When is enough enough? (Need some Advice)

Brian Parker

Brian Parker

Well-known member
OK, I just need a little advice. For the past 6 months or so, I've had a pretty terrible job. Lousy hours and schedule, time consuming, and worst of all, terrible boss.

With the economy and the job market in it's current state, I've forced myself to grin and bear it while I look for something better. I'm thankful that I have a job because I know there are a lot of people who don't. The problem is that the guy in charge is the WORST person I have ever had the displeasure of working with, in any capacity. He treats all the employees like crap, pushes his work off onto everybody else, sexually harasses the females, insists on us working off of the clock, and talks to people in a way that exudes a complete lack of respect. He's got a habit of scolding me like I'm some sort of ill-mannered child over the most irrelevant things. He called me after 11 tonight to complain that I hadn't finished some sort of task and demanded that I come in on my off time to finish it, again, off of the clock.

I've never been one to complain and have been known to be more tolerant of things than I probably should be. I've worked in quite a few different environments and have managed to deal with many difficult people but when is enough enough? My mind state right now is to hand in my resignation effective immediately.

I'm not trying to whine here and I apologize for the wall of text but I just need some fresh perspective on the whole thing. I'm trying to not be brash. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
that really sucks. if you have the means to support yourself right now, quit. but if you don't have anything to fall back on, look for another job and continue to work there until you find one.
 
Well, if you're 50/50 on quitting right now... what I would do (ideally) would be to let the boss know that his management skills are hurting the company. If all of the workers feel this way, get more people to let him know how they feel. Be very nice and professional about it. If it gets your fired, well, it's not the end of the world because you might have quit anyway. If your boss is understanding to some degree and things change, they might be for the better.

Being in high school I don't really understand how hard to is to fully support yourself with the economy right now, so maybe it's better to be more conservative than what I said to do.

Good luck. One more thing -- if it's really so bad that you can't be happy, don't keep going through with it. Some people work 12+ hours a day at a job they hate for their entire lives. What is the point of that? You don't need much money to be happy. It seems like some people just get caught up into the routine of hating their current situation and they have trouble breaking out of their current mindset.
 
If it were me, it would be a choice between quitting and homicide...and I don't like prison food.

Money ain't everything. In fact, it ain't even close.
 
Drew Ott said:
Well, if you're 50/50 on quitting right now... what I would do (ideally) would be to let the boss know that his management skills are hurting the company. If all of the workers feel this way, get more people to let him know how they feel.
Being in high school I don't really understand how hard to is to fully support yourself with the economy right now, so maybe it's better to be more conservative than what I said to do.

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Wow, I don't know if I'd do that. If you're having issues with an employer I'd suggest you start documenting things -- but keep it to yourself. Never know when you'll need the ammo. What's suggested above sounds political and 99%, despite any good intentions, will not go over well.

I have no advice other than it's good to keep you nose clean, don't walk away from a paycheck until you have something better lined up.

Good luck.
 
I agree with Brian as well, take a step back from it for a moment, and then come back in and start counting it all up. Nothing ever holds up in an argument when specifically asked what has happened and just saying vague things. But if you have the specific ammo and times and all of that stuff it is awsome for yourself when and IF you need it at all.

Ive had these same circumstances at a place i couldnt quit and never did quit and kinda went about it trying to rally troops against a person, its not easy at all and people fall off of the band wagon, just trust facts and yourself.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I really appreciate it. I'm trying to keep my cool. In all honesty, it's a retail job that doesn't even pay that well but it is my only steady income. It's just hard to deal with the constant nonsense, not to mention that the place seems to turn me into a zombie.

I am taking what you guys said into consideration though and just trying to let it marinate.
 
I think the fact that you've posted on here is answering it itself.

Yeah, I'd quit.

Everyone's advice may be from freelancers, people with job's, steady income, or rich people. I might be wrong. But this is coming from someone with no job and whose actually kinda happy about it.

Like someone said, having no job is not the end of the world.
However like you already know a job is important at such times because of the economy.

What's the point in being in being depressed and angry at yourself if your in a bad job with a bad boss, if at the end of the day the outcome and money can't solve your problem's and make you happy.

Now it might be the fact I just woke up and the extra strong coffee I'm having this morning.
But, i'd do one of two things:

1/ I'd quit, kick him in the neck with some kind of metalic tipped boots.
2/ I'd quit, use Brian's idea - (have a diary of ammo to use against your boss or for back-up, never know when you may need it indeed) - and try to get as many worker's on your side at possible.

Or if your feeling real adventurous - try to start a mutiny or get everyone together to stand up against your boss. Either one, sound's eventful to me.

Let us know what you decide on doing.

Whether it be
 
I don't what company you work for but if it is a company with conduct policies I'm sure they don't tolerate sexual harrassment, disrespectful conduct, and forcing you working off the clock, which is against the law in my state.

I would do as others said and keep a detailed record of EVERYTHING he does that is unacceptable and report your findings to a higher up and if that does not work go even higher. You must be a strong dude because I will NOT tolerate ANYONE speaking to me in a disrespectful manner and I never disrespect anyone unless they come at me sideways. good luck. Just don't go postal.

Many years ago in my teenage years me and buddy beat down the assisstant manager at Burger King, and I mean a royal ass whoopin, because he kept calling us monkeys. I had to do 1000 hours of community service for that. Was it worth it? In hindsight.....Yes it was. But that community service was done at the local sewage plant.
 
Champloo, I've been zombie-like on couple of different jobs now and I had more or less the same kind of situation like yours before couple of months.

I was thinking whether to quit the not-so-great-job, but not the worst in the world either. I had steady income, not very good tho for amount of work I had, but some parts were pretty much ok. Others and most of it-wasn't.

After thinking couple of months on quiting and unsuccesfuly looking for another, better job, I snapped and quit. I assured myself everything is better than slowly accepting your enviroment until you cannot fight it anymore, so I entered into some new job that sounded pretty much ok.

Result?

Job I'm having now is crap, and I'm again looking for new one. :) But, I'm not that sorry for quiting my previous one and got on even worse; it's just sort of gamble I was prepared for.

Mind you-that last job of mine was not terrible, but it sucked, I worked too long there and it started to eat me inside.

Your thinking is correct-look something better while living through this. When enough is enough of course, depends on you, your current financial situation and ambitions in life.
Imagine what will happen if it turns out bad after you quit? If you can't get a new job and have income or if you get even worse job?

If you're ready for that kind of risk, then enough is already enough for you.
Good luck. :)
 
I have been in a similar situation twice. It's hard to find the right path. Brian is right with documenting. Is there any room for advancement? Can you get promoted or lateral transfer? Or are you flat out stuck with this guy as your boss? Keep hunting for a better job. Go for those interview.
 
Yeah filthrich...the whole disrespect thing has been a BIG issue for me. I've tried my best to be all zen and everything but I'm at my limit. Yeah, it's kind of rough and the guy's a jerk and all but the thing that really bothers me more than anything else is I'm kind of being "rocked to sleep". As much as I dislike the place, I find myself slipping into the "at least it's a steady paycheck" mindset which I feel is the first step to ultimately sacrificing my dreams and peace of mind.

I think the real measure of it for me was when I compared it to my last job...a 9 to 5 cubicle job where I was paid decent money. I literally spent 3 hours a day driving (hour and a half each way) and by the time I got home, I usually passed out. I still had those weekends though and I still managed to work on films during those times. Now, I can't find the time or mental clarity to get any creative work done and it's killing me.

I gave my notice this morning after going in off the clock to finish the stuff he was complaining about. He tried to talk it out and convince me to stay, asking what my plans are and all of that but it felt like a shallow attempt to cover shifts because he's already short-handed. I guess what it boils down to is that, to me, all this stress is not worth a part-time retail job.

Thanks again guys. Glad I asked here. Filmmakers have that certain magical combination of rationality and insanity that often gives the perfect perspective.
 
Give me a bucket full of ammonia, some rubber gloves, his address and 12 hours ill frame him for murder for you! hahah jk but I agree with brians idea of taking a log on this guy then you can always show his superiors if he has any. Or you could start spreading nasty anonnomous rumors about him until he quits, or say it was other employees to get on his good side haha again jk.

Anyway good luck to you,

Graham Robbins
 
Champloo said:
I think the real measure of it for me was when I compared it to my last job...a 9 to 5 cubicle job where I was paid decent money. I literally spent 3 hours a day driving (hour and a half each way) and by the time I got home, I usually passed out. I still had those weekends though and I still managed to work on films during those times. Now, I can't find the time or mental clarity to get any creative work done and it's killing me.

I gave my notice this morning after going in off the clock to finish the stuff he was complaining about. He tried to talk it out and convince me to stay, asking what my plans are and all of that but it felt like a shallow attempt to cover shifts because he's already short-handed. I guess what it boils down to is that, to me, all this stress is not worth a part-time retail job.

Thanks again guys. Glad I asked here. Filmmakers have that certain magical combination of rationality and insanity that often gives the perfect perspective.
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Well it sounds like you've made your choice, but when I saw that you said it is keeping you from your filmmaking I had to respond. I've worked a couple of those type of soul killing jobs and lost a couple years developing my skills at filmmaking. Some jobs just have this weird negative effect on us, no matter how dedicated we are to filmmaking. Good to get out of them as soon as possible.
 
Does HE have a boss? Like everyone else said... document, and keep it to yourself. Or if there is one or two coworkers you find absolutely trustworthy, maybe get them in on it to help. Then go to his boss.

Sexual harassment isn't cool, and a lawsuit just waiting to happen. Working off the clock isn't cool, is lawsuit just waiting to happen... and is just mildly illegal.

From a management perspective, this guy needs to be dealt with... quick. If he is doing all that you say, he is a liability to the company and if he isn't the supreme head cheese, whomever is needs to know.
 
Okay, you posted as I was writing... I would still let his superiors know if he has them. From the sounds of it, he's the kind of guy whom quitting on will be viewed as burning a bridge anyways, so if you have documentation of it, I would go to your state department of labor (or whatever the appropriate authority is) and file a grievance about it the working off the clock.
 
An email to human resources sometimes works wonders. Not to mention most companies have an exit interview or survey. Speak your mind, tell someone that can do something.

Congratulations on leaving that type of environment.
 
Many years ago in my teenage years me and buddy beat down the assisstant manager at Burger King, and I mean a royal ass whoopin, because he kept calling us monkeys. I had to do 1000 hours of community service for that. Was it worth it? In hindsight.....Yes it was. But that community service was done at the local sewage plant.
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I wouldn't suggest resorting to violence if it can be helped, but that's a pretty legitimate reason. What an ass.

How long did 1000 hours of comminuty service take tp finish? That must have been like a year.
 
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