I can finally tell this story because it it's been long enough I feel nobody will track it back to me.
I used to work at a company that had many roles. I applied and joined as a Customer Service Rep (CSR) at the front counter. I joined with preexisting coworkers Lady (LD), a guy who ended up being a Buddy (B), Old Guy (OG), and my mom.
This job starts a long stress on my mental state. It wasn't bad at first, I come into a role that would temporary fill a taxing position in the back, as the CSR who worked back there was leaving via transferral. She trained me and I did it 'okay' for 2 or 3 months while we waited for someone to fill that role. That role was being the shit stain that every person stepped on. The office relied on me, the field workers relied on me, the managers both relied and nitpicked me – but this wasn't a huge problem as my manager was sluggish and knew that I was new. He was a great guy, and encouraged me to just keep trying, and I'd be okay – after all, it was temporary.
We get an Annoying Bitch (AB) to fill the role, and I'm back in the office again, we're fully staffed. For two years, crazy shit happens as AB has filled that role – mainly, she sexually harassed everyone and they just put up with it, as most people don't see her enough to care. I do, but I'm tolerant as I'm new and fresh. She isn't as sexually harassing as she is annoying to me. I do have to deal with her though because she gets lots of vacation and I have to fill her role when she does (annoying.) B leaves for unexplainable reasons, and is replaced by NB (New Buddy). That means, yay! I'm no longer really in a place where I should have to fill in for AB when she's out. Right?
NB is hopeless. B and NB never had to take on the coverage for AB like I did. And after NB came in I tried to make it clear, I had no reason to cover AB. My schedule didn't properly reflect doing the things she did. But NB was so 'hopeless' seeming to managers, they just never budged. I was stuck being her replacement. And she got so toxic and annoying after a while that I couldn't stand her.
Not to mention, I can't vent to mum, because she literally talks to me about work outside of work, when I'd rather not – but when I complain, she'd be all 'then find a new job.' Awesome.
Two years pass. AB leaves about the same time my manager is replaced by a newer, non-manager experienced field worker in our system. He has seen the fallout of her overstaying her welcome and being a mess, but has also seen me being DONE with her bs. When she leaves, I imagine NB will fill her role, given there's no reason I should be doing it, right?
Nope. I'm stuck doing it. The stress is incredible, but my new manager won't budge. Can't get NB to do it. Can't even do halfsies. He says we can when I first bring up the idea, but, NOPE! Nothing. Through two managers, I've been doing a role I shouldn't be anymore. It lines up with NB's responsibilities, not mine. Besides, the office is down a person and NB has taken to doing school stuff on work time, and L is lazy. They would be doing great if I was doing what I signed up for, and NB was doing what he should've been, but nope.
The stress of the job in the back is immense. I'm still so anxious today that I'm on a long trail of recovery, trying medication, etc. But in my time there, my neck grows stiff, I have headaches nearly daily, I get dizzy when I'm at work… I have dreams about work that make me feel like garbage. I'm stuck later than everyone else, which sucks, because I rely on everyone getting done to get done myself. I feel like nobody is listening and everyone's demanding the world. Managers are walking on me and expecting me to be what they'd imagine a permanent person would be in this role, even though I'm filling in, because the new manager doesn't give me any slack.
Because of crazy circumstances that could've been avoided by this shitty company, we're down a person for months. I'm doing this job for so long, and it's so taxing.
A while back I find the first job that sounds good and is comparable in many ways, and take the bait. And I get it! I'm so excited!
I turn in my two weeks, and the new manager gives me the most surprised Pikachu face ever. He's seen my unhappiness. He knows what I'm doing, I shouldn't be. But it's 'such a surprise.' in his defense, he wishes me all the luck in the world, and I know I have his word that he'd be a reputable reference if I ever needed one. He's emotionally intelligent in my last two weeks there. Absolutely fair.
As I stand today, I know that AB is filling the space I left and communiting, which is hell on everyone there. She's lazy and useless. NB is not crosstraining for that role at all, and they're still down in the main office, so they don't have enough hands to keep things going smooth. They've only very recently got a new person who's training, not quite helping yet. Hes a good guy who's a good worker – he'll probably get thrown under the bus and do all the work I did because nobody else wants to.
I have no issues at present with anyone I worked with, save AB. But man, I'd be lying if I said that place wasn't setting me up for failure and making me carry a huge load. They literally never filled positions by taking from other branches until I left. They never used their people in ways that would benefit the company. If me and NB were in opposing roles, me and L could've covered the front because I loved the front, and was super good at doing it alone if needed.
Where I am currently is technically a lower position, I'm payed less and don't have benefits. But I'm still eligible under my parents' insurances, I'm getting raises with every step I take in this new job, and I'm getting praised from everyone I talk with there, and even if I'm more stressed outside of my job, I do something that feels far less taxing, as well as have pretty decent, regular hours. It's good enough that I can keep it up until I find the next best thing.