Need some help for friend when comes to job satisfaction and wage issues

I have a friend who has recently got a job and she is really good at customer service. She had the perfect position because she enjoyed her job and she got along really well with the boss that she had and was always feeling good about coming to work.

There was another position that became available in another department and she decided to apply for it. She assumed that there would be a pay increase when she took the new position. The people who interviewed her were impressed about her knowledge of the new job and that is how she was able to get the job from other candidates.

The issue is that she has been on the job for almost two months now and it is much more restricted and there are many rules and regulations that have to be adhered to. She feels like she isn't able to be herself and to have the autonomy that she did in her other position. The bosses that she has she isn't able to have the good relationship like she did with her previous supervisor.

When she was in her customer service position she felt great about coming to work but now doesn't really enjoy it so much. The only reason why she has been staying in the other position is that she wants to make more money and also because she doesn't want to seem like a failure.

A few days ago she told me that she met with her supervisor and with HR and she told them how she honestly feels. She has sought the advice of some people within the department and some have suggested that they too felt frustrated with the job at first, but that after awhile they were able to get so that they enjoyed it.

The supervisor and HR person said that it sounded like she wanted to go back to her old position. They asked her to make a decision and she said that she wanted to have sometime to make a decision. They said that she could stay in the present position and see if she liked it but the one person who knows her well and was in the meeting said that she knows her and felt that she was too stressed out in her current position and that it might be best for her to make a change.

The issue has been that if she stays in the same position that when she did go into the new position that there would be a wage increase. The time frame is 30 days from the time that you have started the position so now is the time that it would need to be addressed.

The HR person advised her that whether she was to stay in the new position or to return to the old one that the increase would still be considered. The supervisor is always finding little things at fault with her and barely ever says anything positive even though when they have these meeting the manager tells her that she is doing a good job.

The supervisor seems to point out things that are mistakes more than what she does well at. Nothing was decided as far as the wage increase and with the fact that there have been some issues raised and she doesn't feel comfortable with the supervisor what do you think would be the best way to go about it? Do you think she should go back to her old position where she would be happy or do you think it is best to stay the course and give it more time to evaluate?

Any advice on the wage increase whether she decides to stay in the department she is in with this new position or go back to her old position? Also, her wage seems to be the biggest stress for her and she wants to strive to make as much as possible. It sounds like what the HR is offering is pretty minimal. The company does have what they consider "merit" raises. When we were talking one person had brought up that she should go to the General Manager and see what her options would be and perhaps the General Manager could give more of a boost in wage than what is being suggested by the HR rep. What are your thoughts? Have any of you ever been in a similar situation?

I want to see her be happy and I have never seen her so stressed as she has been the past couple months.

 

Go where you are successful and happy, I say. Staying in a bad situation for the hope of a possibly minimal raise isn't a very good long-term strategy.

There is risk that your friend might not get selected for future opportunities/promotions if she goes back, but that ship has likely already sailed. Her supervisor pretty much already realizes that she does not like her job, and unless she envisions some radical changes, her supervisor isn't going to forget this fact.

Bottom line: if you can find a job you love with boss you love, you are fortunate. Don't be miserable.

 

Take it from me who got a new position - stay with the one that makes you happy. Lack of happiness can cause you to want to leave any position regardless of salary.

 

I agree. More opportunities will arise in the future.