Leaving a job without giving a two-weeks notice


Reply
 
Topic Tools Search this Thread
scorpio is offline scorpio Post #1  January 11,2009, 6:46am
scorpio's Avatar

Unregistered

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 2,262

See profile



It has really taken me a long time to muster enough courage to write this topic, but I really need some help.I am feeling traumatized about my current job situation. The politics on the job are so bad thatit hasbecome a question of not whether I will quit but when. My problem is that I don't want to give two-weeks notice because of the circumstances, which have begun tofeel more like a predicament.


Basically, I am commuting to a job where the distance I travel has become an issue,both to me and to my new supervisor.Twice now, she haslied by omission regarding the details of two separate situations concerning me. It seems that her primary motive is a basic desire to establish herself in a favorable light with her our boss, at my expense.


Meanwhile, I have discovered some secrets regarding thecompany, including certain benefits and wages owed to me andformer employees. Thesediscoveries along with the current climatehas me itching to get the heck out of dodge.


My problem is that I do not want to give two weeks notice or use my present company as a reference, even though when I moved, I promised to let them knowin advance if Iplanned to leave. I feel that doing so would hinder my chances of immediatelystarting a new job.


In May of 2008, I received an award for outstanding performance is this position, but now I am being treated badly by people whom I've longthought of as being just downright bad. I don't associate with these people outside of work becauseof a big difference in values. They have done things that are mean, cold-blooded and cut-throat.


I don't fully understand all of the motives behind the recent ugly moves that are being perpetrated upon me. At times I feel like I am in danger, if that makes sense. I am filled with anxiety, but I don't want to do anything to hurt my job record.


I have asked three professional associates outside this company to write references for me, and they have complied. I am alsolooking for a lawyerto handle some other concerns, which I am not comfortable mentioning on the boards.


My questions are, "Has anyone ever left a job without giving two-weeks notice?" If so,how did you do it?And did itharmyourwork record?"
 
  Reply With Quote
StatGamer is offline StatGamer Post #2  January 11,2009, 8:02am
StatGamer's Avatar

can't imagine how 2010 could possibly be any better than 2009

Virtuoso

Joined: May 2008

DFW, TX

Posts: 3,210

See profile



I have never, ever left a job without that notice period as I consider it unfair to the company. I also don't believe in burning bridges. My field consists of a small population of individuals and whatever you do in one place folllows you to the next. You may not put that company as a reference but most experienced managers know to call people that are NOT on your reference list to get their take.


If you were interviewing with me, I'd probably pick up the phone and call a person I knew at your previous company and have an informal chat with that friend. If I found out you'd quit without notice, I would not hire you because it suggests unprofessional behavior and lack of reliability (given that a person does not yet know you, they will believe this).


I don't really know why you are uncomfortable with the 2 weeks notice based on your post. The only thing you mention is that it will slow you down in taking the next job. Most jobs, if they really want you, will wait 2 weeks for you. I would suggest that if you've put up with the nonsense at this one for all this time, then 2 weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Don't burn a bridge.


You never know, 2 jobs from now, you may apply for a job with another company...only to find out that someone from your current job is the hiring manager. I have 16 people in my dept that have worked for me before. And I have fired the same man from two different jobs when I left one company and moved to the next--only to find him working there.


There's an art to how to quit a job. The worst way is to mention the things that didn't work out. The best way is to either cite a personal issue (the commute is interfering with your personal life and your family is complaining) or better still, speak about the great opportunity you were offered. When people tell me they are quitting for a much better job, with more responsibilities and a much higher pay than I could offer them, it is a no-brainer that they should leave. Any mature manager understands that.


If on the other hand, you highlight all the issue at the job that made you unhappy, you come across as bitter, complaining, etc and the company feels criticised and that is never a good thing.


It doesn't matter how good a job you have done before. Companies have short-memories. ALL they will remember of you is "She's that woman that quit without notice". Not "She's the woman that won an outstanding performance award."


IMHO, it will harm your work record. It will cause you to burn a bridge. It may well affect your reputation. It may also affect your getting a new job if someone calls the company for a reference. Just gut it out.


Good luck Scorpio!
 
  Reply With Quote
StatGamer is offline StatGamer Post #3  January 11,2009, 8:07am
StatGamer's Avatar

can't imagine how 2010 could possibly be any better than 2009

Virtuoso

Joined: May 2008

DFW, TX

Posts: 3,210

See profile



One more good reason that people gave me for quitting which I accepted well.


One of my statisticians wanted to join a nunnery. Okay that was not an available career path in my departrment Others have said they are moving out of our current field and going into a totally different area (my admin who wanted to be in HR instead).


If you can spin your new job as a) a radical departure from your current field, b)a much better oppty and higher pay (But DO NOT mention how much they are paying you unless you want to use it to negotiate staying, which it doesn't seem like you want to do), c)somehow much better for your personal life then the company can't really see your departure as a "traitor's defection".
 
  Reply With Quote
nancymargrit is offline nancymargrit Post #4  January 11,2009, 8:32am

getting the garden ready

Veteran

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 1,419

See profile



I worked for the Alberta Dental Assistants Association for almost five years and, although at the beginning I really enjoyed the work and the people, my last 8 or 10 months felt like h e l l. Like you the politics became unbearable, especially in January 2007 when two of the employees (one of whom was the receptionist) began arguing about who would take their holidays and when. Both worked out in the front office with me and expected me to act as go between in their arguments. I refused to do this and spoke with my supervisor about it. I was scheduled to leave at the end of February and I told my supervisor that these two employees have to get along with each other and learn to communicate with each other.


The office manager (everyone's boss - the big cheese) stuck his head in the sand and refused to acknowledge that the situation was becoming a problem. The argument went on for over three weeks before he called the pair into his office and had a two hour discussion with them. The result of the discussion was that the receptionist quit without notice and I was asked to stay "only until we find someone to replace her".


By the end of March, my supervisor told me that I would be put on the pay roll (an outright lie - I had already been on the pay roll for the three years previous to this) and that, since I had always wanted the receptionist's job anyway, I would be given this position as a "promotion" (another outright lie). I was stunned by this announcement because I had just given two weeks notice; I told the big cheese that with all my other responsibilities, I couldn't continue to work at the Association.


Long story short, I stayed on for one day per week til the end of May to help them with a move and to help them catch up with odds and ends after the move. By the end of May, they said "we need you here to do the grunt work and we expect you to increase your work load here to three days a week until September when you'll be expected to work full time." By that time I had had enough and said goodbye to them on May 31st.


I list them as a company that I've worked for but I also tell a potential employer that I prefer not using them as a reference; I explain to the employer thatthe references that I've listed would be able to provide a better assessment of my character with regards to the position for which I am currently being interviewed.


In your situation, I would give two weeks notice. List them on your resume, but you don't have to use them as references. You don't have to give potential employers your reasons for not using them as references. If and when they ask why not, be as honest as you can without bad mouthing anyone.
 
  Reply With Quote
Spider is offline Spider Post #5  January 11,2009, 8:34am
Spider's Avatar

got 174 new students this year

Veteran

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 1,919

See profile



Although professional ethics dictate that you offer to stay for the full two weeks, in a hostile work place they may well let you leave before that time. I realize that staying two weeks after giving notice may be extremely stressful, but you have to at least offer.





That said, it sounds like you are in a situation of ethical and personal conflict. If you feel there is real danger, then of course you must leave.





In any case, document EVERYTHING, keep copies of relevant papers (any memos, personnel communications, etc. that would substantiate your stance). There ARE vicious employers and supervisiors who will alter records, lie, and conceal the facts, especially if there are illegal activities going on in the company.





Good luck.
 
  Reply With Quote
javajava5 is offline javajava5 Post #6  January 11,2009, 8:42am
javajava5's Avatar

Virtuoso

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 3,320

See profile



Dear Scorpio,


Here's the crux from what you wrote, ". . . . even though when I moved, I promised to let them know in advance if I planned to leave." [emphasis mine]


You further state that to give them two weeks notice would hinder your chances of immediately starting a new job. Do you have another job lined up to start immediately? If you do start a new job immediately, would not this employer think you might leave them without getting notice if they somehow learn that you didn't give notice on your current job? Wouldn't they wonder why you were so readily available to start work without working a notice?


It sounds like this job is making you sick as you're filled with anxiety and you feel you're in danger in some way. Though that may sound silly to some, people are harmed and / or killed in the workplace. It's no laughing matter.


Additionally, stress does terrible things inside a person and is known to shorten a person's life. I know someone who was in such a stressful job that they developed high blood pressure and they're not overweight. They even exercise regularly, but stress does horrible things to a person.


Here's something to consider in light of how this is effecting your mental, emotional, and physical health as anxiety assails all parts of a person and you don't want to start developing panic attacks or suffer something at work and then come down with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).


Call in sick tomorrow (you are sick with anxiety and sickness does not have to be physical but can be mental as well) and make an emergency appointment to see your doctor tomorrow. Tell him how you're feeling and get a doctor's note to cover you at least for the next few days.


While you're away from all the work stress, you'll have time to think more clearly how you should handle your situation.


I have a friend who was a social worker in the public schools, suffered a major clinical depression, went to see the doctor, and took a long leave of absence from work - a year - and never did go back to work. It was unpaid. At the end of that time, she offered her resignation.


Of course, you can't be going to work at another job during your period of sick leave, but you can seek another note from your doctor extending your time off for whatever reasons, and during the period of time you're off, you can offer your notice and never return to the office. In my friend's case, they put her personal things in a box and mailed them to her and that was the end of that.


I'm not of the opinion you have to be physically present during your notice period, most especially if it's making you sick which it is. Of course, always be aboveboard, but being sick with anxiety as you are, is not not being aboveboard. It's being honest with yourself even though you do not have to divulge the particulars of your sickness to your employer. You must take care of yourself. Some people become so overcome with anxiety that they start having panic attacks which is not the way you want to go.


I know another person whose father died. He was so thrown by it that he never came back to work after the funeral and he was a manager. He used all his leave, including sick leave (he was allowed to), and after over a year of being on this paid leave, he finally used it all up and then retired, never returning to the office either.


In yet another case I know of, someone had a sexual harrassment EEO suit, and never did come back to work after filing it.


There's many situations where you can give notice but don't have to be physically present during it.


Also, you mention you're consulting an attorney. If you do go with a doctor's note, you may want to consider how you have your not feeling well documented. You say you're anxious . . . . Is it perhaps important that you havea professional document that and that you say it's job related. If so, and if the doctor documents it that way, could your time away be workman's compensation? That's simply another option to think about.


Get a doctor's note to cover you for two or three days while you mull over what's best for you and in keeping with your promise to your employer.


There's several different ways you can handle this with the least desirable being quitting cold turkey.


Since you feel you're in danger and since beingat workis causing you severe anxiety so much that you want to walk out without notice, I think you really might want to consider going the doctor route and even get some anti-anxiety medication to help you for just a short time with this if your doctor so recommends.


Anxiety paralyzes a person and makes it hard for them to think clearly so I definitely believe you could benefit from some good help which might include a few sessions of seeing someone. I also know of someone who did this and the doctor's office faxed the note to the person's office, though one could always mail it. It is important the medical information be kept confidential in the work place.


I don't know how your workplace does things, but perhaps your human resources department might be of help to you. You know the dynamics of the workplace, we don't. You must likely know what will work and what won't and who to trust and who not.


Be careful who you call at the workplace as some places have a phone system that tracks incoming and outgoing phone numbers to each person's phone. Also, watch out for emails to colleagues at work as an employer can see those.


If you do call in sick, make sure you follow all the rules for call-in time and such so that they can't fault you. Some employers require that after 3 days out a doctor's note must be furnished. Again, make sure to adhere to policy. If you're supervisor is lying by omission, also let your timekeeper know you're sick so you have a witness that you did call in in a timely fashion.


Taking a few days off from work to decide on your best course of action is prudent. And again, you don't necessarily have to be present for your two weeks notice if a doctor will cover you for sick leave. As another option from those other posters have mentioned, you could go on sick leave and then give notice a few days later.


Really, your choices are limited:


1. Quit abruptly.


2. Work out your two weeks notice.


3. Take any vacation leave you have for your two weeks notice if it will cover the time and if they will let you.


4. Go on sick leave under a doctor's note and after a few days, give notice but make sure any doctor's note(s) cover the whole time.


5. Don't just not report or not do something as you will be considered AWOL (Away Without Leave) and possibly fired.


I'll think on this more and get back to you if I come up with other things.


JavaJava5
 
  Reply With Quote
LizziePooh is offline LizziePooh Post #7  January 11,2009, 8:55am

Unregistered

Joined: May 2008

SoCal

Posts: 7,705

See profile



Oh, Scorpio...I am sorry things are rough at work for you. It is a terrible thing to have an unhealthy work environment. We spend so much time there and when it gets horrible it is almost impossible to drag ourselves out of bed and off to work.


I have not evernot given two weeks notice. I have marched in and given notice unexpectedly to myself and the company before. Had no idea that that day I was going to quit; wasn't even planning on quitting but things happened that finally made me realize it just was not worth. I went in and gave notice and gave personal reasons like Stat mentioned (want to find parttime work to go back to school). I could have said some other things about the politics of thecompanybut choose not to. During the two weeks notice, I was approached by another department to work for them. I ended up doing that and several months later when my old department was falling apart and after they had cycled through several people and they could not get the job done, I was hired back in to that position on my terms.


The point of this little story is - This story happened in my early twenties and what I did then professionally I am doing now but for a different company. The industry I am in, though one of the largest industries in the nation, is actually a very small world. In my industry, you constantly run into people that you have worked with in the past - for better or worse - there is just no way around it. So burning bridges is just not an option though sometimes I really really wish it was.


If I were you, I would ask myself the following...Can I stick it out for two more weeks and bite my tongue on the real reason why I am leaving? And if the answer is Yes, then I would ask myself do I really want to? Is giving them a piece of mind worth burning a bridge? Only you can know the answer to that...sometimes it might be worth...but sometimes it would feel good and would be righteous but it might potentially hurt you professionally in the long run.


I feel for you. I really do. I hate politics in the workplace. I hate personal stuff in the workplace. I just want to get the job done and get the job done really well. And it bothers me when others affect my job by playing politics or by letting their personal life affect their job performance.


(Side note - Stat is right about references. Any good hiring person knows that the references listed are going to be selected for their favorable opinion.)
 
  Reply With Quote
BikerBeagle is offline BikerBeagle Post #8  January 11,2009, 8:59am
BikerBeagle's Avatar

thinks everyone should just ask themselves, WWBBD?

Virtuoso

Joined: Aug 2008

Kansas

Posts: 2,548

See profile



I'll just go the simple route here and say, it's just two weeks. Be professional about it. It's better to give the notice, take the higher road, and deal with whatever the issues are ...it's not like they can kill you or anything. Some companies will let you leave immediately after giving notice (paying you for the two weeks).


As far as what they can do to you later, it's federal law what they can and can't say about you during a reference call ...the dates you worked for them, your title and pay rate at the time of separation, andI think your last performance rating if its available.
 
  Reply With Quote
D_Lion is offline D_Lion Post #9  January 11,2009, 9:04am
D_Lion's Avatar

- Ladies want to wring my neck - you have been warned!

Sage

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 31,698

See profile

Not that I’m any kind of expert, but:
1. I’ve done a lot of temporary work, and it is standard practice to leave with less notice due to finding a full-time position (in my last case, I finished the week during which I got the new offer.) No hard feelings, that I became aware of, happened.
2. Employers won’t hesitate to can you for a penny per share or anything else, so who should you?
3. It seems that most employers don’t, at least officially, give references anyway. Just dates and positions. So, it’s the ones you bring that will talk.
4. It seems, from my limited experience, that if there’s any difficult interpersonal issue or the person is at management rank, the company doesn’t want them the two weeks anyway.
5. I had a boss about two years ago with maybe something similar, and she was also getting ready to sue them for discrimination – she sure didn’t stay two weeks. (Don’t ask me why my bosses only last six months.)
I agree with StatGamer, though, especially if you’re in a close-knit industry.
 
  Reply With Quote
wiitwd2 is offline wiitwd2 Post #10  January 11,2009, 9:37am
wiitwd2's Avatar

cooked an outstanding turkey

Quick Study

Joined: Aug 2008

Tallahassee FL (Florida and Georgia tossed a coin to see who'd get this town..)

Posts: 228

See profile



Best thing to do would be to give the two weeks notice, as you promised. If you are concerned that they will give you a bad reference, perhaps there is a legal way to stop them from saying something negative about you.


You say you got an award for outstanding performance in May 2008. That means that you'd have to explain at least an 8-month gap in your resume. And if there's a human resource department, perhaps you could give them that number instead of the number of the supervisor who you're at odds with.


You may be able to file discrimination charges against your supervisor if she is creating a hostile work environment. I believe she'd be prohibited by law to give you a negative reference in retaliation. However, that's a drastic step to take and you would have to present adequate proof.


Look on the bright side...if you find another job, those last two weeks may not be as bad because there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
 
  Reply With Quote
Reply


« careers? | Career | Networking-what it is and what it isn't »
Topic Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new topics
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

Looking for a Great Relationship?

Get started now. Fill out this form and take the questionnaire to receive your matches.

First Name:

I'm a:
seeking

Postal Code:

Country:

Email:

Confirm Email:

Password:


How did you hear about us?


Latest on our Dating Advice Discussion Boards

“He broke up...The best way to stay hung-up is to keep dwelling,wishing, hoping, reminiscing....Like staring at an empty bottle of booze when you are trying to quit drinking. Rather than focus on a ... ” –  Wiseman2

Join the “Can I wait and move on at the same time?” discussion

“Oh how annoying - I had typed a HUGE post prompted by TheThinker's query as to why I would think it a good idea to wait 5-10 years to date/or until children are out of the house. I am too annoyed to ... ” –  picklesNcream

Join the “Transition from dating to relationship” discussion

“This is very true. If someone has a truly old /outdated account since the questionnaire was altered then it's a decent solution. It's become an urban legend on eHA that this is a good idea. Mostly ... ” –  Wiseman2

Join the “Different Strategy” discussion

“Shared interests and ones who are laddetts for mine.” –  ian80au

Join the “Green Flags in Profiles” discussion

“Completely cancel /delete your existing account. That will also cancel /delete all long-dead, geographically irrelevant matches. Since you are in a new area it's silly to use an old /outdated ... ” –  Wiseman2

Join the “Removing old matches - there has to be a better way” discussion

“I'm very sorry for your loss, Suzanne. It's not surprising you're feeling confused and making some memory errors. That happened to me too when my mother died. Life just isn't normal for awhile. ... ” –  Sassafras54

Join the “Photo Review” discussion

“I am closing this thread since the Original Poster (OP) was asking about the eHarmony of 2-1/2 years ago -- the thread is old (see date in the upper right of the first post). Some responses will no ... ” –  Sassafras54

Join the “What about a "PET BOX" ?? again this sounds simple or??” discussion

“Thanks for your advice guys, really helps out. I guess everything is a matter of balance, which isn't something that I can work out right now. I think I will focus on school for the remaining 3 years ... ” –  jrw93

Join the “Should I ever date in college?” discussion



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 5:45am.

Discussion Boards Archive

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0