Advice regarding work - Thinking of quitting

[-Mike-]

Hey all,

Hopefully I can keep this short, but I'm after some advice relating to work. I've been employed at the same place now for the last five years, initially started out working in one of the on site outlets, then promoted to supervisor of that outlet.

Last year I decided I had had enough of working in that outlet and wanted to work at another on site facility (all managed by the same company). As a favour to the manager of the first facility I worked at I agreed to work a week with him this year as he didn't have any staff for a week long period of being open. Lets call this manager Jim.

I worked with him from Saturday until the following Saturday, however this is where things started to go a little sour. Friday he said to me, thanks for this week - its quiet though so you don't really want to work tomorrow to which I said yes, its no problem I'll finish out the week. He insisted I had it off as it was so quiet, so I agreed and said thanks and that was that.

Fast forward to Monday, I was called into the General Managers office and asked why I had refused to come in on the Saturday. As you can imagine I was a tad shocked by this statement and disputed this. Being accused of refusing to come into work wasn't nice.

Thankfully Jim didn't realise a previous member of staff was in the establishment at the time and they backed up my story as well as a member of the general public.

Now, the general manager accepted this wasn't the case, but offered nothing by way of apology for the false accusation, nor was Jim every reprimanded over telling a big lie to (I assume) try and get me fired from the company.

We have a regular client base, and Jim now see's fit to tell everyone who asks about my whereabouts (I consider some of these clients to be more than just customers) that he got rid of me and any other random things tagged onto the end of this statement. One customer ran into me and questioned why I was got rid of, and asked what I had done. They did this infront of another manager.... again nothing done by the general manager and weekly I am getting asked why I was got rid of by various clients.

Its infuriating, and should I want to get a job elsewhere I am concerned that this type of thing may affect it! I was the bee's knees in my position, according to Jim, until I wanted to leave! Now I am the devil apparently.

Now I have been tasked for years now with the repair of IT equipment, and various random faults as and when they occur which saves this company quite a lot of money each year. The IT work is not in my job description, I haven't worked in dedicated IT role for six years now since my previous employers went bust. I do not get paid a good wage for this work, and quite frankly have had enough of being used to do this instead of consulting with the external services provider. I'm sure they wouldn't be asking me to do it, if I weren't saving them ~£50 an hour for remote support and almost £100 for onsite visits.

I have raised issue with the general manager about this conduct but have just been told not to worry about it, and to be civil to Jim as ' we all have to work together'.

I'd just like some advice to be honest, what would anyone else do? My gut instinct is telling me to quit. I have enough saved to survive for a little while whilst finding other employment. Staying there whilst finding alternative employment isn't an option as far as I'm concerned, the atmosphere and constant questioning as to why I'm not in the section I was in any more is really starting to get to me!

I also find it quite insulting to have this person allowed to paint me in a negative light to existing clients.

If anyone can offer any insight or advice I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Formal grievance via HR.

Sounds like a horrible place to work tbh

 

[Musty Pie]

It's Life, Jim, But Not As We Know It

 

[randal]

Hmm, so Jim didn't fix it for you?

Sounds like an old boy's club there, if I was angry enough I might stick it out but these days cash and a stress-free life is king so I'd probably tell them to stick it and find a better job elsewhere.

 

[.Lethal]

I have raised issue with the general manager about this conduct but have just been told not to worry about it, and to be civil to Jim as ' we all have to work together'.

It's a shame other members of staff is unable to remain civil.

This is something for HR as another poster said. To dismiss someone raising a problem with another member of staff and advising to be civil when that's not possible really is not taking the problem seriously.

Leaving your job is a last resort and I would probably advise to exhaust every other option first, and even then you should ideally move into another job before leaving the current one.

 

[gjrc]

how big is this company? the general manager sounds like a richard too.

 

[-Mike-]

Formal grievance via HR.

Sounds like a horrible place to work tbh

It used to be ok, well I say it was ok - I took the job due to my previous place going under - and perhaps rose tinted glasses at the time but I was just thrilled to have another job so quickly. I've never been out of work and enjoy a days work. I just don't enjoy being made to look like an utter (insert something) to people who I have become friendly with over the years by his constant false stories and negativity towards my character.

It's Life, Jim, But Not As We Know It

Hmm, so Jim didn't fix it for you?

Sounds like an old boy's club there, if I was angry enough I might stick it out but these days cash and a stress-free life is king so I'd probably tell them to stick it and find a better job elsewhere.

Thankfully Jim never fixed it for me, I did write him a letter when I was a wee lad!

Funnily enough the dominant members of staff have been there years, certainly Jim has been there fifteen years or more.

 

[-Mike-]

It's a shame other members of staff is unable to remain civil.

This is something for HR as another poster said. To dismiss someone raising a problem with another member of staff and advising to be civil when that's not possible really is not taking the problem seriously.

Leaving your job is a last resort and I would probably advise to exhaust every other option first, and even then you should ideally move into another job before leaving the current one.

Would it be prudent to speak to CAB or ACAS or similar first? The GM didn't really want to know, brushed it under the carpet as it were.

how big is this company? the general manager sounds like a richard too.

The company employs somewhere between 25 and 50 people depending on the time of the year. It appears that Jim is rather untouchable to me - he's been called up on poor work performance before, high wage bill for his staff and yet nothing is done.

 

[anything I don't mind]

Tell the guy to stop bad mouthing you in front of clients. If he continues tell your boss that you are not happy about it. Look for another job in the mean time, once you have one lined up then move on. Sounds like they are giving you a hard time. The experience of being ganged up on and pushed out is rubbish.

 

[-Mike-]

Tell the guy to stop bad mouthing you in front of clients. If he continues tell your boss that you are not happy about it. Look for another job in the mean time, once you have one lined up then move on. Sounds like they are giving you a hard time. The experience of being ganged up on and pushed out is rubbish.

I have told the general manager I'm unhappy at being belittled and badmouthed to other people. Some of these people I've formed good relationships with over the last few years, we speak about work related things but also on a friendly level. I'm disappointed he's resorted to it, but it isn't unexpected.

I've been applying for jobs for the last couple of weeks. I'm currently off work recovering from an operation.

Thanks to everyone for the response so far by the way, its appreciated.

 

[antijoke]

Raise a grievance straight away, Jim sounds like a dick.

 

[kindai]

Yup, get it in as a formal grievance, make sure to log down every incident related to this, no matter how small, should the company fail to provide an adequate solution having it all logged down will help should you ever need to go down the route of constructive dismissal or similar.

 

[Maccy]

Jim sounds like a noob. Get Jim sacked.

 

[-Mike-]

Yup, get it in as a formal grievance, make sure to log down every incident related to this, no matter how small, should the company fail to provide an adequate solution having it all logged down will help should you ever need to go down the route of constructive dismissal or similar.

Their solution is that when the big projects come in the winter I'll have to work alongside him, so be civil and get along

Raise a grievance straight away, Jim sounds like a dick.

Jim sounds like a noob. Get Jim sacked.

Jim won't be going anywhere, not really sure why or how but he seems to be untouchable.

Unfortunately this has been building up for so long its affecting my life outside of work, won't go too much into the health side but certainly as far as anxiety, sleep and stomach movements are concerned I am not what I used to be. I also struggle with memory of short term things now and lack concentration ability. I had a recent MRI scan due to a weakness down the left hand side which thankfully was clear, but the doctor suggested at the time certain things may be anxiety related and now I'm starting to wonder.

 

[randal]

anxiety, sleep and stomach movements are concerned I am not what I used to be. I also struggle with memory of short term things now and lack concentration ability.

If it's any consolation, I had exactly this a year ago and still get bouts of it from time to time. It was caused by work stress for me, and was/is horrendous. It's self fulfilling, nobody seems to give a squirt or just tells you you're overreacting and it takes it's sweet time to pass.

However if like when I read your post you feel some comfort when you read this know that it improves and is only temporary.

See the doc if you're worried as always though.

 

[thep02]

Jim needs a ******* smack in his over used gob.

 

[Jono]

Poo in his coffee mug and post it through his letterbox.

 

[-Mike-]

If it's any consolation, I had exactly this a year ago and still get bouts of it from time to time. It was caused by work stress for me, and was/is horrendous. It's self fulfilling, nobody seems to give a squirt or just tells you you're overreacting and it takes it's sweet time to pass.

However if like when I read your post you feel some comfort when you read this know that it improves and is only temporary.

See the doc if you're worried as always though.

Actually, I find that comforting, as to be honest I thought I was starting to lose my mind. Amongst other conclusions that is, my friends parents have health issues with their minds now and I was starting to be concerned I was going the same way. Thank you for posting.

Jim needs a ******* smack in his over used gob.

Jim needs something. Unfortunately, I'm not the first and won't be the last. I've witnessed his nasty side aimed at someone else before.

Poo in his coffee mug and post it through his letterbox.

Ocuk and Jono - Never failing to deliver

 

[randal]

Actually, I find that comforting, as to be honest I thought I was starting to lose my mind. Amongst other conclusions that is, my friends parents have health issues with their minds now and I was starting to be concerned I was going the same way. Thank you for posting.

Yep that sounds the same as well. You drive yourself crazy trying to work out what's wrong with you, and in the absence of firm fact you start hypothesising all sorts of horrible self diagnosis. I even went to the extent of setting myself little memory tests each day etc.

Drop me a trust if you want to sound off about it, happy to listen bud.

 

[-Mike-]

Yep that sounds the same as well. You drive yourself crazy trying to work out what's wrong with you, and in the absence of firm fact you start hypothesising all sorts of horrible self diagnosis. I even went to the extent of setting myself little memory tests each day etc.

Drop me a trust if you want to sound off about it, happy to listen bud.

Thank you mate, I will do when I'm near the computer!