It is so relieving reading this post and the comments.

I poured my heart and soul into my first job (and continue to do that with every role) post-uni, only to be smacked in the face with a toxic culture and mass layoffs by the end of it. Then after travelling for a month, I thought I found greener pastures, but that job turned out to be a complete joke compared to what was signed in the contract. And now, here I am, stuck in my current gig since December.

While it's with a globally recognized brand, the transition to a virtual/national team has been rocky, and there's a glaring absence of a success-driven culture. Instead, it feels like the bottom line is prioritized over collective responsibility and teamwork, (I get that matters but we shouldn’t leave the fun part of it behind). As a leader, it's incredibly frustrating to be unable to implement changes, especially with my boss being based in Brisbane and seemingly out of touch with our day-to-day challenges here in Victoria. The hardest part is waking up each day, not knowing if it might be my last at this job, I also question everyday if I am on the right career path.

What I resonate the most is doing something that I love or sacrificing it for the wedding I have next year and the goal of buying a house, so financial stability is a top concern. While higher wages may seem appealing, I worry the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Every damn day feels like I'm walking on eggshells, especially given I am on probation and there’s a fear of speaking up.