I started a new job at the beginning of April. At first I really liked it, but after about a month there I started to really dislike it. I told myself I would leave, then decided to stick it out longer. Since then, I have developed a rash on my face that covers my entire face and neck. I have intermittent heartburn, and low appetite. Food doesn’t have any taste. I have zero energy when I’m not at work.
It’s weird because I didn’t feel stressed or anxious for the past two months, but my body obviously knows something is wrong. Now that I’ve noticed all of these symptoms, I feel anxiety and dread about going back in.
My mother had a stroke two weeks ago, and I had to call out sick for five days to be home with her. Now I’m in trouble for calling out too many days. I work for a hospital and they have insanely strict rules about how you can only take two sick days in a row, and you have to work there for a year before you can use any kind of extended sick leave or FMLA.
I am thinking of turning in my two weeks’ notice tomorrow when I go back in for the first time since calling out. In the time I was gone I realized how stressed I’ve been without even knowing it. I’ve also noticed how many red flags there have been since I started working there. Here are some of them:
Constantly being warned about the vague threat of “getting in trouble.” This happened at a previous job I had and that job was a nightmare.
Nobody has worked there for longer than a year.
All of my coworkers are in their early twenties and there are no older or middle-aged people.
Constantly hearing about previous new hires who “couldn’t hack it” and quit after a short period of time.
Badmouthing of current and former coworkers.
Everyone I work with seems grumpy and/or miserable and/or is blatantly unfriendly.
Visiting a different branch office for training and noticing that people there seem happy and friendly.
Noticing that the other office has a much larger staff and a better organized division of work.
Hearing my boss say she’s going to hire four more people at the other branch while everyone at my branch is floundering under the workload and working through lunches/staying later after clocking out to get it all done.