Should I find a new firm ASAP?
I'm an Electrical Designer for an MEP firm in my area. I have around 2 years of part-time, mostly basic CAD/Revit work, prior to becoming a full time designer.
People have been dropping like flies for other firms. I've been holding out to hope things get better but it rarely does, and the red flags keep popping up more:
Cons:
- Team Lead says that as an engineer, even though I am told to work 9-5, I am "expected" to work until 6-8 most of the time. There is no overtime, they said my bonus is my overtime, but my bonus was very very small (under 1k).
- Every time someone quits, instead of hiring more people, the firm scrambles to redistribute those projects to everyone who is staying, so as each person has quit, I get an extra 1-2 projects, an extra 4-5 emails weekly, and an extra meeting or two.
Now i'm stuck in meetings all week, and truly the only time I can catch back up with all my emails and projects is after hours or waking up extra extra early. I've expressed that I don't think I can do this without heavy guidance as I had just graduated recently.
- I'm now suddenly a project manager for a single project, even though I have expressed that I do not think I am fit for the position. No pay increase, no bonus. I'm just suddenly in charge of a LOT more things for that project than I am prepared for.
-Every time I request for guidance, my team lead either tells me to ask someone else, or explains it way too fast over a call (WFH) and gets upset that I did not follow his instructions completely.
- Team lead says that this is how it is for all firms, and that i should just get used to it.. but I have a hunch that is incorrect.
- I haven't had any time to study for my FE/EIT due to how busy work gets. I am way too drained after logging off at 9pm to do any sort of studying, and weekends are mostly just trying to catch up on sleep.
Pros:
- Benefits are decent.. I think? Maybe it is just the industry standard. Triannual bonuses but I rarely get anything from them as of late.
- Insurance is okay, accepted by a lot around my area.
-WFH is nice at times, but not nice if im stuck in my bedroom working from 4am to 8pm at its worst.