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Old 10-20-2020, 02:23 PM
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Recovery and job change

Today I'm working on day 159

Just wanted to get some feedback or personal experience regarding the topic. It's been a up and down journey so far but I am grateful for my job. My job is a good job my concern is that there is not a lot of opportunity for me to progress. The reason I say this is I work under horrible management not just one but the entire management. Day by day I practice compassion forgiveness and alot of focus on my selfcare. Over the last weeks forgiveness has been a focus for me so I could let go of any resentment which was causing me to lose balance in my recovery. I am struggling a little because I can't control other people's action but I do my best to get rid of the negative people. When do you move on? I know I'm still early in recovery but this type of negative environment is not a healthy. Brain fog today
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Old 10-20-2020, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by stickyone View Post
T I know I'm still early in recovery but this type of negative environment is not a healthy. Brain fog today
Hi,

Life is WAY too short to spend half or more of your awake hours in an environment you can't stand - regardless how much time you have sober. My only other suggestion is that you consider finding another job first before you leave your current job - UNLESS you don't have to worry about it - financially.
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Old 10-20-2020, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by LumenandNyx View Post
Hi,

Life is WAY too short to spend half or more of your awake hours in an environment you can't stand - regardless how much time you have sober. My only other suggestion is that you consider finding another job first before you leave your current job - UNLESS you don't have to worry about it - financially.
Thanks for the response. With the covid19 I am very grateful to have a job and be able to support my family. As the fog clears I think this obstacle just opened up another path on my recovery journey. For years I doubted my self worth now with focusing alot on self care. I will continue with my journey and the next chapter I would like to start in life is working towards a job that respects and appreciate my talent.
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Old 10-20-2020, 08:43 PM
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Good question here Sticky. On the one hand, the usual advice is don't make any huge decisions your first year of sobriety. On the other hand, a toxic work place is just tough no matter how together you are as a person.

Kudos to you for trying to make it into a learning/development opportunity. That really is something. Count me impressed.

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Old 10-20-2020, 08:50 PM
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I think the path will unfold for you. It is hard to make so many different changes at once. However, if this job is not healthy for you and never has been, it may be time to move on. Your health is top priority.
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Old 10-20-2020, 09:01 PM
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I understand why you'd want to get a different job, but I'd advise that you have another job lined up before you quit this one. Just so you don't end up with no job.
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Old 10-20-2020, 10:09 PM
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Thank you everyone for the support. I know things are tough around the world and in the job field. Alot of people are retiring but the job openings are not available at the moment. I just got to keep putting in the work. You're never to old to have another dream.
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Old 10-21-2020, 03:50 AM
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At the start of 2019 I was in a job which I hated, was full of people who made promises on a weekly basis only to fall through on them and it was generally a toxic place to work. I got Sober on Jan 2nd last year and decided that I should also change jobs for my sanity. After almost getting one job I sort of gave up but decided that I would continue. Luck (or destiny) came my way and I was contacted by an old colleague and so I went to some interviews and started a new job mid May last year. This was the second best thing I did last year, first best thing was getting sober.
I've seen it written that no new big changes should be made in the first year but if the right decision is to change something for the good why put off something that will improve your life.
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Old 10-21-2020, 04:19 AM
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Originally Posted by LumenandNyx View Post
Hi,

Life is WAY too short to spend half or more of your awake hours in an environment you can't stand - regardless how much time you have sober. My only other suggestion is that you consider finding another job first before you leave your current job - UNLESS you don't have to worry about it - financially.

Agree...always have a job before leaving one.
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Old 10-21-2020, 04:24 AM
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I had a terrible work environment last year. I have moved on and it is tons better, but not my ideal. Starting a new job is exciting but also stressful....still glad I did it. Doesn’t hurt to look and interview Even if you choose not to leave because it opens your eyes to the possibilities and it’s good practice. Good luck!
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Old 10-21-2020, 07:27 AM
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I think it's good that your self-worth has improved to the point that you see you deserve to be treated better at work. You probably don't need to make a decision right away, but keep open to any new opportunities that you hear about.
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Old 10-21-2020, 02:18 PM
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Thank you everyone for the great responses. A family member of mine has a job for me anytime I want . But you know how working with family can be. Prior to this job I had a job that only payed half of what I make now. I loved that place but I wanted to improve myself. Yes I could have coasted it and been happy there. But it was cutting my potential short. They have also asked me if I wanted to come back. One day at a time and I'll go forward from there. Today is 160 days.
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Old 10-21-2020, 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by stickyone View Post
. They have also asked me if I wanted to come back. One day at a time and I'll go forward from there. Today is 160 days.
Congrats as you work up to half a year. That is something.

Yep, more will be revealed. Keep taking that next right step no matter how small.
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Old 11-06-2020, 07:49 PM
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Today is day 176. This toxicity in the workplace does not look like it's going anywhere. I'm stuck with compassion and forgiveness in this moment. Looking to possibly leave to other job as I said earlier. Here's the thing do I allow this to go on to others. I have enough information and documents on these toxic individuals to have them fired. I was hesitant because of the backlash but if I'm leaving then who cares. This is not right.
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Old 11-07-2020, 07:01 AM
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Get another job before you resign from your current one.
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Old 11-07-2020, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by stickyone View Post
Thank you everyone for the great responses. A family member of mine has a job for me anytime I want . But you know how working with family can be. Prior to this job I had a job that only payed half of what I make now. I loved that place but I wanted to improve myself. Yes I could have coasted it and been happy there. But it was cutting my potential short. They have also asked me if I wanted to come back. One day at a time and I'll go forward from there. Today is 160 days.
If this previous workplace has asked you to come back are you able to negotiate a wage increase?
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Old 11-07-2020, 07:39 AM
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Hi, Sticky.

As usual I am going to play a role of sort of "devil's advocate" questioning the sense of trending philosophy.

First, huge congrats on your sober time - you have almost half a year and it's quite an achievement.

Second, I think there is too much of "gratitude porn" nowdays, and many people, myself included, struggle to put healthy boundaries and draw a line between appreciating what you have and tolerating all sorts of "passive" abuse - be it from a person, life or job situation, or your own thoughts and believes - just because you are supposed to feel grateful for what you have and there are people who would be glad to have what you have. And walking away from the current situation is accompanied by guilt - as if you don't appreciate it.

I by no means advice you burn all the bridges and quit tomorrow.

But dissatisfaction and emotional misery caused by your job situation and eventually accumulated stress will start looking for outlets and may put you sobriety in danger.

Surely, at present we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation - economical, political, emotional.

I'd say - create a plan for looking for another job. And treat it seriously - assess your skills, knowledge, inclinings, job market. There is always a way. And start taking actions - consistently, every day, one step at a time. It may take you some time, but time will pass anyway. And if you follow your plan, in, say half a year, your efforts may results in a better job.

What I've learned from my experience in sobriety (8+ years as of now) that few things are that devastating as hopelessness and "quiet desperation", and "what's the point" is one of the most dangerous weapons of addictive voice.

If you create your own hope for getting a more satisfying job, it will bring additional strength to sobriety.

I hope it makes some sense and helps.

Best of luck to you.

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Old 11-07-2020, 01:17 PM
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midnight blue

Gratitude porn. Yes I try to practice mindfulness and be grateful for the things I have. I always questioned okay be happy thankful for everything I have , we don't know what the other person is going through etc. When I have managers who don't put any work in take credit for everything myself and others accomplishment . Then to have them say you should be grateful you have a job. When the reality is that they should be grateful. The job I do in honestly can be done without this extra management position present. Here it goes how I feel. F... Them. When I have to work in high risk covid19 situation being a person of high risk, having management who usually would do anything to get out the office. Having us not even come into there office because they are afraid of the covid19. To here them complain that the air-conditioning is to cold in the office WTF. And to watch them in the last 7-8 months just gain weight like they been hibernate for the Winter. Having PPE supplies stack at there desk area to tell us we don't have supplies due to eh shortage. An shave them put it on the budget to take home for there personal use. I am grateful for what I worked for and achieved you try to take it away from me for your personal interest.
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Old 11-07-2020, 09:54 PM
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Sticky - good on you for letting rip! That's what we're here for, tell us exactly how you feel. They sound like complete arseholes

As for your first question - being sober, life still goes on. Sobriety is my priority but it's not my only priority. If the opportunity to better yourself, earn more money, have more fun, make more friends, get a better tan, drive a better car, give more to charity, do something more satisfying comes up, then I guess the main question is: Does it jeopardise my sobriety to go after that?

For me - I'm about to start a new job. I need to earn money (as most of us do) and I like the feeling of being good at something. I like the social side. Stress was a trigger for me previously to drink but now I don't drink I will handle that differently.

I suppose what i am saying is: if there is not a good reason to deny yourself a better job, why would you? Go carefully, don't be rash, protect your sobriety and then go and have fun/make money/contribute to society or whatever motivates you.
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Old 11-08-2020, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Be123 View Post
Sticky - good on you for letting rip! That's what we're here for, tell us exactly how you feel. They sound like complete arseholes

As for your first question - being sober, life still goes on. Sobriety is my priority but it's not my only priority. If the opportunity to better yourself, earn more money, have more fun, make more friends, get a better tan, drive a better car, give more to charity, do something more satisfying comes up, then I guess the main question is: Does it jeopardise my sobriety to go after that?

For me - I'm about to start a new job. I need to earn money (as most of us do) and I like the feeling of being good at something. I like the social side. Stress was a trigger for me previously to drink but now I don't drink I will handle that differently.

I suppose what i am saying is: if there is not a good reason to deny yourself a better job, why would you? Go carefully, don't be rash, protect your sobriety and then go and have fun/make money/contribute to society or whatever motivates you.
Congradulations in the new job. Yes I had to let that vent out. Going to refocus and continue with my plan. This week has been alot it refocusing in the things that really matter. Staying sober one day at a time. And the opportunity will continue to open up for me. I will not break as a person but will take a break from the toxic work place when needed and not feel guilty.
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