[cloudsatall]

I started working from home for a hotel reservation company in January 2016. Before then, I had worked for the same company, in a nearby town, for about 1 1/2 years, until the company was closed due to corporate decision from the east coast headquarters. The parent company for job is actually a customer care company, who signed the hotel company as one of their clients. I don't mind taking hotel reservations, but another part of our job is to solicit offers for alliances (timeshare, rental car, travel club). We have quotas or stats that we need to meet (like 100% solicits and 18% transfers) (transfer is when the customer accepts the solicit and you transfer them to the alliance offer). Also, there is a 'rewards' membership for the hotel company, and we need to sign up customers for this; the quota is 40% for these memberships. I, and some other coworkers on my team, are not making some of our quotas. I have been 'written up' for this, and may have another 'write up' in the future, which possibly could lead to losing my job. I don't think I can take the pressure anymore of these sales quotas. My team leader met with us, and she was raked over the coals by her supervisor, for her team members not making quotas. It is really hard for me to be 'friendly' with customers and push the offers, especially since we are not allowed to tell the customers what the offer entails (I feel like I am deceiving people). I only make about $10 an hour, but they take my health insurance and 401k and disability out of my salary. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning because I dread going to my job. I also have had chronic depression for over 25 years, and feel it is getting worse due to this job. When do you know that your job isn't worth the pressure? And how to leave?

[Little Lulu]

So sorry to hear you are getting this sort of pressure in your job. I would not like the solicitation aspect, either. It sounds to me like you are already at the point where the job is not worth the pressure. When you don't want to get out of bed in the AM and your depression is worsening, those are big signs.

Sounds to me like it is time to start looking for another job. You already know what you don't want - quotas in areas where you feel like you are deceiving people. You could keep this job since it has benefits but start looking for something else, a job where you would feel like you are offering people something of benefit instead of taking advantage of them. Just getting committed to looking for something else might ease your mind.

Meaningful employment (or volunteer work if you are retired) is so important to mental health. I hope you find it :-)

[MickeyCheeky]

I agree, you can start looking for another job that suits you better. I'm sorry you're struggling ((((cloudsatall))))

[piggy momma]

Can you go off on disability for the short term? It will allow you to keep your pay and benefits while you sort out what to do in the long term.

I was in a similar state - I was in a job I absolutely hated for over a year. I was crying in the bathroom all day, throwing up, calling in sick. It was horrible. I went to see my doctor one day in August when I'd had enough, and she signed me off work for three months. I go back in two days, but to a different position in a different department, and just part time. I'm going to give it six weeks or so and if I still hate it, then I'll leave the company. But at least in the short term I bought me some time.

You pay into your disability benefits - don't be afraid to use them.

[cloudsatall]

thank you everyone for your replies. I am starting to look for a different job. It is not worth it, what this is doing to my health. I am so tired of people saying to me, 'you're so lucky to work from home' or some variation thereof. They think I just take reservations and they don't know about the sales quotas. I can't see myself spending the rest of my life in this job; I am dreading the future with this job and that is not how I want to live.

[Little Lulu]

Best wishes to you. Knowing what you don't want is important. That piece of self-knowledge will help you as you go forward in your job search. I trust you will find something that is better suited to what you want in a job.

[cloudsatall]

Okay, I have had another written evaluation, and if I don't make my transfer quota by the end of this month, I will lose my job. So far I have had 12% transfers and would need to get over 19% transfers for the rest of the month, to meet the quota of 16%. I probably will not be able to do this. I am going to a job fair on Wednesday March 27 to apply for jobs.

Can a person get unemployment benefits, if you were let go from your job for not making quotas?

I have not made my quotas for transfers because as I said earlier, this job is depressing and stressful, and I don't believe in what I'm selling for the transfers. And my team leader is a rather mean person, as well, so that doesn't help. I keep telling myself it will be better to get out of this job, and work outside the home, so I can work for something I believe in and not get this worsening depression.

[saidso]

There are telephone jobs that you can get that don't involve selling. Big online employment agencies (such as Reed) will advertise them: market research, customer service (complaints, giving information, or following up newly bought products), booking hotel accommodation, energy choice companies. If you apply clearly stating that you have years of experience you should get an interview.

There may also possibly be jobs in your area helping people like police or ambulance phone if you are motivated and can take pressure.

You will probably find colleagues moving in the same direction. Good luck!