SHAUN K.
Why did I do this to myself?
I worked for this company for a long time, progressing through the ranks and gaining valuable experience along the way. One of the biggest positives was having a great team who showed me genuine respect and support. Unfortunately, the negatives eventually outweighed the positives. The long hours were relentless, and there was little separation between work and home life. Even when spending time with family, emails and phone calls would continue to come through. If you raised an issue or concern, don't expect it to be listened to or taken seriously. The management style at the higher levels was, in my experience, extremely toxic. Over time, you learn which managers you can trust and which you can't. There is far too much distrust and a culture where people seem more concerned with getting one over on each other than working together. Staff turnover is embarrassing, and questions around wages and pay were another major frustration. On occasions, I felt I had to make up the shortfall to my family just to avoid the embarrassment of the situation. The workload was completely unhealthy and ultimately forced me to make a decision: stay and risk my mental health deteriorating to a point where I genuinely feared for my own wellbeing, or leave and find something better. I chose to leave, and I am glad I did. Moving to another company took some adjustment, particularly getting used to an environment where my safety and wellbeing are actually taken seriously. It has made me realise just how unhealthy my previous working environment had become. It's a shame, because there were good people and some positive experiences along the way. However, no job should come at the expense of your mental health, family life, or personal wellbeing. I stayed for a long time, worked my way up, and gave the company a great deal, but ultimately, leaving was the right decision for me.