Work advice please...

[hailhydra]

First off - I am very grateful that I have a job and an income and I'm able to do things I like. I do not want to quit my job.

I've worked for the same company for eleven years (it is a residential treatment facility for special needs children). Throughout this time I've had multiple middle management positions in a supervisory role. Currently I work 3rd shift and am responsible for many staff and clients under our care. For the most part my job isn't too bad but at any second we could have a violent situation arise.

For the last three years I've asked for some assistance on my shift but the answer has always been that there isn't enough money for that (so suck it up!). During this time they've added more clients and staff and more responsibilities to my position. A lot of the newer clients are not the type of clients we had when I first started - they are more violent and tend to be here for criminal reasons instead of behavioral/educational reasons.

In October of 2010 I spoke with my supervisor explaining that I was becoming burned out and asking for some type of assistance. I was told that he would look into it and come up with something creative. (Working the night shift I never see my supervisor.)

After waiting two months with no response at all I turned in my transfer request and on a fluke my supervisor showed up early and I was able to speak with him about it with the outcome of our conversation just being, "Sorry to hear you want to leave." He signed the request and forwarded it to Human Resources.

Our company has a policy that once a transfer request is signed they can only hold the employee for 30 days so after waiting six weeks I made some inquiries and was informed that the COO of the company had said they would hold me until a replacement was found. I didn't like the sound of this but I gritted my teeth and went on about my business.

At this point it's been 16 weeks to the day that the request was signed. I was told tonight that they've hired someone for my position but that this person's manager won't let him leave for 30 days - putting my total wait time at five months.

I just got this news and I'm rather upset. Yes, I know it's only one more month. But this job is truly stressing me out and I'm having physical ailments (IBS, ulcer, insomnia etc) because of it. I have enough personal time to take two weeks off but I don't know if it would be approved.

Anyway, it was nice to vent this here. I just wonder if any of you savvy DUers would have any suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!!

:rant:

[ohheckyeah]

1. It doesn't sound like

you have a lot of options once you discount quitting and you've already put in for a transfer. I suggest you put in for the time off. You'll never know if it will be approved if you don't try. The worst that can happen is they say no.

[AngryOldDem]

2. No advice, unfortunately...

sounds like management is playing games because they're not happy with what you want to do. But I am astounded that you do not have more help on third shift, especially with the clientele you work with. You have a potentially dangerous situation on your hands..

I've worked second shift so I know what it's like to get dumped on by management. I would suggest that you politely keep pushing on this and remind them that this is what you want, and that you hope for a resolution soon. And put in for those two weeks. Management also likes to stall on personal time, but the time **is** yours -- you have earned it, and you need it. If you get sick, you'll be even worse off.

[hailhydra]

3. Thank you very much for the

advice. I've put in my leave request.

This was very cathartic! Thank you very much!!

[applegrove]

4. Insomnia can lead to depression. Happened to me when I was in a stressful situation at a job when I

was 24. I could not sleep for months and months and was too stupid to get our of their quickly like I should have. You are smart to leave. Sorry it is taking so long.

[Tripod]

5. I hope it gets better.

It would be nice to say every thing will be okay. But it probably won't. I service people also, and it is hard to get support. There are so many others that will come in and take the 3rd shift. I hope it works for you. Maybe start a new union. There is a lot of history, and help with this.