How to quit job

[Boughtandpaidfor]

Hi there,

 

I started a new job two months ago. I had been unemployed and travelling for a year following a trauma so I was pretty nervous to begin with because I was out of the loop.

 

I haven't really been able to fit in with the office environment. Nothing anyone says seems to make any sense and I am out of my depth.

 

The work was really intense and so I was enjoying it because I love being busy because it means I don't have to worry about socialising.

 

But last week the office just went dead. It wasn't just that there was no work, but also that work wasn't being assigned to me. When I checked online, this was one of the key ways to get employees to quit.

 

So I'm not the greatest at my job, mostly because I'm so anxious, but I thought I was getting away with it.

 

The trauma is still there I guess, and I just can't cope. I am constantly terrified I'm going to be fired. People makes jokes that I don't understand. I am completely detached from my feelings and emotions because I'm in a constant state of terror. I was just about keeping it all together while the work was busy. But I've been sitting in a chair in the middle of the office with nothing to do for a week and I just lost it. I asked people directly two days ago 'Are you trying to make me quit', and they said, 'So you got the hint?... and then they laughed and said 'Just kidding, it's just really dead'. I guess the key problem is I'm just struggling to understand what people are saying and doing through this wall of anxiety.

 

So I've called in sick for the last two days. I'm still on my 3 month trial probation so I only have to give a week's notice. But I can't go back there. I'm wondering whether it's best to tell the truth and not go back, or make something up and not go back. I don't want to get screwed over for the money I've earned.

 

Either they've been trying to make me quit, or I'm having a psychotic episode.... either way it feels like time to go. I have a part-time teaching job which will keep me afloat and money isn't a problem for a while. I just think I can't cope with office environment and I need to find something more supportive and less confusing. It's not just a job it's a whole political and social dynamic and I find it so overwhelming.

 

Thanks for listening and any advice much appreciated.

[stuka80]

I have an office job myself, but it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as yours as far as work goes. Give it til the end of your probation period and maybe a week or two after that. If there's still no work then start looking for another and give them a two week notice once you do. In the meantime dont stress too much and just go with it. If you have no work to do then do what i do during downtimes at work, and just web browse or listen to music to help pass the time.(dont get caught obviously)

 

How about everyone else in the office? Do they all have work to do except for you? if the answer is yes then you could be correct and they might be trying to get rid of you.

[Boughtandpaidfor]

 

How about everyone else in the office? Do they all have work to do except for you? if the answer is yes then you could be correct and they might be trying to get rid of you.

 

Thanks for the reply- yes everyone has work except for me. They even hired freelancers and gave work to them and not to me. Everyone is laughing at me but not saying anything to my face. I've never been in this situation before. Why don't they just fire me?

[lavenderdove]

>>People makes jokes that I don't understand. I am completely detached from my feelings and emotions because I'm in a constant state of terror.

 

I think if you have these kinds of intense feelings, you might want to consider counseling. Nobody should be in a constant state of terror just from a job.

 

Do they let you wear iPods? Get an iPod and listen to downloaded recorded books when you have down time. Some jobs have downtime and you need to learn to cope with it.

 

And you need to talk to your boss. As in, ask if there is any work you can do. Also ask the boss if they are happy with your performance or not.

 

I think if you are in the 3 month probation period, and if they really think you're a bad fit, they may be waiting for that period to conclude and let you go at the end of it. So since you are not matched for this job to begin with, rather than just quitting, start looking for another job and when you find one, that is the time when you quit.

[DancingFool]

Since you are still in your probationary period, they can just let you go if they are not happy with you at any time before the trial period ends. Companies sometimes engage in trying to get someone to quit only to avoid unemployment claims and in your case, that's not available to you yet so not an issue.

 

Frankly, it does sound like you are having some serious mental/emotional issues that are painting the world around you black. When you feel this disconnected, to the point where you just can't function and feel terrified, the high level of paranoia you are having, it is high time to go see a psychiatrist and get help. Running away from this by traveling, etc. is not going to help and you can't stay unemployed and terrified forever. They hired you because they thought you were the best choice. What's happening inside of your head is a serious problem for you. Please call a psychiatrist and start dealing with your problems.

 

As for the job, the right thing to do would actually be to approach them and tell them that you are having some medical issues that you need to handle and so will need to take some time off if that is acceptable to them. If not, then you will have to resign. Part on good terms and be professional about it. Don't burn bridges.

[blueidealist24]

I agree with the others who said that your mental difficulties are probably still an issue. I felt exactly like that at an office job I had, except they were giving me work, kind of overloading me in my case, but I was still paranoid that they didn't like me and wanted me gone. Anytime someone would close an office door I'd think that they were talking about me. I ended up quitting that job after a couple of months and seeking psychological treatment, so it's probably best that you do, too, rather you remain at the job or not. If you quit I would tell them you're quitting due to medical issues that have come up, so they don't think you're quitting because you can't intellectually handle the position or are a person who regularly quits things.