looking for a new job....again. What would you do?

[magical thyme]

2. thank you for the suggestion. I plan to speak to HR

when I am quitting and not sooner. Unfortunately, they know all about this manager. Bullying and threats is what the company wants, which is why they love her. They are prepared to deal with it. They've had many complaints about her over the many years. She has already been sent on "anger management training," etc. They will continue that game to the end of time because that is just part of their cost of doing business. I have limited ammunition and will use it to clear my exit and make a clean break, period.

I do have a log, but I am not interested in fighting this. This state has crappy unemployment benefits that are not worth fighting for, plus the state will back any company against an employee for *any reason, with a single exception which is failure to pay (in which case they'll go after the company so that they collect their tax receipts). That is a fight I cannot win and frankly is not worth the effort. I'd rather focus my limited time and energy on a single battle that will get me out of this industry once and for all.

I have compiled a list of places to apply. Now that I've lived here for 8 years, I know of 2 companies that have reputations as good places to work -- the local supermarket and a local discount chain. I will apply to them first in case a rare opening comes up. There are other places with high turnover, which explains itself. They will be my fallback.

It did occur to me last night that while I cannot ask any of my direct co-workers for a reference because they will sabotage me (lest they end up stuck with night shift). However, the lab assistants do not have that issue and may be willing to give me references. I will be checking with them Monday and Tuesday to see if any is willing.