Is it bad that I'm contemplating staying in a stagnant role because it's easy, pays well and has lots of good benefits?
I'm 26F, live in Canada and in 2025 I made 73k. I have 3 years of experience and work as a lab tech at a university. I only have a three year college degree, no uni degree. My position is the bottom of the totem pole and I accepted it because it's permanent, pays decently and has lots of benefits.
Yesterday I met with my new boss who asked what I enjoy about my job and I told him basically everything but the tasks. It's no secret that I am not ''passionate'' about what I do as the tasks are very easy and repetitive, however I like that I am always on my feet doing something, plus I love my schedule (I work 7:15 to 3:30). It's not stressful at all and allows me to think about what's truly important to me which is my actual life. I leave work at work and focus on myself (gym, eating well, my hobbies, my boyfriend, my friends, traveling - my life is quite full).
Basically my question is the following : would it be bad for me to just ''coast'' there until I have enough money to retire or work less? I put 600$ in an RRSP with my job plus roughly 2k on my own (50% of my salary) monthly to save for retirement, so basically 2600$ CAD goes to my retirement per month.
Thoughts? I got the feeling that my boss wanted me to say I'm passionate about washing lab glassware or managing waste but... well, I'm not. Is that really so bad? Should I have just lied?
Jobadvisor
It is absolutely not "bad" to stay in a role that offers you a high quality of life, even if the work itself isn't your passion. In fact, what you are describing is a goal that many people spend decades trying to achieve: the perfect "work-to-live" balance.
At 26, you are already demonstrating a level of financial and personal maturity that is rare. Here is a breakdown of why your current path is valid, along with some strategic advice for navigating the "passion" expectations of a boss.
1. The Financial Reality
You are currently "winning" at the game of personal finance.
The Math: Saving $2,600 CAD monthly at age 26 is incredible. Because of compound interest, a dollar saved now is worth significantly more than a dollar saved at 40.
The "Coast FIRE" Path: You are essentially setting yourself up for "Coast FIRE" (Financial Independence, Retire Early). By front-loading your savings now in a low-stress job, you are buying your future freedom.
The Credential Factor: You mentioned having a college degree rather than a university degree. In many academic/lab environments, hitting $73k with great benefits without a Master’s or PhD is a very strong position. Moving "up" often requires more schooling and significantly more stress for potentially marginal pay increases.
2. The "Passion" Trap
There is a pervasive myth that we must be "passionate" about our labor to be successful or "good" employees.
Work as a Utility: It is perfectly professional to view a job as a transaction: you provide reliable, high-quality labor in exchange for the capital required to fund your real life.
Reliability vs. Passion: From a management perspective, "passionate" employees often burn out or leave when the spark dies.
1 "Content" employees—those who like the schedule, the environment, and the pay—are often the most reliable, long-term pillars of a department.2
3. Navigating Your Boss
While being honest feels good, workplace politics often require a "filtered" honesty. Your boss likely asks about passion because they want to know you won't quit in six months and that you'll do the job accurately.
Did you mess up by being honest? Not necessarily, but you may want to reframe your stance in future meetings. You don't have to love washing glassware; you can love excellence.
The "Pivot" Script: Next time it comes up, try this:
"While the individual tasks are routine, I’m passionate about the reliability and precision I bring to the lab. I take pride in ensuring the researchers have exactly what they need to succeed. I value the stability of this role because it allows me to be 100% focused and energized while I'm here."
Potential Risks to Consider
The only "danger" of staying in a stagnant role at 26 isn't a lack of passion; it's skill atrophy.
The 10-Year Test: If you stay in this role for 10 years and the university has budget cuts, will your skills be transferable to a new job?
The Solution: You don't need a promotion, but keep your "soft skills" sharp. Being the person who knows the lab safety protocols inside out or who manages the inventory system perfectly makes you "essential" rather than just "stagnant."
Summary Comparison
| Factor | Staying (The "Coast") | Leaving (The "Climb") |
| Stress | Low; high mental health. | High; potential for burnout. |
| Savings | High; consistent contributions. | Variable; higher pay but higher costs? |
| Time | Abundant for hobbies/family. | Limited; work-life bleed. |
| Risk | Potential boredom/skill plateau. | Potential failure/toxic culture. |
My Thoughts
You are not "stagnant"; you are stable. If your life feels full and you are meeting your financial goals, you have already won. Don't let the "hustle culture" of your 20s convince you that you're failing because you aren't stressed.
How to navigate career after being fired for violating IT policy?
So basically title. I’ve been with this company for 1.5 years and stupidly I know… installed a bypass paywall extension on my chrome browser so I can read financial news sites. Basically IT found it on my computer and ended up removing it, I never realized until I came back from holiday break and started to be invited to essentially PIP meetings. Is there any coming back from this?
I understand you don’t have to disclose firings when being hired but the market is awful right now for finance professionals and I’m still early in my career.
I appreciate any help, I’m really spiraling right now.
Jobadvisor
I am so sorry you are going through this. It is completely normal to feel like your career is over when something like this happens, but I want to reassure you: it isn't. In the finance world, "violations of policy" sound terrifying because they hint at fraud or theft, but your situation is essentially a cybersecurity/compliance technicality. You didn't steal money or leak client data; you installed a tool to read the news. While many firms (especially in Canada) have a "zero tolerance" policy for unauthorized software, this is a mistake you can recover from.
Here is a step-by-step guide to navigating this spiraling feeling and your next steps.
1. Immediate Action (Before You Leave)
If you are currently in "PIP" meetings and it feels like the end is near, your goal is to exit as gracefully as possible.
Request to Resign: Ask HR if you can "voluntarily resign" in lieu of termination. Many companies prefer this because it’s less paperwork and reduces the risk of you suing them. For you, it allows you to say your "employment ended" rather than "I was fired."
Confirm the Reference Policy: Ask HR exactly what they disclose to future employers. Most large Canadian firms (banks, etc.) have a policy to only confirm your job title, start date, and end date.
1 If they confirm this, you have much less to worry about.The "Why" Letter: If they insist on firing you, ask for a brief letter stating the reason. In Canada, your Record of Employment (ROE) will have a code (usually "M" for dismissal). While future employers don't usually see your ROE, they will ask why you left.
2. How to Handle the "Why did you leave?" Question
In the current market, you need a tight, honest, but "low-drama" explanation.
The "Half-Truth" (Best if you resigned): "The role was a great learning experience for 1.5 years, but I’ve reached a point where I’m looking for a firm with [specific opportunity] that my previous company didn't offer."
The "Ownership" Script (If you must explain the firing): Use the "Sandwich Method"—Positive + Mistake/Lesson + Positive.
"I was let go due to an IT policy violation regarding a browser extension I installed to read news paywalls. It was a lapse in judgment on my part regarding cybersecurity protocols. I took full responsibility and have since learned that in a professional finance environment, even small technical tools need prior approval. I’m looking for a fresh start where I can apply my 1.5 years of [skill] experience with a much stricter eye for compliance."
3. The Finance Background Check
Finance is a regulated industry, but background checks (like those from Sterling or First Advantage) primarily look for:
Criminal Records: (You have none).
Credit History: (To ensure you aren't a financial risk).
Employment Verification: They verify you worked where you said you did for the dates you provided.
Crucially: Most background check companies do not get a detailed narrative of why you were fired unless your previous HR department volunteers it (which they rarely do due to liability).
4. Perspective Check
You are early in your career. Ten years from now, this will be a "stupid mistake I made when I was 26."
It was a news extension. You weren't gambling on company time or harassing colleagues.
The market is tough, but not impossible. Having 1.5 years of experience means you aren't an entry-level grad anymore. You have proven you can hold a professional role.
For those who worked in toxic jobs please give me advice?
I got fired from a job I loved a couple months ago because the company couldnt afford to keep us anymore, I immediately began searching and quickly found a job at a pastry shop. I was excited because I dealt with pastries in my past job and was praised for my work. turns out this job has been nothing but hell because of the manager.
to start off as well, I struggle on many aspects, I know I do, im autistic and I miss alot of social cues but Ive been working on them with a psychologist.
to start, the first day my manager scolded me for using 5oz of milk instead of 4 and said I practically ruined the whole thing. then another time I was cleaning the station because the day was extremely slow and he yelled at me, saying that he never told me to clean the tables and if I was too blind to see that he already cleaned it.
I could handle that but then he told me how fast I could do dishes, I was honest and said the question confused me because I never timed myself and he immediately grabbed his watch and told me he was gonna time me while I did the dishes.
Last week he tried to get me fired because I mixed up 2 orders. the customers were both women with children around the same age and I put one receipt in my pocket and one on the table to remember the order but he demanded I placed both receipts on the table, I did and began the order and then midway he told me to begin the other one on top of refilling some things. I told him that I was gonna get confused and to please let me organize myself but he responded with something along the lines off "you cant multitask? how have you ever maintained a job when you cant do that? its so basic its concerning" so I tried, I really did, I got overwhelmed and began scratching my head and rocking back and forth as I prepared the orders and he was behind me and kept asking "whats wrong with you? what are you doing? why are you packaging it like that?" and I ended up mixing up the orders. he scolded me badly and told me to stay in the back and not touch or do anything, that he didnt want himself or the customers to see me, hear me, or even know i exist. later that day he made a call to the boss right in front of me and kept saying I kept making horrific mistakes and wasnt able to perform my job at all.
somehow the boss didnt decide to fire me, but now it has turned into them excluding me from work events and groupchats. apparently there is a work groupchat that discusses schedules, upcoming changes, holiday offers, etc. about th workplace and found out I was the only employee excluded from it. he would just send me my schedule personally. not to mention apparently the boss invited everyone out to eat and it was the managers job to notify everyone and of course, I had no idea that happened until I heard coworkers talking about it. even hires that were newer then me got invited.
Last but not least the last time I was at work and ended my shift he didnt let me leave and told me to clean up the slushie and coffee machine. I did, but it wasnt enough, he gave me a screwdriver and told me take apart both machines to clean each part including the screws. maybe I should have spoke up but I didnt and I followed his orders, next day he got offended that I bought a coffee from the gas station rather then have a coffee from the store. I told him I didnt want to clean the coffee maker and that I also was just too tired to make it myself and he proceeded to tell me he could have made my coffee for me, that the coffee I was drinking was cheap and bad quality and told me "next time you want a coffee, im gonna make it so you know what a real coffee is"
did I mention he hasn't put in the order for a work shirt? ive been using my own clothing despite there being a uniform with the logo on it, everyone has a shirt including the new hires but whenever I ask about it he always makes up an excuse "their closed for the time being, there was an issue with the order, we think your shirt got lost while being transferred here" etc.
I dont have any other source of income but this job, I can barely afford food as is, ive been sending out dozens and dozens of resumes to anywhere, gas stations, fast food, bakeries, pharmacies, supermarket, anywhere that will take me but I havent gotten a call, its so bad that ive been having nightmares consistently and sometimes I cant sleep at all because my anxiety is so high and I started shaking and having meltdowns.
I dont know what to do, some of my friends told me its just part of life and every job is shitty but other friends have told me this job is not worth the cost of my mental health. tomorrow I have a shift and im dreading it because not only is it with my manager but another coworker who doesn't seem to like me.
I dont know what I did, ive tried to just do as im told, I try not to ask too many questions, I try to perform my best, I dont know what im doing wrong. I basically begged him to tell me what I can do to make him satisfied with my performance and he said nothing. LITERALLY "nothing" he didnt stay silent, just told me that one word and walked off.
its 1am and im shaking, im nauseous, ive been scratching at my skin because everything feels wrong. please, how am I suppose to survive and maintain my basic needs when this manager is making my life hell?
Jobadvisor
I am very sorry you are experiencing this. I want to be clear and direct, because clarity matters here.
What you are describing is not “normal job stress,” not “just part of life,” and not a reasonable management style. It is workplace abuse, and in several places it crosses into harassment and discrimination, particularly given that you have disclosed autism and are clearly being targeted for traits related to it.
I will break this into four parts:
Naming what is happening
What you did not do wrong
What you can realistically do right now to survive
What your exit and protection options look like
1. Naming what is happening (this matters)
Your manager’s behavior includes:
Verbal abuse (yelling, insults, “what’s wrong with you,” “you shouldn’t exist here”)
Public humiliation
Setting you up to fail (changing instructions mid-task, forcing multitasking after you said it would confuse you)
Retaliation (trying to get you fired, isolating you from group chats and events)
Unreasonable and unsafe demands (forcing you to dismantle machines without training)
Singling you out for exclusion
Withholding uniform/equipment that everyone else has
Micromanaging in a punitive, threatening way (timing dishes, hovering)
This is not poor communication. It is systematic mistreatment.
Importantly:
When a manager targets an autistic employee for autistic traits (difficulty with multitasking, sensory overload, need for organization), that can meet the legal definition of disability discrimination in many countries.
2. You did NOT cause this
I want to say this explicitly, because anxiety and trauma make people blame themselves.
You did not fail because you “can’t multitask”
You did not mess up because you are incompetent
You did not cause him to behave this way
You did not deserve humiliation or exclusion
You are not “too sensitive”
A healthy manager would have:
Given consistent instructions
Allowed you to complete one order at a time
Accepted your request to organize yourself
Corrected mistakes calmly
Never commented on your body movements or distress
Never said you should not be seen or heard
Your reaction (rocking, scratching, nausea, shaking, insomnia, nightmares) is a normal nervous-system response to sustained threat, not a personal failure.
Your body is telling you: this environment is unsafe.
3. What to do RIGHT NOW (short-term survival)
Because you rely on this income, the goal is damage control, not perfection.
A. Reduce exposure to the manager as much as possible
Speak only when necessary
Short, neutral responses
Do not explain or justify unless required
You are not obligated to emotionally engage
This is called gray rocking. It is not weakness; it is self-protection.
B. Stop volunteering extra effort
Do exactly what is asked, no more
Do not rush to “prove yourself”
Over-performing in abusive environments often increases targeting
C. Document EVERYTHING (quietly)
Start a private log (notes app, notebook, email draft to yourself):
Date, time, location
Exact words used (as close as possible)
Witnesses present
What you were instructed to do vs. what changed
Example:
“Oct 12, 3:40pm. Manager instructed me to work on Order A. Midway, told me to stop and start Order B while refilling supplies. I stated I would get confused. He replied ‘How have you ever maintained a job?’”
This matters more than you realize.
D. If possible, disclose formally (not to the manager)
If you have any HR, owner, or corporate contact, send a short, factual message:
“I am autistic and have been working with a psychologist. I need clear, consistent instructions and to complete one task at a time. I am experiencing significant distress due to how tasks are being assigned and communicated.”
No emotion. No accusations. Just needs.
If there is no HR, keep documenting anyway.
4. Your exit and protection options (important)
Option A: This job may not be sustainable
I know this is terrifying to hear, but honesty is kinder than false hope.
Your symptoms indicate burnout and trauma, not just stress. Staying long-term could make recovery much harder.
If you leave:
You did not fail
You were pushed out by abuse
Your health matters more than this job
Option B: Look for support beyond job applications
Because you are autistic, you may qualify for:
Disability employment services
Vocational rehabilitation programs
Job coaches
Supported employment agencies
These services actively place you instead of waiting for callbacks.
If you tell me your country, I can point you to specific programs.
Option C: Financial stopgaps
Depending on location, you may qualify for:
Temporary assistance
Disability-related benefits
Emergency food programs
Rent or utility assistance
Using these is not failure. It is survival.
About tomorrow’s shift
Right now, your nervous system is in fight-or-flight.
For tonight:
You do not need to solve everything
Slow your breathing (longer exhale than inhale)
Wrap yourself in something heavy if you can
Ground yourself in physical sensation (cold water on wrists, feet on floor)
For the shift:
Your goal is to get through it, not to be liked or praised
If he is abusive again, note it later
You are allowed to leave if you feel unsafe
Finally, a very important truth
Not every job is like this.
People who say “this is just life” are often people who have normalized harm.
You are not weak for struggling.
You are not broken.
You are responding exactly as a sensitive, conscientious person would when repeatedly attacked.