can i vent about my job?

[heygrey]

i love my job and have really been looking forward to going back to work in February. i work for a non-profit and the two+ years i've been there we have been looking for properties to move my department off site. mostly so the main part of our organization can expand into our space, but also hoping that my department can grow, too, if we have more square feet to work in.

i've kept in touch with my coworkers, so i knew they were getting close to signing a lease on a new property and last week HR called me to confirm and then dropped a bomb that my job description is completely changing. it's so opposite what i currently do and is comprised entirely of my weakest areas. right now i focus primarily on administration and organization and now they want me to focus on volunteer recruiting and training. i never would have applied for the job if that was the main focus and in all the conversations about moving locations this change was never discussed. in fact, my boss was always saying how when we moved i would do LESS work with volunteers and focus a lot more on admin/sales, because, hey, we aren't going to grow if i'm doing something i'm not good at and that i hate.

i'm just so lost at this point. clearly HR and the powers that be have decided this is the right direction for my department and they are forging ahead, but since i've been out on mat leave for 10 months i haven't been part of the more recent conversations. i'm casually looking for other jobs, but it's going to be hard to find something i like(d) as much that pays as well and it's such a niche job that i'll never find the same position with all of the positives that i had in a different organization. it doesn't help that this move effectively doubles my commute (was 30-35 minutes, will now be over an hour each way).

and i'm frustrated because if i do go back and try to power through, this isn't something that i can just jump into in february as we're moving (they are expecting to move the first week i'm back). i need to start now and get a plan in place because i don't want someone else to build this program and expect me to take it over; i want to build it myself. so do i give up the last ~6 weeks of mat leave and go back to work in january? to do a job that i'm pretty sure i'm not going to like and will probably leave as soon as possible?

i need to go in and have a sit down with my boss and get his take on the whole thing. HR is just doing their job relaying the information to me, but my boss and i are such a good team and we often made plans off the book so i'm wondering what his actual thoughts are in all of this. with the holidays i won't be able to meet with him until after the new year so for now i get to sit and stew about it.

sorry that got long. have a beer with me :beer:
:beer:

[indylady]

That is crappy. Maybe talking to your boss will help.

I'll have a drink with you!

[pugz]

uggh I'm sorry, I would definitely have a conversation with your boss.

the commute would be killer for me, I wouldn't want to do that for a job I hated.

[heygrey]

Dec 20, 2014 17:41:56 GMT -5 pugz said:

the commute would be killer for me, I wouldn't want to do that for a job I hated.

this is my breaking point. I'd deal with a job I didn't like for a short commute or a long commute for a job I loved. but a long commute for a job I really don't like? no.

[Deleted]

Is your DH able/interested in taking any parental leave?

Do you really think anything will change if you go back early? I wouldn't give up time unless it's really a make-or-break thing. I did it this time (gave up 2 months) because it was, so I do it's it's worth it sometimes... but not if you think you might quit.

[heygrey]

Dec 20, 2014 18:55:48 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Is your DH able/interested in taking any parental leave?

Do you really think anything will change if you go back early? I wouldn't give up time unless it's really a make-or-break thing. I did it this time (gave up 2 months) because it was, so I do it's it's worth it sometimes... but not if you think you might quit.

while h would love to take parental leave, no one at his job does (predominately male field) and technically he could, but it wouldn't be viewed favourably, you know? it would be a stress to our budget too since he makes double what i do.

nothing will change if i go back early, it just gives me a chance to create the job i'll hate rather than someone else creating it and me talking over half way through. if i thought i'd keep the job, it would be worth it. as it stands, i'll go back until i find something better, however long that may take.

childcare is another issue. i have a nanny lined up for February, not sure if she could start earlier. finding centre care for an infant is basically impossible here so i'd have to beg friends or find an in home that could take him for a few weeks. we have no family here.

[heygrey]

Dec 20, 2014 18:35:03 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

I would go back early. Even though it sucks. And even though after 6 weeks you might leave.

my biggest reason for not wanting to go back early is completely unrelated to the job - who wants to commute in the dead of winter when they don't have to?? lol. shoveling out my car and brushing it off before work... ugh.

i'm hoping a chat with my boss will make the decision easier.

[Deleted]

I'd just plan to go back in Feb, but I'd actually job hunt a bit in January. After you talk to your boss and make sure that what you were told is true.

I'd also worry less about how it would look for DH to take a bit of time. It's not normal, but it's generally less of a big deal than you think for dads to take a few weeks. My boss was out for 3 months and we were fine.

[sjh722]

I'm sorry. I could not do a commute like that for a job I didn't really like! I hope something else comes up for you.

[arebee]

I am sorry. I hope talking to your boss resolves some of the issues.

I wouldn't go back early for a job I didn't think I was going to like or possibly keep. I also wouldn't want to do that commute in the winter more times than I absolutely had too.

[bunch]

I have no advice, but I'm sad and disappointed for you. Hugs