I work in an children's home as a team leader. For 6 years there has been talk of a relocation. My team, my manager and I have worked our butt's off during the pandemic, non stop for 3 years. Risking our lives and our families to continue working and helping the young people. As an example of how the upper management like to operate; I was told to look for another job at the beginning of the pandemic when I protested the upper management not letting us wear masks for protection until it was charity/company policy to let us. So I've been pissed off for a while.
For the last 2 years we've been told relocation or redundancy is coming. So I have held off my personal plans (to build a house) for 2 years as I was going to take the redundancy and some time off to focus on the necessary steps. The relocation never came and lies kept being told as to the timeline and what was really happening. Finally I got sick and tired and requested a career break for a couple of months to allow myself time to find land etc. This was denied today, on the grounds that we would be getting consultation talks soon and it would be disruptive. I tried to counter saying, I'd come in for any talks or meetings and would be on board with relocating if I was allowed the break. But was denied still. They are also telling us that voluntary redundancy is not an option and positions like mine are not guaranteed it. So after 2 years of saying it will be, they've said no now.
I want to quit, but don't want to miss redundancy talks if it does happen soon (it does seem likely in the next month or two). So I'm tempted to just go sick. I have a long term illness as well as mental health diagnosis' which are viable excuses. Only thing is I will feel incredibly guilty towards our young people as well as my staff. So i am caught in a position where management have mistreated and lied to us so much that I have lost some empathy and I have a rush to get my personal plans underway before the end of summer. It seems selfish, but I have given them everything for years and never taken anything. I feel like they are trying to get my to quit but I don't want to without redundancy. I'd rather take a career break and return if redundancy isnt an option now but they don't seem willing.
Sorry its not the best written post.. pretty amped up right now and have 2 dogs climbing all over me, so time to give them some attention now. Any advice is appreciated.