I'm quitting my job tomorrow

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So you may have noticed that I've been gone for a few days, that's because it's been raining and storming like crazy over here for the last while, and the antenna for my house's internet connection got hit by lighting, which ended up frying the modem. Now, this may seem completely unrelated, but I spend enough time online that going without internet access for a few days has shaken things up a bit for me.

Anyway, I've been working in the deli at one of my local grocery stores for about a month or two, and I've been getting sick and tired of it. My hours have been changing all the time, my shifts are never consistent, and when I was switched back to 8 hour shifts after working 5 hour shifts for a while, I found that I was being pushed beyond my limits. I am pathologically obsessed with sanitation and cleanliness, at least when it comes to things that may be exposed to other people, and working with food all the time drives me nuts. It's very easy to screw up and cross contaminate things, or not wash my hands enough, or accidentally cough into the food I'm preparing, and I've found that I've spent more time washing my hands and changing my gloves than actually preparing food. I was merely cautious before, but with the changes that have been happening in my life, and my growing dissatisfaction with my job, it's been getting to the point where I simply can't get anything done at work. My superiors have been taking notice and giving me s**t about it, the customers keep asking where the food is, and I can't keep up with their demands without risking contaminating the food.

I'll also note that due to my terribly sensitive gag reflex and sensitivity to certain smells, I've had to wear these face masks while working in the deli. They're annoying to use, crazy uncomfortable to wear, and worst of all they don't even work 100% for blocking my coughs. I've had to throw out a lot of things I was preparing just because I accidentally coughed on them, even with a mask on. They also make it hard for me to breathe sometimes, since they constrict airflow and tend to "trap" warm, humid air around my mouth and nose.

The store I work for is understaffed as well, so I'm often required to juggle all these tasks when I could just be doing one or two different things. I usually don't have as much on my shoulders as my coworkers, but there's usually enough that I get quite overwhelmed. I would be much happier simply doing one task all day, especially one that I am confident with and know how to do.

I've also noticed that with all of the time my job takes up in my life, I have almost no time for a bunch of other things I need to get taken care of, like going through the rest of my stuff at my father's place (which is in a town several hours away), or merely even getting my room clean. What few days off I have, I use to sleep and relax, which I kind of need. I have no idea how "normal" people can juggle so much stuff in their lives, like a job, a social life, a family life, their homes and vehicles, their hobbies, their educations, etc. If you have to manage all of those things to be a functioning "adult", then I'll likely never be one.

For these reasons, among others, I've decided I'm going to just flat-out quit. I gave my two weeks notice yesterday, and talked with the head manager about it, but judging from the situation, I don't think I'll be able to stand another two weeks without having a breakdown. I know it's not considered a "good" idea to quit this way, and that I'll likely be blacklisted from the chain of grocery stores I work for, but screw 'em, I don't want to work for them anymore.

I don't have another job lined up, and I don't have much set aside for money, but I'm hoping that with the experience I've attained over the last few months, that I'll have a slightly easier time pounding the pavement looking for another job. I'm going to stay the hell away from anything food prep, and look into places like gas stations and discount stores, both of which we have plenty of around here.

I'm going through some mixed emotions right now. On the one hand, it'll be somewhat liberating finally getting away from this blasted timesink that has caused me so much grief, but on the other hand, I'm uncertain about the future, and how I'll get by. I am also worried about disappointing other people, namely my family, friends, and former coworkers. All I know is that I need to do this to preserve my sanity.

I'm glad you're going to be out of there.

It just occurred to me - do you have any sick days you can take? or holidays?

You could call in sick and take vacation days (whether they like it or not) and maybe sidestep the issue of notice?

Also, are you sure you have to give 2 wks notice? It usually goes with the time of being paid - if you get paid weekly then you only owe them one week notice, which could be taken in sick days etc.

Wishing all the best and whatever happens, you're so right to get out of there any way you can.

Unfortunately , the store I work for doesn't really do sick days. Also, 2 weeks notice is kind of a standard thing around here, and my boss won't go with anything else. Not that it would make much of a difference, I would still want to quit on the spot, which is my only other option anyway.

Also, can a mod please move this to the members only board? I mistakenly posted this here thinking it would be private.

Don't be TOO hard on yourself. I mean, get out there and hammer the sidewalk and look for another job-- but don't spend your time and energy beating yourself up because this one didn't work.

Food prep is probably THE MOST STRESSFUL minimum-wage job out there. You've got all the customer service issues, and all the safety issues too.

You will have to get used to "understaffed." Pretty much every position is understaffed these days; my hubby is a mechanical engineer with all kinds of letters after his name, and HIS office is chronically understaffed. It's this stupid culture-- it's about killing the people you have to save $5.

You just do the best you can, in a job you can manage to not flip out about it in. I quit nursing school for the same reason-- I was not going to be overworked and overstressed with people's lives in my hands for any amount of money. I'd never sleep again.

You don't have to get a family and a bustling social calendar to be a successful, functioning adult. You just have to be able to put food on the table and a roof over your head, and be reasonably content with the life that you've got. Marriage, kids, and 700,000 friends are completely optional.

I wish you luck in your job search.

I don't remember: did you say you were going to university?