What to do when work goes bad

It’s not uncommon to get the feeling that your employer doesn’t want you there any more. When you’re caught up in the worry and stress of a bad employment situation it can be difficult to know what to do next. These are some suggestions:

• Keep, in a safe place, copies of email, memos, and other communications, that raise issues or concerns.
• Take notes of conversations, or things that happen, that cause you concern. The notes should include the time and date.
• Discreetly look for other jobs. Knowing that you have a job to go to gives you more options. If you do find another job, please do not resign until you have spoken to us, as resigning without first taking the right employment law steps, will lessen your bargaining power and may make it more difficult to obtain a reference and compensation.
• Remember: HR is not your friend. The HR department works for the company – not for you. In many cases they can help to resolve smaller HR type issues, but when it becomes you versus the company, they will take the company’s side and you may find that things that you have said to them are used against you. Be careful.
• If the situation becomes too stressful or heated, go home sick. Any of these symptoms are commonplace when people are dealing with stressful workplace issues: depression, high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, tearfulness, and women’s issues. Going home sick is genuine.
• Seek help sooner, rather than later, so that you know where you stand and what your options are. We offer thorough initial advice for $150, and having this information will in itself make your situation more manageable. Sometimes, clients just want us to remain in the background and the employer never needs to know that you have sought help. Other times, consulting us leads to the client asking us to approach their employer to find a professional resolution to a difficult situation – in 90% of cases we can obtain a fast, professional resolution that will usually include compensation, satisfactory references, an apology and closure.

If you want to ask us a question about your situation please contact us at no cost. We are happy to be contacted by email or phone.