IWLTS it is 2023

[ParisGal]

Is that the secret shopper transcription gig, Lily? I was grateful of the money when I did that but it was appalling work and their rules for how you should do it were ridiculous.

[Lily]

It's the mystery shopper report writing. I've whinged about it before to be fair so I'm boring myself now. :)) They've come back with an error I've made consistently on "numerous reports" but rather than tell me at the time they've told me about it NOW and said if this continues they're going to reassign the work. It's made me feel ridiculously shit and I really want to tell them to shove it. I said a politer version and that I was reconsidering working with them and they just came back saying "you need to do xyz" without any mention of the rest of it so I now feel even worse. :ella: It truly is a lot of work for minimum wage, especially when the shopper isn't English as some of what they say is barely legible, but it's at least £130 a month more which is a lot of money to turn down.

[ParisGal]

Could you pick up more hours at your theatre job (is that right?) instead? I don't think it even is minimum wage once you count checking in, working out which ones you're supposed to be doing, reading their ridiculous complaints etc. Plus it's undefined time so more stressful and always on your mind.

[Lily]

I think I might do that. I'm stupidly upset by it and it never ends, there's always something to do, I am getting fed up and despite the amount of work I do I'm certain I'm getting paid less.

[Squirrel]

That sounds really shit Lily. I hope you can find something better.

[Squirrel]

How about pet sitting? We had a lovely lady who looked after Ted. You could register on Rover or Welovepets.

Or ironing?

[Squirrel]

Sorry I realise you weren’t asking, my imagination is running away with me .

[Marth]

I think I might do that. I'm stupidly upset by it and it never ends, there's always something to do, I am getting fed up and despite the amount of work I do I'm certain I'm getting paid less.

It sounds like time to give it up. Can you get more shifts at the theatre and because that is time boundaries work I would hope you would feel like you had more time as well.

[Lily]

I'm always asking! Good ideas, thank you Squizz. Marth, PG, you're mind-readers as I've just spoken to my boss at the theatre about more shifts. She said that we're due a payrise too and there's been talk of getting one in my main job.

Theatre Boss suggested keeping the report writing work on for August while the theatre is quiet but to be honest I really want to drop them in it. It's the reason I never relax, why I'm always on the computer and it never ends.

[Marth]

I'm always asking! Good ideas, thank you Squizz. Marth, PG, you're mind-readers as I've just spoken to my boss at the theatre about more shifts. She said that we're due a payrise too and there's been talk of getting one in my main job.

Theatre Boss suggested keeping the report writing work on for August while the theatre is quiet but to be honest I really want to drop them in it. It's the reason I never relax, why I'm always on the computer and it never ends.

I was like that with my freelance work for a charity. My day job finished and I would start all the emails and it was never ending and really made me feel burnt out. I needed the money but I gave it up and haven't missed it really as I got more money wise in other areas. I was still doing very rare content work for them but I gave my notice for that today and it's a relief. Money is vital but time and space is vital too. I've left three jobs for a job with a pay cut because of burn out and it's always worked out.

[Lily]

Thank you so much, that was the last push I needed as it feels so alien to be deliberately turning work down but I'm so very tired of it. I've just contacted them saying the last email (the one entirely ignoring what I said about how I was feeling) made my decision easy and I won't be doing any more work for them. I spoke to my brother, who I trust the most with my financial life and he told me to ditch it.

I feel excited now - and free! As you say, theatre work has time boundaries so when I am done I'm done. I won't come home from work after a day at work to turn my PC on and STILL work. I was writing up reports when I was on my last two holidays, FFS.

I can watch TV! And read. and write, and learn Latin again. I can get early nights! I wonder if this is going to improve my horribly chaotic eating, too, as I will feel less pressure.

Sorry for the thread derail! Congratulation on giving your notice too, Marth!

[baargain]

Oh this sounds like an excellent decision!

[Beena]

Well done Lily!

Bambs has just started as an online assistant with a local supermarket, picking other people's shopping for delivery. It's outside office hours, you only do your shift and the salary is better than minimum wage. She's thrilled as she can listen to music as she shops. Her role is seasonal and that might be worth looking at to boost your salary without ongoing commitment.

[Marth]

I feel excited now - and free! As you say, theatre work has time boundaries so when I am done I'm done. I won't come home from work after a day at work to turn my PC on and STILL work. I was writing up reports when I was on my last two holidays, FFS.

This is exactly what I was doing and like you say, I felt so free when I stopped.

Well done for making that decision.

[Lily]

Well done Lily!

Bambs has just started as an online assistant with a local supermarket, picking other people's shopping for delivery. It's outside office hours, you only do your shift and the salary is better than minimum wage. She's thrilled as she can listen to music as she shops. Her role is seasonal and that might be worth looking at to boost your salary without ongoing commitment.

I like the sound of this! I expect the theatre to get a lot busier in the autumn/winter but I will look into this too.

I had an email from the company saying they were very sorry to hear this and that my work has been very much appreciated over the years. :ella: Me: "Then maybe you would like to think about how you speak to people."

I feel FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE like Kevin in Home Alone!

[Starry]

Can the company at least tell you if it was sent intentionally?

My nanna got sent a Harvey Nichols hamper once with no gift message. She rang up and while they wouldn’t say who it was from, they did say it was definitely for her.

IWLTS I really don’t want you messing this up for us. Please just behave and don’t be bitter.

Just that it was for my email address - they can’t give me any more details “because GDPR”. If it’s a mistake they should revoke it quickly enough.

I hope whoever yours about was behaved!

[Lola]

This is great, Lily, well done :))

[Zoomer]

Nice one, Lils! I hope you enjoy your new freedom. :))

[Pippedydeadeye]

Sounds like the peace of mind is going to be worth so much more than the money it brought in.

[Lily]

It really is. I never realised it, but I never, ever clocked out. I will figure out the £ somehow.