Few months later, the stress has caused health problems for our business development director, her doctor gets her to take two weeks leave, she comes back and resigns because she's developed/the stress has triggered a condition really similar to my fibromyalgia

In this same period of time my suspected fibro has worsened into a state where after five years of trying my doctor formally diagnoses it, I end up taking a week's leave in the mountains because I'm about to break down

The board also does not replace the business development director, so we're down a part time and full time staff member, or eight days worth of capacity

We managed to bring on one of our weekend supervisors to help under the guise of being a contractor designer (she did mostly design but also helped with other stuff a lot). Board have still not done anything at this point. The whole remaining team are fucking broken. This is like, only august last year

After hitting breaking point like 5 times we make a formal letter to the board asking to discuss staff health and safety and demanding action. We go to the board meeting, they let us sit there for an hour before they kick us out to talk about it

They agree to bring on the other weekend supervisor as programming support one day a week, and the designer a full day a week as well, alongside one of them managing sponsorship one day a week. 3 days for the lost 8 per week

Apparently that's enough because it's temporary; this was September, it's now Jan.

In end of September/early November they inform us of their proposal to restructure; new is one director/curator, one gallery manager (my job), one full time comms/marketing/design/AND sponsorship (current comms is part time because she has a young kid; they know this) and a weekend supervisor

We submit feedback in the form of a similar structure that's the same amount of hours, with comms part time, a 1 day a week sponsorship position, and our two weekend supervisors - one is our designer and could do design on her weekend shifts as well as one day a fortnight. They say theyve read and appreciate the constructive feedback

Our jobs are secure til end of Feb, they'll get back to us asap. November rolls around, another meeting, no decision, jobs now safe til end of march. Board due to meet 14 Dec

That date rolls around, they definitely didn't meet at work, we assume they haven't at all OR they're being deliberately secretive bc sth bad is coming. While we're still on summer leave, we get an email informing us of a meeting and would we please be there, nothing else. Meeting is second week back (today)

All last week any inquiries we sent through were either ignored or just a "we'll talk next week." Meeting was today, we walked in blind thinking a) they'll go through with the original proposal b) they'll accept our suggestions c) they'll shut the place down

It was out of fuckin nowhere: they're reserving a HUGE sum in case shit goes bad so they can keep the building, they're reserving another significant sum for future programming, they're slashing programming costs and restructuring to something completely new: 3 full time staff, that's it

Our comms pal is gone, no way around it. I could definitely transition into the new ops manager role, and can do the programming manager if they'll let me. My friend (our curator) could transition into prog manager but could absolutely do the exec director role if they'll let them

Ideal situation is the two of us as director and programming and running the place. It's possible. Problem is neither of us trust the board to not micromanage and cause shit like they have all year

Problem is the new roles are 18mo fixed term because it's experimental: if the experiment doesn't go well we'd almost certainly lose the jobs. Tricky thing is: if we get those two jobs and the board let us actually do the jobs without interfering we'd absolutely kill it. But if they continue how they have (interfering, gaslighting, causing shit with our collaborators and artists) the experiment will almost defs fail.

The other problem is I don't know if it's just this job that is making fibro hell or if it's all full time work and I need to be part time. I don't know if I wanna take that risk but there aren't really many other options

I guess the other big thing is arts jobs are super limited and competitive here and though a year's experience here is good it's nowhere near enough...

So. We're both stuck: either this gamble of going for the jobs and hoping, or the gamble of trying to find other jobs while we try start our own space

I guess there's a third option of me just. Sticking it out there until another option arises but like. To be clear this job is definitely affecting my health and it is fucking me up.

Sorry for the long thread but it's done: if you feel like reading this is a summary of the fucked up shit that's happened at work this past year that I am currently trying to deal with. If you have advice/sympathies pls weigh in

@jenkshields Damn... this sucks. I'm really sorry you had to go through such a rough year :(

@myrrhashad ah, thanks. It's been a ride for sure and now I'm just like, super lost I guess. This is reliable money but it's also very stress

@jenkshields
That is genuinely fucked up. It kinda doesn't seem likely they won't meddle for the 18 months. Putting aside that money prior to the 'experiment' is a bit of a -do they want it to fail?- In saying that all the options seem like viable options for what its worth

@laura_fizzpop yeah, this is where I'm at - I'm almost certain they'll keep causing trouble but also I guess 18 months to find other options isn't bad as long as the work itself is like... Better than it has been

@jenkshields
Yeah 18 months buys you time. I can only hope its better.

@jenkshields Much sympathies! Can you kind of split the difference on the options: go for this job (for interim security) while also actively looking for others (for less stress)? It's more work but maybe feeling you've got eggs in multiple baskets could take pressure off too? Unless of course the stress of the current job outweighs the benefits of the income.

@zeborah yeah, I guess that stress/benefit balance is what I'm trying to figure out, alongside probability of continued board bullshit. Think i'm gonna apply for a few current opportunities but otherwise plan to stick around?

@jenkshields Yeah, in an ideal world you could negotiate a set of boundaries with the board on what latitude you need vs what info/input they need (given they don't want to get burned again), but sounds like that's not going to work in practice here.

In my experience, having half a foot out the door can reduce stress a bit all by itself. Or even just knowing that even if you do plan to stick around, you can change your mind on that at any point.

@jenkshields Good luck on all fronts, anyway! I'm not that familiar with the G side of the GLAM sector but will keep an ear out on the off-chance.

@zeborah thank you! I know the libraries are about to list for an exhibitions manager that is basically exactly what I do + part time + explicitly working with treaty obligations so I'm hoping that one works out

@jenkshields Niiiice! I'll cross all appropriate appendages for you!