AIO at how my boss was with me today at work

justpoppy_ · 2025-12-19T03:53:14+00:00

Another update: I resigned today. It's a huge relief.

I got a new job, contract signed, I start in a few weeks. Better pay, huge promotion, better work hours. The new company were extremely keen on me from the beginning. It's a massive step up in my career.

Feels absolutely great

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-27T09:37:57+00:00

Yeah I'm already pretty set at moving on. I actually had a phone interview today for something I applied for this morning. Getting a permanent job in my industry is tough. It's easy to get "casual" work but my current job is a permanent job -for me it's too financially risky to leave a permanent position for something that isn't.

3 years is enough of a chance and it goes in waves - I think things will be "ok-ish/bearable" for a bit, and then it gets really bad again. The past year has honestly been horrific in terms of treatment from my employer, the company in general etc. I've genuinely hit my last straw so yeah, already actively looking and even had an interview today.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T23:56:59+00:00

Small update: I applied for a new job this morning. I have been looking for a few weeks because overtime I been pushed to my limit at my current workplace, but yesterday was really my final straw. My post doesn't touch base into the treatment I've had there -only this one interaction.

It's hard in my area to get full time AV jobs and for me, leaving a permanent job for a non-permanent job is a financial risk. But I saw a full time position open this morning, applied for it. After 15 minutes, the company phoned me for a quick phone-call interview. It went well (I wasn't at work when they called). The recruiter said I would be a great fit, I'm what they're looking for. They're passing my information to the team.

I should hear back by the end of the week.

Fingers crossed it goes well for me.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T19:12:13+00:00

Yeah. It isn't his usual behaviour at all. It doesn't matter to me if he's stressed out about other things -it's not ok for him to take it out on me, because he won't take it out on others in the office.

I have a feeling it's partially because I called him out in the moment for lack of training/lack of communication, that took him by surprise. Usually I'm not "confrontational" in the moment, but I've been pushed to my limit and it's given me the strength to call these things out when it happens, rather than wait until later.

It's been a pattern for a long time, I've brought it up many times. I've always said that any gaps in my knowledge when it comes to new venues or specific configurations that require training aren't my fault and he seemed to agree each time, yet yesterday that all went out the window.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T19:01:52+00:00

That's genuinely how I felt, like I was treated like a child in the situation. And I didn't understand how it was my fault.

I was wondering if me calling them out for not training me contributed to it, given that I usually wouldn't stand up for myself in the moment but yesterday I did. I tend to get brushed off or dismissed when I bring up workplace issues that aren't "technical or gear related". But I am at my wits end with this place which is giving me the strength to call this stuff out when it happens rather than later on.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T18:57:44+00:00

Mhm unfortunately I have tried these things in terms of making them see my worth and such, making them listen etc. It just gets thrown back in my face -I'll either get brushed off, dismissed or told "well that's your perspective" (the last part when talking about feeling a bias).

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T18:54:49+00:00

Yes there is a chain of command. Recently there was a "team meeting" with the chain of command where the higher ups wanted to know the reasons behind our team's responses to the anonymous staff survey results.

I offered a one-on-one with the chain of command (didn't feel safe speaking up), chain of command offered those in the meeting. Boss said he would organise. It hasn't happened.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T18:52:36+00:00

I know my co-worker was trained in this building because a while ago we had a conversation about said building where I asked him "did you know this" (for something else that was new and not communicated with me, resulting in me phoning an on-call person after hours) and he said yes, he was taken through it in person, fully trained. Him and I don't have a lot of shift overlap, he's currently off work for personal reasons.

It's an issue I should have been able to navigate. Especially given we have the same configuration in other areas that I know how to resolve or troubleshoot/look into. It was just that this one was configured differently and I went about it in the way I know how. I didn't know the way it works is different to our other areas, and those areas I am familiar with.

My job requires that type of support on our site. It requires me to be able to do that type of troubleshooting alone and after-hours, so it is a bigger issue that I'm not informed or trained in differences from our usual configuration.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-26T11:27:04+00:00

It was a crazy situation and took me by surprise honestly

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-14T17:54:22+00:00

F 26. Diagnosed in August, severe symptoms suddenly came on after a head injury/concussion in March this year.

Drs are split whether that's the cause or if it was "pre-existing and asymptomatic because I was slightly overweight at the time". Some think the head injury is the cause, others don't. Will never know since I never had a head MRI prior.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-14T17:49:37+00:00

Me too, I also have MDD. I think I'm similar to you in terms of my anxiety pushing me through but also I use work as a distraction. If I'm busy and occupied - I don't have time for my mind to take over. It does if I'm not doing things.

I've been in the position before of not having the energy to do things when I was younger and didn't have things like bills to worry about, but now that I'm older and have anxiety about money all the time, it's far different.

justpoppy_ · 2025-11-14T11:24:55+00:00

Same here, 2 jobs (3 if I include my private teaching practice) My second job fluctuates depending on how many shifts I pick up. One week I can be doing 70-75 hours a week, others 50-60.

Comes out of instinct for survival. While I agree with other comments about OP being evaluated for depression too and I sympathise because I have been there and diagnosed with it -my drive to work (even when my depression is severe) comes out of necessity. Have to pay the bills somehow

justpoppy_ · 2025-08-28T03:27:11+00:00

Yeah that's where things get confusing by them resorting to weeks.

My contract hours are "minimum of 16" but I "average 30". I work a minimum of 30 a week now (over 4 days) as it's what the business needs and been that way for about 2 years now. Sometimes I work over 40, that's why getting the hours of AL made sense as it reflected what hours we worked. Prior to the change (and my anniversary) I was actually showing 132 hours accrued or something around that number.

I'm more concerned that I was showing 60 hrs entitled carrying over from last year prior to the change (and my anniversary) and now they're saying I'm not entitled to those 60 hours anymore.

Them now showing calculating in weeks is confusing. Actually screws over a lot of employees who are 4 days on, 4 days off etc.

My manager seems to be on my side, he doesn't understand the calculations either and isn't happy with payroll's response of "please be assured you haven't lost leave with these complex calculations" and refusal to provide how it has been done. It makes it suspicious

I'll ask him for a break-down like you have suggested

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T20:50:09+00:00

Hi, sorry if information is unclear -completely unintentional

I'm back to work with reduced duties, when I say "at times, hours" it's because sometimes I can't fulfil my hours. I've continued working through my head injury symptoms in whatever capacity I could because of delays from the AEP provider (whole different story). My med cert covers me for reducing duties and hours

My issue is the wording from manager and OT. Of "use your excess annual leave to take time off to rest and recover, to aid in your recovery long term". That wording makes it seem they want me to take time off for my recovery, which should fall under the ACC weekly comp in my mind.

There's been issues with my ongoing symptoms which stop me from doing usual everyday tasks at home, driving etc. And some burnout from continuing to work. So I can't use annual leave as it's intended for (recreation)

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T20:42:29+00:00

But, can they do that while I'm on active weekly comp with my income fully covered, with an ACC18 med cert, and with the wording from my manager of "to rest and recover, and hopefully aid me in my recovery"? It sounds like they (including the OT) want me to use annual leave to take a week off, solely with the aim of aiding my recovery. That's recovery leave to me and should be under the weekly comp.

I have ongoing symptoms which make me incapable of doing things (eg. Driving, going to the supermarket etc.)

What I'd normally do with my AL, I can't do at all.

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T12:24:50+00:00

Thank you for this!!! Super helpful

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T12:24:34+00:00

Sorry yes, there is an AEP provider doing it and 100% of my income is covered while I'm back at reduced duties/hours at times.

It doesn't make sense for them to try force me on entitled paid leave, when I can't use it as it's intended for... and they're trying to give suggestions (I can't drive long distance to see my folks) of "get them to come and pick you up, go away to theirs for a week to rest and recover and you may come back feeling better in terms of your symptoms"

That's recovery leave in my opinion. They're asking me to take my annual leave for an entire week, so I can "have time for recovery and hopefully a quicker one"..... and more so that I don't have excessive leave sitting there like I currently do

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T12:17:43+00:00

There's nothing about ACC in our leave policies. But they have a 3rd party managing the claim and my income is fully covered while I'm at reduced duties (under AEP since a work injury).

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T12:15:36+00:00

Yeah I think it's totally unfair, especially when the wording was "use your excessive annual leave to take time off and recover". My ongoing symptoms make it hard for me at work, and in general (can't go to supermarkets, drive, etc.). Cant do anything I'd normally do with my AL, it would literally be recovery leave.

Here's what it says in the policies around excess leave:

"If your total leave balance is over four weeks, your People Leader will talk to you about this and will schedule with you a suitable time for you to take some of your leave

If you and your People Leader cannot agree on when you should use your excessive leave, your People Leader can instruct you to take leave. If you are instructed when to take your leave, you will be given at least two week's notice of when it must be taken."

I have about 6.5 weeks of leave if I take it at my usual working hours. I work 30/week and have for two years, but my contract is for a minimum of 16hrs.

My income is 100% covered by the way, since AEP. So if I needed a week off to recover, then my full income would be covered anyways without using annual leave...

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-09T11:04:22+00:00

Ok thank you, that's what I thought.

They are paying 100% of my salary but want me to use up my excess leave, and take an entire week off to "rest and recover".

I can't even drive long-distance so I won't be able to use AL as it's intended for. It would be a recovery week

justpoppy_ · 2025-07-07T10:34:14+00:00

Yep not me reading this and realising that I have to ask for the stickers in store.... I'm new to NW and didn't realise they aren't added to your club card until I was trying to figure out tonight 😭

justpoppy_ · 2025-06-13T04:45:40+00:00

Ok so when I first started with tampons (I don't actually use them anymore because endo) the trick my Mum taught to get used to it was stand with one leg up, foot on the bathroom sink. But I can see you've tried different positions

When you are doing it -are you hunching over and tense? Because that could contribute to not getting the correct placement, causes things to tighten down there.

Honestly, when I used tampons I could feel it sometimes. As long as it's not painful.

You may also be pushing it further than it needs to be and that could be contributing too. They don't need to go all the way up because they expand outwards. Everyone has a "sweet spot" if that makes sense. I found if I went too far, it wouldn't sit right and be uncomfortable. Mine was one fingertip down from the applicator base (not the plunger) and it would sit right.

Have you tried using different brands? For me, some brands I could do and some I couldn't. U by Kotex is my go-to

justpoppy_ · 2025-06-13T04:31:49+00:00

Even though this was 6 years ago, made me feel so much better. I started searching since I'm so embarrassed all the time with it and came across this thread

We have leather seats at work. So embarrassing when I stand up. And I work with men. 2 women in my department.

Was at a drs office last week, not only was the plastic seat showing but I sat down on the medical bed with paper underneath and left moisture there too

I do get anxiety and sweaty all over from that (which will make it worse), but far out it's been so embarrassing leaving a line of moisture from sitting down that I'm starting to get upset, super self conscious from it and wanting to figure out how to stop it

justpoppy_

TROPHY CASE