving was in February, when my new boss set my goals for the year, retroactive in January; of course he set them higher than the sales that I brought in in January. We I questioned this, his comment was vebatum,”Well, do you think you could’ve done more?” I should’ve left them. Instead I lined their pockets; more or less his (only four employees) and set them up to cruise for 2008. Sales customers went from 100 to the 1500 that I contacted and sales, well I increased it some 250%. Previous year sales were $103K, I was fired in late September with sales of $255K!
Yes, you should look at warning signs and sadly, over your pride and willingness to try and make the good bad; should jump ship if the tide rises.

I don’t speak about it much, but I had a similar experience. I worked in a county office at the local courthouse for eight years. When my boss lost an election, the incoming office-holder asked me to stay on and work for her. The first two years under her were a good experience, providing expanding responsibilities and opportunities. That particular office operates under the supervision of a state agency. The field rep for that agency got along famously with everyone in the office. The head of that agency was advanced to another position, and our friendly field rep was chosen to replace him.

The replacement field rep came in with a chip on her shoulder from day one. She announced she didn’t like men and told us of past experiences with men in a decidedly unprofessional manner, and proclaimed herself a “trophy-wife”. She was inclined to dress like someone in a wildwest show, complete with fringed leather jackets, jeans tucked into knee high boots, and cowboy hats. She could also heal people by an aura emanating from her hands, and kept doing a Monk-like hand thing at peoples aching joints and aching heads.

She began spending more than normal time in our office changing operations into her vision of how the office should be run, even though we had been in compliance with guidelines every year. After a few months I noticed a change in how I was being treated. The boss started asking questions about how my job was done, then she began doing the most enjoyable aspects of my job herself, while the State rep stayed in the office doing the extensive paperwork my boss was required to submit to the state. Eventually, I was given the assignment of pulling over a hundred files to make changes needed because of a flood in the county. Each file required changes that took several hours of focused attention and record keeping updates; as well as reconciliation with file changes for surrounding properties.

I’ll never forget the date January 13th 1997. I arrived at work to find a cubicle wall erected in front of my desk to cut me off from contact with the other people in the office, and the remainder of the files re-filed in the cabinets so they would have to be pulled a second time. Handwriting seemed to be appearing on the wall next to me, so I went directly to the County Commission and handed them a note of resignation, effective immediately. I simply don’t believe in giving two weeks notice when employers fire people on the spot every day.

I didn’t have a job lined up, but my training allowed me to start working immediately as a consultant, and eventually as a State Certified Professional in my field, making a little over 3 times what I made at the courthouse.

A couple of months after my departure, someone at the office anonymously sent me copies of reports filed by the “trophy-wife” that showed to what extent she had backstabbed and sabotaged me. I shredded them.

But, Karma smiled for me. The state finally tired of the antics of their rep and fired her. The last time I saw her she was standing at the entrance to Wal-Mart in her now tattered fringy leather jacket handing out leaflets for some company. I just said hello and walked away.

My advice to the person mentioned in the article is to get away quickly.

I do not work in the business sector. I worked in education. I left my job after 18 years because the stress and my desire to meet the demands was at an all time low. I felt that remaining had requirements that I was no longer interested in meeting. I have been home for the past four months working on making a career upgrade and change. I feel better mentally and physically.

I started a job working for a small, family-owned company in late 2003. I took a job working in the warehouse, and knew right off that I wasn’t going to fit in. Everybody there seemed to have a bad attitude or a chip on their shoulder. I felt like if I were to look at them wrong I would have been beat down, but learned to hang with it nonetheless. They seemed to give me an espescially hard time whenever I made a mistake, but we’re all human, we all make mistakes so I kind of shrugged it off and I did try to do better but it seemed that nothing was working. After about a year, I made my way into a customer service position, hoping to improve my odds. They loved me at first, but eventually that would fade. Department management changed hands to one of the family members. She was known for being tough, but she was apparently liked well enough, so I stuck it out. after about 8 months or so, she called me into her office and told me that my performance was not up to par, and that she was going to deny me my raise. I knew then that my time was limited. My attitude started to decline over the next few months, and I found myself being very cynical and negative. I also took note of the politics there. I noticed that I had been overlooked for projects that would have been right up my alley. I hated my job and I knew that I sould have quit then, but I didn’t have enough savings to cover rent and bills, so I felt trapped. My job searches weren’t yielding positive results and I fell into a deeper depression. Eventually they had no choice but to let me go, and my boss was less than thrilled, but once she handed me my walking papers and my final paycheck, I felt a certain weight drop off of me. I cleared out my stuff, and I was gone!
The following months sucked with no income(especially it being the holidays and all), and my wife almost left me, but I decided to go back to school so as to increase my prospects for well-paying jobs, and I found a job in the meantime that will keep me afloat, and help me build my savings up. I never want to be in that position of feeling helpless again. I want to know that I have the ability to quit a job without worrying about my bills being paid. I enjoy the company that I am with now, and seem to be making a favorable impression on them as well. I hope to be able to stay on with them for as long as possible, but only time will tell.

Anyway, thanks for this article. I wish I had seen it back then. I may have reconsidered leaving sooner.

As I’m working through college, I try to find jobs that are accommodating to my school schedule. For three years I worked as a server at a popular restaurant.
I set up my schedule to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday and school Monday through Thursday. I was making really good money for a part time job but I was miserable. I couldn’t attend social events with friends, I didn’t have time for errands and I was going nuts.
Additionally, serving is a VERY stressful job and you need support from the people around you to keep you going. Most of my friends had left and I didn’t click with the other people. I would drive home from work crying at times. I was miserable just thinking about work. I wasn’t doing my best because I was so unhappy and I wasn’t getting put in the better stations, which made me more upset because I’m normally an over-achiever.
Finally I decided I was done. I found a paid internship doing something that I enjoy. I love my co-workers and I enjoy going into work. I do get paid about half what I was making at the restaurant but I think my sanity is worth much more!
I agree with Annie, if your unhappy, get out!

I was quite interested in the article regarding signs that it is time to leave your job. Recently I just quit a job that I have been at for over 9 years. I used to love my job and steadily moved up in the company over the years. My work was always praised and people seemed to like me. Everything changed when I came back from a 12 week maternity leave. On my first day back to work, I was told that a subordinate whom I trainned to be an assistant to my own assistant was now my supervisor. I felt completly demoralized, but I stuck with it because I needed a job and the pay was good. Also with a new baby and working full time, I did not have time to look for a new job. While working under this “newbie” he gave me work that any entry level person could do, and never included me in decision making. Over the year that I put up with him, he piled more and more responsibilities on me. He never gave me a thank you, or any other type of recognition for my work. I was also written up on a few occasions over petty matters. While talking to a colleage of mine, she confided with me that while I was out on maternity, he complained about the work that I did, and also my personal character. I then realized, that this was how he got my position. I then found out that he was bad mouthing me to others in the company. I felt that people who once respected me, no longer did. Because I needed a job, I stuck with it. The confidence I used to have, was shattered. I began to have trouble sleeping at night due to the stress at work. My mind was constantly racing at work and at home. It got so bad that I felt my heart racing. One day while at work, I felt that something was terribly wrong with me. I walked out of the office and set up an emergency appointment with my doctor for that afternoon. My blood pressure was skyrocted. Due to being concerned for my health, he recomended that I take a month off from work. I then gave my employer the excuse for time off, and tried to feel relieved. As I thought about it, I could never feel completely relieved until I knew that I was never going back to that job. Even though I did not have another job lined up, I wrote my resignation letter. After I sent that letter a wave of relief came over me. I now feel like a competant worthy person. No job, no matter what the pay should effect your health, or personal life. Right now I am staying at home with my child and loving every minute. My husband and I are living more frugally to make this happen. On the side, I am looking here and there for employment opportunities, but not stressing about it. Thank you Annie for posting that article about when it is time to leave a job. Now I know that I am not the only one who has been through this experience. Your article affirmed again with me that I made the right decision.

I JUST quit a job I was at for 2 years and the morals or lack thereof of the environment are what made me do it. My father always said, and I quote, “Don’t let no one hold you back.” My coworker would keep her mouth shut for fear of being fired but I knew it would hurt them more to fire me than it would to keep me. Some of the things they did to their employees made me question humanity. For example, they fired a lady who’d worked there 16 years saying she swore at a patient but get this, I sat right next to her and heard everything she ever said! And they questioned everyone in the office but me! She sued them and won! Then, there were 6 women fired IN A ROW and each one of them were black. Of an office staff of over 50, there are 3 people of color…and I was one of them. They fired my supervisor when she turned 65 and said she misappropriated money. She had been there for 8 years. I found out it was because she was now on Medicare and it cost the office too much. They hire their friends, their friends friends, and do not care if they have experience or not. Had I wanted to go BACK to highschool, I would have. To see grown adults mistreat people like this made me sick and I had to leave. I will NEVER put myself in a position where I am mistreated or am mistreating people like that even if it means losing my job. In the long run, it’s just not worth it.

I’ve been in the same job for almost 9 yrs now. It’s a very narrow feild and to change jobs I would need to relocate or find a new career that pays as well. Some of the better paying jobs are in the DC metro area. However, the cost of living there is too high even with the bump in pay. I don’t dread going to work, but I constantly feel like I could be let go in the near future and I’m stagnating. Plus, I haven’t been given a raise in several years now and my budget keeps getting tighter. I have 2 kids in school [15 and 11] and I don’t want to uproot them. I’m also not sure that what I do translates very well to other available local jobs. My situations not dire, but I’ve tried very hard to find something better for years now without luck.

I have had alot of jobs in my life and felt like a “job hopper” too, but then there was a point where I just couldn’t settle for less anymore. I worked at Round Table Pizza as an assistant manager for two years and I would warn my boss of how I dreaded coming to work and I felt more and more apart of the family. Low and behold, it was just my time to go. He didn’t like that, but my current job pays way better and it’s much more relaxing. Anyone feeling those signs, follow your gut!! Your health is way more important than money.

Those warning signs descripbe me a few weeks ago. I had been working an entry-level job straight out of college for close to a year, but I finally realized it was going absolutely nowhere. I was still doing the same mundane tasks that I had done when I first started, there was no sign of promotion or change in sight. Didn’t help that my hours were repeatedly getting cut, I could barely afford to pay my rent (I had to borrow a lot of money from my parents for about 4 months). I also felt really out of place; I was the youngest person at the company, and I always felt like “the little intern that could”. It wasn’t until I finally put in my two weeks notice that I had a real opportunity open up: a new postition at the company! I agree with the warning signs about leaving your job, but as I learned, sometimes you will be missed the minute you’re gone. I feel that if I hadn’t thrown down the gauntlet and told my boss I had to find something else, then I wouldn’t have found my new job, which I absolutely love!

If the person whose story was posted has had past success and has invested tme and effort in a company, I would at least let my feeling be known in a professional manner. There may be misunderstanding which clouds many of the issues. What do you have to lose? Approach your boss and be honest about your misgivings and the things which are bothering you. Ask him/her if you are about to be fired instead of sitting there worrying about it. You’d be surprised how honesty brings things to the surface. At least, you will know after this kind of conversation. If indeed the situation is wrong for you, quit wasting time and move on. Time, after all, is our most valuable resource.

From 1998 through June 2006, I worked in various compliance roles for a subprime mortgage lender after 20 years of zigzagging my way through the financial services sector in numerous operations jobs. By 2005 I held the “venerable” title of AVP, but I knew it was as far as I would go, and each of the 8 questions on this blog were screaming at me. So, in the fall of 2005 I made plans to give it 6 months, reallocate some assets and threw my hat in the ring as a free lance writer. Left in June of 2006, one year before the the subprime contagion (some dreaded new disease?), hit. It’s been slow going dollarwise, but slowly I am establishing professional writing credentials, and the mortgage biz has tanked. Many former colleagues got fired, and chances are good the same fate awaited me. Not sure what the future holds, and will need better income soon, but picking the right career, and the right life partner are two of the most important choices we make in life. In the end, listen to your gut, keep working hard, and hope that your choices are the right ones.

Stress is the nation’s #1 killer! Don’t do it to yourself. No job, no amount of money, nothing is worth ruining your health over. I have quit several jobs over the past 30 years due to company politics. I’ve been subject to working with someone who got her way because she was “intimate” with the boss! I do have longevity on two jobs but two others were only 3 or 5 years long. I am currently interviewing for a sales position and I have been completely honest about my work experience. My potential future employer is not a bit concerned. Most employers are intelligent people and they realize that workplace politics exist. You can’t escape it. We all need to find our niche and sometimes that isn’t easy. Don’t give up. Be honest/candid when you interview. Let your new employer know just how you feel about office politics. Don’t whine, complain, or be negative but let them know you are above the “he said/she said” high school mentality and that you expect to be recognized and rewarded for your efforts. Keep moving on until you find your niche. Don’t worry about your resume. You’d be better off job hopping and telling your next employer that you took some personal time off from work to help a family member in need. No job is worth killing yourself over. NO JOB!

I wish I would’ve read this article a year ago! I was absolutely miserable at my old job. Only I waited too long and ended up getting fired. My principles and theirs were very different. I became too vocal about my thoughts and the rest is history.

About three years ago I got a job with a major U.S. car manufacturer’s financial center. There were approximately 500 workers at the time, including 50 temps who worked only with the mail and titles. Every Christmas, the whole building, including the temps, would have a holiday party together. The company would also have various games and competitions to “boost morale”. That ended about over a year ago when major layoffs were announced. The layoffs were only applied to one department; where most of the temps were. The company decided to outsource their jobs to another company. Every week, it seemed, someone was being “let go”, even some of the best workers. Temps were no longer allowed to participate in any company activities and were made to work during their holiday party. With dwindling employee numbers, the work load was doubled for the remaining workers, as well as an increase in customer and employee dissatisfaction. Temps and employees were forced to take on new tasks with no training. People were shifted to new desks every month. Workers were being told the day of that it would be their last day; no benefits, no severance, nothing. The last of the temps were replaced by interns; college students available for summer internships who would be compensated by college credit, not money. Not once did I ever feel valued or appreciated as an employee, not too mention being the witness of sexist and prejudiced accounts. I was let go an hour before leaving my desk at the end of the day. No severance, nothing. I regret not quitting sooner; the warning signs were there. The only thing I don’t regret is vowing never to work in an office environment again.

03 October 2007 –Interesting after four years and too many volatile arguments with former colleagues here recently and on the cusp of a heart attack [i am in the 50 plus club], I walked for my health. While I can say I was extremely proficient to the point of uncovering others mistakes at times due to gender and age gap differences I was well socializing with colleagues. I mean what does a 50 something male have in common with a 40s something male and/or 20-30 something females in today’s office environment? Ask a 30 something about the composition of a mutual fund they have selected and invested in with a firm’s 401K and what the reported percentage gain means..really? They look at you and say well it was up X percent for the quarter that’s good right? Wrong. And here’s the problem, the US office job market is flooded with a lot of US college or high school graduates who do not possess critical thinking nor analytic skills. When presented with a problem that is non template fill-in they become stymied and attempt to hide the problem or past the buck. No good since such problems tend to acculumate by their very nature. Investing, if those 20-30s somethings cannot comprehend the basics, what happens markets wise when the boomers today and those of tomorrow commence the draw down of their market investments?

I suppose that mine was the most obvious example of the writing on the wall: I was asked by my boss (who, let it be noted, was born in one of the Soviet Union’s ex-republics and went through college on a CIA scholarship!) to write my own procedures manual–a step-by-step book telling somebody else how to do my job. Then she compiled a list of every minor infraction I’d committed in the past year and used it to leverage me into a 3-day suspension. I figured it was time…

Eight yrs ago was at a job, family owned small business. The people were wonderful, was highly respected. Was in the accounting dept, when I discovered their financial situation. After 2 yrs, when I left, I was having sever anxiety attacks, was really a basket case. Now have a wonderful job, again very respected. Sometimes we have to do the best for our health.

Hi Annie,

I agree with other posts, your signs are right on the spot! Good job. I wish I had the internet sooner when I was in corporate america. I knew by getting a new job and starting at an entry level position, that it would be tough to move up, but doable. I wanted to work for a company that rewarded hard work. I have had some of that. In the end, I realized that the sign to get out of a company was a sign to get a new career for me. I didn’t want to get out of bed and I couldn’t relate to most people in the accounting department where I was. My personality was changing. I was becomming more people oriented and most people that I encountered, where I used to live, didn’t seem outgoing or people oriented in the accounting departments. I didn’t mind the entry level work I expected it, but I never really felt appreciated. I was scared, but I thought it through and I had to change my career to suit my new personality. Everyone grows, and it’s not so bad. I don’t have a desk job at all now, and I love the spa world. I understand that work life can be hard from experience, and I like the career that I am so I can help others feel better.

I left a job in Hollywood many people would have thought was a dream opportunity, but after only three weeks of verbal abuse, I took off my headphones in the middle of a phone conversation with the man I was working with and said, “I’m done.” The other assistant, who cried almost daily from the mistreatment, jumped to continue with the call. While waiting for the company Controller to get back from lunch so I could formally quit and say goodbye, two employees said that if I knew the guy’s wife, I’d understand. They said his wife is abusive to him. My response? That wasn’t an excuse. He was nice to his business partners, friends, and other people in the office, therefore, he chose to mistreat us. He thought he could do so because we worked with (for) him and he ruled. Well, that’s probably why the Controller (and a client who joked on the phone, “What number are you?”) told me he had 20+ assistants in the two years prior to my being there. No one has a right to behave that way and no one ought to stick around for it. And, if he ever reads this (not likely), here’s a tip of my own: You catch more bees with honey. Great article and tips! Thanks Annie.

I worked as a cashier in a bagel shop where the owner’s daughter, as well as at least two other people, worked as cashiers. The owner had been telling me for weeks that everyday she counted the cash she found that the rigister was always short. All the cashiers had their own code to get into the cash register, and one day I arrived at work to find that my code was no longer valid. I finished the day and never went back there again, knowing that I would be the next one to be blamed for the stolen money.

Last year I got fired from a company which I had grown to hate. I fell into the trap of “If I quit I won’t have any income and therefore can’t pay my bills or rent.” I had been working there for 2 years and had busted my ass off for them but still felt like I was getting beat down and under-appreciated. I knew something was wrong a few months in, when I was working in the warehouse, they told me I was wasting time by going to the bathroom (Yes they actually said this!). After a year I was offered a position in Customer Service, and I took it hoping to improve my situation, but department management quickly changed hands and the new manager was tough, but she was still liked enough for people to keep kissing up to her. Eventually my processing speed fell behind and I got the sinking feeling that I wasn’t fitting in. I knew so many people around me that hed been given projects that I could have easily handled, and more to the point, would have enjoyed as it would have been a welcome distraction from my dull daily tasks. As 2006 dragged on, I got called in to my manager’s office only to be told that I wasn’t performing up to par, and they had noticed that I was unhappy. My raise was denied and I knew then that my time was limited. I knew that I needed to quit and look for another job, but I was too afraid of not having the income. My mood gradually declined over the next few months, and my boss even suggested that I quit. I felt trapped. Eventually they did let me go, and my boss used a few choice words in the process, but I felt free all of a sudden. So I took my final paycheck, my paperwork, and cleared out my desk and drove home as quickly as possible.
The next few months did indeed suck, (beign broke over the holidays is incredibly depressing) but it motivated me to go back to school. It also motivated me to start saving money, because I never want to be in a position of feeling trapped at a job again, and I want to get into a field that caters to my strengths. I have since found a company that I enjoy working for, and as soon as I graduate I hope to be able to move into another position within that company.

Last October I was very frustrated with my boss. The company was growing very rapidly and we were starting to lose some of the customer service we were becoming noted for. A front house full time manager was needed to help facilitate the growth. I was not interested in full time employment and had requesting he hire someone to do the job. For over six months no intiative was taken. I finally turned in my notice to quit. Two weeks after my last day he wanted to meet with me. After three weeks I agreed to meet and discuss the situation. After a two hour meeting, he agreed to find someone for full time management and also agreed to the condition I would only work 20 hours a week. After I returned to work I lasted seven months and then turned in my notice for good. I really believed things would change but found out that was not the case. I learned it is difficult for people to change. Even though I really liked what I did I realized management would not change.

I am a Registered Professional Nurse.I was working at a smaller community hospital the pay was great. I chose to return to the big city hopsital. My reasons were for the professionalism and caring for all patients–not dependent on thier socioeconomic background. My experiences were similar to all of these. I have alot of experience and was always given the grunt work, knowledge wasted is a sin. Thanks for the sound off!!

I had a very similar situation with my last boss…he was literally allowed to sleep on the job. Nobody knew for sure if it was an actual disability or not, management wouldn’t ever comment on it. This guy would fall asleep during quarterly meetings (who wouldn’t), trainings, meetings with constituents, one on one evaluations, you name it! The funny thing is he would try and play it off as if you didn’t notice. I soon lost complete respect for not only the boss but the management that supported it and continually allowed it to occur. I ended up quitting the job and I’m still fighting unemployment for benefits as I feel I had a very good reason to leave and find something else. I’m really thinking of releasing my story to the media as well to let others know how this can get really uncomfortable for all those actually working and covering for the boss.

Run and do not walk to the nearest exit. I worked for an organization that was so unfair in their dealings with employees. There were three people that got all the perks and the best salaries. I was offered a promotion with a large salary increase; shortly thereafter I was told by one of the lower level managers that I would not be promoted because there was no money in the budget. However, I would be required to do the same work that the new position required at my same pay. There was no budget shortage; it was a lie to keep me in the same position, with the same salary, with more responsibilities. It was the most dishonest, deceitful, and unethical people I ever worked for. I left after one year and I don’t regret it.

I started my engineering career at a major aerospace company, and I enjoyed working there very much. After 8 years I left that company to return to my hometown where I worked for two different electronics corporations, both of which were professional and reasonable work environments.

I then came across an opportunity at a small avionics company in town that showed interest in my experience. I took a job there since the work was exciting and interesting to me. Things started out fine. I did have some odd experiences dealing with one of the partners of the company, but my boss, another partner, was a good guy to work for, so I didn’t think much of it at the time.

About 8 months into the job, my boss and two of my co-workers were involved in a small airplane accident. My boss survived with serious injuries and the two co-workers were killed. One of the co-workers was the pilot flying the plane.

Just two weeks later, my boss was called in to the office from his home where he had been recovering from his injuries and pushed out of the company. At the time, the official explanation was that he has simply resigned, but I found out otherwise later.

The partner that took over as my boss was the one I had received some odd, negative emails from previously. He promptly began to make my life hell, and belittled me at every turn. I later found out that one of the guys working for him had been back-stabbing me by talking trash about me.

I had been working very hard, producing a brand new product with no help from anyone else in the company. The way that I was being treated was demoralizing, and shocking considering that I had never experience such unprofessional behavior from a manager before.

I called my former boss and had lunch with him to seek his advice. He told me what had really happened with regard to his dismissal, and counseled me to leave the company as soon as I could. I had already reached this conclusion, but his advice solidified my resolve.

It took another 8 months of misery, but I finally landed a position back at my former employer. I never felt so much pleasure leaving a job or giving notice as I did when I left that place.

My former boss filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the company, and I testified in court on his behalf. After a two week trial, he was awarded a sizable settlement by the jury.

It still amazes me that there are people that would run a company in such a shameless fashion, or treat their partners and employees so callously. Unfortunately, I see from the other posts that this happens far too often…

Five months ago I joined a nonprofit organization. The job was advertised at a high salary and it was a management position so I was very excited when I was called in for an interview. However, I was eventually offered a different position at a much lower salary (the old bait and switch routine). I accepted the job because I believed in the goals of the organization. The first few months were great and then things started to go down hill fast. It turns out that this organization had absolutly no money and when I submited a budget for my program it was totally ignored. Then the designer became impossible to work with because every time I asked him to design something for my program it would take several months for the designer to do the work when it should only take a few days (he claimed he had too much work on his plate already). Another designer could not be hired because of the old stand-by “budget constraints.” Then I was asked to use my car to travel all over the city and use up hundreds of dollars in gas. I had to literally beg to get it reimbursed. I was also expected to work many weekends and evenings with no extra pay. The last straw came when they changed bosses on me. I went from a patient, friendly boss who understood my program and gave excellent advice to a person (originally hired on the same day as myself and only a couple years older) who told me my program was “unimportant” and “not a priority.” Shortly after he was promoted, he came to me and told me, due to budget constraints, I could work on my program only one day a week and the rest of the time I would be his administrative assistant. He was an emotionally abusive person who loved to tell you what you had done wrong but never what you had done right. Then I was told my “attitude had changed” as if that was some surprise. Needless to say, I had to walk a way from the job. I will never work for a nonprofit again.

Annie, this article is great! Three years ago, the company that I worked for 11 years had several rounds of layoffs due to company downsizing. Each time, the moral around the company was horrible. Imagine a company of over 300+ depressed people. After the first round of layoff, I knew it was coming – I felt and saw majority of the signs that you mentioned in your article. However, I started to prepare myself to begin my own company. Finally, it hit my department of 5 people (I was the only one let go). Then the request for a “private” meeting came from management and I was laid-off (fired) because “my position has been eliminated”. Thankfully, the company had an awesome severance package… perfect for the launch of my new business! I was finally “freed” from the company (I couldn’t stop smiling!).

Now, I use my management and creative skills gaining and maintaining new accounts, working directly with customers and running the company the way I see fit. A little more work, but the peace of mind is fantastic.

Sometimes, its good to stay at a job when you know there is a benefit in the end, but be sure you have your backup plan set and ready to roll.

I had a great job with an international company. I was hired in as a very low-level IT staffer, but with some hard work, training the company paid for, and a supportive boss, I excelled. Two years into the the job, my boss left for a bigger opportunity within the company to another city. A new boss was hired and it was trouble from day 1. He was arrogant, loud, and loved the sound of his own voice. He brought no value to the organization and needed constant ego validation. His idea of having a meeting was to call it at 5pm, close the doors, chain smoke, and refer constantly to his “glory days” as either “almost an olympic athlete” or the survivor of dangerous adventures and surgeries. He would often stop an important business discussion mid-stream to how all in attendance his scars from various accidents and surgeries. The day he started talking about his hemeroid surgery I didn’t think I could take it!!! This is not a joke, he really did these things.

My biggest problem with him was homophobia. He knew I was gay and treated me cordially to my face, but often shot me down in meetings where I didn’t attend. Also, he was hiring people with far less responsibility or technical capability for more $$ than I was making.

I’ve learned over the years to keep an open mind when things we perceive as bad happen. I prefer the philosophy that we choose our responses to things and that if we decide they happen to help us move forward, then indeed they will.

So, I called a recruiter, had a job interview a few days later, and a job offer the day after that, at 10K more than I was making at the old place. 10k was a lot of money to me back then. If my boss had not been a self-centered blow hard, I would have probably stayed at my old job. My new job was exciting and with it I moved to California, had a wonderful 15 year adventure in Silicon Valley, made lots of money, and grew to become a pretty darn good manager myself. One that values the talents of all his folks and remembers that my first responsibility is to the humanity of the people I work with. I guess you could say I owe a lot to that blow-hard. I got a new life and a new career out of it because I chose to take it as a sign to leave and I believe in myself enough to know that I can make anything work, if its something I’m interested in and I work with good people.

These 8 signs are very true. I have spent more than 20 years in professional Human Resources positions, and left many of them because of negative actions or non-verbal posturing made by my employers. From being in a position where you are required to make ethical business decisions (that are not supported by the company) to being in a position for which you are overqualified can definitely affect your overall health and well-being. Since there are no “permanent” positions anymore, anywhere, loyalty does not count for much, either from the company to you or vice versa. There are so many people who have been laid-off over the years by companies, and some laid off several times. Make “balanced lifestyle” the driver of your quest for a postition (one with lower-stress and general overall satisfaction) rather than competing with others to see who can make more money. And, if you think you can’t identify the “writing on the wall”, look a little harder at the day-to-day situations you encounter/observe in the workplace to determine if they match your values, or if something else is amiss.

I worked as a registered nurse at a job that made me miserable. I loved the work, but the administration was completely driven by negativity and punitive policy decisions.

In Spring 2002 I saw an ad for a nursing recruitment open house at a hospital in another city. It fell on on a day I was scheduled to work. It is the ONLY time I have EVER lied about being sick. I called in sick on a Thursday and went to the open house. Had appointments for interviews the following Monday, a job offer on Tuesday and I submitted my resignation Friday.

I do not do change well and I was terrified. It was a completely different style of nursing. I was going from a small town nursing home to a large city hospital doing acute care. But I just knew that I couldn’t stay where I was. It has turned out to be the best decision I ever made. My work is valued, people say thank you, overtime is appreciated but not punished for refusal to work it and the pay is quite a bit better.

I have never looked back, except to say “Yippee!!!” I actually felt like I got let out of jail. To those in similar situations (whatever the line of work) I would say, “Push yourself to do more and learn more. You can only move forward.” Everyday when I go to work I say a quiet thank you for the job I now have.

When the only thing scarier than changing is the thought of not changing, it is TIME TO CHANGE.

I totally agree with the 8 signs,. This is my currently situtation. The job is fine. My boss is insecure and my co workers are afraid to approach me since I stood my ground on how they will treat me as an employee.I don’t fit in. I am use to the corparate environment. It is definitly time to go. The job is minimal and I get bored easily.

Most people have had atleast one job which made them miserable and have stayed alot longer then they should have. Never the less it is foolish to quit a job if you don’t have one lined up.
If you quit a job, you forfeit the severance package the company offered & if finances become dire because you have yet to find a job, you can’t file for unemployment.
You may have savings, but I can tell you from experience you can easy burn through your savings much quicker then you would have estimated.
So even if the present employment is horrid, unless you have another job or another source of income don’t quit even if termination is a small stain on your resume, it is not as bad as being without a job because you left on your own terms, prematurely.

I had several of these warning signs, but I hung on. It had a happy ended, because they let me go — but I got a sweet severance package that allowed me to not work for several years. Plus unemployment too. If I had quit, I’d have had to go to another job right away. Its not always best to quit when you see these warning signs!

I have had 2 very bad experiences. The first experience I had was after changing from my first job after college. I had a boss who could not stand. She sneered at me whenever I said good morning to her. Whever I showed up in her office even is it was to take a completed assignement she would yell ” I dont have the time now” as soon as she saw my face through the door. The last stroke that broke the camels back was when files that I was assigned to started to dissappear misteriously and she blamed me for incompetence and deleting the files. I couldnt sleep, eat or talk. Soo horrific. Now when I look back I think I should have left sooner. Staying beyond the 3 wks was the biggest mistake I have ever done. It wasnt worth the pain. With the second experience my only regret was that I shouldnt have left my comfortable job to get to one that did not fully utilize my qualifications. Working under an unqualified boss can be a nightmare, now I know that its not alwasy about the money.

It was a sudden jolt as I woke up and jumped out of bed like the house was on fire. I was already in the shower before I realized that it was Sunday and I wasn’t actually late for work. The sense of relief that washed over me was my final red flag. I had been unhappy even after my promotion (maybe moreso because of it). Next day I told my boss that I was dreading every day coming in and I was leaving to pursue other interests. The weight that lifted off me made up for the uncertainty of where my next job would actually come from. I took a 6 month sabbatical and worked a mindless mall job for some play money (along with some contract employment from home). It was a great period of self-discovery and freedom and it wouldn’t have been possible if my awful job hadn’t been so unbearable.

I had a job where the requirements changed after I was hired. It did not best utilize my experience. They also had me working on scanners which I was not trained on.

The Supervisor was not true management material.

So I called after a week and said I would not be back.

I know I should have waited at least a couple of weeks , but best sometimes to cut your losses and run

I recently left a job for another and this action has breathed new life into a career that I was seriously thinking about changing. Of the ‘8 Signs’, I could pick out at least 5 that applied to the situation I faced at my old job. In my first three months of employment, I misinterpreted my Manager’s instructions and communicated plans for new procedures that he had intended to do himself. Although I was praised by others for how well I constructed a message that needed to be heard, I felt like I never recovered from that misstep, and my relationship with my Manager suffered. In fact, more than two years, a voluntary demotion, and one panic attack after this incident, the exact day I received the offer call from my new employer, I was called into a meeting with my Manager and our H.R. representative to be given a “verbal warning” that I wasn’t meeting the performance criteria to their satisfaction. Corrective Action? I was devastated. I know I made the right decision to finally leave the company, but I had a challenge turning the bitter feelings and resentment I had carried around into an open-minded realization that it just wasn’t a good fit for me regardless of how skilled I was or how successful I had been at other jobs in the past. Fortunately, after months upon months of mutual avoidance with my Manager, I was able to express these thoughts to him, apologize for the despondence I finally recognized in my attitude and (sincerely) thank him for the opportunity he gave me to grow. I am incredibly grateful that I paid attention to the signs I saw and took positive action. I couldn’t be happier about my new job—and my old one.

I knew it was time to leave when my boss told me in my reveiw that I “hadn’t drank the kool-aid yet”.

I wish I read your artical sooner, thanks to work I was on prozac and ulcer meds. I’ve worked at Level 3 Communications for 10 yrs (3 of which I had cancer and still worked), Mary joined out group about 8 mos ago and didn’t like me from the start. She ran to my manager with all kinds of lies and he believed her. Never talked to me about it at all and had me written up by HR. When I wrote a rebuttal HR told me that it would do no good and would not investigate anything I said. I even had proof, witnesses, email, to prove my case. A Sr.Mang stepped in and told HR that it wasn’t me and he would give me a different job, problem was I wasn’t removed from the area Mary was at. I was talking on a private phone call conversation were a friend was telling me the different types of harassments, when I got off Mary made a comment. I then made out a report/complaint but was told by HR that because it didn’t pretain to my age, sex, or color they would do nothing. Mary went to HR complaining again and I was terminated for saying the word harassement and has nothing to do with my work (reviews have always been at 120%). That’s what HR told me and that’s whats on my unemployment. I was not alloud to go back to my desk to pack up my belongings. HR picked and choose what they would give/mail to me. I still have not received the rest of my books, coffee pot, and other belongins. Because we are an “At Will” state HR told me there is nothing I can do. Do you have any suggestions? A letter to the owners or VPs letting them know what happen,Civil Suite, anything? Don’t want my job back now but I want them to know that this is so wrong and I just didn’t quit.

My sympathy to Outcast. Based on experience, I suggest the following:
1). Continue to perform to your peak, as best you can. Make your best effort to be professional. Avoid appearing the underdog.
2). Make a work diary each day of what you did and what transpired. Print supporting emails, etc. By systematic. This is your case log or evidence in the event you need it for Workers Comp., EEOC, or an attorney.
3). Job search, network, and formulate a game plan for what is next. Keep your wits about you and avoid the I am a victim mentality.
4). Do not expect this manager to improve his/her behavior. There is a proclivity to get worse. This simply helps you build evidence. It’s actually empowering.
5). Make sure that you professionally request participation in the meetings you are being excluded from. Gently remind your manager that your peers are participating. Can he/she explain why you are not invited. Also, if excluded, ask if you can meet with your manager to get the details or outcomes of the session.
6). If you should engage HR, make sure that you do not engage them halfway (forget open doors, etc.). File a grievance, which formalizes the issue and forces the manager into a more structured and visible HR process.
7). Make sure that you get exercise, socialize (positively, not negatively), and get counseling through employee benefit programs. It helps to be able to logically talk through approaches.
8). If you are proactive in looking for another job or your next opportunity, you may be able to turn in your resignation with a smile and give a professional exit interview systematically detailing the unethical actions of your manager. You can end the exit interview by saying how much you loved the company and your job, and consider it unfortunate that this manager does not reflect the standards and professionalism of the company.
Cheers and Keep a Smile on your Face!

I thought my problems were bad. I walked off the job because I got a new boss and they took all my responsiblities away. It wasn’t because I was doing them bad – they wanted me to “fit” in a role. So, that was bad enough, but my boss was the worse! She never spoke to me. She would tell coworkers when she was upset with me, but never sat me down and told me. She pitted employees against each other by telling them different things, she constantly talked about confidential matters up and down the hall and everyone knew everyone’s business (and when and why certain people were going to be fired). No one trusted her and everyone feared her. You never knew if she was being sincere or if she’d turn on you. She had her “favorites” in the company and gave only them significant raises all the time. She didn’t even own the company!

I was in a similar situation as the lady that asked the question. My problem was that there was a person in my team who was threatened by me because I came from a large corporation. He was also very liked and popular within the office. He damaged my reputation by saying I was not competent enough just because I expressed concerns that he was not giving the training I deserved and was spending all the time training for his new position. Long and short of it was that he damaged my character so much that I became an outcast within the team and within the whole office. I could sense my team lead did not like me but had no choice but to play fair. Instead of quitting I thought to myself, I did not come here to win a popularity contest as I have a mortgage, tuition and other personal items in my life to take care of…I’ll be damned if I let someone that is threatened by me run me off my job. So, I stayed and I bore the humiliation of being an outcast. I did not even bother to try to get anyone to like me. If anyone was friendly to me I was friendly right back. It was as bad as when we have meetings no one will sit next to me. But, all that just encouraged me to do a good job….I let the quality of my work be my leverage.
It took a while, but with time, the news spread around the office that I was a smart hardworking employee as my work spoke for me. My confidence went through the roof. Three of my peers that hated me the most within the group quit one after the other as they started to feel foolish for damaging my character. Gosh! the victory felt so good but it took a lot of patience.

Back in 2001 I was hired as a Customer Service Rep for Cingular Wireless to work in their call center in my town. At first I enjoyed coming into work and was very excited about the day ahead. Then as time went on, the higher-ups made it less and less enjoyable to come into work because of all of the things that the reps had to do. During my last year there (2004) I was constatntly being vcalled into the office of the area manager and told that I was doing things and breaking company policy that I knew was not true. One time I was sent home because the area manager thought that my clothes were too tight and that I was sent home to change them. I was overweight at the time and felt that I was being singled out. I called the union on this and they said that they would look into this. The AM was reprimanded on this and that made him mad. He then went on vacation. i took a call from a customer and she wanted to speak to the call center manager. I told her that I would do everything in my power to help her. No she wanted to speak to a manager. She was not happy with the service. I told her that a manager was not available at the time. She wanted the number of the call center manager. I spoke with one of the block managers and she said that if the lady wanted to cancel her service that we would do that. Now, I put all of this in the notes on the computer. I told the lady that we could cancel her service and that the contract fees could be waived. She said ok but that she still wanted the number to the call center manager. I gave the number to the area manager and that was that. He came back from vacation and called me into his office and screamed at me and i just let him have it! I told him that I was tired of him harrassing me for things that I did not do and that the union would hear of this! I alked back to my desk and continued my work. I came into to work the next day and was told that I was fired. I called the union on this and they said that what he did was illegal and that they would sue for wrongful termination. They sued for $25,000 and that I was to have my job back. I got the money and my job back but quit a year later because I used some of the money to go to college to study medical billing. I now work in a Doctor’s office and I am very happy there.

I obtained an Exucutive Assistant job downtown DC. During the interview and before I was hired, I was told that I would get a business cellphone, dental and health insurance, a company building pass, and paid travel expenses that would be activated the first day of work. It had taken over two weeks to get what was offerred to me. Some after a month. I was told by the Vice President of the company for whom I worked directly under, that I would be her right hand woman. However, she avoided me and didn’t communicate much with me. I knew very little of her work schedule.I was given responsibilities that weren’t challenging at all. Mostly personal responsibilities. In addition, I was assigned to create interoffice memos that required signatures that meant nothing because the employees didn’t follow the memos as required. Instead of the Vice President working with me, she worked against me as did she with her other employees. Employees weren’t getting paid on time and the corporate office was very unprofessional, values and morals were compromised by the leaders of the company. That’s when I knew that I couldn’t respect the leaders of the compnay and furthermore the company. I walked off the job. I was going to put in a two weeks notice, but I probably would have suffered for the last two weeks or someone would’ve continued to talk me into staying. My heart and mind wouldn’t allow me to stay. I had enough. There were days that I hated being in my office. I stayed for 2 months, but knew after 2 weeks that I made a mistake. Too much information given during the initial interview was fabricated. The atmosphere was full of hate. No one liked to work as a team as if it was a requirement. There was too much back stabbing. I felt like I was in the worst circumstance and that I had to get out. I couldn’t allow my name on a business card to be handed out as an Executive Assistant for that company. My suggestion to you, GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN KEEP YOUR SANITY. I thought that I would lose mine.

I am right there. I have been stuck in the job for several reasons but, long story short: From day 1, I felt like the outcast at this company. It has gotten to the point that on the rare occasion I am asked to go along (when giving a gift is involved) I find some reason not to be with these people. I am not used to my potential and I am getting brain rot at 45. I have taken up many personal hobbies but coming to work for that dreaded 8 hours is a killer. This is the first company I where I have experienced these traits. I felt for so long that maybe it was me. Bottom line, things here have changed for even the worst and this is no longer a doable thing. I don’t fit here any more. I am looking for another job as I sit here today.

I too like many others and yourself took the position of a lifetime. I got along great with my boss, but my co-workers were just unbearable. It seemed that everyone was there for themselves and teamwork was not heard of. If it had been, it wasn’t the type of team work that I was raised to know. I had 1 friend at work and she is still there counting the days till she can quit. I could not do that. I was getting sick over going to work and crying everynight. I did a wonderful job, so my position wasn’t threatened, however my (female) co-workers made my life unbearable. I began to isolate myself b/c I was more concerned with what my resume said.
I woke up one day and snapped. I quit on the spot. It was the best decision I had made since moving to NYC. I quickly found another job, as I am sure you will to. Be positive because you create your own destiny and the quality of life you live is more important than the value of a dollar. In hindesight it was the best move ever, and you may find after you leave that your firm has a reputation for large turnovers within their company. In the words of Morrie Schwarz: Talk about it, Accept it, Keep an open heart, Stay alert to what interest you, Be compasionate and lastly BE KIND TO YOURSELF. You can do this!!!

Your advice is absolutely correct. Three years ago, after 17 years at a high-paying professional job, I sought other employment because of ethical conflicts with the new company owners. I had stuck it out with the new owners for over five years, but I had reached a point where my health was being severely affected. Changing jobs in my economically depressed area took courage, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

About 2 years ago I left a company that I had been with for nearly 10 years to take a job with a firm that I thought had a great deal of promise and a position that I believed would be a better use of my skills. Although I did not regret leaving the previous company I made a seriously wrong choice for the new job! I was taking the position over from the department manager and could do nothing right for her. She demeaned me at every opportunity in front of clients and coworkers, had me on 24-7 call and nit-picked at every project I worked on. I lasted 6 months! At that point I wasn’t concerned with appearing like a job-hopper – I had to get out. When the question was raised in an interview regarding my short tenure at the job I explained that the position was not as it had been advertised and tried to take the high road. I’ve never been so glad to leave a job in my life!

I work “only” as a nanny…but I have similar experience. Always on time, working long hours, parents almost ALWAYS late from their job – never paid for extra hours(!). TO take a day off (going to the doctor) I have to tell them long time ahead so they could LET me go… THe worst part is I love their kid like my own and they even don’t care. I quit today. I gave them 1 month to find a new nanny and only thing the mother had to say was” It’s really disapointing…” and she walked away not even giving me a chance to explain WHY I quit. I becam so tired here. ANyway – time to start new beginning, no more nanny job for me ( I love kids!) but dealing with the parents who don’t care about their own kids in 10% like I do care it’s just to frustrating. WHen I started going to college in wekeends they were only making funny (in not funny way!) comments about that. They even don’t know that I have master degree in my own country (I’m not american), becouse they probably would not hire me at the beginng. That’s all. I wish them good luck.

I agree with the person that said that all of those things can happen to a person in the work place and you won’t be fired. There is also an exception to some of those signs. I am the only female in an all male office. Most everyone works an irregular work week. Office meetings are not scheduled well in advance and attendance is not required if you are on your day off. The other issue is that as a married female, I do not feel comfortable socializing with my male co-workers after work. Some of us have families over here (overseas as contractors). Many of us do not have our families in country with us. I am hoping that my one year assignment will only be for one year and not too much longer. In the workplace, I have to deal with sexist comments and attitudes and honestly believe that I cannot receive a fair performance appraisal from my supervisor and team lead based on their comments regarding women in the workplace (they belong at home, etc). I do not drink or participate in the downtown party atmosphere by personal choice but, the key is I have never been asked. At the office picnics, they expect me to bring a dish, but the sport of choice is football – these are grown men with the average age of 40 – these guys need to grow up and act like adults instead of wannabe teenagers. I don’t know what to do with the work situation. The thing is that I do enjoy my job. It is because of losing my former job as a result of military service that I applied for a job at this company. I have enjoyed working for the company at other locations but this place takes the cake in the level of harrassment, exclusivity and nepotism that is tolerated by those who work here. I have almost lost faith in the company and am looking forward to leaving this location.

I was working at National City Bank for two years and quit without having a backup job. It was THAT bad.

My title was Administrative Asst. III. Actual job- copy girl and caterer. I got food for anywhere from four people to ninety(90)!!!

I had a boss that made rude comments like ” you go to the bathroom at least 4 times a day and that can’t be considered productive” or I stapled something wrong and was told that the “normal” person wouldn’t have done it.

Most of the people that I worked with cried at least once a week. So it wasn’t just “all in my head”.

It was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. It only took me 1 1/5 years and 50lbs, ulcer and darn near a nervous breakdown to walk away. I’m still fat, but at least I’m sane and fat!

Thank you for your article. About a year ago I left a job that I once loved at a company where I was building a career. A new manager came on board and everything changed. She micro-managed me, called me out at staff meetings causing a divide between me and my peers. Things got very uncomfortable. I began having problems with my shoulder (stress) and began physical therapy. Finally one day I couldn’t take it any longer and left. At first I was angry for being pushed out, then I wondered if I should have toughed it out: I hate being a quitter. But I never would have won. A year has passed and leaving still haunts me. Thanks for reassuring me that I made the right decision.

I quit my job after 4 years even though I enjoyed my job as an assistant housing manager. The thing that made me miserable was my boss. I did everything beyond my job description because she was never around. Basically, I did her managerial duties while she worked in a different department in the company. It never bothered me until later she lashed at me one day.

She planned an “annual review” out of the blue. She accused me of having an affair with a tenant. She also mentioned that a review was going to be done monthly. I went home thinking all the work I did in the last 4 years was nothing to her. It was clear to me that she would do nothing to get me out. The next day I turned in my resignation and never regretted it.

I am now a stay home Mom and it feels good not having to worry about some stupid review at work. My kids are more important to me than a boss who does not care for me at all.

Signs to look for… I have worked under several of these types in financial services.

I can tell you this from 15 years of experience, during your interview find out about the manager/boss’ personal situation, married, kids, divorced, older and single, etc…

If the person is divorced, single and older there may be a very good reason they need more employees. Red Flag alert. Unhappy people outside of work make for miserable bosses. The ex is gone (for good reason) and they need somebody else to work out their problems on. I don’t recommend it. All the bosses who were the best had great family life outside of work. Find those people… ask around where your friends work. Avoid the miserable type A divorced personality at all costs.

I expereinced many of the signs that Annie wrote about–dreading coming to work, really disliking my boss, etc.– and finally had the guts to quit. It’s been three months without work, and though I sometimes wonder if I was an idiot to walk out like that, I think of how unhappy I was. It wasn’t worth it. No job is ever worth making you a miserable person.

I have a question that this article hadn’t answer. I was hired as a Production Assistant for a tv production company. After a couple of months went by and a producer was fired. I sort of took over his project and see to it that it was finished on time. The show is a 13 part national series. Five months passed and all of the shows were delivered on time, but I was still production assistant and still being paid as one. I was never gotten a promotion nor raise. All I gotten was a “Thank You” only. I was expecting at least a title change to “Editor,” if not a pay raise, but that never happened. I felt as if I wasn’t wanted and that I was only needed. Am I wrong to feel this way or is it a sign that I am not wanted? Am I asking for too much?

After working for this newspaper as their marketing director for a year and a half, we got a new publisher. I also got 3 new bosses who never hired me in the first place.
They took away my marketing job and said I had to take the fundraising postion or I had to leave the company. Needless to say I have no fundraising experience and no training. Plus, they gave me another job on top of it, customer service. There was a meeting so that “They” could tell me what I was supposed to do. A month and 1/2 later I was ambushed and they wanted to know if I had done any of the duties I was supposed to do, and because I failed to do one Ad..I was given a verbal warning and was told “They can’t validate why I’m Here”
I fear quitting because I’m not a quitter…I’m looking for a new JOB, but I havn’t found one yet…should I just leave??? I need some advice if there is any to be had

I did stay too long and it bit me in the butt. I really enjoy the legal field but working for this guy, it didn’t matter what you knew because that made the associates feel threatened so playing stupid or doing “favors” for the boss meant job security. I was in early and stayed late and did my work, unlike the gossip monger who told the co-workers that I was sleeping with the boss and told my boss that clients were threatening to quit because I was leaking information about the firm. Within my first month, I dreaded going to work because I knew there was a two-faced backstabber but I didn’t know who and by the time I found out, it was too late (it turned out to be a jealous co-worker and the dim-witted associate) so I was fired so there was no more headaches. The damage was done and my reputation was trashed.

I was out of the job market for 7 years; I’ve been working at Mcdonald’s 14 months: I’ve been promoted but I’m still treated as crew& have no authority. My question: I want to leave, but the jobs are scarce in this college camus town.

OMG!!! … I can’t believe there are others like me that actually felt so bad at work!!! I really thought I was alone … at least that’s what my “friends” made feel. I quit too late and never said a word to my evil bosses … for that I regreat! but still I’m better now and I won’t let that happen to me again. NEVER!!!

I wish I had access to this information a few years back. I work in event production, in which you are hired to help put together shows on an event by event basis. Almost a year out of college, I started working for an event production company and was very welcomed when I first arrived. I was given some very important tasks not normally given to a person right out of school. And I did almost everything the company had a need for. Some time down the road, I began to take jobs at much larger companies. Only one or so a year, but I felt like I was doing my small company proud by being the one guy that was learning and working with the larger names. I was naive, and it seemed only to build resentment. I was easily the most experienced person on staff, yet I was still given very weak assignments. And it would continue like this for a year. I was shocked and horrified when several people began pointing me to blogs were co-workers were writing nasty things about me. I got out, but only after a year of abuse. The online stuff didn’t end until long after. I built this small company up from one show a year to 12. And this year they were only producing 3. Next year, I believe they will be down to one again.

I started my own production company. I’m much happier now.

Great article. Been there; done that. Quite a few times.

Unfortunately for me half my problem is I have social anxiety disorder and don’t have the greatest personality. But at the min wage jobs I have had, I’ve been there.

During and after Highschool, about 4yrs..I worked my butt off nights at a small resteraunt. I was always happy to come in and cover for someone else and always did extra, little things that nobody else did to keep busy. I didn’t get treated right because I wasn’t *bubbly* enough with the customers although I was polite and had my regulars. Although I banked $15 (good for how slow it was) in tips every night, I never got raises every few months like other people did, didn’t get paid extra for working the night shift like most jobs and slowly my hours were cut down because the bubbly girl didn’t like working with me and they kept me for the nights nobody else could work like weekends. I went from 35′ish hours to 10-15 a week. Although half the reason was because they were realizing they weren’t making much at night. So eventually they worked it where I would get “more hours” but would be left by myself doing all the crappy jobs like washing floors and cleaning nasty things. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if it wasn’t obviously done to belittle me even more. I didn’t mind because I liked working alone and being busy but I ended up quitting during an argument about something months later. They never had the guts to fire me because they never had a real reason to and plus they felt “bad” for me because someone close to me had died.

Job#2 was just drama, drama and drama. I didn’t fit in with the popular women who would rather flirt with the men next door than work. They were all 3-10 years older than me. Someone was stealing or screwing up on the registers (apparently me) and the manager told them not to let me count my own drawer..which of course means someone could’ve stolen money and blamed it on me.

I got fired on my day off. Basically someone changed the schedule after the day’s shift before and didn’t call to tell me. When they called the next day to ask if I was coming in, I was 3hrs away in the next state. Witch who didn’t like me knew this because she overheard a conversation while I was on my break. Boss that didn’t know me because she was never there, calls me the next day to fire me instantly. The fact that I never even requested a day off from this place and was always on time meant nothing to them. It was a setup.

I worked at a Company that had a great reputation, great sales and was well-known in the industry..Unfortunately, it was run by a complete jerk. Much of my job, after being hiredto revamp and extend the product line, became simply cleaning up the mistakes and mis-management of my superior, many of whom were making dangerously stupid mistakes that showed that they’d never been trained properly in the first place and that the only explanation for these mistakes not being corrected was that the Bosses either didn’t know any more than their subordinates or that they didn’t care and were more concerned about the bottom line…
After repeated undermining and ‘discussions’ with my bosses over what they considered underachievement and I considered deliberate hamstringing and incompetance, I came back to work after a long weekend to a literal life or death screwup that I was blamed for, even though common sense dictated that it wasn’t possible for me to be responsible….It was then that i knew that I was leaving, either by quitting or by being fired…
In the meeting they adjudicated, after having put up with their foolish blame blacing, I replied to the question of “what should we do about this?” by saying “You should get another combination whipping boy/scapegoat….” walked out and called the relevant authorities on them…

I can unequivocally tell you not to stay in jobs that are detrimental to your health because one almost cost me my life.

Gave six years of my life to a mean spirited, extremely wealthy man who literally told me “job comes first, family and anything else comes last”. And he meant it. Believe it or not, I knew the 2nd day I was there that I’d made a mistake but not wanting to fail (which is really not failing) I hung in there for 6 years until my health was totally in the toilet. I had so many illnesses and serious ones at that while I was there, that at one point he told me I should thank my lucky stars that I was with a company who would put up with my deteriorating health.

That was it for me. I got the resume out there and a great company snapped me up on the first interview. I’ve been with them 16 months now and have not so much as sneezed in that 16 months, much less been sick.

In the meantime, Mr. Crabapple has been through 3 other people in the 16 months I’ve been gone, the last 2 literally walking out on him. He finally called and begged me to come back and my reply was “what? And ruin my health again? No Way!”

If you are in a poison environment, L-E-A-V-E. Somebody out there will appreciate having you.

Yup, horrid horrid job. Should have known when I asked about the person in my position before me, and they told me she left her family and ran off to Georgia despite having two kids.

I was supposed to be setting up quality assurance (at a hospital no less) and found out there was a lot of theft from the patients by the nurses. While I was there one nurse went on a rampage against a secretary and superglued signs all around the hospital saying that the secretary had bi-polar disorder. Yes, even in patient areas. The director said there is a nursing shortage, so just separated the two.

I didn’t get a computer for 3 months, then my ‘boss’ stole it from me, said it was hers. This was all brought up to HR who finally told me, “we’ve done our research, she’s sleeping with a doctor we paid alot to recruit and came to us through him, she stays.”

Oh yeah, during that time with no computer, she wrote me up for excessive online use – and I had no access to any computer.

So I gave them a weeks notice, which was kind of me. They said the protocol is a month, but I’m in an ‘at will’ state and they had already fired someone with 2 hours notice, so didn’t stay.

I stayed for a year but knew I was in trouble within the first month. The morals were horribly against mine but there was good health benefits. However, I wish I hadn’t stayed. While I lost a lot of weight because I was constantly upset (and more than once began vomiting in disgust over what the nurses were doing) so much went against my moral beleifs, as the article states. So much was behind closed doors, stuff I did was redid with my name on it, I had to protect everything. It wasn’t worth it.

My situation is not quite like the rest as I was in the military for the last eight years.
Anyone familiar with the structures and organization know it isn’t easy to get ahead in this business.
To make a long story short all of these signs applied to my decision of leaving the service.
Although change is quite frequent among employees and boss’ the situations almost always never change.
For most recent reasons my boss values and ideas and way of conducting himself were by far on the opposite spectrum of my own. We had exchanged words numerous times and had meetings of how I need to change to conform to him, and all these”talks” led no where and just resulted in my everlasting disappointment of Monday mornings when I would have to go in to deal with the viscious circle all over again.
I was isolated and given low level jobs, and scrutinized daily, while other members were exhaulted for their sub par performances and acts. It was made quite clear to me my time left in this situation was going to be hard.
Needless to say, when my time came I packed up my stuff and I got out. I am now currently looking for work, and still feel the degradation and demoralizing consequences of having to deal with such a person of no integrity.
Just to give an example of circumstances to keep the readers informed, my boss would show up late in the morning, leave fifteen minutes later to play golf with one of his buddies (who also worked with us), show up just after lunch time, and state he was going home to take care of business and That we (I) would have to stay behind and finish up the days work.
This kind of act alone shows incompetence as a leader, and further more unprofessionalism.
Glad I made it through and hope to overcome the effects put on me because of this horrendous experience.

After looking at the 8 reasons, I can truly say that I made the right decision 4 years ago when I resigned from the company that I was working for. I had those same feelings of dreading to come to work and counting the hours. I got promoted to a supervisor position, only to have that position taken away and given to someone who barely knew the job, only because of who he knew. I was given the grunt work, isolated from different activities. When secretary day would come I would usually get something for that day, well they stopped that also. I knew then, that it was time to go. I have worked for this company for more that 10 years, barely took off, came in sick, came in early when asked. Sometimes you just have to know when it’s time to leave. And that was my time.

Dear, Anne

I work in the banking industry, that is all I have to say, right. The micro management that goes on in this fortune 100 company is so sad. Everyday thousands of employees are treated like crap by one of America’s top 5 banks. I have worked for this company for almost 9 years and I have seen people because od their skin color, personal style, and status get jobs that they did not even deserve. I have seen people who had the experience with the company get nothing not even a Thank You, and be treated like they were a outcast becuase they have been with the company so long. I feel the sick shame of even working for this kind of a company. And what is so sad if you speak out you are a threat. It kind of feels like slavery in the work place. The company has you trapped because you need a job and they keep from going up this so called “Corparate Ladder” because they but all the power in their manager’s hands and employees have to be the ones to train this new manager whom do not know not one thing about the field they just got hired to manage. It is like I am the empolyee I know the job, but because I am not acceptable to a high class standard I do not qualify. Who are they to say I do not quaify when they do not even follow their own rules and do far worse things in the work place then I can ever dream of. It is so sad because I actually like helping customers in the banking industry but the way you are treated in the work place is so abusive it is unbearable. I would love to quit but I have a family to support and I have tried to work elsewhere but it is so hard to get other jobs, because they feel like why would you want to leave where your at already. Sometimes the companies people would love to work for are the companies people hate to be working for, but unfortunely we all have to work somewhere even if we are not happy.

I had a job that I knew from the first day wasn’t going to work out. The pay was great and the benefits awesome, but from the moment i walked into my department I knew I wasn’t welcome. It seems a very popular member of my team had been passed over for my positiona and everyone of her “groupies” resented me. I could never get their cooperation on projects and they worked with her to undermine my job by not giving me vital information and by setting me up to take the fall for their mistakes. I got out after just over a year and was soooo relieved to leave there. I didn”t know people could be so cruel and vicious. It taught me a valuable lesson. The next job I interviewed for I asked in great detials about the members of my potential team and also asked to meet them before I accepted the job. This worked out much better.

About two months ago I quit a high-paying job because of the warning signs described in this article. The difference however is that my former boss is suffering from a personality disorder. I fit in well with staff and the mission of the organization – but after six months in my position the boss’s opinion of me did a 180. I went from golden girl to outcast – without the boss communicating any reasons why the reversal. I found myself struggling with the question of whether to reach out to leadership, or simply leave. I struggled with the decision not because I was miserable, but because I felt a moral obligation to let leadership know their Exec is truly ill. But, after debating it with myself, and seeking the advice of a mental health professional about her brand if sickness (and because being around her sickness every day was making me feel crazy too!), I decided to simply leave. Despite her disorder, this Exec has done great work over the years and done much for the benefit of the industry. She is within a couple years of retirement, and the outside world does not understand the reality of her sickness, which has become much worse in the last few years. The people who suffer from her abuses and the other symptoms of her illness have to choose for themselves to continue to endure her, or move on.

I left a job two years ago that was so stressful that I also could not sleep on Sunday nite. It just so happens that the other two girls I worked with left shortly thereafter. They finally realized all the crap work that they dumped on me was their responsibility now. The pay at that job was better than I’m getting now, but I have a life now and I am much happier.

Just recently I left a job that would have seemed perfect for me. AS a full time college student and mother of two young children may available hours are not as wide open as some. I had started a job with the local boarding facility in town when I was not attending school. I then ran into problems and went threw a divorce. I couldn’t survive in the town we live in on the pay I was reciving. I started attending the local college, partly to get finacial help, to live on campus in family housing which is the cheapest around and partly for my kids so I could finish my degree. My boss made it clear she didn’t like college studnets working for her. I assured her that my job came before my classes. I tried to keep it that way. However she made it difficult, slowly after I started classes she began blaming things on me. She would lecture me in front of my coworkers about something done wrong the day before, only that had been my day off and there was no way that it was my fault. She pulled me aside one day to tell me that no one liked working with me, that I was horrible with the customers and disrespectful to my coworkers. When asked my coworkers all disagreed with her, in fact two of them are my friends. After that it went down hill. She would call and yell over the phone about something that happened at work and then hang up. Never giving me the chance to tell her that it was one of my coworkers who handled what she thought was done wrong. She would never call any of my coworkers about the situation either. One day a few months ago she called and yelled about something one of the other workers did, go so far as the say he did it and he didn’t do it right. Then hung up yet never called him the repramand him. Finally a few weeks ago I was told by my mother that my grandfather was dignosied with stomach cancer. I had not planned to return home for either thanksgiving or christmas holidys and planned to work threw them. After being told my grandfather was given 3 to 6 months to live I informed my boss that I would now be going home for both. She began screaming about how she knew this was going to happen that she never gets any holidays (she ownes the buisness by the way) and that this always happens to her, that stuff like this is why she thinks she’s going to close the buisness in December. When I appologized and said I wouldn’t noramlly do this to her but my grandfather had cancer she looked me in the eye and said “oh well” then walked away. Two weeks later I gave her my two week notice. I was tired of being her hardest, most loyal worker that she saw only as her worse and her whipping boy.

I have had the experience of changing jobs because I was miserable and depressed. I wasnt demeaned or disrespected in the ways the author of the letter was by not being included in meetings etc but being told people in my position are so important to the company then being worked 13 sometimes 14 days in a row with no time off being expected to work Thanksgiving and Christmas with no thanks other than being told “Its what is expected of you” while upper management get to be at home with their families being given excuses as to why there are no raises for good performance because the company cant afford it among other things I left with my head held high and with a lot more respect than if I had stuck around to be beat up some more and left with no dignity left. Sometimes it is better for peace of mind and sanity to do that rather than worry about being seen as a job hopper after all life is too short

Gosh I feel the person’s pain. I went through that very situation two + years ago. My boss left our organization, and her replacement was less than ideal. All of the “good” work went to her friends (they all had matching bracelets funny eh?) while I was stuck doing the “grunt” work that was far below my level. Unfortunately, the only way out of the situation was to leave altogether. I tried for approximately 6 months to buck the system, but to no avail. I use to love my job, but sure had grown to hate it. Funny thing, my reputation was being tarnished by this person, and people that trusted my expertise opinions changed. That was my signal to leave.

Hi, I can totally relate to this, 6 months ago I was laid off from a company that I was with for 6 years. The last year I was in the same place. People were leaving I was getting their work and doing working that a high school kid could do. People that just started were get better projects than me. I was sick of all of it. I hated going to work everyday and told my dad that job was killing me. It was a blessing that I got laid off I found a new job 2 weeks later. It is ok, low paying but it helped me to get back to where I want to be. Yesterday I got a new job, that should be fun and more pay than the job I had for 6 year. There is hope out there.

I couldn’t believe that a large successful, multi-national company would actually want me. I accepted the job, thinking that I hit a homerun, and had finally found my :dream job.” I never could have been more wrong.
The company owned my soul. I had to bring my laptop home, every night, and even go online from home, just to keep up. The company had plenty of money, but chose instead, to pay their bills in 75 days (or more), making my Purchasing position a struggle every step of the way. The benefits and pay were super, but since I didn’t want to end up hospitalized, I quit after 9 months, and returned to my previous company. The reasons I left there, to begin with, are all still there; however, maybe I will live a bit longer, as the result.

A year after being employed at the company, I was diagnosed with cancer. My boss became more and more frustrated at the fact that I had to take the time off for surgery and chemo treatments because it conflicted with his “time off” on weekends. He soon demoted me to part time hours and hired someone else as full time. He took away my vacation days saying he used them to cover my sick days. He also would not give me my year’s raise saying he couldn’t afford it (since he had to hire someone else) and besides, had been more than fair to me. At that point, I knew I couldn’t work for or respect a man like that. I went on short term dissability. My treatments will soon be over and I’m excited about moving on!!

I took an offer to work as an Assistant Manager at an entertainment business. I was trained at a different location than where I was to originally work at. I loved it! Then, when I got to the location where I was to work, everything went downhill and fast. Within a week, I witnessed embezzlement and sexual harassment. I tried to overlook it for a few days, but my conscience got to me so I called Human Resources. Two days later, an audit was done and the GM was terminated. So the DM stepped in with another GM and they started scheduling me 70 hours a week (usual I worked was 50), and on my day off they called me in. On top of just being only to see my kids for 5 minutes a day, they threatened my job in front of me, saying that I needed to do the Monday paperwork, which I was never trained on (hands on, that is) and was only shown once and said that if I made 1 mistake my job would be gone. So, that night, I quit. I don’t take lightly to be threatened and then the offer wasn’t even met between the company and I as well. I felt as if they were blaming me for the GM being terminated. For the two weeks that I worked there, it was a total, complete nightmare.

I knew it was time to leave my job when the boss kept telling me that so many things I did weren’t quite right any more. I was getting the feeling that I was being left out of co-worker activities, the union rep. wasn’t doing anything to upgrade our wages, benefits, or schedules. It seems as if you get a sixth sense feeling that something is about to happen.

I am currently doing an internship in a German firm. I am Malawian. when i arrived, we were two interns. as time wore on, i noticed that i was being given the dull work. my fellow colleague was being invited to meetings and was able to come in contact with customers. I was not. It is now 3 months since i have been doing this internship but i havent learnt anything. I cant even quit because i am on a contract with a firm that requires me to do an internship at this company. This has extremely affected me because i have completely lost interest in anything to do with work and education. nowadays, the only thing i want to do is to sit in my room. Working in this company has made me feel worthless and incapable of anything substantial.

I spent 3 long years at a company that made me miserable. The office environment was so negative, and the boss managed by using scare tactics. She was always reminding us that we were replacable. I watched her call one of my co-workers an idiot – right in front of everyone. Everyone there hated their job, but everyone had such low self esteem about their abilities, that no one even considered looking for another job.

I was able to separate my work life and personal life for about a year, but slowly the job started to take it’s toll on me. I am a classical musician, and the job really only was a means to “pay the bills”. The management was not supportive of my activities after office hours, and they started to require 10 hours of overtime a week from me. This was cutting into my musical activities, not to mention I had no time to eat dinner or have down time between my job and my musical obligations.

I started to have stomach problems and tension headaches. In the morning, I would struggle to get ready, working through severe nausea. There were two occasions when I was actually pulled out of work by my physician because of work stress related illness.

The final straw came after a week when I had worked 20 hours of overtime. One particular day I had worked from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm at which point I left because I had a rehearsal to get to (which I was late to). A couple days later, I was called into my supervisor’s office where I was told that I needed to “get my priorities straight”. Basically, I was expected to put my career as a musician (what I went to school for) on a back burner and make the company my focus. Essentially, I was given the ultimatum – quit the music, or find another job.

Two weeks later I gave my notice. Why in the world would I make a company that didn’t care about me, that was constantly reminding me I was replacable, my priority? It truly was a toxic work environment.

Ditto all of the above.

#1 A couple of years ago I was recruited away from govt. work to a private firm offering the world. However, after I started I realized I was placed in the middle of a huge political battle in the company. (Un)fortunately I left quickly for another position offering me the world and more.

#2 The new company was 10 times worse. It was even more dishonest than the first. 25% turnover, and a radical, emotional, unstable, psycho as a boss. I always thought that he and I had a special relationship so that he would not do me like he did everyone else. I watched, and professioinally contested, his continuous abuse to other employees. BEWARE. A psycho is a psycho. After years of generating serious $$ for the company, and doing Everything expected and more, I was forced to resign, for what was clearly rediculous reasons (by the boss’ own admission). Point is I flushed about 3 years of my life down the toilet, and have long term emotional scars to show for it, not to mention questionable work history now on my resume.

Advice — Save your money, don’t go into debt so you have cash cover you when you don’t work…then QUIT and save your life, family, health, resume, and self confidence. You will be glad you did.

I wish I had this list 4-5 years ago! I worked for management who was not above putting employees in positions to cause injury. I suffer greatly everyday from the consequences of choosing to stay a little longer because of money and benefits. I also learned a hard lesson of how the law goes to great lengths to protect corporations from injured, disgruntled or abused employees. We recently released a book about my experience called Right To Work. The treatment I experienced was beyond reason. How does this exist in this day and age? Elizabeth Alan

Dear Miss Fisher;
You asked for some of our experiences when we knew it would be time to leave, so here is my first experience after retiring from the military.

When I retired from the military and took my “dream job” at a vocational college teaching basic medical assisting there were several things to indicate that I was not going to be around long:
a) A large turn over of staff instructors (3 sets within six months)
b) The lack of support of the instructors when students complained.
c) Nine complaints within 8 days by a group of students complaining of doing homework and that my medical experience didn’t add up to their reality.
d) A vocational college selling the experience of college that its like a four year university without the time commitment, and that they are going to have a “real career” while students that attending a four year school are wasting their money.
e) Seeing that most over 30% of their CNA graduates are having a problem finding work after spending over $15,000 for a nine-month course, and that they are finding out their course work will not transfer to a two or four year college.

Respectfully,
fischerpk1

The second day after relocating cross-country for a new job, I was confronted in my office by a furious colleague, and two of her associates, who leaned in my face to tell me that I had “stolen” the job from the person who really deserved it (her friend) and had no business being there. I was never able to develop a satisfactory relationship with this group of co-workers. I stuck it out though, and when the unit was disbanded several years later, I was the only employee who was kept…and promoted to one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.

I experienced at least 7 out of 8 of those “symptoms” at my last job. I gave notice just before they could cast one final strike and weed me out. I only wished I had mustered up the courage a year earlier. Perhaps then I wouldn’t have had to experience the stomach aches and panic attacks.

I new my days were numbered at a job I thought was the one I would retire from. I had worked my way up in about five years of employment, watching the administrator fire people left and right. I hung in there due to the fact she kept promising me a larger office better than the whole I was in. I noticed in my last year there that she was keeping track of every thing I did and how my time was used. She stopped including me in meetings and luncheons. Finally, I had enough. Luckily, I had been searching for a job long enough that I was able to pick the one I thought would be best for me. When the time came, I gave my notice before she canned me also.

I worked for a new start company as the Finance Director. At my first day of employment, I realized the company did not have computers or telephones in place. They opened their doors to the public and did not have any of the financial data in the computer. The employees were all running to the board of directors to complain about my new boss. My new boss was trying to entice the employees to do the work. However, they only wanted for him to do all the work that he wasn’t capable of doing as this was within their job description. Eventually, some of the divorced women were in my office screaming at the top of lungs that they were not going to do the work as they felt I should be doing it all. I was already working 7 days a week or around 80 hours a week for the company. I couldn’t possibly do anymore work for them. These women that were in my office were all divorced 3 times each and were only in it for the money. It was the worst situation I was in my life. I felt sick every minute I was there as I didn’t want to look at any of the employees or do any of their work since I had enough of my own. In my third month of employment, I finally had enough and left this employer with no notice and no employment to go to. I just couldn’t go into work anymore. Also, since the place was a new start up company, they spent oodles of money with no accountability for it. On the day I left, they could not afford to pay the next weeks payroll. It was horrible!!

I was the flavor of the month for 2 years. Every Idea was golden, every thought or proposal was acted on. One day in a meeting the owner/v.p asked us what we thought about a presentation that a company had made the week before. I looked around the room no one said a thing. I was prepared. I spent the weekend calling other people in the industry that had used them to get their opinions, none of them were good. They had given us an inflated price and exaggerated the performance of their product. I methodically went through my notes so proud that I had taken the time to research the matter. At the end of the meeting she thanked me. At the end of the month she bought the product fired me and hired a guy from the company that sold the product. I was told later that she felt I undermined her in the meeting.

Oddly, my boss at my former job is in a very similar situation as the individual in your story. Rather than heroically suggesting that they were being unfair to the client, however, her interaction with a client lost an account. She still has yet to be fired.
While working under a number of individuals who either suffered from bad management, or just plain poor skills, it was obvious that the department was headed towards a downward spiral. I had indicated a number of times my concern and the warnings were taken as negativity and poor team spirit – making me – you guessed it, the outsider. It wasn’t that I had always held this position; it was that I was concerned about the direction of the department. They started an attack on my personal communication style. Once they have labeled you in a negative way, it is nearly impossible to recover. I knew it was time to leave.
After giving two weeks notice and a half hearted excuse, I was asked to stay on indefinitely “on-call,” which eventually returned me to my full time status without benefits (several months later). Seeing a continued decline in both their attitude towards me and the department performance, I choose to leave – without another position. It is now four months later, and though I managed to accomplish some personal goals, I am still without a job, and without prospects. It seems so odd to me that the individual that was originally called “the Mormon,” because I smiled all day long and was always accommodating, came to be viewed as a pariah.
It would be naïve to say that I was solely responsible for the department’s success, however, my leaving was timed with several other key people that made the department work – and we were all labeled as problematic for one reason or another. Leaving can be a very difficult decision. Unfortunately, for me, although I have a return to sanity, it may ultimately have been the wrong one.

My oh my. All 8 points apply to me. I have been in my current position at a major university for 7 years and feel entirely stuck. I have been looking for another job off and on for the entier time, with not one single job offer. Unlike in corporate America, universities don’t fire anyone unless something really illegal is going on. Pay is also not tied to merit. I don’t have colleagues who do what I do, but the ones I am grouped with are lowest on the total pole, even though I have a professional position and an advanced degree in the field and 20 years experience. I tend to make it to the final stages of interviews, but end up being second-choice.

This article made me realize two reasons why this may be the case: No matter how hard I try to summon up enthusiasm, I am just too demoralized to successfully deliver -and- I have primarily only been looking for jobs within the University, and the more I think about it, all departments seem to be screwed up in the same way mine is with lots of people trying to do as little as possible until they retire. This is not a good match for what I’m looking for.

I really feel I need to make a break both from the university and from my current field. I’ve got some money saved and am debating taking a year “sabbatical” and re-approach the job market in a refreshed state. Everyone of course says not to quit without having another job, but I don’t know how much more my mental health can take.

I also have my foot kind of in another career, which I cannot pursue without leaving my current job.

Yes. I stayed too long thinking I could change the work place but the politics were just overwhelming. I tried hanging in there while job hunting but after 6 months it was just too much. Your health and peace of mind is worth far more than anything else. I encourage everyone in America to get out of debt asap so you dont become a slave to any company because of the debt you have to service. I know. I paid off my house,cars , credit cards and stuck to a modest lifestyle within reason and cant tell you how much happier I am knowing I can leave an employer if I dont like the way things are. Get out of debt America. I swear it will change your life.

I stayed on my last and only full time job for 16yrs and everyday (except our Christmas parties)I would dread going in, wish to leave and wished it would just stop. My fear of unemployment kept me there (what a waste engery) and when I finally started really looking into getting a new job it was too late, I got fired (not sad when you factor in the Owner (who still owes me money) sold the company weeks after thus screwing over my boss who never saw it comming,(just love that Karma). Which as it turns out was not the worset thing that could happen, I got my unemployment, got a temp assigment from one of my clients, then got another job that until I got fired (thank god) from that paid another round of unemployment which lead to my re-discovery of the Library and New York City, it lead me to a job at Webmd.com which I( and I cannot say enough) LOVE. Even through it a long term temp assinment, it has given me a goal (getting full time employment with Webmd) and proof that dream jobs do exist. For the first time in my life I actually look forward to getting up in the morning and coffee is just a plus and not a medicial need.
I will never again fear unempolyment, job search(monster.com works but only after 5000000 submissions of resumes) the intervewing for job(pain in the butt process). Life is too short and to be at a place for eight or more hours and not feel productive or happy is just plain silly. “Time is an asset that has no liquidity” Move on no matter what it takes.
Leathione Diakite Prinze Jr. Happy Worker, now let me see if my boss wants coffee!

Hello after 4 times attempting to interview for a promotion I was finally “rewarded” with the job because someone retired… at first I was so excited for new opportunities, both learning and growth. Yet one month into the job, I was not awarded a pay raise and constantly being “put to the side” with redundant responsibilities. My pay check has been a mess since I started the new position and now feel like I am a dead end. To make matters worse I have been “awarded” an awful shift that includes working over night Christmas and New Years. I have been very depressed about the whole experience and dread the months to come. Just goes to show you, be careful what you ask for.

I just stated a position and I have already seen some of the warning signs. Problem is that this is my 3rd job in 2 years. All by my choice. The reason for leaving the previous ones are in Annies article. I am just digging myself deeper and deeper into a hole. It’s safe to say that any employer will shy away from my resume due to the recent changes. Any advice? Help!

I had a job that made me totally miserable. As you described, I dreaded going in. The place was very disorganised, my boss was disorganised, argumentative and aggressive and I just wasn’t happy with the quality of work we were producing. I stayed while looking for other jobs but thankfully, I was made redundant. It was such a relief – I got to leave the place and had more time to look for work and explore other career options. In addition, the lump sum redundancy payment helped to cushion me in (terms of rent and bills) till I got my fantastic new job.

I read this story and thought it was written about me!!! I literally would be up all night on Sudnays dreading having to go to work the next day.I started this job in January of this year after working at my last job for TEN YEARS!. My new boss is horrible. Not only do I work 11-12 hour days for him, I get emails and text messages asking me to do personal errands for him. No one will ever be perfect enough for him. I realized it was time to leave when he was receiving emails from others in the office asking if I was “gone yet.” Then I saw the resumes piling up on my boss’ desk – so I beat ‘em to it.
I’ve just been offered a great job that I start in two weeks, and gave my notice yesterday. And for some reason, he didn’t seem so surprised…
So not only do I get out of here, I get out of here without being fired!

I once worked at a job where I was told there would be plenty of work, and room for growth both in terms of pay and in term’s of my career. 9 months into my job, I hated coming to work, I did about 15 real minutes of work a week, and despite my insistence was not given any other assignments. I approached both my manager, HR and my vice president about other open positions within the group and the company. I kept getting the run-around answer. Whena member of my group got promoted, i inquired about taking his job, my inquiries were met with silence as the group brought on a person who was not experienced in the industry to come fill in the position. I felt after two years of loyal service that i was being taken for a sucker.Shortly thereafter unwarranted complaints about my work surfaced and i was put on notice and subsequently terminated. The moral i learned was always watch your back. The moment you find out your boss isn’t thrilled with your work, no matter how hard you are working, is the moment you need to update your resume and find a new job

Many years ago, I had what many people would think was a dream job. I worked at a production office where they made costumes and back drops. I got to meet celebrities and it could have been a great job. Except for my boss. She could be so nice on some days, and then others she was cold as ice and made you feel like you did something wrong.. I couldn’t her mood swings anymore and quit after ten months. Every Friday, I felt like I was getting out of prison. I took a job with a wonderful family owned business. They were all really great. It wasn’t glamorous but I slept a lot better knowing that I never had to see that woman again!

Dear Annie:

I’ve been in this same job since 2003, feeling many of the signs you wrote in your Sept. 25 article, “8 signs its time to change your job”. And this is a church I work for – one place I never expected to feel this way. It now has become more politically motivated than what God’s word says about situations that goes on here. I want to get another job. However, unfortunately 11 years ago, I committed a felony, and as anyone knows, your chances of getting any job at all, with the exception of slave-labor jobs(like fast food, etc) with a felony on your record doesn’t exactly wow potential employers. I have stayed out of trouble since those 11 years ago – any advice and help for those who want to change jobs, to a better job; but has a felony conviction? My state doesn’t do expungements for 1st time offenders.

my manager did not like me, she thought I wanted her job (NO THANKS), pushed me into shift work, did not quit (no pension if I quit now) but took it like a man.
Six months later I resigned (almost six years service so I get a $ 300 month pension when I retire !)
I offered 30 days notice instead of two weeks and got paid for the 30 days to stay home (I work in DataCenter) !
I started my new job the next week.

Another job I stuck it out for a full year, worked with bunch of drug abusers, management could care less.
When asked why I left, I say my 1 year contract was over, I trained their staff.

I knew it was time to quit my job once I failed a test that was required for the job but they decided to keep me and I was on a probationary period. Which meant I could be fired whenever they saw fit. My boss was a jerk, I would always call my friend crying telling her that i wanted to quit. My husband did not understand and was upset once I did quit. I was doing work that other employees did not have to do which was going out into a heat wave and measuring houses while the other employees sat in there air conditioned offices. I had to do the work that no one else wanted. I started to feel isolated and I dreaded going to work. One day they pushed me over my limit and I just packed my stuff and walked out. I miss the money and I liked my job just not the boss. It did not take long for everyone to show there true colors. I am a job hopper and if I don’t like a job I will up and leave. Life is to short to suffer through being unhappy. Now I am a stay at home mom and I am very happy with that.

Boy am I glad I didn’t see this article a few years ago, back when I was miserable, suffering all of the symptoms listed (including being re-assigned to the smallest, worst office in our department!), and contemplating quitting.

It turned out that the boss who made all the hostile decisions against me left, but not before one of the two jealous co-workers who were putting poison in his ear also left. Finally, the only one still causing problems got demoted and re-assigned, when the new boss came in and saw what was really going on.

I waited out the ulcers, the headaches, the sleep loss, being excluded from meetings, being sabotaged, being given work far beneath my level of training and expertise, the demeaning gossip, and even being told that I had to ask for permission from a subordinate each time I needed to access files that were a mandatory part of my work.

I stayed and waited, and it paid off. Love my job now, have the best boss in the universe, and all the co-workers who avoided me before now say things like “whew! glad they’re gone, and glad you’re still here!”

Quitters never win.

Annie – Your 8 warning signs are spot on. I’ve seen it first hand and experienced it. Most of my circumstances were driven by being thrown in with folks who just wanted to “survive” and not “succeed”. I’ll never fit in with the corporate “survivalists” and they are legion. Thus, I’ve come over to the world of entrepreneurship. I now view myself as an “independent contractor” for life and try as much as possible to choose the company I keep in the business world. But, alas, sometimes we all must compromise for the sake of “paying the bills”. So we must find a healthy balance between individuality and “get along to go along”. The mix is different for everyone. I am not immune to this struggle. Thanks for an insightful article to help articulate signals that many of us have seen in our own work experiences.

Earlier this year I was slowly being “replaced” by a familly member, who was being allowed to write proposals (something I, as a bonafie editor) had been promised (before I arrived the company’s grammar/syntax was below 5th grade level). Wanting to freelance write (rather than join a news team at a lower wage just yet) I fought back with a really diplomatic letter about gratefulness for employment with them thus far. The result was an independent contractor position for odd jobs at double my wage. This contract is now winding down and there are still glaring grammar issues they could use me for indefinitely. So, wish me luck as I attempt to once again turn the tables in my favor; and, at the same time, find a niche with a media agency somewhere!!

When I cried in the morning before I even got out of bed to go to work, I knew it was definetly time to move on.

There are several reasons why I left this job but I would say at the end, I knew I didn’t belong there anymore.

I was the only Jew in an office run by a born again Christian. I naively believed that he would keep his views out of the workplace but I was wrong. He led the office in prayer at a Christmas party (I shut myself in my office) but the worst part was when he told me to make a case against one of my staff who was pregnant and not married. I was on the job for 6 months when I started looking to get out and it took me another three months to find a job more suitable to my ethics so once you see the warning signs it’s best to act quickly.

Several years ago I was working at a job that was pretty good(and should have stayed) but got a offer for a job making several dollars more a hour. I took the job but realized in the orintation I had made a mistake.The H.R director went through the manual and then shut the book telling me that they had there own unwritten rules and I needed to go by them.
I was told reguardless of what the manual said I was allowed to only be absent 4 days in a year for ANY reason(only 2 during my probation period)and there was no such thing as being “excused” or I would be fired.I was then asked If I understood.
5 weeks later I had a parent who had major surgery.They were told ahead of time that I would be asent.When I returned they were true to there word and I was written up.I asked them if it was there parent would they have done the same thing?They said it didn’t matter,If I missed 1 more I would be fired. I guess I made the mistake of saying I would be abesent again if they had to have another surgery. 3 days later I was fired and asked to leave and was helped to load my tools in my truck.When I walked out of the office I turned around and told them I felt they were not being fair. I left my lunch box there and called to ask them to leave it in the office for me to pick up. I went by there a week later to get it and the H.R. director saw me and asked what I was doing there and I said I had come to get my luch box. He said I needed to get it, leave and never come back.
My next job lasted almost 11 years and ended because of downsizing. I still had to explain the whole situation in a interview when I went back to work about what happened with the short term with the company 11 years ago.
That situation proved to me it is not always about money and you should research a company before taking any kind of postion with them.

Heed the warning signs in Annie’s article. How very true they are.
I stayed at a company and regret the decision as equally as I regret the day I decided to accept the job offer.

I had two offers of employment on the table. My initial decision was to take the other job offer. I had had sevral interviews and a lunch with the entire staff I would have been working with and had a very good feeling about what it would be like to work with this group.

The company’s offered I accepted consisted of a initial teleconference interview and a face to face interview with upper management but offerd higher pay (not by much), better benefits, additional PTO, future employee ownership, etc., etc., etc.

After less than 2 months of employment in this branch office of an employee owned company headquartered in another state, I knew that I had made a huge mistake.

I should have listened to my nagging ‘inner being’ and resigned at least one of the many times it kept telling me to do so, but stayed for an additional year until I was terminated last week.

The majority of the signs discussed were present in my situation along with a host of orchestrated events and scenarios to get me to quit. I did not want to quit until I had another job. Not a wise decision in this case.

Although relieved and at peace that I am no longer employed by this company, having to revise my resume knowing that I will have to state “terminated” as reason for leaving employment is hard for me as I have never in 25+ years working ever been ‘fired’.

To make matters more complicated, what I thought would be a simple matter of filing for unemployment benefits and focusing on finding a new job has now turned into the employer challenging my unemployment benefits stating misconduct.

This comes as a total surprise as they offered me severance pay contigent upon signing a severance agreement which I have not even decided whether I would accept or not.

Lessons learned: Listen to your ‘inner being’, the more lucrative deal is not always the best deal, and money is not everything – moral principal and honesty still count for something.

In addition, Tracy from Phoenix had some great suggestions and I will make sure that I ask many more questions at my upcoming interviews.

In May of this year, my manager, a regional Division Manager, was laidoff on a Friday, and a new replacement manager was brought in the following Monday.

By Tuesday, I soon realized my career with this company was in trouble.

As the Director of Sales and Marketing, I’d lead the way for our division’s growth in sales by 300% over the last 3 years. When our new division manager held his first staff meeting by his second day, he looked at my subordinate and began asking him all questions related to sales and marketing. Thinking that this new division manager had somehow gotten confused over our division member’s various roles, I asked him for a quick 1-on-1 meeting following that staff meeting. During our meeting, I eventually worked my way into the fact that my role had given me helpful insight into the overall operations of the division. Hearing this, he replied with a very quick, “Yep”, then simply got up and walked out of his office, leaving me sitting there alone. Very strange and troublesome indeed.

This lead to two months of humiliation by him in front of my peers and the sales team that I managed. Having earned a respectable reputation with all of them, my only consolation was the occasional knock on my office door from any one of them, followed by a “Can I see you for a moment? In confidence?” They would then begin apologizing for the comments that the manager had made to me in some meeting that day, or the way he purposely overlooked me in handling a responsibility and instead gave it to my subordinate (This subornidate, who reported directly to me, and whose job I’d just saved earlier in the year when the now-defunct division manager asked me to fire him, had increasingly become more than ready to step into my role.)

By August 1st, I’d been laid-off, with a small severance package. The reason: too much overhead in our division (i.e., I was being paid too much.) My subordinate? You guessed it — he’s the new Director of Sales and Marketing, and I can only assume they didn’t increase his pay too much, which was less than half of mine at the time.

After reading your column on (8 signs it’s time to change jobs) I could not help but laugh since yesterday I had got fired and was given every excuse under the sun but the truth why I was let go. I though after many years of being a waitress I had finally found a place I felt I belonged and actually rather enjoyed.
I only had been working there for a little over three months when they decided they would let me go, and their reason stunk as far as I was concerned. I am a dedicated and a hard worker but after getting to know the night crew I worked with I had come to find out I was told everything other than the truth why I was fired and believe it was due to my fellow co workers wanting more hours and being greedy and the best way to get me the low guy on the totem pole fired was to lie to the bosses about my performance.
My theory is what goes around comes around and just goes to show you nice guys always finish last..I now am happier due to finding a better job with honest co workers and can finally be at peace again…

I worked as a LPN in a hospital for 30 years of my career. I had a few breaks in service but all total worked there for thirty years. In May of 2007, I quit. I was being asked to work as a nursing assistant and feeling demeaned and disregarded for the nurse I was and the knowledge and experience I brought to my position. The hospital that I worked at is going for magnet status and LPNs don not really fit into the model of care that is being implemented. They were asking LPNs to take other positions throughtout the hospital that were more of a technician status. I became a nurse to care for the sick. I even went to HR and they requested that I stay and try to work things out. My boss would not rescind my resignation. Two weeks after I had left he hired two nursing assistants to replace me! I am 55 years old and my whole life has been turned upside down. I am bitter and have found that this bitterness has in fact affected accepting a new job. I’ve taken two but didn’t stay. I have decided to return to school in the spring and learn new skills. Hopefully, I can put the energy of this bitterness into a new education and move on. I would never recommend that anyone stay on a job that long. I do have a lot of skills but they are old. I have been in that world for so long I feel like such an outsider to a new job. My goal is to attain fresh new skills and get a job that I will be happy in.

AHHH….you’re all babes in the woods! I worked for the worst company in the world , run by the most evil man on the planet. Charismatic when he wanted to be – oh yes indeed, like when he sells products on television…But in reality, the biggest jerk in the world with the biggest ego and the smallest sense of reality, fairness and ethics. Treated every one of his employees like garbage, except for the attractive young females…and even then, if they showed they had a brain and might actually know more about a subject than he did, then he was threatened and would consistently berate and belittle them, in front of and privately to others. The company is now run by the accountant…and it’s become the joke of the city. They fire people every few weeks – most senior management is gone; either quit or been fired. Recently many middle management personnel have been fired as well. I’m fortunate to have left them but in all honesty I stayed way too long. Many senior management personnel were driven out – mainly because they were intelligent and driven; two bad qualities to have when you deal with an ego-maniac. A word of advice…if the owner of the company doesn’t walk his own talk, get out while you can. Nothing is worth your soul….and I know too many people who have sold their to stay at the company, losing their self-respect and self-esteem in the process. I feel badly for them, but glad I was smart enough to not fall into the same trap!

Sometimes leaving is the best choice!
I worked for a medium sized company that hired a fantastic new Controller. She is a very good Finance professional but a terrible manager who also oversaw the H.R. Department. The part-time HR person had a violet temper and routinely tore through the company on tirades that would make a sailor blush. She had no qualms about using the “F” word–in all its forms–during her almost daily rants. Additionally, she routinely divulged personal employee information like health issues and financial information to her ‘break buddies’. I started complaining to our new boss about the situation. She promised to do something; what she did was pile more work on me, began ignoring me, became rather short-tempered, accused me of messing up her financials and finally, during our annual performance review, decided that although no one had ever complained about my work or behavior, she was postponing my review for 90 days because she and I had what she called a “communication issue”. She was going to give me a chance to correct it then proceed with my review.

I understood exactly what that meant and decided it was time to move on before she fired me. Unfortunately, the HR person is still there terrorizing (and, I’d say jeopardizing) the company. Everyone saw what would happen to THEM, too, if they voiced concern.

I was with a (national) employer for 18 years, working my way up to the position of Vice President. After being relocated to Georgia (from Oregon) as part of a huge corporate restructure, the company experienced severe financial losses and decided to virtually eliminate the top two levels of management to reduce overhead, leaving me to find other employment. That was in 2003. I was hired by an international law firm as their senior operation/facilities manager, then 8 months later recruited by another company to fill their newly created COO position, which I accepted (since it would elimate 1.5-2 hours a day commuting), but they were too small and really only needed an office manager, so I resigned, without the benefit of another job, thinking I should be able to find something more suitable with my background and experience. After 14 months of being unemployed, during which time I dabbled in a sales position for a brief period, I was invited to interview with a CPA firm as their COO.

I was so thrilled to finally be among the gainfully employed once again! I arrived at 7:30, ready to go, only to find that they weren’t ready for me – I had no office, I had no desk, I had no place to call my own. I was expected to share a desk with someone who was seldom in the office, working out of boxes. I did the best I could, setting up files in boxes and trying to organize the many functions I was expected to perform. The managing partner, to whom I reported, kept me at arms length, so our working relationship was anything but freeflowing and cohesive. He wasn’t interested in my endeavor to reduce expenses (even though I found better coverage with a higher-rated underwriter for their E&O insurance, to the tune of $31,000 in saved premiums) or make any much needed changes; he only seemed interested in having me keep his partners in check (for whom he had little regard). He once told me I was to only hire “white Anglo-Saxon Americans” (my last hire was a well-qualified black candidate). I knew my days were numbered when I did not receive an annual bonus. I started looking for other opportunities, but none presented themselves.

In June, I went into his office (which I generally avoided) to report a serious breach of conduct from one of the partners, and he interrupted me to tell me he couldn’t take it any more and he was eliminating my position.

So, to make a long story short, here I am, 59 years old with a resume that looks like I’ve been playing musical chairs, no degree, and an empty dance card. I have been on a few interviews, but none would have provided me with the depth of responsibility and fulfillment I have experienced throughout my career.

The writing was on the wall very early in the game, I should have realized I wouldn’t be able to save what he didn’t want saved. He wanted me to tread water and I wanted to swim to win.

I worked for a company for 7 years. I ended up on 3 medical leaves because of stress causing major depressions even on medication. Finally the doctor say, “enough is enough.” I was put out on disability from the company and even though I I don’t know what the future holds, I feel 100% better just being finally away from there. I wish I would have woken up from this nightmare sooner.

Hi Annie,
What could be worse than being in a job that makes a person sick and (therefore) unhappy? Job-hunting again is quite a daunting task, but it’s the only course of action left. Of course, salary is a big consideration, but not the only one when your health and sanity are at stake. Obviously his boss and colleagues are making his office life miserable to make him resign, for lack of reason to fire him. But why wait to be fired? That won’t be a good entry in the next resume.

I have a follow-up question though: If I were this person, resigned from my job and applied to another, would I tell my prospective employer why I resigned, that is, my former employer was cheating their client? Wouldnt this burn bridges?

Rosana Guzman
Mangilao, Guam

For over two years, I had a good job with a state agency, was very happy, my talents were utilized to their full potential, and I was advancing beyond everyone’s wildest dreams, when my supervisor (who I adored) was promoted. The person who took her place was a co-worker who resented the extra duties I had been given that had lead to my promotions, and she tried to pigeon-hole me into my old job description. When I tried to reason with her that I had a new job description, she fought me. So I transferred to another department before I could lose my momentum (and just to make that superviser madder, I was promoted into my new position!).

In the new position, I loved the work but my new superviser had a few screws loose. She antagonized the companies we regulated, broke laws we were supposed to be upholding, and infringed on our rights under state law as state employees. I turned to the personnel department, who told me that they understood my complaints, but unfortunately, they could do nothing about it. So I looked for a job in the private sector and got out.

My new job in the private sector was supposed to be so much better. I was supposed to be the superviser of my department, answerable only to the VP of the company, and my duty was to get them in compliance with state and federal regulations, since I had just come from the state. My staff of 2 quit my first week, mad at the change made by the company (with me coming from the public sector, they would have to do their jobs correctly for once). I had to do all work myself until I could hire new staff. In the meantime, I found that 1) they were breaking state and federal law consistently, and 2) a new person was hired as MY “superviser,” and she was charged with deciding who to hire for my department. She and I argued over who among the applicants was suitable. She favored people with no experience for a difficult compliance position. We compromised, and I chose the better of the two candidates. Oh, and the “problem” the company had with that woman was that she was plain looking! I was then dressed-down by the VP’s attorney (not the firm’s attorney, the VP’s personal attorney) for seeking the assistance of the firm’s attorney in getting the company in compliance — in other words, for doing my job. I was told I was to run everything by the VP’s attorney, who had less experience in the field than my toes. This all happened in less than 3 months! The day after my “dressing down,” I put in my notice, 3 months to the day that I was hired. The headhunter who found me called and screamed at me on the phone, and I figured out it was because he was losing a fee for my not staying a year in that hell hole. I yelled back that it was not the job that was promised, that I was being blocked from doing my job, and what did they expect with me coming from the public sector, that I’d let them break ERISA, HIPAA, and all the state laws?

My last day was the day of the firm’s Christmas Party, on purpose. I wanted to go out with a bang. I didn’t have another full-time job lined up, just my part-time, seasonal job at a mall, and it being the holiday season, they took me on full time. Even though I have a Master’s degree, I was happier at the mall than at my professional positions, and it prompted me to make the jump to my PhD work, which I am almost finished with now.

At present im working within the criminal Justice field and has been since 1998, in the past 1 year I have moved to 4 offices, and currently on sick,my boss keeps undermining me, and make it looks to colleagues that I cannot do my job, when every one else doesnt want to work, Anyway I’ve been off sick and Im currently registering with agencies, and I have enrolled at unversity, and a distance learning course, Im off on holiday this friday for 1 week , and then Im handing in my notice. LIFE IS TOO SHORT! I value my Mental, Emotional, Physical health, then being in a stressed job, where every one disrespected each other, and trying to set up other staff up to fail.

I probably fit 4-6 out of the eight signs, but I am not going anywhere. I am 56 and would like to hang in there until 60 or 62. I work in an academic library in a rural area. Jobs in my field are scarce, so there have not been many chances for a change. My wife has a job she loves and we also built our own home and did much of the work ourselves, so leaving the area for another job does not have much appeal. It has not been easy over the years, but I have a stubborn streak and I won’t be driven out and have to give up my middle class life style. Over the years I have applied for a number of different jobs. I even started my own used online book business, working 35 hours a week on it and 35 hours at my day job. So this isn’t about not wanting to work. I realized I couldn’t keep up the same pace indefinitely, so closed down the book biz after 8 years. About the same time I switched to 10 month appt. so I am off for 2 months every summer. My colleagues didn’t like that, but the administration went for it.
If you are going to hang in there and stay healthy and sane, it is important to be incredibly disciplined. A lot of this is realizing it that isn’t about you. Eating well, getting rest, avoiding addictive habits all help. I meditate twice a day–once time at work on my lunch hour. I suppose having tenure helps. Many of the problems are social and misperceptions–but that is not enough to terminate my employment. While I can handle things on the micro level at this point, the macro level is more of a concern. None of us want to feel we are wasting our precious time, or, are waiting around to retire. Committee service work on the job and community service in my off hours have been very helpful in this area.

I had the same situation with my last employer. As a seasoned professional, I thought I knew all the tricks of internal politics and was savvy enough to protect my turf.WRONG! I’d add to the top eight..9.WHO wanted your job before you came along, and 10.Does your job description when you signed on, meet your job description 90 days later? It’s a humbling experience when you don’t fit in, but paying attention to your warning bells may not get you out of there in time; it will at least keep your ’sense of self’ in balance.

I’ve got two prestigious degrees, one from the Ivy League. The workplace has never been good to me and I’ve never been too swift with politics. I suppose the schoolyard legacy of poor social skills came with me into the workplace.

Rather than be victimized and struggle with the job hunt, I managed to come up with a good tactic that works for me and has given me a great deal of freedom with regards to job hopping.

What I did to avoid being labeled a job hopper was this: I set up a few dummy corporations for contract services and named a director of that corporation who’s my friend. The corporation has a web site, real revenue, and actually pays taxes on what little it earns. Then I go to jobs, but never publicly disclose where I work anywhere. All of my duties and tasks that I perform, I designate as contracting tasks under the dummy corporation — whether they were legitimate tasks or not. The job references come from managing directors with the company, and the company is a legitimate entity with a small office.

I beat the recruiter/head-hunter game by cross-indexing the job site listings and entries between recruiting firms and then distributing the leads. I create an alias for myself and never disclose my actual name until I get the job for anonymity.

I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years now. I believe that in a truly free-market, labor should be allowed to switch jobs easily. I think it’s wrong that there are artificial constraints on “job hopping” when both employers and employees know so much can hinge on things that don’t come across during the job interview.

Man I feel like I was OUTCAST. I was at a job where I was a Receptionist/Scale Operator. I loved it…until one day when the Pres./owner and the General Manager were both gone. This was a rock quarry. Anyway…there was this one company that whose drivers were coming in, hauling rock to a city job site, all day long. Well one day I spotted something funny going on and was informed that 2 of the drivers were hauling the rock somewhere else (to their homes) using company trucks and letting the company pay for it. These were big end dump trucks and they hauled quite a bit home. Well I informed the owner of this company of the possible thieves. Sure enough the owner came in looked over tickets and one of the guys was prosecuted. The other one had to pay for all the rock he took. After all this happened it came out in the local newspaper naming the Quarry as being where the rock was taken from. I then was called into the Pres/owners office and really chewed out. She was not happy that HER name was mentioned in the paper. From that point on I was treated horribly.
I finally just quit because of all the inconsideration that I was given, anything I did was never right, my chair arms were removed, I was told to stay where the General Manager could hear what the conversation was because I was being monitored, as well as many other things that happened. I was told I was not being paid to think or make executive decisions. It was so aweful. How come an employee has to put up with that and then when I quit I will most likely never get another job. I have a terrible track record of jobs I left. I feel aweful but if one real person knew why and what the actual truth to all my leaving were, I’d hope that would be ignored. I am a good worker, I have never been late or missed work, but when they find they can pick on me and I have to put up with it, they keep hammering away. The Quarry Pres. called and left a message when I didn’t return to work and told me I was bad Karma. So I’m sure she’s doing everything in her power to keep me from getting on anywhere. When I have to put her down as my last job and why I left, IF the new person I want to work for calls her, I’m doomed. I don’t have any great experience at anything, just common sense and regular labor. I just want to work hard, be left alone and not picked on. I would love to know what I need to do to prove to anyone that I apply with that I’m a good, big hearted person that is honest and cares for the company I would like to work for. How can I do this and make them believe me? It hasn’t been very easy and as of the two weeks I’ve been away from this Quarry, I can’t seem to find anyone that will trust me.

My boss hated me. I had gone on a mission trip overseas, and came back extremely ill. My company put me out on a leave, and never allowed me to return. After 23 years with one of the largest companies in the world, I was fired. My work record was very, very good!
I did actually get put in a janitors closet, with an old computer, and an old rugged desk, and broken chair. This closet was converted to an “office”. It’s pretty crazy looking back on it. Having to go through 12 months of “BS” (while out on the company leave), and then getting let go (for failure to return, after a leave, It’s a long story, but a pretty phenomenal one!) was quite the “butt-kicking”. I thought I had a good law suit, or I would have quit. Turns out, that a large company with deep pockets can find a way. It’s truly a story that will have your jaw hitting the floor!
The book is being written.

I love your comment about the ulcer and how we shouldn’t worry about being job hoppers. What is it about people not liking us, we are the outcastes in a sectort hat needs ONE scapegoat and we are it! Anyway, I left a job because my boss was laughing at my situation, bragging about how much more money he makes. Telling me not to expecta bonus. My attendance record was impeccable, never late (i did oversleep duting the MTA strike, but Yahweh intervened with that one) – but always at the office.
You bring up a great subject,Annie, thanks so much. What do we say (as forbidden outcastes or job-hoppers, I mean, you’d think we murdered someone!, what do we say to let people know that if everything else is golden here’s why you should discount my job hopper status. Thank you ANNIE!! You da best!

9/27/07 I earened an MBA while working with a najor Atlanta firm,all went well promotions,advancement until mergers, mixing of hostile people transferred from NYC area who thought all southerners were dumb hicks. I won many awards and honors individually and for company but had a boss who became insanely jealous of me and did best to write me up ,lie about me and blame me for others errors. I took a job with a competitor /customer for 20% more pay less headaches. Saw the loser boss at a National Meeting :he said I see you made it Ok and I just looked at him and said ” I already had”
and continued my conversations with other people around me. If you have a petty ,jealous, inferior boss do not hesitate as she or he will make your life HELL regardless of education or work level or experience. I now have several small cottage Industries my wife and I run, work with young People and have written 2 books all the while saving $ and operating in a much more healthy environment. I look and feel 10 years younger(now 51) and do not put up with other People’c neurotic crap!!

I loved this article. I could definitely relate. I took what I thought was a dream job at a law school only to find out that I totally did not fit into the culture. It became clear right away that I was a fish out of water, coming from a fast paced coporate environment into the slow paced, “laid back” environment of academia. I didn’t “clique” with my boss, and hated my staff (of slackers). I am extremely happy to now be an independent consultant working from home. I have get to work hard, play hard, and travel. It is best to move on from a bad situation, because it could be something much better waiting for you out there.

I stayed. I didn’t hate my job. I hated the way I was treated. I went months with vacancies under me and upper management seemed to not care. And they were very aware of the vacancies. I was trying to do my job and those of two or three other managers at a time. This went on for months and I finally started looking elsewhere. One day my immediate supervisor asked if there was anything he could do for me. Of course I had been hoping for months for those subordinate positions to be filled but my retort was, “Yeah, give me a letter of recommendation.” His reply was, “Oh, no. You’re not getting off that easy.” That Friday I was released. After over eleven years of service and numerous commendations and kudos, suddenly they weren’t happy with my management abilities. No counseling or warnings per company policy. Just a chaperoned hour to clear my things.
While I firmly believe it was wrong, I have not regretted being gone. I didn’t realize how much the job was sapping me. In two years, I surpassed the salary it took 11 years to attain. Of course I don’t get as much vacation time now, but when I get vacation, its a real one and I am not expected to “check in” every day. Plus, the commute is shorter!

After 8 years, tomorrow is my last day at a real estate office that is run by the dementors of Azkaban. The atmosphere is toxic & demoralizing. After being personally attacked by ongoing emails (in response to work related questions) I gave notice. It was the best thing I could have done for my mental health.

After dealing with a micromanager boss for a few years, in 2003 I hit a wall. There was a hurricane heading to Washington, DC, and the city was shut down, Metrorail disabled, residents told to stay home.

Around 9 a.m., I get a call from this manager, “Why aren’t you in your office finishing important-job-X?” I explain the situation, as above. She thinks I’m joking. After a harsh argument, she tells me, “If you don’t leave for work right now, you’ll be paying your mortgage on one salary!”

I went to the office, finished my task (only one other person was there, not my boss) and left with high winds buffeting my car all the way. I put my letter of resignation in the next day.

I recently left an employment agency because the agency failed to respect my religious requirement to abstain from working on the Sabbath (I don’t work on Saturday, but I am available to work on Sunday), paid me far less for a latter assignment than for a former one, and deceived me into accepting an assignment without informing me about its Saturday work day requirement until after the fact.

Now, I work for a much better agency that holds my religious beliefs in high regard (and the pay is good, as well).

I worked for a computer reseller in Minneapolis that not only wore down my soul, but mental and physical health as well. I supported salesmen who were verbally abusive, and when I tried to defend myself, I was scolded and alienated for it. The president of the company would refer to all the female employees as “gals,” which is totally offensive and unprofessional. Even though I was praised by our clients for my high level of customer service, I was never recognized for it by my superiors. When my customers stopped by the office for a meeting and lunch, I was deliberately excluded. I finally resigned right before my honeymoon, because the anticipation of dreading the return to this job was overwhelming me during what was supposed to be a happy time in my life. I went straight to a temp agency and never regretted my decision. At job interviews, the reason I give for leaving this job is that I did not fit into the company culture and that there was nothing more for me to learn there. It is very tempting to bash this company of course, but it is better to take the high road.

Jenna- To answer your question, what always worked for me was saying “The company had no room for growth and only lateral changes”. You were not able to utilize all of your skills or learn new things because of this.

After 7 years at my last employer, the environment had become extremely “toxic”. I toughed it out and tried my best to help turn things around for the last 18 months – finally left 3 months ago, and took a 25% pay cut in the process… it was the best move I ever made.

The vacations are a little less extravagant, but the passion is back in my job. I was afraid that flame had disappeared forever.

I’ve worked in a lot of cities (WDC, Manila, Bangkok) and employers owing to the nature of my SO’s job. The most significant experience of this type was in Manila for a headhunter. Long story short, a boss from hell. Despite resigning (beating her to the punch), she had to emphasize during my exit interview with her that she was considering firing me (after handing them the biggest account they will ever have) and even managed to indicate that in my personnel file (other colleagues remained friends and told me of what had happened there after the fact). Headhunting was fun and lucrative so I tried in Bangkok. We had a very good team and we were all bringing in the sales, unfortunately when my salary was delayed (3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks) with no explanation nor apology, I spoke up to say it wasn’t right and the MD immediately gave me a (non)performance review with a threat to fire me unless I deliver (I was delivering up until my pay got delayed). As soon as I got my salary, I resigned effective immediately foregoing any professional courtesy.

Having seen and been on both sides, my advice on interviews is basically honesty on the proviso that the interviewer is mature, professional. It’s been my approach despite the bad experiences–truth upfront without being “gossipy”, angry, vindictive in tone and words. There are a lot of good companies, good jobs, good employers as well as the bad ones. It is a matter of personality, values and skills matching.

Having said that, I am about to start looking for a job again here in New Caledonia (good luck to me!); otherwise, anyone needing hard workers???

Just left a huge managed care organization worked 54 days as QI manager the director was like “Devil Wears Parda” and I was Andie. She provided me with no training gave me task to complete without knowledge of the organization. Revisions and more Revisions, worked 60-80 hrs a week. I developed a bleeding ulcer needed 2 hours off for a doctors visits and she was going to dock me unpaid time off. I worked for short time and it was HELL. I gave her my resignation effective immediately. There has been a lot of turnover since she employment a year, approx over 100%. You would think this would raise redflags in the HR depaartment “Hello”. The employees are afraid to go to HR and make valid complaints. Well I was not and probably will never have another job there but maybe it will help with another employee. It was the directors way or noway. She decided to do a team building project. This team project was all about her (Prof baseball and football team). From her state and all about her, it should have been a “TEAM” project. All employees should have given her there hometown teams and everyone fine out a little about the heritage of each other. This is team building. I’m glad that I’m out of that organization.

“Accepting a job offer simply because the pay is lucrative or the benefits are great is tantamount to failure if the environment is awful.” – Posted By Tracy, Phoenix Arizona

I see that most of the people here want to work easy jobs that pay low money. I think that most of you have worked hard but are actually lookig for an easy job with low stress that pays a low wage.

If I ever start a company, I would emphasize how the comapny is an easy place to work with a flexible schedule. When asked about salary, I would explain that the competition pays more, but those workers are unhappy and that more money is not the answer to life’s problems. This way, I get people to work hard, stay out of my face, and still put more money in my own pocket by not giving huge raises and bonuses. On Fridays, all of my employees would get a weekly email telling them that they have done a goos job and that there is free doughnuts, cheese, veggies, crackers, bottled water, soda, and cider in the breakroom.

I would then drive off in either my Hummer, my BMW, or my Porsche, telling everyone to have a lovely weekend.

I feel for your stress in the work place. I have several careers the first in the United States Navy a ten year stint,and have held many more jobs working for diffrent companies , and I now work for the postal service. My true calling from God I believe is to be a entreprnuer having my own buisness again its something that I have done before and I loved it and believe me it was not about the money, a great deal of you have education levels that are pretty high why dont you use your skills and work for yourself good luck.

I have an interesting situation. The head of our department for 30 years left, and they didn’t replace him. Seeing that there was room for some of us to move up into more prominent roles, my boss promoted me. But I had been horribly underpaid, so when they gave me a nice 10% raise for the new position, it still wasn’t very good money. So I did the unthinkable…I asked if the raise was negotiable! My boss said no. So I did another unthinkable thing…I asked HIS boss for more money!!! Now, you can imagine how this made my boss feel. Well, incredibly, they capitulated, and I got the money I asked for. However, for the next year my boss was very vindictive and condescending toward me at every opportunity. One day we had an argument and I had simply had it. I went back to my desk and wrote my resignation letter. But, I didn’t email it. I don’t love my job, but don’t hate it either. But my boss kept up his immature attack on me and started taking away some duties and reports I was writing. A few weeks after this incident I couldn’t stand the tension any longer, so I called a meeting to air out our thoughts. After that meeting, and ever since, things have been MUCH better. However, ever since that meeting my boss has been hinting at, and actually suggesting, the possiblity of me moving on to a different department once I get my MBA. I plan on moving on of course, not only for a better job and hopefully a better salary, but also because I can’t move up any more in this department without a PhD, which is not currently in my plans. So I enjoy my job and the pay is not great but ok, but it is not a good situation to be in when your boss is counting the days until you leave. Now he may think I’m leaving once I get my MBA, but I’m not leaving until I find a great job that I am passionate about. Until then, he’ll have to put up with me sitting right across the hall from him. Needless to say, I won’t be asking for any more raises!

Jenna from Miami has a good question: How do you explain in an interview why you left an employer, without looking like a gutless whiner or like someone who can’t work with different people?

Anyone have any ideas on this?

I had almost all of these signs 2 years ago. I knew I was in a hopeless situation. Me and my boss worked together well for the first 7 years, but then his attitude changed dramatically for the next 6. He actually lied to management about my not being a “team player,” how I took long lunch hours, signed up for appts without “approval,” etc., etc. which of course was nonsense. I was made to feel worthless, a liar, deceiving, etc. Mind you, all of this was in writing. In spite of meeting expectations, they got rid of me. It took over a year to emotionally get rid of that guilt trip. I decided to go back to school earn a certificate in my field and now working on my degree. Needless to say, the whole office has imploded. Two of the players in this scenario have quit and the office is in chaos. My only regret was that I stayed too long, largely because of benefits. I should have quit at least 6 months earlier. The shocking part of it was that HR and management were in cahoots with each other. It always seems that even though managers are idiots, they stay while the good workers are let go. Thus the madness and stupidity go on and on.

I was hired by a couple who ran a publishing firm to remind them, basically, of the competitor they scorched—in fact, my nickname was the name of the project the competitor had planned but they then appropriated for themselves. (I came from the rival company. I never should have left the rival company.) Then, despite the fact that I had left said company, and was with them, I became the office Cinderella. A scapegoat, after all, solves everything. Everyone else invited to lunch. Not me. Everyone else prickly about various issues and understood. Not me. Everyone else afraid to ever differ with the bosses. Not me. And only when I began to be grateful I did not have to lunch with them, share my emotions with them or listen to theirs much—and best of all, could completely avoid the poisons emitting from the top—did I realize that my very name had marked me as a scapegoat from the beginning, and exile starts to look very, very good to a scapegoat—-in fact, more often it is not exile but planned, however slowly, escape.

Still, I have wonderful memories of many people, in their time with me when they were not talking office talk but human speech. Why are offices so unhappy? They are the most dysfunctional of families, it appears. I have been at home with my children for fifteen years now, and I often note the people on their way to work—through their car windows I see the chilled, drear look they have. They are not daydreaming. They are not happy. They look as if not there. Any job should involve that look not being on your face, but, I suppose, we cannot all be that lucky.

I recently left a huge global corporation for about a 20% raise and smaller, more personal company. Now at this company I find I have a lot of idle time and really don’t feel like the position will be a long-term career for me. And there is little in the way for other positions I can do. Ironically, making more money and not doing much gives me just as much anxiety as not doing enough. I do feel I made a mistake because I have learned that my new company just doesn’t have the system infrastructure to even do the job I was hired to do and I went from working with a large group of about 40 to working with 2 people. I have been looking for a new job for the past few weeks. I have only been here 3 months. Sad, but I liked being busier and making less money. The sense of accomplishment every day did something for my mind.

I believe the overblown and overspread notion of labor as a commodity has led to egregious management styles in this nation. In fact, I believe that treating people with the respect they have earned and deserve is probably one of the most profitable changes any business could ever make. However, our labor market has not learned the value of the worker, how much potential employees bring to the table, and how motivated teams can just blow the socks off of any productivity scale. Leave labor as a commodity thinking to the macroeconomists, treat your employees with the respect and consideration you expect, and watch your profits soar…

This article couldn’t have been timelier. I just left a great job, with good pay, awesome benefits and good position because the culture and people’s work ethics were killing me! The work environment was unnervingly cut throat. Back stabbing and bad mouthing was norm de jour.
People were using all sorts of unethical tactics to get ahead, and no one seemed to care about the project – and this was despite the fact that the company makes each employee undergo a day long mandatory ethics training every year.

My last boss was a political hack for the state of Illinois. She was arrogant, bigoted and stupid. Early retirement saved me from her clutches. The arrogant administrator is now a saleswoman.

I went through every one of the 8 signs described in the article and just like Michael T., I hang on as long as I could. I was let go a week ago because of “performance issues” but I feel so much better. I am happy again. The only thing is, how do I explain this in an interview? Can someone give me some advise? Thank you.

Eight months ago, I resigned from a local government job. Although COBRA has been expensive, it was the best thing I have done. I don’t regret a minute of it.

After 6 years with a company that I truly enjoyed working for, I was spending most of my after work hours in tears due to a new supervisor with a micromanagerial stlye. I began writing my resignation letter on the morning of September 11th, 2001 and I was interrupted by the historic events of that day, as the company made a decision to send all employees home as a safety precaution. As I watched the tragic events of that day unfold on television, I was convinced more than ever that life can be much shorter than expected, and it can take a sad and unusual twist at any moment.
The very next morning I resumed the letter of resignation with confidence that I had made the right decision.

Loved this article. Currently working in Human Resources, and want to share a different perspective. My main focus is recruiting which allows me the opportunity to judge candidates on their responses to the interview questions I ask and, even more telling, on the questions candidates ask me.

I am astounded that more candidates do not pose more probing questions to the interviewer! If you are interviewing for a job where you could spend between 40 and 60 hours a week in close quarters with your boss and coworkers, wouldn’t you want to know more about them? Wouldn’t you want to know about the culture, environment, and values of that organization? Wouldn’t you want to know how your supervisor and team mates are going to react in different situations?

Potential employers are going to ask you the tough questions and expect you to answer honestly. You should expect the same. Further, you should avoid an employer who won’t answer your questions (or worse, gives you vague/meaningless answers). Ask the tough questions and continue asking them until you’re satisfied.

Accepting a job offer simply because the pay is lucrative or the benefits are great is tantamount to failure if the environment is awful. Do your homework and make sure it’s a good fit for you!

You should never stay in any situation that those not bring you a certain level of peace and contentment. If your job is making you miserable you should look for another job first and then hand in your resignation. That way you kill two birds with one stone. You leave the life shortening stressful situation and you do not end up broke and unemployed

Joyangel123

I joined a company after befriending the companies owner, he asked to come and work for him and he promised a lot. Good salary, car, flexible hours etc.. All the things i´d been looking for.
My first day i met the general manager, and i soon realised that their relationship was built on stony ground. She explained that i had been hoodwinked into working for this company and to watch my back where “my friend” was concerned. I chose just to get on with it, make the most of it and see how it went.
I quickly found my self in an impossible situation as the rest of the existing staff thought that i had been planted as a spy. Ths wasn´t the case and was never asked to do this.
As the time went by, my friend became more and more distant and seemed dissappointed that i didn´t have more bad things to say about his company. Truth be told the company worked extremely well. Having used my personality to throw off the spy shrouds, i quickly built up a strong personal and business relationship with my GM and other staff, i was promoted, had various pay increases and found the flexibility of the job much to my liking.
This was to all change the moment i took it upon myself to involve my self in business decisions, trying to improve systems and tried to empower some fellow colleagues based upon my strong relationships with the boss and directors.
I was quickly told that i was interfering, causing trouble, and not concentrating on my job. It was a case of get out with whatever i could, or endure a demotion and a pay cut. How things can change, literally overnight. After i had secured all payments, i received a letter from my employer explaining that sometimes friends over step the boundaries. All i was trying to do was to be a good employee. What can you do!

When you finally decide to get out, stop a moment and think about whether you can get a bit of severance pay before you go. What have you got to lose by asking? I did this when the company restructured. I had been there for four years, and was well liked. However, my job disappeared. I knew they wanted to find a way to get rid of me, but could find no justification to do so. So, I suggested a win-win for them: I would go quietly on my way, saving them the legal problem of letting me go, IF THEY GAVE ME SIX WEEKS OF SEVERANCE PAY. My new boss looked so relieved at my suggestion, and my “yes” letter came later that day.

I agree with the signs i was about to quick from my Job for several reasons. Last year my boss run away to another Job, and a new boss arrived, at the beggining it was fine, even tough he took credits for my ideas and my ex boss job i didnt bother, I got a raise in my paycheck so i guessed it was fine. Keeped my track on winning projects. However my boss keep us presenting more and more projects without further assestment of our capabilities and posibilities. We started to worked extra hours, I started to saving his ass when things were about to crash…

However when we got a huge project canceled from one of our main customers, and got some bad press, I got to answer for that when i was not the one in charge, and when many of the decision that generated the project cancelation were maded by my boss and the Director of the company…

So, they start kind of blaming me for that and compainning about the project in public in front of my colleagues.

I was hard, i did not know what to do, i just regreted saved my boss ass in the past… finally we negotiated my way out… and i am starting my own business as a consultant.. and looking out for oportunities.

I had two jobs in a row that were just awful.

The first was for a tiny non-profit service organization that was started by a friend. What I didn’t realize when I took the job was that the friend had really backed off of his involvement and erroneously assumed all was well. I found an organization that I felt was misusing federal grant money, was managed by absentee volunteers, and had staff that preferred to surf the net rather than keep the records up-to-date. On top of all that, a cultural mis-fit was evident from the beginning. I left aft er four months.

My next job was amazingly worse. It was perfect on paper, but what I found was an idealist, shoot-for-the-stars boss who had me chasing bad ideas — I later learned she’d had my predecessor chase the same ideas with similar results. The team had no respect for her or our agency and turmoil reigned. I was afraid to leave too quickly, and hung in there for nearly a year, striving to make it a better place for the staff that I managed (we are still friends).

After 11 months, I found the perfect job. Twice burned, I was very thorough in this interview, and asked a lot about the team and made my own assessment of how the team functioned during the interview. It was the perfect match, and has been for over a year now.

Get out when a job is bad– Annie’s tips are right on!

I was deeply torn about my last job for a while. On the one hand, I had great coworkers, the benefits were great, and the hours were very flexible. On the other hand… the pay was crap, there was zero potential for advancement, and my boss was INSANE (to the point where I had no idea how the business stayed afloat).

Most of my unhappiness was directly boss-related, and I liked a lot about the job otherwise, so I really was torn. What finally did it was finding out that the boss was routinely lying to customers and crossing some clear ethical boundaries with them — and reporting it to higher management basically led to a round of shrugs. So add to the list:
9. You’re asked to do anything unethical or illegal, or your workplace is nonchalant about unethical activity.

Sadly, it took me 6 months to find another job (“growing job market” my @#$!!), but I’m a lot happier where I am now — and me and my former co-workers are still great friends!

This article is very timely for me also. I have been at my job for 1 year and 3 miserable months. I have been looking for another job for a while now. I am about ready to start begging for another job.

My department consists of 10 people, and unfortunately 7 of them are control freaks. I took this job thinking that it was going to be a good opportunity and I could learn a lot from my boss. It turns out that the exact opposite is true. I can’t tell you how many times since I have started that I have figured out something told to me in the interview was a lie. My boss lies, manipulates and takes credit for everything. It is terrible.

What a miserable place to be. I have been contemplating quitting without another job…..I will be thinking much harder about that now. I am just not sure the stress and anxiety it is worth it.

I just left my job for a competitor which is the industry leader and I feel great! I am also very lucky because my new team is solid and I know most of them already.
My plan was to do something different because I was miserable at my previous firm but I realized that I enjoyed the type of work I was doing, just not the work environment.
One clear indicator that it is time to go is when there is a sudden increase in turnover and the company has trouble replacing them.
Remember that The Talent is the first to leave.

The worst job I ever held was in a tiny (4 people total) office – a small banking association consisting of an executive director, a marketing director, and me & another administrative woman. The other three people were married with kids – I was married with none. They spent all day long on the phone with their kids, or on the phone with their spouses taking about the kids, or going to school to pick up the kids, or staying home with the sick kids. Guess who got left to tend the office all the time? Guess who did all the work?? ME! Guess who got the lowest raise every year? ME!! They were in some sort of exclusive club together, always telling kid stories or commiserating about their kids. I swear. I stayed there four years and my resentment grew exponentially each year. During one of my reviews the executive director suggested that I should start a family so I would mature a little bit – you can bet my jaw about hit the floor on that one. It wasn’t very long after that when I gave my notice. None of the work got done after I left, and within a year the association was foundering and was “absorbed” by a larger state banking association …and all three of them lost their jobs. I hope they’re having fun at home with the kids right now!

I started working at a computer networking company in 1999. Three months into the job, the company reorganized and I found myself reporting to a first-time sales manager. His was the one discenting vote not to hire me, out of the ten people who interviewed me. He was determined to get rid of me. He would schedule 7 AM meetings with me in the office and then not show up. He would also blame me for problems which other people caused and publically humiliate me at corporate sales meetings. When I asked his boss to pay attention to the situation, I was further penalized. As the Dot Com Era and its commensurate businesses tanked, the treatment got worse. All these high-performers, including my sadistic sales manager, suddenly couldn’t meet sales targets and the pressure on me escalated. When I finally went to Human Resources for help, I quickly realized that they were not about making work life better, but about protecting their incompetent managment. I was given a choice of being put on a performance plan or taking a severance package. It took the package and ran. I also learned that I am worth more than any amount of money. Now I make less and love my job. You couldn’t pay me any amount of money to take that kind of treatment. My question is: Why do HR departments work so hard to build a healthy culture and then protect and tolerate the very people who try to undermine it?

Any or all of these 10 things can be going on and the company has no intention of canning you. They may just want to demoralize you and keep you around to do the grunt work no one else wants to do. I know this is true because a friend of mine just resigned a position he’d held for 18 years. He’d been hoping things would get bettter for the last 10. They didn’t. Now he is going to take a few months off, take a long vacation to clear his head, rid himself of the toxicity and start all over again.

I have quit a job when I realized the corporate culture wasn’t a good fit for me and, therefor, there was no way to succeed. How long did it take me to figure this our? About two weeks.

I basically agree with the reasons to get leave a company if you experiance these 8 signs. Although you must keep in mind who these signs may apply to, for example if you want to be a leader than you must change your enviornment, if you are general staff person that does not aspire to climb the ladder than you should maybe leave to where it is safe.

I worked for a time (too long) at a large computer company and hated it more and more as time went on. In my first year alone I had six different managers. I know I stayed too long, but I couldn’t bring myself to give up the paycheck. Then I was one of many in several rounds of layoffs and that was the best thing that ever happened to me. My former manager could never understand why I wasn’t devastated at being laid off… I now have a better job in a better place with a little more money. I also know to not stay that long again.

Hello Annie,

Well I was fired from my job over two years ago, I put up with my boss bad moods and verbal abuse because I had a goal to work in the company for 10 years until I was 62 and could retire, but I was fires shortly before my sixth year, there were a few signs she was about to fire me but it was withing two weeks after I hurt my ankle that I noticed a big change, my boss she didn’t ask how I was feeling and if I was O.K. then she stop talking to me three days before she fired me.
Well in the bright side my health has improved and no longer need medication.
Now I have my own business and doing well I’ll never work for a company again.

Olga Martinez
Ridgecrest CA.

This article couldn’t have come at a better time. I am currently working for an automotive supplier and about six of these signs all point to me getting out while I still have some semblance of sanity. I started looking a few weeks ago and have had a couple of interviews but now I am going to step-up my search and get out of here as soon as possible.

Public accounting for a big four firm. Although the majority of the people are absolute gems, a few minority that are your immediate supervisors on a client or job, made it absolutely miserable. On top of the fact that the job is mostly client interaction, if the client has employees that treat you no better than the dirt on their shoe, chances are you have to live with it rather than risk the firm losing a revenue source stream. Not nice when you get the feeling the firm feels more inclined to appease their clients than to their own employees’ well-being.

True, why stay? #1 reason it’s money now.
I work in the staffing Industry, the other shoe is dropping NOW! When hiring skids all bets are off about the economy and it is happening for the last 2 months. Gov’t indicators are 3 months behind this is what’s happening right now.

Having survived several corporate reorganizations, I ended up with a job that was pure misery…10 hours/day in front of a computer, no people contact, I was a poster boy for a couple of those symptoms…more money, though.

One day I realized that I no longer remembered the words to the company song, I stood up in my cube and walked out…my stuff is probably still there in a box somewhere.

As it turned out, its the best thing that I ever did…now happily self employed, making much more, and enjoying working with people again

I use to work for a big biotech who is now ‘restructuring’; the company was great with benefits, company car and other carrots, but I couldn’t figure out why I was so unhappy. Bayer’s list says it all. At least 3 or more fit in my situation. I finally left but when people notice which biotech I left they are always amazed, “Why!?” I wished there were more competent managers with substance and integrity next to their “MBA” degrees.

Its A unfortunate situation. Most of the Job’s or Careers you find are going to have these situations. Ive been a military brat my whole life so job hopping was common. Ive found in the job’s that ive obtained have been very unorganized and over rated. Everyone thinks you have to be some type of rocket scientist to manage and comunicate with others,(according to the corp world). Ive been employed in half of the united states from Hawaii to Alaska, and where ever i find my self working i find minipulative and belidling employers, not willing to help there fellow co-workers succeed. Its a cruel selfish world…Good luck to those who put there heart and soul into there work. I hope you find the place that fits…Its not always about the money..

I knew it was time to leave when my stomach pains were so bad that I had to curl up under my desk because sitting up hurt too much. I probably should have left months earlier, but I’ve always been taught to “suck it up and deal” rather than leave a bad situation. My current job is much better.

I co-founded a management consulting firm 15 years ago. We serve franchised automobile dealers in a variety of ways. Until March, I had 4 partners, a strong ‘6-figure’ salary and bonus package, and the satisfaction that goes with serving clients, creating jobs, and building a $2.5M annual business.

For the past year, partner relations became acrimonious. I felt we were ‘over-selling,’ and ‘under-delivering.’ So, I forced a ‘buy-out.’ I am amazed how we changed from great friends to near enemies in such a short time.

But my ‘gut’ tells me I did the right thing for myself and clients.

Had a similar experience with my most recent employer. Because I didn’t want to seem like a job hopper, I tried to endure as long as possible, probably too long. I ended up being let go a week after getting a pay increase. I wish I had started looking earlier or even quit. Now, I have to explain being let go. At the same time, I feel so much more calm. Even looking for a job is less stressful than the stress I endured while at my previous employer.

I loved my job for 4 years, then the CEO changed. Inside of 6 months, most of the management between the CEO and me also changed along with the “tone” of the management. I tried to adapt, hoping it would get better. It never did. The signs you listed were there, not just for me but most of the employees. I am now much happier… somewhere else.

I once worked at a small financial firm and the boss was a total idiot. All she did was yell and scream at me for every little thing. I was sooooo glad that she fired me!

starting considering leaving a job after the boss had degraded to yelling at me for working on A instead of B. 24 hours later he was yelling at me for working on B and not A. Co-workers wondered what his problem was. I found a new job at 25% more pay. during the exit interview, HR admitted they knew he was a problem. Thank you very much, that did nothing for me! Another job had the classic hating to go to work. I would sit in the parking lot and wait until the last minute to enter the building. I was miserable so I found a different job. I took the quiz and have at least 2 of the 8 signs in my current job. 6 months left to go in the contract! Hang in there!

I fit 3 or more of these descriptions, and I just started my career! I recently graduated from school and I dread going to work every morning. I also know that some of my peers have been talking about me behind my back because a coworker has told me! I’m extremely unhappy and frustrated and at this point I feel like I am at a loss. I’ve only worked here a few months and it’s my first job so I’m so nervous about finding a new one so soon. I’m afraid of being perceived has a bad worker.

I worked at a mortgage company during the mortgage “boom” and it was terrible. The owner/manager was the worst I had and everyone was concerned about making as much money as possible with zero regard to the customre they were selling mortgages to. It was a hostile enviornment to say the least. Glad I got out…