Career Question

Hi Gather Friends,

First of all I must apologize for not being on that much lately. I am overloaded with messages, and I am afraid I can not get to them all. I will do my best to answer the most pressing ones.

I have a question. I am hoping that you will use your creative, intelligent, and strategic minds to figure this one out for me.  I will still be working on it myself, but I would appreciate your thoughts.

We all know that right now is not a good time to look for work.  If you have an employer, it is best to stay because it is an employer's playground out there.

Here is my situation.

I began working at a place that works with the mentally ill-again. UGH! Alright, I got over that aspect of it 7 months ago.  I was hired as a Job Developer.  It did not take me long to realize that some of my co-workers were suffering from some deep issues themselves.  (mental health diagnosis's) Wow! Ok. I needed the job and I have years of experience working with the mentally ill, so I stayed.

1. My partner was the Employment Specialist. A very intelligent and talented man who could be arrogant. (The other staff obviously had issues with him). I admired his education as well as his strategic moves.  However, we did not agree on everything and I did find him difficult to talk to at times. I admired his courage and his caring for the mentally ill, and his marketing skills.  To say it is difficult to find work for the mentally ill, is an understatement right now! So, I encouraged folks to work in the assigned units, but I was not allowed to "push or demand." Well, that left me and my partner with carrying most of the load.  I was unable to find employers to hire these folks because I did not feel they were a marketable product. (I saw nothing!) I decided that the company was using the "cash cow" strategy and that my partner and I were more or less front men.  He knew it way before I did as he had been working there for over a year.

2. I had to make a move.

3. I could not find any other positions open to move to except a p/t position in the same area. I jumped.

4. I quickly found out that that was a financial disaster!  Meanwhile, my partner was slowly losing his mind with all the stress and b.s. He began documenting events conversations with the boss, etc.

5. Two weeks later my now ex-partner asked me to step up again and take over for him so he could take a much needed break. I agreed. (I figured I could talk my boss into giving me more hours for awhile).  This did not happen.  My ex-partner went up in front of everyone and said, "I have a family emergency." He quit. He quit and this launched a full investigation with human resources interviewing me for an hour. Now, I am under the microscope.

6. I took over the Employment Department making the same lower wage. I did not say a word about it. I finally told my boss that I wanted back in. He told his boss. She had an earlier conversation with me about my going back to school for my Bachelors' in Administrative Business-and took this to mean somehow that I wanted her job? That is what my boss is saying-insanity!!! Can we say INSANITY!!@ 

He told me to think about it over the weekend. Think about what? They are not going to hire me back into Employment. I am being used.  Should I go back to my p/t hours right away? Should I clear the air first? I have updated my resume' and I hate to look for another employer right now. I am scared. I have a family to support. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much in advance. Hey, maybe we should have a group for this kind of thing?