If you had these employment issues, what would you do?

Question

I work at a small family owned company. My boss is the owner of the company, there is no higher or lower. I've been working here over a year; I have experience in the field since 1998. I have 3 years of college and other training classes in many fields. Despite everything and my qualifications, I spend most of my time filing or answering phones. One time I even was asked to make the owner’s son’s pictures into book form (cutting, copying, pasting into the format). One of the owners is prone to tantrums and throwing things across the room for giving him a phone call.

I wake up sick to my stomach at the thought of coming to work and there are nights where I wake up in cold sweats after nightmares from work.

I am completely under appreciated and I do the meaningless jobs and they trust me with nothing. They've said I'm not smart enough to do certain things. I've had to completely change the way I dress, my hair, and my make up, even my perfume for them.

I just found out if I quit I couldn’t get unemployment benefits to help look for a new job... I currently go to college fulltime as well as everything else.

I work pretty much 7 am - 6 pm them I have school. I don't have free time to really hunt for a job while I'm working here, but because of school I cannot afford to not have a paycheck...

What do I do??? What would you do????

A couple more things:

I live in Alaska so most career sites suck for job hunting.

Also, I go to school online in Iowa so there is not a career counselor or anything.

To add to things, I do not drive. I do not have a license and with snow coming I cant get one until summer anyway.

Answer 1

Family-owned companies can be difficult for the employee who's an outsider. They employ their family members and only hire from outside when they have to. Also, it isn't always a good situation for an employee who is looking for a promotion. Not all family-owned enterprises are like this but it looks like you have run into a doosie.

Start making a plan to break away from this job, finish school, and get your driver's license but don't burn any bridges while you do it.

Even Alaska must have a state-run job service which might at least give you a small bit of help and maybe even a lead on a different job. It would be worth it if only to escape the night terrors that you describe.

Answer 2

I know how you feel. I have been in the same boat. Being used is the worse feeling and you are surely not appreciated for the work.

Remember the ad for Career Builder with the monkeys throwing stuff at the person trying to hold a sales meeting. Put your resume on line at Career Builder.com and Monster.com. Who says you can't look at the same time as working and going to school. Also, check with the career counselor at school. Maybe they can direct you to a company with your qualifications.

Then go into your boss's office and give him a resignation letter. He will get the drift because he will have to do everything himself.

You shouldn't have to change the way you look or what you wear unless it is unappropriate.

Answer 3

7 AM - 6 PM, seems to me you're putting in alot of hours, 55 on a 5 day week, 66 if you work 6 days. What is your job?

I hope you're getting overtime, if not contact the local Wage and Salary Division of the US Department of Labor. Your boss may be breaking the law.

Don't let him intimidate you by saying you are not covered, i.e. "exempt", or that you're "salaried", unless your position is consider by the government as "executive" or "professional" you are covered. Nor should you let him frighten you by threatening to fire you. You are well within your rights to ask for no, demand, overtime pay for overtime work.

Why did you have to change you dress, hair, etc.? To be more "appealing" to your boss? That too may be a violatoin of the law, specifically, Sexual Harassment. It sounds to me that you work in a "hostile environment", not only from a sexual point of view but a physical one.

Like most small businessmen, your boss may have started the business from scratch and, like some, believes that anyone who has not succeeded in business is lower than dirt. More likely he inherited it from his father. Self-made (wo)men know what it is like to be on the other side and treat employees with consideration, compassion and respect. There is no reason why you should go through your worklife being the brunt of some crude boss(es) who merely sees you as a tool for their pleasure and at their beck and call.

Nor should you have to get sick at the thought of going to work, or suffering nightmares. I would look for a job now, any kind, just to get out of there.

Answer 4

try monster.com no one should have to work in that condition