I just thought anti-work would appreciate this story, I am feeling incredibly smug.
I worked in a corporate chain which provides care (being vague to avoid factors which could identify my work or workplace). At 24, I was offered 50% extra than the minimum wage in this industry (6 figure salary) as a manager of 30 staff. I am overly qualified for this position and in demand due to the staff shortage in the professional. But the money was crazy, none of my other female friends are paid close to this, I reached my original career goal at 22 and was feeling kind of stagnant, so I said sure, why not.
The following 10 months were hell. I was moved from location to location (and relocated for the organisation, only to be sent 3 hours one way from my new home to work), fixing issues, working 12-18 hour days, sometimes 7 days a week. I lost 12kg, my hair, developed an auto-immune disease and more than once took myself to hospital for suicidal ideation during my time there. I found another role doing a similar thing in a government organisation, with 12 weeks paid leave a year, not including 3 weeks sick leave, for slightly less money and an extra 20 minutes on my commute. When I resigned, the entire chain of command was furious. Not a single person asked me why after I’d been begging for help or a BREAK for months. I was basically told if you leave, the line is drawn in the sand, don’t ever ask to come back.
Well my replacement that took months to find lasted less than 8 weeks. No one wants this role, I was the 7th person to have it in 12 months by the time I took it. All of a sudden, my not good enough looks pretty bloody good. Which must be what prompted the company to contact ME and ask me if I’d be “open to exciting new opportunities”.
They didn’t like my response of, when you told me I couldn’t come back did nobody consider that I wouldn’t want to?
Take your job and shove it. I’ll die on my own time, not through working myself to death thanks.