Hi all, would benefit from some advice. I have worked hard all my life. I took early retirement from the NHS and then worked freelance for a couple of years. Then we moved from London down to Devon to be near our daughters and granddaughter. Husband refuses to try and find any work, so it's been down to me to earn some money so that we have something left of our savings for our old age or to leave to our girls. I was also going stir crazy staying at home, and husband isn't the nicest person to spend time with so I took a part time job as a Finance/Medical/H&S Officer in a local primary school for 26 hours per week and have been there for 7 years now. I really loved it, it was my "sanctuary". However, we have been taken over by yet another Academy Trust (the 2nd in 2 years) and things are just awful at the moment. The new Business Manager is sour faced and makes no attempt whatsoever to interact with any of us. Our admin team is one full time staff member down with no replacements on the horizon as the Trust is too busy trying to save money. We currently have 1.8 whole time equivalent admin staff to run a school with 608 children and 91 staff and it's just impossible. I am so stressed and so sad that I keep bursting into tears. I emailed the powers that be with my concerns and didn't even get an acknowledgement. As a result I am looking for another job but sadly, even with employment law on my side, at almost 65 years old, I can't even get an interview. I don't include my age on any applications, but it's easy enough to work out my age by my previous jobs and experience. What do I do? Go on long term sick leave with work related stress, which is real possibility, or continue to work there and be unable to do my job safely or effectively. It's only a matter of time before something goes very wrong. I am at my wit's end and can't stop crying.
