Ideally, a job should be enriching to your career.
It’s normal for it to get challenging, especially when you have a higher position.
Sometimes, though, you’ll find yourself saying: I hate my job.
You may also subconsciously dislike your occupation, but you’re just not sure what you feel about it.
There are plenty of signs that you do hate your job.
There are also ways to assess your situation and determine what you should do about it.
How Common Is “I Hate My Job?”
Hatred of one’s occupation is a common phenomenon.
According to a 2017 global poll by Gallup, around 85% of full-time workers worldwide dislike their job.
With these statistics in mind, you can assume that a lot of your coworkers aren’t too thrilled with working, either.
Is It Normal To Absolutely Hate Your Job?
Your job is a source of stress.
It’s how you’re able to sustain your everyday needs after all.
Hatred is a natural response to chronic stress, so it can happen every now and then.
Why Do We Hate Our Jobs?
1. Low Pay
One of the biggest reasons why you might hate your job is low pay.
Maybe the salary isn’t proportionate to the amount of effort you have to expend.
It gets worse if you’re being requested or required to take overtime without getting extra pay for it.
Some jobs could also offer low pay while demanding a lot of qualifications in the application.
It’s easy to despise a position that gives only minimum wage that “needs” a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Having low pay while being technically qualified for higher wages is one of the signs of underemployment.
2. Not Enough Benefits
Benefits packages are one of the strongest incentives when it comes to hiring and retaining employees.
According to a 2015 survey by Glassdoor, four out of five employees prefer better benefits over a pay raise.
It doesn’t come as a surprise either that benefits packages that are viewed as insufficient can also be a reason for employees to dislike or consider leaving their job.
3. Bad Relationship With Boss or Coworkers
The people that you have to work with can be the reason you hate your job as well.
It could be that the boss is deemed as demanding, oppressive, or inflexible.
Coworkers can be tough to get along with too. Some might even dislike or sabotage you, but it is possible to deal with difficult coworkers.
4. An Unhealthy Work Culture
This can take the form of practices with the tendency of dragging down team morale.
A toxic company focuses on productivity without any regard for employee health.
Some symptoms of an unhealthy work culture include:
- Lots of gossiping in the office
- Unfriendly competition between employees
- Employees constantly working overtime
- There’s no DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policy, which should prevent discrimination in the workplace
- Employees are criticized publicly
5. A Tough Commute
It can feel frustrating to spend hours just getting to your workplace.
Depending on the state of public transportation, you could be dealing with heavy traffic.
You may also have to stand in long queues and wait a long time for a suitable public transport vehicle.
At the end of the commute, you may arrive at the office exhausted.
This lowers your productivity and satisfaction with your job.
6. High Stress and Demand
Once a job crosses the line from being challenging to an irritating slog, you may start hating your work.
It could be that your coworkers are simultaneously taking leaves, leaving everyone behind with bigger workloads.
Maybe your boss wants more productivity and demands increased output from the employees.
7. Lack of Satisfying Work
It could be that your job brings no real satisfaction to you.
It may not align with your interests, so you don’t enjoy your work.
You may also feel bored working. Boredom at work is terrible for motivation and overall performance.
8. Inconvenient Hours
You may hate your job because it forces you to stay awake till midnight or wake up early.
Perhaps it ends at an hour when it’s difficult to get home with public transport.
Do I Hate My Job or Am I Just Lazy?
Laziness is a negative trait that you can overcome, given the proper time and motivation.
On the other hand, if you’re stressed and think of your job with dread, then you do hate your job.
What To Do When You Hate Your Job
Here are the steps to take if you hate your job:
1. Don’t Just Quit Right Away
If you immediately quit, you may be unable to find a new job for some time. On top of that, you could miss the opportunity to fix your situation without leaving.
2. Assess Your Situation
There are a lot of possible reasons for hating your job, so unless you know for sure which one it is, you shouldn’t make any sudden moves.
3. Don’t Complain to Your Coworkers
While you might expect your coworkers to share your sentiments, you shouldn’t complain to them. All this does is spread gossip around the workplace. In the worst case, you might get snitched on by a competitive coworker.
4. Talk With Your Supervisor
Once you know what’s making you hate your job, try approaching your supervisor to help address it. If they listen, there could be positive changes in the workplace that’ll benefit you and your coworkers.
5. Change Your Perspective
It’s no use moping about with nothing but negativity. That’ll make your situation worse.
Instead, try approaching it as a challenge. Even a despised job could be an opportunity to learn something new.
6. Change The Way You Work
Try to set small, daily goals. You may have been trying to achieve too much in a short time, leading to stress. You could also benefit from finding a friend at work or decorating your desk.
7. Get Ready to Look for a New Job
If none of the above solutions work, consider leaving for another job. Make sure to check job-hunting websites for open positions. If you have friends that can get you a recommendation, ask them.
This way, you can have some assurance of finding employment once you leave your current job.
8. Resign the Right Way
Whether you had a good or bad experience with a company, it’s still something you’ve learned from. So, in case you’re going to resign:
- Notify your boss 30 days beforehand.
- Write a formal resignation letter. This is proof that you weren’t fired.
- Offer to train your replacement to smooth out the transition.
- Don’t rant in your exit interview. If you badmouth the company in the interview, you may be unable to acquire a referral, or even terminated for cause.
9. Find a New Job
When you look for a new job, the preparations will pay off. Employers favor experienced employees with good records, so a referral from your previous job will help you get the position.
Even though you hated your last job, it’s still useful for the future.
Why Most People Stay With Jobs They Hate
You might be asking yourself now: if so many people hate their work, why do they stay? There are a few reasons for this, which you might relate to.
- The Money: Some jobs can be stressful but pay well. A breadwinner or ambitious person may see a dislikeable job as an acceptable sacrifice if it means getting good money.
- Lack of Other Opportunities: In most cases, there are simply no better options. A person will have no choice but to stick to a job that they despise.
- It’s Scary to Take the Leap: Some people may not be comfortable with change. They’ll stay in jobs that they don’t enjoy if only to keep a sense of stability.
- Benefits: While a job might be unenjoyable, it could still offer good benefits packages. As benefits are a top factor in retaining employees, people may stay in a job that they dislike due to this.
How Long Should You Stay in a Job You Hate?
We recommend that you stay for at least a year.
Constantly moving from job to job is seen by employers as a sign that you tilt at the slightest challenge.
This negatively affects your future job hunting, as employers don’t want to find and train someone only for them to leave after a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Jobs Get Mad When You Quit?
Legally, your employer can’t stop you from quitting.
However, essential jobs, such as emergency services, healthcare, and communications can be handicapped if employees leave without anyone filling the void.
This is why it’s important to notify your boss early on. That’ll give the company enough time to find a replacement for you.
Should I Quit My Job If My Mental Health is Declining?
Before you consider quitting, you can reach out to your workplace and ask what accommodations can be made for you.
The Americans With Disability Act requires companies to accommodate individuals with mental health issues.
Some accommodations you can ask for include working from home and a flexible break schedule.
Wrapping Up
There are plenty of reasons to hate your job, but it should be handled the right way.
Try to change your situation through the proper channels, and consider quitting the last resort.
Even when you quit, you should part with your previous employer on good terms. This benefits you in the long run.
