We all go through rough patches at work sometimes; deadlines pile up, tempers get short, and the accumulated stress in the office can get on everyone’s nerves. But these periods eventually pass, spats with colleagues are forgotten, and someone comes back from holiday feeling refreshed at ready to get back to work. However, when the rough period doesn’t end, and when you’re the only one who doesn’t seem to enjoy work anymore, it’s tempting to think that maybe you should look for a new job.
This is a tough assessment to make by yourself. If you’re going through a rough patch of your own, it can be difficult to separate work from your personal life therefore you don’t quite know which area is causing you more distress. You might convince yourself that you like your job, and it is just a personal issue, but you could just as easily be lying to yourself because you don’t want to go through the stress of job hunting, and the uncertainty of not having a source of income. To help you make this decision, here are a few reasons to stay in your current job, or hand in your resignation.
Reasons to stay
Good environment
Rough patches aside, if the office is generally a good environment for your health, physical and mental well-being, you’re in a great place to develop your career. All bosses are required by law to adhere to health and safety regulations, and some small business owners will even reach out to Peninsula Group’s health and safety services to make sure they’re doing everything right, but there are other ways you boss could promote a pleasant work environment for his employees. They could have an open door policy, reward hard work with recognition or prizes, and they encourage bonding sessions between colleagues. Good work environments are tough to find, so make sure it’s just a rough patch before you give notice.
Room for growth
You most likely have long-term career goals in mind when you apply for jobs, but some companies would seemingly prefer it if you just stayed in the same position year after year. As a result, you don’t get any experience to advance your career, and you have to look for external qualifications to give you an edge over other applicants. But if your current job has multiple opportunities for further training, lets you take on more responsibilities after a few months, and encourages you to pursue further qualifications by offering to pay for your training, you’re in an enviable position.
Great boss
Finding a company whose mission statement aligns with your passions and beliefs is rare, but finding a boss that you believe in is even less common. If there are clear signs that you have a great boss – someone who supports you, offers good feedback, doesn’t micromanage, and appreciates your skills – then perhaps they can help you get through your personal rough patch. If they truly appreciate the work you do, then they won’t want you to leave if they can do something about it.
Reasons to go
Your health is suffering
While there are a wide number of reasons why you keep getting sick, if you’ve already looked at your lifestyle and home, you may finally have to consider that your job is the cause of your illness. Sure, there’s always one person in the office who seems to have a perpetual cold or flu because they frequently overwork themselves, but if you’ve never gotten sick to that extent before, then there’s something that’s causing your immune system to fail. Stress suppresses your immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight off any bugs that go around the office. It might be more common during winter when everyone is coming into work sick, but if it’s happening once a month then you have to consider that work is making you sick. Your physical health is a good indicator of your mental health. If you’ve noticed an increase in headaches, frequent colds, or other symptoms of chronic stress, it may be time to remove yourself from the cause.
You don’t get on with your co-workers
Difficult people do exist, and you would be hard-pressed to find a work environment that didn’t have a single tough colleague. However, there is a fine line between professional differences and workplace bullying. If your boss and co-workers have turned the workplace into somewhere you don’t want to be, and you have tried everything in your power to improve the situation, you may need to make the decision to leave. If your dissatisfaction with your job is causing more tension in the office, you should definitely consider looking for a new job while you can still part on good terms with everyone.
On a less drastic note, sometimes you don’t get on with colleagues because they’re unprofessional; they don’t take their job seriously, they constantly gossip and spread rumours instead of working, and they take credit for all the work you do. You don’t have to be best friends with your co-workers, but it’s not too much to ask that they do their jobs and let you get on with yours.
You dread Mondays
When you don’t want to be at work, you can see a drop in your productivity. You used to have drive and a determination to complete your tasks in a timely manner, but now you’re spending more time browsing YouTube or checking Facebook. This is definitely a good indicator that you need to be doing something that you find mentally stimulating. The next stage of not wanting to be at work is a genuine fear of Monday mornings. This dread can cause you to lose sleep on weeknights, which increases your chances of getting ill. Do not convince yourself that the dread you feel about going into work can be ignored or passed off as something else. If you genuinely do not look forward to going in every day, it is time to quit your job.
