[Dreamlord]

I think I am getting close to burning out and I am starting to worry.

I started a new job a few months ago and have not had a break for years. Add to that that the new job sees me working 60+ hours per week and I am feeling very close to not caring any more.

It is difficult because I have not been in my new job long enough to allow me to feel ok to ask for a month or two of unpaid leave to rest a bit. And with all that is going on right now, I need to wait until a few months later so I can go see my family, whom I have not seen for almost two years now and my parents are elderly.

Getting really fed up with all the bullshit, really.

 

[lock2k]

I'm getting sick of being told that I need to promote myself. I mean, I've been in the same company for almost 6 years and I had no chance of getting up and going anything other than my job. I brought many new things to the table and many of them became commonplace after that. But even working my ass off and bringing new stuff (including a lot of savings for the company) I still work as a contractor and I'm not considered part of the company. And I have a colleague that managed to became part of the company and he keeps giving me tips about how I have to show myself more and stuff like that but I just don't have the energy to promote myself anymore because it was fruitless up to now plus I'm old and I don't think they care. /endrant

 

[regawdless]

I think I am getting close to burning out and I am starting to worry.

I started a new job a few months ago and have not had a break for years. Add to that that the new job sees me working 60+ hours per week and I am feeling very close to not caring any more.

It is difficult because I have not been in my new job long enough to allow me to feel ok to ask for a month or two of unpaid leave to rest a bit. And with all that is going on right now, I need to wait until a few months later so I can go see my family, whom I have not seen for almost two years now and my parents are elderly.

Getting really fed up with all the bullshit, really.

I feel you. For many years, I had a job where I worked absurd amounts of hours. It drained me, but at the same time kinda got me hooked because of a mixture of pressure and success. It's not easy to scale it back.

I asked myself one question:
At the end, in the final moments of ones life, lying in the bed and reflecting on everything. How many people said:
"Damn, I should've worked more!"

To find a good balance isn't easy though.

I'm getting sick of being told that I need to promote myself. I mean, I've been in the same company for almost 6 years and I had no chance of getting up and going anything other than my job. I brought many new things to the table and many of them became commonplace after that. But even working my ass off and bringing new stuff (including a lot of savings for the company) I still work as a contractor and I'm not considered part of the company. And I have a colleague that managed to became part of the company and he keeps giving me tips about how I have to show myself more and stuff like that but I just don't have the energy to promote myself anymore because it was fruitless up to now plus I'm old and I don't think they care. /endrant

Contractors always get screwed. Nothing you can do about it, other than trying to get into that company as a normal employee.

That thing with self promotion is something that bothers me as well. I do very good work, can present stuff very confidently and am highly respected by everyone who interacts with me. But out of principle, I don't go around promoting myself, showing off, claiming successes of others as mine etc. I also don't lie to my superiors or sugarcoat shit. But especially in management positions, this is necessary to advance. I did fine so far with my understatement, but it takes 2-3 years for the higher ups to be aware of me.

 

[Ornlu]

I'm getting sick of being told that I need to promote myself. I mean, I've been in the same company for almost 6 years and I had no chance of getting up and going anything other than my job. I brought many new things to the table and many of them became commonplace after that. But even working my ass off and bringing new stuff (including a lot of savings for the company) I still work as a contractor and I'm not considered part of the company. And I have a colleague that managed to became part of the company and he keeps giving me tips about how I have to show myself more and stuff like that but I just don't have the energy to promote myself anymore because it was fruitless up to now plus I'm old and I don't think they care. /endrant

I'm of the opinion that you will get wherever you are going to be within a company within a few years of being there. Have you shopped around to see how you would be valued elsewhere? It might surprise you how much you can gain by switching.

 

[lock2k]

I'm of the opinion that you will get wherever you are going to be within a company within a few years of being there. Have you shopped around to see how you would be valued elsewhere? It might surprise you how much you can gain by switching.

I tried many times, got some awesome interviews, thought I did well and wasn't approved. I really need to know what I'm doing wrong. Even though I'm an introvert by heart I'm not afraid of talking and I'm not awkward by any means, but I must have said something wrong. At least two of the interviews I thought I was going to be approved. One company answered right away and the other ghosted me for a month and only answered when I demanded it. I'll keep shopping around and I think you are right with the few years thing. I hit the ceiling a good while ago in my position.

 

[A Elbereth Gilthoniel]

I can't stop staring at her jiggly arm fat.

 

[Ornlu]

I tried many times, got some awesome interviews, thought I did well and wasn't approved. I really need to know what I'm doing wrong. Even though I'm an introvert by heart I'm not afraid of talking and I'm not awkward by any means, but I must have said something wrong. At least two of the interviews I thought I was going to be approved. One company answered right away and the other ghosted me for a month and only answered when I demanded it. I'll keep shopping around and I think you are right with the few years thing. I hit the ceiling a good while ago in my position.

I'm at the point in my job where I've hit the ceiling as well. I'm honestly torn between staying at a position that I enjoy, or going elsewhere for potentially more money, but a position that I will probably not enjoy. Also, the company I work for is a family owned company, and I happen to like most of the people I work for and with. It's hard to jump out into the unknown!

 

[Dreamlord]

I'm at the point in my job where I've hit the ceiling as well. I'm honestly torn between staying at a position that I enjoy, or going elsewhere for potentially more money, but a position that I will probably not enjoy. Also, the company I work for is a family owned company, and I happen to like most of the people I work for and with. It's hard to jump out into the unknown!

Obviously this is non of anyone else's business but yours, but in my experience, it is not worth it.
There is nothing like liking and enjoying your job. No money (within reason of course) makes up for a shit job.

I know, because 2 years ago I left a well paying job, where I was valued and I really was more or less running things and top dog there, for another job. I left because I was bored and not challenged, but I loved everything else there.

The job I took was ok for half a year and then turned shit and miserable for one more year. The current job was good the first two months, and the next two and until now are turning into a bit of a nightmare.

More money, more responsibility, more challenge, but nearly unreasonable and unrealistic expectations and zero fun.

TLDR I regret leaving the cosy job that I liked in order to chase more money and more challenge. I am no spring chicken anymore and my field is cutthroat.

I have not slept a full night without waking up at 3 at night due to stress for over two months now.

 

[Pumpkin Seeds]

30 lb brick fell on my toes

Still finished work day. Tough to explain without a life story.

 

[El Rey]

I can't stop staring at her jiggly arm fat.

Oh my GOD I can't unsee it now. If I ranted about work I'd never shutup. Too many complaints. People's incompetence never ceases to be amaze me tbh.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

30 lb brick fell on my toes

Still finished work day. Tough to explain without a life story.

Oof. Reminds me of one time I saw a guy drop a dumbbell (~30lb) on his foot at the gym. He took his shoe off and we saw that his big toe had ruptured like a ripe tomato dropped off a second story balcony.

 

[Ornlu]

Oof. Reminds me of one time I saw a guy drop a dumbbell (~30lb) on his big toe at the gym. He took his shoe off and we saw that his big toe had rupture like a ripe tomato dropped off a second story balcony.

Hands/feet bleed like a motherfucker, too.

I dropped a utility knife and it landed on my shoe; I felt a tiny bit of pain, and saw it had cut straight through the top. A minute later and my shoe was squishing. I went to the bathroom to check it out and when I took the shoe off my whole sock was soaked through with blood.

Seeing all that blood, I thought to myself "Oh God, there's going to be a fucking severed toe in there". When I took the sock off, there was the tiniest little cut on the top of one toe; all the blood was just from standing on the foot and moving around.

 

[lock2k]

Hands/feet bleed like a motherfucker, too.

I dropped a utility knife and it landed on my shoe; I felt a tiny bit of pain, and saw it had cut straight through the top. A minute later and my shoe was squishing. I went to the bathroom to check it out and when I took the shoe off my whole sock was soaked through with blood.

Seeing all that blood, I thought to myself "Oh God, there's going to be a fucking severed toe in there". When I took the sock off, there was the tiniest little cut on the top of one toe; all the blood was just from standing on the foot and moving around.

I dropped a fucking can of Soda on my foot in the end of 2020 and my toes were black and hurt for a whole month. lol

 

[Pumpkin Seeds]

A week prior a glass I was hand washing with a sponge broke with my hand inside of it. The glass shattered around my hand and then the remaining parts of the glass stayed on my arm like a bracelet, so I had to pull my hand back through the broken glass.

It shredded up my knuckles pretty good. Had a gusher on my pinky knuckle.

That healed up and then the brick fell on my toes. I'm walking normal again. The toes looked pretty bad but I heal fast enough these days. Just a lot of busted blood vessels and nerves. Worked 3 days with a limp then had a day off to rest and ice the foot.

 

[regawdless]

Alright this is getting fucking ridiculous. So glad that I'll leave this place end of the year.

The government decided that because of the raging pandemic, working from home is mandatory from now on for everyone - exceptions of course for people who can't work from home like a bus driver. But everyone who doesn't have significant reasons to go to work and has the possibility to work from home, needs to stay home. It's not an option, it's a must.

Well, multiple people here asked our HR department for an official statement - because we know that our owner HATES home office. He of course works from home 95% of the time, but we aren't allowed to.

Causing him, the owner of a company with more than 2000 people, PERSONALLY CALLING the few people who just asked about it, threatening them. "So you don't want to work anymore?" - "So you're saying that you are not happy with your position?" - "So you want me to reduce your working hours and pay by 50% ?" Etc.

Now, right before me typing this, he was going through every office room, checking who is physically at work and who isn't. (We here at this place are only around 80 people though, most work in other countries)

Currently, he's in a meeting room with one department where multiple people asked about working from home, giving them hell. Holy shit.

 

[lock2k]

Alright this is getting fucking ridiculous. So glad that I'll leave this place end of the year.

The government decided that because of the raging pandemic, working from home is mandatory from now on for everyone - exceptions of course for people who can't work from home like a bus driver. But everyone who doesn't have significant reasons to go to work and has the possibility to work from home, needs to stay home. It's not an option, it's a must.

Well, multiple people here asked our HR department for an official statement - because we know that our owner HATES home office. He of course works from home 95% of the time, but we aren't allowed to.

Causing him, the owner of a company with more than 2000 people, PERSONALLY CALLING the few people who just asked about it, threatening them. "So you don't want to work anymore?" - "So you're saying that you are not happy with your position?" - "So you want me to reduce your working hours and pay by 50% ?" Etc.

Now, right before me typing this, he was going through every office room, checking who is physically at work and who isn't. (We here at this place are only around 80 people though, most work in other countries)

Currently, he's in a meeting room with one department where multiple people asked about working from home, giving them hell. Holy shit.

What an asshole.

 

[TaySan]

I hate how I can't say anything even remotely critical or else my team lead yells at me. As much as I like my team some of them are not a good fit for the job and it shows. Now my boss is threatening to cut our pay down to minimum wage if the team doesn't improve and I'm the only one that gets nearly perfect counts. Feels unfair that I should be punished for the rest of the team that is fucking up.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

Alright this is getting fucking ridiculous. So glad that I'll leave this place end of the year.

The government decided that because of the raging pandemic, working from home is mandatory from now on for everyone - exceptions of course for people who can't work from home like a bus driver. But everyone who doesn't have significant reasons to go to work and has the possibility to work from home, needs to stay home. It's not an option, it's a must.

Well, multiple people here asked our HR department for an official statement - because we know that our owner HATES home office. He of course works from home 95% of the time, but we aren't allowed to.

Causing him, the owner of a company with more than 2000 people, PERSONALLY CALLING the few people who just asked about it, threatening them. "So you don't want to work anymore?" - "So you're saying that you are not happy with your position?" - "So you want me to reduce your working hours and pay by 50% ?" Etc.

Now, right before me typing this, he was going through every office room, checking who is physically at work and who isn't. (We here at this place are only around 80 people though, most work in other countries)

Currently, he's in a meeting room with one department where multiple people asked about working from home, giving them hell. Holy shit.

Wow, the owner sounds like a real piece of work.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

Feels unfair that I should be punished for the rest of the team that is fucking up.

and on that day, the spirit of socialism died in TaySan.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

and on that day, the spirit of socialism died in TaySan.

*choke*

 

[regawdless]

Wow, the owner sounds like a real piece of work.

He is absolutely fucking nuts. I could seriously wright a whole book about crazy shit he did. Like us having a very important call with him, him suddenly being gone from his phone ... And a goat talking into the phone instead. Like, for real. He has some on his estate and in the middle of a call, just left His phone and went..... somewhere.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

He is absolutely fucking nuts. I could seriously wright a whole book about crazy shit he did. Like us having a very important call with him, him suddenly being gone from his phone ... And a goat talking into the phone instead. Like, for real. He has some on his estate and in the middle of a call, just left His phone and went..... somewhere.

Tbf, I bet it was a relief to talk to the goat instead of him. Everyone would probably be happier if the goats called the shots going forward.

 

[Stouffers]

I enjoy my job, my coworkers and have for years. I work from home when not traveling.

 

[HariSeldon]

He is absolutely fucking nuts. I could seriously wright a whole book about crazy shit he did. Like us having a very important call with him, him suddenly being gone from his phone ... And a goat talking into the phone instead. Like, for real. He has some on his estate and in the middle of a call, just left His phone and went..... somewhere.

He sounds a bit like the guy at my old place - possibly yours is a bit madder but ours would go round calling our IT guys thick lazy cunts etc despite only 2 of them covering all timezones due to business being in UK, India and America. Tbh the only sensible thing to do there is to get out. It does get better elsewhere.

I'm enjoying the new job so far. It's fucking hard but I like that. Got a nice jolly to Spain and will be on another in January to a slightly colder locale assuming travel is even allowed anymore. Pay is awesome, and the generosity is off the charts. Take the time to look for the right thing, think carefully on what makes a good job, and when interviewing make sure you interview them. The interview is about you deciding if you want to work for them, not them deciding if they want you.

 

[CloudNull]

I've never been so stressed about work in my life. I'm in the middle of 4 different projects and then they "give" me the Citrix infrastructure to manage and migrate to the cloud.

I'm grateful for the opportunity because the tech is amazing and after mastering it I will be even more set for life. Also helps that it is a super modern tech stack that is being developed rapidly.

I don't feel like I have enough time in the day to get everything done and my work life balance is going out the window. Im going to grind it out for a few months and see if I can off load some of the shittier projects but I refuse to maintain this pace for more than 6 months. One of the main reasons I stay at my current company Is the work life balance.

Spoiler

I miss Elden Ring

 

[quickwhips]

I've never been so stressed about work in my life. I'm in the middle of 4 different projects and then they "give" me the Citrix infrastructure to manage and migrate to the cloud.

I'm grateful for the opportunity because the tech is amazing and after mastering it I will be even more set for life. Also helps that it is a super modern tech stack that is being developed rapidly.

I don't feel like I have enough time in the day to get everything done and my work life balance is going out the window. Im going to grind it out for a few months and see if I can off load some of the shittier projects but I refuse to maintain this pace for more than 6 months. One of the main reasons I stay at my current company Is the work life balance.

Spoiler

I miss Elden Ring

Yeah we are rolling out Citrix for the entire state of Delaware. It's a slow process but will be nice once my team is done. Let me know if you ever want to chat about vdi or thin clients!

 

[King of Foxes]

 

[CloudNull]

Yeah we are rolling out Citrix for the entire state of Delaware. It's a slow process but will be nice once my team is done. Let me know if you ever want to chat about vdi or thin clients!

Yeah our environment is pretty robust. VDIs, app layering, remote pc and we are starting to Beta test IGEL. The Citrix engineer before me has 7 years of experience and he did an amazing job getting the environment zooming.

They are passing it all off to me with the attention of starting to leverage Azure instead of the on Prem instance of vsphere. I will have some subject matter experts to help me but it's all a bit overwhelming.

I've always been intrigued by the cloud and wanted to learn more but most my engineering work has been helping with SCCM, app packaging and managing GPOs while trying to convert them to Endpoint Management.

I feel like I am trying to drink from a fire hose but honestly I wouldn't have it any other way. It's one of the reasons I love working in tech but this whole thing just seemed to come out of nowhere.

I am lucky that the current Citrix engineer will still be at the company but he is moving onto bigger horizons. It's going to be rough for a few months but I know I'll rock this shit…..it's just right now I feel like I'm drowning lol. It will pass and get easier as any major career milestones do.

 

[quickwhips]

Yeah our environment is pretty robust. VDIs, app layering, remote pc and we are starting to Beta test IGEL. The Citrix engineer before me has 7 years of experience and he did an amazing job getting the environment zooming.

They are passing it all off to me with the attention of starting to leverage Azure instead of the on Prem instance of vsphere. I will have some subject matter experts to help me but it's all a bit overwhelming.

I've always been intrigued by the cloud and wanted to learn more but most my engineering work has been helping with SCCM, app packaging and managing GPOs while trying to convert them to Endpoint Management.

I feel like I am trying to drink from a fire hose but honestly I wouldn't have it any other way. It's one of the reasons I love working in tech but this whole thing just seemed to come out of nowhere.

I am lucky that the current Citrix engineer will still be at the company but he is moving onto bigger horizons. It's going to be rough for a few months but I know I'll rock this shit…..it's just right now I feel like I'm drowning lol. It will pass and get easier as any major career milestones do.

That's pretty great. We have been managing Citrix for one agency for 12 years and now are trying to build out a new offering for the enterprise. Funny my team is suppose to I manage desktops but we end up managing active directory file server shares, sccm, Citrix, vm horizon, print servers. I'm like where does it end. I have 40 people with about 5 smes for each. We all kind of do it all for support but the smes do the upgrades and change tickets. We also have to manage about 10k endpoints. Never a dull moment.

 

[CloudNull]

That's pretty great. We have been managing Citrix for one agency for 12 years and now are trying to build out a new offering for the enterprise. Funny my team is suppose to I manage desktops but we end up managing active directory file server shares, sccm, Citrix, vm horizon, print servers. I'm like where does it end. I have 40 people with about 5 smes for each. We all kind of do it all for support but the smes do the upgrades and change tickets. We also have to manage about 10k endpoints. Never a dull moment.

10k endpoints is insane. We have 4000 and only about 500 are Citrix based.

 

[HariSeldon]

I'm used to raises of 10% or more. Mainly because I had my old company over a barrel in that I was the last remaining person who could keep the lights on for key systems. Started the new job 5 months ago and it's annual payrise time, now obviously I've not been there long so don't expect much but I did find a £200 raise somewhat insulting. I'd mind less if inflation wasn't rampant - my energy bill alone is going to go up £1200 in April. If next year is the same I'll look elsewhere since I don't like having the piss taken out of me.

 

[Dreamlord]

I'm used to raises of 10% or more. Mainly because I had my old company over a barrel in that I was the last remaining person who could keep the lights on for key systems. Started the new job 5 months ago and it's annual payrise time, now obviously I've not been there long so don't expect much but I did find a £200 raise somewhat insulting. I'd mind less if inflation wasn't rampant - my energy bill alone is going to go up £1200 in April. If next year is the same I'll look elsewhere since I don't like having the piss taken out of me.

That is insulting, actually. Better if they tell you, sorry but you have not been here long enough to warrant a raise, and take this into consideration in a year's time, rather than a £200 raise. That's just bullshit.

 

[HariSeldon]

That is insulting, actually. Better if they tell you, sorry but you have not been here long enough to warrant a raise, and take this into consideration in a year's time, rather than a £200 raise. That's just bullshit.

Yep - I'd have understood if they said sorry you're new so no raise but if there's a raise then it ought to be 5/12 of what it might otherwise be. If £200 is that in a time of massive inflation then that's not great. The British arm of the company is new so it's hard to get a gauge on what's normal so I'll see next year, besides I don't want a short stint on my CV, but if it's shit I'll bugger off.

I'm a little tempted to go down a business path right now. Basically make a product version of what I did in my old job, and sell that back to them for £300k/year pretty easily - building it solo isn't exactly easy but I don't have interruptions like I did when I worked for them so if I can find some evening and weekend energy and get it ready then present a complete product before charging annual maintenance and a couple of hundred grand integration with their business I reckon it'll be cool - will likely take my old #2 dev onto my payroll in doing so.

 

[Dreamlord]

Yep - I'd have understood if they said sorry you're new so no raise but if there's a raise then it ought to be 5/12 of what it might otherwise be. If £200 is that in a time of massive inflation then that's not great. The British arm of the company is new so it's hard to get a gauge on what's normal so I'll see next year, besides I don't want a short stint on my CV, but if it's shit I'll bugger off.

I'm a little tempted to go down a business path right now. Basically make a product version of what I did in my old job, and sell that back to them for £300k/year pretty easily - building it solo isn't exactly easy but I don't have interruptions like I did when I worked for them so if I can find some evening and weekend energy and get it ready then present a complete product before charging annual maintenance and a couple of hundred grand integration with their business I reckon it'll be cool - will likely take my old #2 dev onto my payroll in doing so.

I've tried the solo thing. I got made redundant about 6 years ago and decided to take half a year to build my own product. I had to learn everything from scratch, as I did not have much web development experience back then. In six months, I built a product which was, I would say about 50% there (an e-commerce platform, kinda like an e-shop creator like Shopify - funny thing is, I only found out about Shopify when I was balls deep in development ). Those six months were the most exhausting months of my career. I was working 12 hour days, 6 to 6 and a half days a week. I nearly had a mental breakdown from exhaustion.

At that point, I started getting stressed about two things: one, that I need at least another six months, plus I would need to hire people and make a proper go at building a business, if there was gona be any chance of this making money. And two, money.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, who knows), I chose to go back to contracting to make some money. The good thing of all this though is that it gave my career a new lease of life. I was by that point completely fed up with the industry, both software and finance. But the web stuff got me interested again and *gasp* I actually really liked it and got really good at it. So I guess that little adventure gave me another 10 years in the profession (I won't be doing this for too much longer - time for something new).

It was very enjoyable, though, I have to say. Even if it was exhausting.

 

[Stouffers]

I enjoy what I do. I like my coworkers, clients and compensation. I wouldn't mind traveling a bit less, but I'm pretty happy with my career of 16/17 years.

 

[Stouffers]

I enjoy what I do. I like my coworkers, clients and compensation. I wouldn't mind traveling a bit less, but I'm pretty happy with my career of 16/17 years.

Well this aged poorly.

 

[HariSeldon]

Well this aged poorly.

Like a vaccinated child...

 

[Stouffers]

Like a vaccinated child...

Or an Englishman's smile.

 

[Stouffers]

I think we just wrote a song.

 

[HariSeldon]

I think we just wrote a song.

So I take it work is shit?