This is a guest post from Jennifer Barry of liverichly.com..
Maybe you’re sitting in your cubicle asking yourself,
“Should I stay or should I go?” Here are 8 ways to know it’s time say goodbye to your boss.
Jonny Note//
Jennifer is a great writer that I have been following for a while now. I recently wrote a guest post on her blog entitled “Discovering The Hidden Gems Of Life” Click here to check it out.
.
1. You can’t remember the last time you got a raise
I know times are tough, but businesses still have to
retain their valued workers. Skipping everyone during one bad year may
be understandable, but if it’s been a couple of years, maybe you
aren’t so valued. I know someone who hasn’t seen her pay
increase in over a decade, and I wonder when she’s going to get
the hint.
.
2. Your boss tells you to find a new job
While the lack of a raise may be subtle, you have no excuse for staying if your boss suggests you hit the road. Who could be this clueless? I can think of several friends who thought they could “work it out.” Somehow, they are still shocked when they get laid off and don’t have their resume ready (CV for you Brits).
.
3. Your pile of work is nearly to the ceiling
I don’t mind pitching in and helping out, but sometimes expectations are ridiculous. If you’ve explained to your boss that you are swamped but you keep getting new assignments, it’s time to find someplace that only expects the work of one human.
.
4. Only certain people have to do work
I think we’ve all been through this one. You are working like a dog,but Mary or Bob doesn’t have to do much at all. Maybe they are related to someone in management, an old frat buddy, or “dating” someone important so you don’t dare complain about the favoritism. It’s best to find a new job where you actually get appreciated for doing someone else’s work.
.
5. Your co-worker is nuts
That weird guy in shipping can make the day go by faster, but some people are just crazy backstabbers. If the level of drama at your work is somewhere between “Desperate Housewives” and “The Sopranos,” maybe you should find somewhere sane to work.
.
6. You are the boss’ favorite whipping boy
Sometimes this goes along with #4, when you get blamed for not doing your co-worker’s job. Other times, your boss just doesn’t like you. Either way, it’s time to find another place to work ASAP.
.
7. Dickens would be horrified by your workplace
Sometimes your environment is just bad: dirty, unsafe, crowded, or you have to work retail (just kidding). I’ve had jobs where they demanded unpaid overtime or complained if you had to use the bathroom. Some of my most fond memories involve quitting these jobs.
.
8. Your cubicle feels like a prison
Do you dread having to get up every morning? Do the walls on your cubicle feel like they are closing in? Is your job stupid and pointless? Maybe you should try to work for yourself. If you can figure out how to have a business and take a daily swim in Bangkok like Jonny does, that sounds like a sweet deal.
Jennifer Barry writes Liverichly.com, a lifestyle design
blog about pursuing your passions and having amazing experiences even if
you aren’t rich.
If you have a guest post you want to showcase at thelifething.com and are willing to have one on your site in return then send me an email. Please be aware that your blog must have at least 500 subscribers.
19 Comments
My workplace isn’t anything like this…
I’m free there, I get a raise regulary, I have a great boss, I have barely no work… but still I want to leave
cause I’m bored
And cause I have many more self employed projects to work on
Great email address Garry.
I guess sometimes paradise is not all that it is cracked up to be. My advice if you are bored and have an itch for starting up on your own is to just get on and do it though obviously sometimes this is not practical. Let me know what you eventually decided, good luck.
Hi Garry, that’s why I put in #8. Sometimes your job isn’t all that bad, but you still want to be somewhere else. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Thanks for having me guest post Jonny! I really like the startled squirrel.
No worries Jennifer, It was a great post and I am sure my readers will agree.
This is a really good post! I would definitely look for another job if some of these things are true in my situation. Fortunately, I enjoy my job and have been lucky to have a good work environment and people.
I actually know someone who can tick almost all of these boxes and yet she still it deliberating on wether a move would be good for her. Sometimes people truly are blinded to the obvious.
Glad to hear that you are not in this situation though and hope you never will be.
Hi NP, I’m glad you liked it! Some people really enjoy their job and are lucky that way. For me, most of my jobs had one or more of these signs, which is why I’ve worked for myself for the past 7 years.
Hi Jennifer,
These are great tips. I would also say that having a bad boss is one of the top reasons to leave your job, particularly if it affects your entire life. No job is worth that. Also, I totally agree with #1. We work for money, not love. If you don’t get regular increases, then seriously examine where you with for.
Karen
Hi Karen,
I would add to that “If you are not passionate about what you are doing. get out.” Should we just work for money or should we ideally work for the love of what we do and the money is a bonus?
Hi Karen, I’m glad you liked this post! I agree, too many people let their boss make them miserable – sometimes for years. I love that, “We work for money, not love.” Most of the time your workplace considers you easily replaceable, even if you get along with your boss/co-workers, so it’s dangerous to get too attached to your job.
On the other hand, I agree with Jonny that if you don’t like your job at all, you should look around for a better way to pay the bills. 40+ hours a week is a lot of time to be unhappy.
[...] Need motivation to quit your job? If so, take a look at Jennifer’s guest post about the top 8 signs that you should leave your job. [...]
[...] Click here to read the other 7 signs you should leave your job. AKPC_IDS += "642,";Popularity: unranked [?] June 27th, 2010 | Tags: dream job, lifestyle design | Category: Uncategorized [...]
Great Post Jennifer.
My last job had problems 1, 3 and 8. I worked really hard, covered three responsibilities and didn’t see a raise for two years. And, it wasn’t just me, nobody got raises. People would have to beg for a raise or threaten to quit. Some people. like your friend, hadn’t seen a raise in many years. So, I went out and got my own raise at a new job. And, it’s the best job I have ever had.
Hi Bret, I’m glad you liked it. I have had all these problems myself except for #1. That’s because I did what you did and got a raise by getting a new job. I have definitely had the stupid job and the “doing the work of 2″ job. I’m glad the new job worked out for you!
Great post, Jen! I would also add to #1 that you might also consider leaving if you repeatedly find yourself getting raises but they are so small that they end up being less than the rate of inflation; anything less than that is going backward.
Best,
Len
Len Penzo dot Com
Hi Len, that’s a great point. If your raises aren’t keeping up with inflation you are really getting a pay cut!
This is actually really scary because 6 of the 8 apply to me ;_;
It’s not that I don’t like my job; on the contrary, it’s one of the best I’ve ever had but it seems like some days it gets to that point where my boss just wants to nitpick everything I do.
I guess there is a bit of under-appreciation as well. People tell me I don’t work enough but I don’t think they realize that each project I work on has created a lasting rise in the business’ income.
In 2 years I’ve done 80% of each product launch (32 in all) which has easily turned into nearly 40% of the revenue.
So it makes me think – why are people on my back. I think it’s that they don’t see the longe term effect.
Idk, I’m just rambling on. Don’t mind me – guess the post really hit home.
I have some plans up my sleeve. I really want to finish up this large project before I make any decision.
Hi Murray,
Welcome to the site and thanks for sharing. If 6 of the 8 apply to you then perhaps a little reflection on where your at is in order. I am glad the post helped, good luck with all your plans.