GUEST 28 Mar 05 - 08:25 AM,

You would probably learn a LOT about your situation if you go to this website.

Bully OnLine: Tim Field shares his unique insight into workplace bullying, a cau

There is even a special page for teachers in your situation. This site saved my sanity and my health, even my life.

Firecat,

I am currently working in an inbound call centre for a government department. Even though it is tax related and people hate taxes the majority of the people who phone in are very nice. Your outbound call centre experience means that you would probably be able to find another call centre job e.g. for the government, or insurance companies, banks, etc which is less stressful and which has better conditions. It'd be better to get out now and into a more positive environment and not wait until your stress levels increase and your health suffers because it will be a lot harder to feel confident in convincing a new employer that you are the best person for the job.

I got my job after a series of jobs through labour hire agencies, which pay peanuts but which gives you a foot in the door with a possibility of more permanent work with real pay & conditions. I have a contract for "up to 2 years" which is a great relief after casual jobs for the last 10 years which were low paid, no conditions, no sick/annual leave, and no job security and a drain on my physical, emotional and mental health.

So my job satisfaction at the moment (still in the honeymoon period of 3 months) is relatively high because of conditions, pay and a really nice bunch of people to work with. I think there are prospects in it for increasing my capabilites and responsibilities too so my actual job satisfaction will increase then too. I have done so many different jobs in my working life it makes me dizzy thinking about it and most of them were satisfying to a large degree but it was either good money/conditions & security or job satisfaction, but rarely both together. This job looks dry and dull on the surface but I have a positive feeling about it that it will turn out to be more than it appears on the surface.

Helen