Job sick

by Dwayne
(ontario,canada)

I am in my mid thirties and I hate my Job, most of the time. Presently I work as a school custodian. The work itself has never been that rewarding but over time (3 and a half years) I have learned to cope. The real problem is the people. I like to use words like ?unintelligent? but it is not that, it is they are just not that aware. The backstabbing, bullying and games are like nothing I have ever seen. The upper management does not do a very good job of managing or even caring about there employees. I stared to get somewhat comfortable with work then they switched the way we perform the tasks form individual accountability to a group way of performing the tasks. Now a real unhappy moral has come to the work place. I use to work in a factory (7 and a half years) that also had similar things going on but not like the amount at the school board. The work at the factory suited me to an extent because I use to work alone and ultimately had to answer to myself. I use to take breaks with a group of people but in the end preferred taking my breaks by myself. The pay and the work life balance kept me at the factory, and then the place closed. However, it took me many years at the factory to come to terms with the work. The closure was a huge shock and hard to handle but at the same time felt like a bit of an awaking. Nevertheless, I ended up trying to find a ?reasonable? job to support my family. So I took the custodian job because it seemed secure and I felt I lacked any other skills and really did not want to go back to factory work. Now at the school board the work and the people are making me unhappy. I have been told in the past that I am "too sensitive" and should not let what others say bother me. Also, I read too much into what others say and that I lack self esteem. Maybe that might be true but I so feed of the moods of others. Also, I know there is dislike for me at work, not really sure why but I have had one co-worker say I am strange and hard to understand. Anyway, I really would like to make a career change but not sure too what. My family life is great but my wife knows and agrees that I have to leave this job. But finding that next step is hard.