Deserately unhappy - work related :(

I think that Simon is allowing his "cynicism" to distort his view of employers and work in general, having said that we all have seen evidence of bad employers. But his "cynicism" might be also be reflected in his response to the original post which was why couldn't she walk the 10 miles to work and back regardless of the weather, physical abilities etc.? That sort of disregard I would expect from a bad employer!!

I've worked for good and bad employers, [mostly good], as a Senior Manager to, hopefully, turn a company around that was having organisational and managerial problems. The problems can vary but one of the major and re-occurring one was bad managers/supervisors who had a power complex, didn't have the imagination to see problems in front of their faces, actually enjoyed using their position to bully and victimise employees.

At one company one of the "managers" had on his large, imposing desk the sign "Have you come with a solution to my problem, or are you part of it??". He was a self important bully who thought that carrying a briefcase made him a manager. It had to be explained to his that HE was the problem and was endangering the company. He couldn't change his ways and in the end left the company. My point is that a company doesn't necessarily have to be a bad company for it's employee's to be unhappy. It can be just one individual or a small group who are in managerial/supervisory positions causing mayhem and enjoying it.

People do, by virtue of their experiences in working life, have different views. Some can't do without having work in their life and some don't want it in their life! Different strokes for different folks. I think the advice for Honeybee to find the cheapest insurance, and find another company to work for, is good. But in these days of recession and decrease in good jobs and a corresponding increase in bad jobs Honeybee's situation will not be helped.

I still think there is more to Honeybee's situation that just a short sighted, rigid sticking to the "rules" by the Human Resources Department, and that possibly they are trying to find a cheap, but nasty, way of getting rid of employees.

 

The point is, Pete, that Honeybee is being told get business car insurance for going to the company headquarters AND, if she doesn't, she is being threatened with "disciplinary action". So if you're just an employee who wants to go to work, do the job and get paid, and has got bills to pay, you're got to be a bit upset when you're put in the spotlight over something trivial in a manner that seems threatening and harsh.

Some people haven't got the financial ability to stick two fingers up to the company and walk out to try to find another job. The other thing is that should Honeybee be able to do that the company wins, as, to me, it looks like they are pressuring her to go without paying out any recompense.

You're right, Pete, it does depend on the line of work and size of company, the smaller companies do tend to behave worse as they don't like paying out to get rid of an employee. Some people do "stick like glue because they feel valued", but others stick like glue to their jobs, not because they feel valued or love the job, but because there's nothing else on offer.