Scrolling through job sites at half past ten in the evening is probably not a good sign, but it’s very telling.
Two days into the new work week, after a long Easter break, and my gut is starting to tell me, with some assurity, that it is time to move on.
What saddens me is the work colleagues I’ll leave behind. I’m met some incredible people, and I’m certain they have kept me in the job for longer than would otherwise have been the case.
But it no longer feels like enough to keep me there.
I’ve been writing about organisational wellbeing as part of my Human Resources assignment, and all the factors that contribute to wellbeing in the workplace, from health and wellbeing programmes and social connections, to pay, work-life balance and rewarding work.
Working in the NHS can be incredibly rewarding, and speaking with patients has been the favourite part of job by far.
However, the pay levels are astronomically poor.
When I joined I was astounded to see how little people earn in the lower bands of the NHS, and even in the middle bands, where many nursing staff sit, the pay is far too low for the work they do.
They devote their lives to the NHS and to serving others. They are very poorly rewarded for their loyalty and commitment.
Crucial for me, however, is the people I surround myself with on a daily basis and the impact work has on my mental health. I don’t feel I am in a positive, healthy environment and my mental health is starting to suffer as a result.
Some home working is likely to help with this. Removing myself from the office environment will be a positive step, but I’m unsure if it will be enough.
Anyone who has struggled with their mental health and worked incredibly hard to get to the point where they are well and able to live a full, fulfilling life, knows that it something worth protecting at all costs.
Any sign that an environment or an individual is damaging it in some way, is a huge red flag that has to be paid attention to.
Although making decisions late at night, when you’re tired and not in the best mindset, are probably not wise.
I’m going to return to watching Scoop on Netflix, about Prince Andrew’s infamous Newsnight interview. It was an utter PR disaster and a lesson in the importance of media training, according to the Head of PR that I worked with at the time.
We’d been in contact with The Palace press office in the months leading up to it about a campus visit by Prince Andrew as part of Pitch at Palace, a Dragon’s Den-style event where entrepreneurs pitched to win funding.
He did attend, but the social media content I’d been working on, and had approved by The Palace, was halted and in the end there was a media blackout. He arrived and left with very few people actually knowing he was there.
It wasn’t too long after that that he stepped down from Royal duties.
But I digress.
At least Scoop is acting as reminder that life could be worse. I haven’t given a career-ending video and future employment is a possibility.
I’ll count my blessings.
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