Work update

[amanda_lodden]

It's probably not a surprise to much of anyone who has heard me complain lately that I do not have a lot of job satisfaction.

It's an inherent danger to being the spouse of the owner-- you end up being the one who handles all the crap jobs that no one else wants to do, and those jobs grow in size and scope until you no longer have the time and energy to do anything but try to keep your head above water. You can't fix the systemic problems because you're so swamped with the things those systemic problems cause. Owners get that too, but they typically have more options for passing things off to others.

The other fun part is that oftentimes, you don't get all the information you need to fix a problem, and a five-minute task takes an hour to track down all the pieces. Sometimes I didn't even know that I HAD a particular task to deal with until a customer inquired about its status or complained about it not being done. Yay!

What made me even less happy is the attitude that most of my requests generated. Often, when I identified a systemic problem, I was told that it wasn't really that big of a problem, or that I didn't have the capability to fix it so I may as well just deal with it, or both. Asking for information to actually complete a task is often met with a sigh and a "why are you bothering me?" attitude.

Wednesday, several things annoyed me, and while the items themselves weren't all that big of a deal, they were each the result of a pervasive problem. I complained, and got the usual "I didn't do it, it's not my fault, why do you even care, go away and leave me alone." And I snapped.

I quit.

I'd like to say that I gave two weeks notice and a detailed explanation of why I'd had enough, but that's not how these sorts of things go, is it? Besides, I've already said that I "snapped".

So, now I am unemployed. I spent today running around and getting some personal things done that have been bothering me for some time, and for now I am quite happy to be unemployed. Should that change, or an excellent opportunity drop into my lap, I'll reconsider. (Cash-wise, nothing has really changed, because my paycheck is actually John's paycheck, so that taxes can be withheld rather than having to pay estimates every quarter.)

[Amendment, because I know how he'll blame himself if I don't say it: Shane2 is a consistent exception to all of the above, and has always, ALWAYS been happy to give me any assistance he could. I feel a bit guilty leaving him holding the bag on some of the crap jobs, since John's already said he picked up a couple of them.]

Comments

[hntrpyanfar.livejournal.com]

hey man... *HUGS*

I'm glad you made your decision and stuck to it. :)

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Working with a spouse is stressful enough, but working in a company where you're treated badly is even worse.

Sounds like you did the sensible thing, even though it seems otherwise on the surface.

Will you be looking for work soon, and if so, what kind of work?

[amanda_lodden.livejournal.com]

I'm not comfortable saying that I was treated badly when it would be more accurate to say that I was taken for granted.

I realize that for many, being taken for granted and being treated badly are the same. For me, after working for a heroin addict, a manager that gave me busy work, a manager that assigned any task to the first person he saw regardless of current load or skillset, and two company partners with wildly different goals for the company, "being treated badly" has different implications.

At the moment, I am focusing on dealing with some of the personal projects that have been piling up.

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

it would be more accurate to say that I was taken for granted.

Which means you were taken for less than your actual value. Considering the similarities between your situation and to some extent Carol's, I'm Not Shocked.

I think it'll be good for you both long term. You need the time off and I think the company needs the perspective that work that Needs To Be Done Is Work That Has Value.

[amanda_lodden.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm certain it'll be good for everyone in the long run. I've popped in for lunch (I miss the social aspect), and found the list on the whiteboard of all of my responsibilities (that they could think of, there's a few missing) and who will be doing them now. So far, it's taken the entire office plus two part-time people to replace me. If nothing else, they have a sudden understanding of what all I did for them.

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

So far, it's taken the entire office plus two part-time people to replace me. If nothing else, they have a sudden understanding of what all I did for them.

That's usually what I call vindicating. :-)

[(Anonymous)]

Back when I was self-employed and the missus handled a lot of my office paperwork, I learned that the communication styles necessary for a cow-orker relationship are completely different than those needed for family life.

When we use the pattern for one in the context of the other, we're fubar.

And hey, the heroin addict wasn't THAT bad. He called me a few years ago to ask for a reference...

==ml

[greyweirdo.livejournal.com]

Go you! Maybe not so good for hubby, but you've got to look after yourself sometimes.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_counterculture/]

*hugs*

[twoofdtm.livejournal.com]

Dood!

Congrats and good luck to you!

P.S. I found your gift that you sent me! One of the roomies brought it in from the mail and I didn't find it for Ghods knows how long. I love it!!! Thank you SO MUCH!

congrats!

[(Anonymous)]

Quitting can be one of the most liberating experiences..... its amazing the pressure that magically lifts off of your shoulders instantly afterward. Your situation might be different but thats how it always has been with me.

I don't consider jrl an a-hole, but I have worked for the biggest a-hole on the entire planet... twice even.... its enough to quick(ly) disconnect you from reality and make your life a living hell.

Good luck and I hope it all works out, it always does eventually.

-Ryan