Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor
"I like what I do. I just don't like where I work." Sound familiar? From unbearable co-workers to depressing work environments, there things that can make even the best job a living hell. Here are some signs it's time to look for a new job.
Sign No. 1: Your co-workers are annoying.
Obnoxious people can invade your work life. Let's face it, not everyone gets along perfectly. But you need to have some sort of harmonious relationship with fellow employees to get the job done. How are you supposed to get any work done when these guys keep getting in the way? They are distracting and impede productivity. Most offices have a Gossip, that one person who has the "scoop" all the time and is not afraid to share it. Misery loves company, and finds it often in the Whiner, who isn't afraid to complain and bellyache. And everyone has the Neighbor whose noisy distractions include his cellular ringtone, speakerphone and radio.
Sign No. 2: The environment is toxic.
Everyone experiences job highs and lows, but discontent could also be a sign of a chronically depressing work environment or even a company in peril. A bad work environment is reflective of the culture of an entire business. Do you work in a less-than-nurturing atmosphere? Is morale constantly low? Have you been complaining for two solid years? It could be an organizational problem that applying feng shui to your cube just won't fix.
Sign No. 3: You're mentally exhausted by the end of the day.
Stress can cause low morale, decreased productivity and apathy towards work. Plus, it can spill into your personal life and even have a negative effect on your health. Today there are fewer people who are taking on more and more work. American workers experience burnout at an alarming rate. According to CareerBuilder, 68 percent of workers feel burnout at work, and 45 percent said their workloads are too heavy. Yes, we all have to pick up some slack and "take one for the team" from time to time. But if there's no end in sight, do yourself and your health a favor and dust off your résumé.
Sign No. 4: Your boss is a nightmare.
Even though this person is your boss, it doesn't give him license to do anything he wants. If you have a lousy boss, even the best job in the world can make life a living hell. Your relationship with your supervisor plays a big role in your overall professional happiness and success. Fighting to have your boss removed or waiting for your boss to change or get fired are rarely successful tactics. If you are working for someone who is always absent, unavailable, self-absorbed or untrustworthy, it's time to look for a better supervisor and a better opportunity.
Sign No. 5: You're watching the clock... every 10 minutes.
Though you might not like to work, it's even worse when you are bored while you're there. One can only watch so many videos on YouTube or bid on unneeded things on eBay. If you aren't feeling challenged, that's a sign that you need additional responsibilities or a change roles. And be warned, if you don't have any responsibility or find yourself with nothing to do, management might be trying to phase you out and you might be in danger of losing your job.
Sign No. 6: You get no respect.
Does any of this sound familiar? Your ideas aren't taken seriously; there are no opportunities for advancement; the boss ignores you; co-workers alienate you; you're discouraged from improving skills with a course or seminar; you're passed over for a promotion -- again; or you're excluded from key projects and strategizing sessions. So why are you still giving this organization your time, energy and great ideas?<
Sign No. 7: Your co-workers act like animals.
They live for themselves and only themselves. They irritate you. They offend you. They have no manners or ethics. And you work with them all. There's the Office Thief who steals your ideas. The Shirker arrives late, leaves early and disappears whenever work is near. The Buck-passer unloads her work onto everyone else and blames others for her mistakes. The Procrastinator delays things until the last possible minute, slowing you down by not having the information you need to meet your deadlines. The Interrupter stops by your cubicle 10 times a day to chat about her latest boyfriend despite your ringing telephone and pressing deadlines. And don't forget the infamous Elevator Person who rides up only one floor instead of taking the stairs.
Sign No. 8: Nobody communicates.
Although we live in a world of e-mail, cell phones, instant messages, Blackberries, WiFi and, yes, even face-to-face conversation, there can still be a complete lack of communication. Whether it's a co-worker who's not returning your voice mail or the CEO not conveying a company's goals and accomplishments, the breakdown of communication can be frustrating and detrimental to your job. It can cost you an account, make you to miss a deadline, cause you to lose a client, and even get you fired.
Sign No. 9: You're not valued.
Forty-three percent of workers do not feel appreciated, and one-fourth of workers feel that they are just a "number" within their organization. You need to realize that you deserve credit for your successes. Recognition is important, and good companies implement programs to let employees know they are valued. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you ever receive bonuses, perks or positive feedback? If your boss has never heard of positive reinforcement verbal or otherwise, find a company that will value your talents.
Sign No. 10: You feel stifled.
What kind of quality of life do you have? Is your 40-hour week turning into a 24/7 grind? While salary may seem like the end all and be all, your quality of life determines your overall happiness. How much time you spend on the job, working conditions, supervisors and subordinates can positively and negatively impact your job outlook. If you dread the time you spent at work, it should be a clear indicator that it's time to break free. A job shouldn't stifle you creatively, mentally or physically
Bottom line:
Considering what you don't like about your current situation should give you insight into what you are seeking in future endeavors. If you know what your priorities and preferences are and actively seek them, work can be an enjoyable experience. If, however, you've answered yes to more than four of these signs, then you might want to get started on a new job search.
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Sep 26th 2009 @ 1:23PM Gabrielle
Great article. Thanks for verifying that I hate my job. I hate my job, but in this economy, what do you do? I have a mortgage and other bills, so it's difficult to up and quit when you have an inept boss, a gossipy co-worker, and the good ole boy racist network is alive and well. I live in South Carolina. What more can I say? I'm an experienced African American in a very stifling atmosphere where the only people who get ahead are brown nosing white men or "yes, master" African Americans.
Reply
Sep 27th 2009 @ 9:43AM HUMILIATED
I have experienced that in my work force...and Im not black..or..white...but was treated as if I just got freed myself. All the upper management was 'white' and one Oreo...that still thinks shes not black, the worse brown noser I have ever seen, I have tried to bond with her..since I thought we had something in common...NOT!... The gossip is horrendous..and the back stabbing goes beyond death. The leadership loves the gossip and terminates people becuase of gossip. Its as if they feed on it. This is a right to work state (Florida)..so one day you're here and one day you're not. No one cares about the fact if you have a family, a mortgage or a pulse.
Sep 27th 2009 @ 3:28PM dee
so true
Oct 1st 2009 @ 10:21AM Dennis D. Borges
I am a white guy married to a black woman. I am not working now because of a layoff. I haven't worked since March. I know how you feel because, I have been yelled @ stared @ and most of my bosses have been younger than myself. I have also been a boss. My thing as a boss was,attendence, and how well you preformed under pressure, and how proud you were with your accomplishments. I always knew who the brown nosers were. When a layoff came they were the first to go. It's hard in this type of an economy. I hope that you excell in whatever you do. Hang in there! Keep a stiff upper lip. Let the others hang themselves. Don't Quit! Just be yourself. Good Luck!!
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 7:33AM Ms. B
Wow! When I read your post, I would have thought that you were in my head 100% I live in Charlotte, NC It is so refreshing to know that there is someone else out there that is feeling the same way. What do you do? You want to complain to HR but you don't want to play the race card, and when you are the "black sheep" you tend to look like the problem. I feel you my sista, I feel you! I wish you the best in your endeavors to find a place of enjoyment in the secular workforce, and I hope my relief will come soon!
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 11:30AM Ro
do what I did. I started a part-time business that allowed me to determine my hours because all I needed was internet and telephone. Now, I made enough $$ to quit my job and live in harmony and freedom.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 9:50AM johnrusse
i would go with the yes master and protect my nose
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 10:36AM fired worker
Wow Gabrielle I work in South Carolina too only I am a white chick that feels the same way only the races are different. You sound like you work for Assurant Specialty properties. There if they send you an email about a mistake you made on something then that is considered training.go figure.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 10:23AM SHANE
Welcome to the corporate world...
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 10:59AM Barry Beier
Gabrielle,
A great time to look for a new job is while you still have one! Start looking now and you can be much more choosey than if you are unemployed and interviewing.
Good luck.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 11:02AM rick
Gabrielle,
hahahaha...i know what you mean. fellow South Carolinian here. I am job hunting myself.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 11:04AM Ocean
Hi Gabrielle,
Don't you think the brown nosing white men are another way of saying yes master when they are african american. I think it's your coworkers are inauthentic. I was just saying yesterday that I wish I had the confidence of Whoopi Goldberg. I love her personality. She is balanced minded, had fun in her day and won't allow anyone to say it's skeletons in her closet-if they do she doesn't let it bother her, she is here on her terms. If I had a business I would want the best people for the job. I wouldn't encourage jerks who had bad behaviour. Sorry to hear you work with aholes.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 11:02AM Ty
Gabrielle, as a white woman disgusted with the way minorities are treated, I would just like to apologize to you and everyone for the way many white people act toward you. As a white I have encountered many instances where because of my appearance, ignorant people have casually said extremely hateful things toward others that offend me not only because my children and friends belong to the groups being oppressed, but because it just shows a huge lack of compassion and humility. I can only imagine how hard it is to face this while searching for employment in a recession. I just wonder if people will ever realize that there is always some group being treated unfairly, whether it be african americans, immigrants or homosexuals. I hope we as a whole can finally realize that the only thing that should matter is how one treats others and their amount of respect for the universe and the beings inside it. I think many people have to really take a good look at themselves and decide why they are so passionately negative towards a group of people that really have no impact on them or their family. If someone is unhappy with something they can only change what is in their power, so maybe instead of hating others we should be focusing more on loving ourselves.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 1:32PM Robert
Gabrielle, you write well, and your point is well-taken.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 11:23AM kymberlyc89
Gabrielle,
I lost my job in June due to downsizing and I know this sounds bad but I have never been more relaxed, happier and so thankful I don't have to deal with any of this crap anymore! I'm white and the good ol' boy network will never die..I've seen it in action along with the nepatism and hiring friends because your kids go to school together. Sickening. I worked with a very sweet older lady who worked p/t to get out of the house. They were on her case left and right, she was 65 and kept to herself. They fired her for "not being customer friendly" enough or some b.s. and the very next day, the supervisor had her neighbor in this lady's cubicle!! I wanted to quit right then and there, but what do you do when you have bills to pay? I know I'm lucky to be able to take this time off due to the economy but I honestly put up with so much crap at this place..and the friends and family environment is against the law, except this company did whatever they wanted to. If you weren't in the clique they made your life a living hell. I worked hard, helped to train new people, took on overtime..none of it mattered, just stressed me out more. They don't care what nationality you are..the only qualities they want are the ability to azz kiss, suck up, gossip, back stab..Maybe were you are they are racist but where I was, they were equal opportunity haters but if you were in their clique well..then u can eff up all day long and get promoted! I could go on and on..like I said, I may be unemployed at the moment, but I've never felt so free!
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 11:46AM michael
Yes the porr black man! That is such bull shit and that story is old and out of time the bottom line is blacks are more pregidus than whites so for get your whinning!
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 12:34PM gr8bsn
It sucks, but at least you're keeping food on the table and a roof over your head. In this economy, one wrong move and it's 15 months of unemployment...
There's a time to fight, and a time to accept the lesser of two evils. Good luck to you.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 1:22PM cc
I'm so sorry about your job. But I have to tell you about my husband. He HATED his job that he had been at for 16 years. Mostly because of the people. He had been on the lookout for years. Finally he found a job with the State, was very persistant and started a month ago. BUT, he took a $14 an hour pay cut. Scarry! But he is soooo much happier and watching our money a little closer is worth every penny. Don't think you are stuck. If you want it bad enough you can make it work. Good luck!
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 1:32PM NettieRaine
I am a white woman in a committed relationship with a Mexican man. I, too, faced a lot of racial slurs and remarks in the workplace. I had a boss who was a bully, and an outright liar, a coworker who was out to get ahead any way she could, and another coworker who literally watched movies at her desk and talked on the phone and always yelled at people whenever she didn't get her work done. I also had things thrown at me and my chair hit with a box by one of my coworkers. After my boss literally got in my face because one of her superiors asked her to do more work, I decided enough was enough. I resigned my position, and I can't tell you how much happier I am now. Yes, I make less money and only work part-time but the piece of mind is so amazing. As workers we need to stop being scared of the "bad economy" and start standing up for ourselves. Otherwise, we are simply enabling this bad workplace behavior.
Oct 22nd 2009 @ 1:46PM kevin
yea this list must have been in regardsto the star ledger employees cause everything listed is the way u are treated at the ledger all the bosses think they r better than you and treat you as if they just scraped u off the curb worst place to work for and the union there r a bunch of thieves and only look out for themselves it just sucks worked there for 10 years till they gave me a buyout