Last week I blew up and walked out on a decent job. Not the best job ever but it was doable even though it aggravated many aspects of my Fibromyalgia everyday. The hours were ok for me and it wasn’t too far from home although the pay was low. It was the most boring job ever but sometimes almost Zen in an odd sort of way.
There was nepotism involved. Almost every one who worked there had worked either together or in the industry for over twenty years except me. So there was also a slight bit of me being an outsider involved. There was a little bit of bullying also from another worker who I only saw for a few hours every night.
So when someone stole some items from me and the supervisor saw and did nothing because of nepotism that lit the fuse. Then when I made the same mistake as the plant manager and the morning supervisor and got the not so royal treatment we shall say and they didn’t well the fuse burned a lot hotter. I still let some things slide. Then all hell broke loose and nepotism reared it’s ugly head like a giant roaring two headed dragon.
The fuse reached the target and blew like the biggest volcano ever seen! I told the supervisor in no uncertain terms at the top of my lungs where everyone could hear (just like she had scolded me) that she was the worst supervisor I had ever had and stormed out.
There are others who feel exactly as I did and would love to do the same but don’t feel they have the option that I did. Some just bulldoze their way around all day making everyone share their frustration and others just internalize it and keep quiet just doing their job.
So exactly how much should one ignore at work? How long should one be the bigger person? I have moments where I regret doing what I did. Mainly because I hate change. I know I can find another job maybe even one that will be much better but I have to deal with the change. I realize that it would be no big deal to some people but to me it is. A little bit anyway. My daughter is strong. I told her I was going to wait until my back felt better because I really threw it out a couple of weeks ago and have been in pain since then. Her response was, “No you aren’t, you’re going to get right back out there and find another job!” She doesn’t want me to stay one the ground but to get back on the horse. She knows me all too well. I do have a few projects that I am going to finish before I go looking though.
I have wondered if my feelings were also somewhat fueled by the fact that it was 9/15 and I had stewed on the stolen things for days. Days after watching the 9/11 stories on T.V. all day and night. And 9/11 a few years ago is when my mom passed.
So what are your thoughts? Supposedly I have about 190 something followers on this blog so I would like to hear from you all about similar experiences at work. What jobs have you left? What was it that pushed you into action? What was the straw that broke that camel’s back? Did you regret standing up for yourself and leaving in a storm of words that can never be taken back?
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I, too, have worked in a volatile environment. The “good old boys club.” I got into a lot of trouble with my department head because he was a jackass and I wanted to prove that he didn’t own me. My saving grace was that he retired. But politics still run rampant in the workplace. My only advice is to just do your job and keep out of all of it. All I want to do is do my work and go home. Once I leave that place I can play and laugh and cry and be myself. I don’t want to be pulled into the drama of the workplace anymore. So I give them the quiet treatment. Ignore the bastards.
I knew someone else there who did that. Oh well too late now. I’m outta there! Thanks for your input. 🙂