I hate my job, but feel guilty about leaving my employers in the lurch
I’ve been offered a new job in a much nicer environment, but I feel that I shouldn’t leave my colleagues to shoulder the burden
Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I have been offered a new job but my current manager has just gone off work to have surgery as she is very ill and will be off for nearly three months.
The thing is, I don’t like my current job. I have been there for only a few months but I feel it isn’t a good fit. I don’t like most of the team, the atmosphere, environment, the work, or my long commute. I’ve been told that I’m not allowed to help out colleagues and need to stick to my own work. However, I have around four hours a day with nothing to do, and my requests for extra work and new responsibilities have been turned down.
The new job I have been offered is permanent, with similar pay and benefits to my present one. It’s a nice company where I have temped before, with a shorter commute, nice colleagues and a busy environment with varied work.
I feel guilty thinking about leaving (even though there is some temporary cover for my manager). I feel that I’m leaving this company in the lurch, even though I don’t like it there. I am still in my probationary period, so my notice is only one week.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.