Is it time to quit?
Hi everyone
For context, I’m 24(F) and on the spectrum. I graduated in 2024 with a Psychology & Counselling degree, and since graduating had worked in a completely unrelated call centre job. This was until January this year, where I secured what I thought would be an amazing job for a mental health service working as a Wellbeing Coach.
I noticed when I first joined, quite a few staff had recently left and there was a huge client backlog, but I didn’t think much of it. After speaking to colleagues, I now know this is due to the unrealistic and unsustainable workload that is expected. I’m now nearly 6 months into this job, and I’m burned out beyond belief. I feel so upset because I thought I had finally found a job I would like, but myself nor my colleagues can keep up with the workload. I’m having back to back calls with clients, which are emotionally heavy, demanding, and often there is risk of suicide/harm. I get absolutely no time in between calls to decompress. In meetings they say that if you feel you need some time after a call you can take it, but you physically can’t or else you will fall behind even more which then causes you more stress. I’m having to do insane amounts of admin afterwards that I can never complete in time! but it’s not just myself, my colleagues are struggling too. I feel like due to the caseload and what’s expected off us, I’m not able to give the clients the proper support they need.
Management are very aware of this, we have all raised complaints, concerns, had multiple meetings, involved HR etc but nothing is ever done. They say the usual corporate jargon and take two approaches: promise change that never comes, or blame us for not keeping up. We also get blamed for things that aren’t our fault. For example, I got ‘told off’ for not knowing something that was said during a meeting…I wasn’t even invited to that meeting! They forgot to invite me.
I am overworked, underpaid, and It’s making me ill. I’m getting home and sleeping because I’m so exhausted and this is after dropping my hours. It’s so ironic to me that a WELLBEING service is making all of their staff so miserable. I walked in on a counsellor today in the kitchen area who was verging tears because she is stressed with her workload and lack of support.
I’m considering going back to university next year, and doing a masters in Audiology. I enjoy working in a healthcare related role, but I think this experience has put me off working in something mental-health related again.
My partner thinks I should just get a lower-stress, and less emotionally demanding job until I go back and study, but I’m worried about a couple of things.
I know how horrific the job market is right now, and how depressing the process is
It’ll look bad on my CV that i’ve only worked here for 5-6 months
The feeling of failure; that I thought I knew what I wanted and I was wrong
and 4) What if I just end up with another dysfunctional company?