Might be time to call it a day at my current job..

[oldbikedavey]

I been self employed all my life - so I don't suffer with "the employer thing".

But I still get fed up with work sometimes. I done the same thing all my life and not had any "variety" in my working life.

I going thru "a not so happy period of my working life now".

Loads of reasons - I will list a few.
1. Not too busy and not earning huge money (enough to feed myself and pay the bills - but not big numbers - very little saving money)
2. Can't get parts for some vehicles - everything on back order. So you do all the work - diagnose - sell the job - and then can't do it (frustrating)
3. General public have mostly morphed into "selfish pigs"... With age my patience is just exhausted - with people who are just needy and have an inflated sense of expectation.
4. High fuel prices at pumps kills bottom end car repairers - it did in 2022 when Derv got to £2 per litre at the start of the Ukraine war.

Been here before - I just do less hours - do less work. Find something else to do with the spare time. Cut workshop spending down - no stock - no new tools or kit - turn the lights off.


I come to the conclusion - you not meant to like work all the while - I think it is pretty normal to have period when you are really positive about it - then it is followed by a period when you are just not "into it" - "positive about it". Then it goes full circle and everything is OK again.

I think the long term game plan is - if in your late thirties/early forties. If you can get the domestic debt/mortgage payments down. Keep borrowing and spending down - keep your monthly outgoings down. This buys you less pressure for work and income. Spending less - buys you more choices with work... "every pound you don't spend is one less you not gotta earn" - or be stressed about chasing it...

No pockets in a shroud, mate......

 

[addjunkie]

I been self employed all my life - so I don't suffer with "the employer thing".

But I still get fed up with work sometimes. I done the same thing all my life and not had any "variety" in my working life.

I going thru "a not so happy period of my working life now".



I come to the conclusion - you not meant to like work all the while - I think it is pretty normal to have period when you are really positive about it - then it is followed by a period when you are just not "into it" - "positive about it". Then it goes full circle and everything is OK again.

I think the long term game plan is - if in your late thirties/early forties. If you can get the domestic debt/mortgage payments down. Keep borrowing and spending down - keep your monthly outgoings down. This buys you less pressure for work and income. Spending less - buys you more choices with work... "every pound you don't spend is one less you not gotta earn" - or be stressed about chasing it...

I dont know much about running a garage, but will say dealing with the public is enough to make most folk not happy at times. Many people tell my Mrs when she greets them at our holiday cottages that we are living their dream, maybe we are, but there are still days when “its not so positive” and My Mrs demonstrates how many expletives you can use about customers.

 

[addjunkie]

No pockets in a shroud, mate......

If there were the contents would just get taxed again anyway!

 

[Robotstar5]

....... One piece of advice if you haven’t been in the job market for some time is to get your CV done professionally it will be the best few hundred investment you can make. I’d been looking using my DIY CV and not getting many hits. I took the plunge and got a professional one and the hit rate was massive.

I agree with that, although my professional CV didn't cost a lot, one of my neighbours was an HR manager who used to chair interview panels in a big company, she looked at my "home made" CV, took a few notes and a couple of weeks later gave me a "proper" CV, she didn't want anything but I got her a nice bottle of wine and a box of chocolates

 

[Robotstar5]

.....But I still get fed up with work sometimes. I done the same thing all my life and not had any "variety" in my working life.

i was similar, I always worked in the electrical side of the automotive industry and by the time I got to my early 60's I was "tired of work" if that makes any sense, being furloughed for 5 months during C-19 made me realise I could cope with retirement so when I went back I did my sums and found I could afford early retirement, the rest as they say is history.

 

[Morris]

Don't underestimate the issues that the stress of situations like this can cause.
Wifey worked for the NHS and as people left the department her "manager" gave the work to her. She ended up doing five people's jobs. The stress caused her heart arrhythmia and a breakdown. She had to retire early although she didn't want to.

 

[Kayos]

I been self employed all my life - so I don't suffer with "the employer thing".

But I still get fed up with work sometimes. I done the same thing all my life and not had any "variety" in my working life.

I going thru "a not so happy period of my working life now".

Loads of reasons - I will list a few.
1. Not too busy and not earning huge money (enough to feed myself and pay the bills - but not big numbers - very little saving money)
2. Can't get parts for some vehicles - everything on back order. So you do all the work - diagnose - sell the job - and then can't do it (frustrating)
3. General public have mostly morphed into "selfish pigs"... With age my patience is just exhausted - with people who are just needy and have an inflated sense of expectation.
4. High fuel prices at pumps kills bottom end car repairers - it did in 2022 when Derv got to £2 per litre at the start of the Ukraine war.

Been here before - I just do less hours - do less work. Find something else to do with the spare time. Cut workshop spending down - no stock - no new tools or kit - turn the lights off.


I come to the conclusion - you not meant to like work all the while - I think it is pretty normal to have period when you are really positive about it - then it is followed by a period when you are just not "into it" - "positive about it". Then it goes full circle and everything is OK again.

I think the long term game plan is - if in your late thirties/early forties. If you can get the domestic debt/mortgage payments down. Keep borrowing and spending down - keep your monthly outgoings down. This buys you less pressure for work and income. Spending less - buys you more choices with work... "every pound you don't spend is one less you not gotta earn" - or be stressed about chasing it...

I've found a good and reasonably priced mechanic. However he works some odd hours and jobs get done when they get done

He prioritises his daughter over everything, if you don't like it then you can take your car elsewhere

He has a good attitude and is very capable, he refuses to let the work consume him

My car was booked in yesterday but a delay by someone else means I lost my ramp slot, it will be getting done later today, but I will be involved

Of course I could complain and I always have the option of going to a different garage, he has not said this to me, he doesn't need to

 

[MattF]

Each to their own, but I've always been of the opinion that it's "best to let sleeping dogs lie" and walk away on good terms if possible. To me there's nothing to be gained from kicking off, but a lot to loose.

If your asked why your leaving, be honest, but you never know when you might need a reference or come across one of those people you've just slated again.

Business is a small world and managers talk to each other. Why leave with a black mark against your name, when you've spent years being a good employee and building a good reputation for yourself?

Well put. The age old scenario of not burning ones bridges.

 

[dave h 2]

Thank you all for the much needed input, what you have each said is mirroring exactly what my current job life is like, and i have been saying it to myself for a while, but putting it off as the money is good and i know the job inside out, but looking at it from a outsiders view or views, you are all right, its time to call time on this place and look for some other company to join. Granted this is the longest stint at any company I have been in, and as sincere as the directors can seem and come across, they don't seem to be in touch with the day to day dramas that are ongoing. I have been informed that a few staff members have approached HR and as i'm friendly with her, (professionally) shes in the same boat as myself, tired of the bickering but i'm not daft, once HR always HR so i let her do all the talking.. she does tell me the directors are well aware of the long term issues .. however nothing is ever done in a timely manner at this place, the workshop is still run like its the 1970's, and a lot of the equipment/work methods are too.. i've learned a lot, worked with some great people and picked up some old school skills that the younger ones marvel over, which will of course be with me for life.

After June i'm going to be making the move, whilst dropping a pleasant hand written letter with my notice, a polite letter with as to not leave them with a bad taste in their mouths and call it a day.

I'm feeling excited yet anxious on what i should do next for work. I do enjoy maintenance and the electrical side of my job more than fabricating, but i also enjoy welding too

You could ask the nice HR lady about voluntary redundancy, it's always worked for me.

 

[GRW]

Sad to read of your situation. I’ve been there as well, complicated by having to support a disabled relative making the fear of change and feeling I’d have to start again getting the flexible working (what little I got) in a new place. One piece of advice if you haven’t been in the job market for some time is to get your CV done professionally it will be the best few hundred investment you can make. I’d been looking using my DIY CV and not getting many hits. I took the plunge and got a professional one and the hit rate was massive. Also sit down and think what you want to be doing as your CV should reflect that. A good CV service will ask about and take you through this. Good luck.

Thanks for the good advice. My issue was 3-years-ago now & I have moved on.
Current Employer has been decent - no complaints at all - recognises that I do take an interest & try to do the job well and to aid the business..... and of course I appreciate that he's fair and decent as an employer.
(When you've had bad ones - and I've had more than one - you do appreciate a good one!)

 

[SipMerlin150]

You could ask the nice HR lady about voluntary redundancy, it's always worked for me.

They made a few shall we say lesser skilled staff redundant in October just gone, the ones who were employed for less than 2 years and one who had been there for 6 years as the shop is in the process of undergoing a shuffle about and expanding for bespoke stainless work and less of the mild steel work we traditionally do. I did mention in passing that I wouldnt mind being on that list, but my guess is my versatility and multi skilled/quals would of meant them needing to call in a contractor to cover my roles which i know they wouldnt want to pay for. Almost a decade of redundancy would of been nice, i'm in need of another car to retire my current one . (and a holiday haha)

 

[dave h 2]

Ask officially for a quote in email, be aware it's a one way street. I did the same thing when I retired 6 months early Kerching.

 

[SipMerlin150]

Don't underestimate the issues that the stress of situations like this can cause.
Wifey worked for the NHS and as people left the department her "manager" gave the work to her. She ended up doing five people's jobs. The stress caused her heart arrhythmia and a breakdown. She had to retire early although she didn't want to.

Thats terrible, i hope shes better now, its a bad work culture now across all industries it would appear, companies delegating more roles and work load onto staff and offering no additional benefits/pay/PTO etc. My partner also works for the NHS and is in the same boat, but a new role came along and i encouraged her to take the plunge and go for an interview, and she got it! Less hectic, more organised, better pay, more training and dayshifts (shes worked night shifts 4 years straight) so we can actually spend more time with eachother and the children and not be passing ships. I need to sort myself out now

 

[SipMerlin150]

Heavy Fab work.....You can always come over here.....

How heavy do you want to work with ?

What have you got?

 

[badabec]

I forsee a trip to the doctor and at least a month off due to stress. Then renew it.
Look for other jobs in the mean time.

 

[Morris]

@SipMerlin150 she's all good now thanks. It was a few years ago now but not a nice time.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I had similar at the last workplace. I decided to take the fight back route and tell the big big boss the state of things, including massive H&S failings, bullying by the dept head (a self confessed narcissist who admitted to another staff member he could not take criticism as he saw it as a personal attack) and downright fraud actively encouraged at mid level management.

It earned me……. Nothing of use. What it did show me was that all the gobshites in the office that spent all day complaining about things to each other went all meek and silent when the opportunity came to speak up to those that could fix it. I became the specific target for mr narcissist and that resulted in me having a wobble at work and being sent home for some quiet time after I threatened to throw him down the stairs if he spoke to me that way again.

If I went through it again, I’d leave quietly and save myself the mental health issues

 

[Richiew]

You can get a sick note without seeing a doctor these days. I managed it. Threw in the towel mid-March. Nice summer off taking care of what's important. Will review in the winter.

 

[Erie Fred]

What have you got?

18" Heavy Wf beams to 1" plate.
3" thick plate in other area's.
Gas shielded flux core, some out of position.

and then there's the local shipyard...DonJon re-building and modernizing the great lakes 1000 footers.....but I think they
bring in welders from Jamaica mon.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DonJon+shipyard

 

[dave h 2]

18" Heavy Wf beams to 1" plate.
3" thick plate in other area's.
Gas shielded flux core, some out of position.

and then there's the local shipyard...DonJon re-building and modernizing the great lakes 1000 footers.....but I think they
bring in welders from Jamaica mon.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DonJon+shipyard

America first