Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Did anyone here ever walk out from their job

39 replies

KingKitty · 02/03/2025 23:05

Or did you ever go home from your job and just never go back again?

I am really struggling with my job and my work and the shit that is flung at me. I did all of last week in work and also all weekend in work. No day off. Finished this evening just to get a load of messages. Just following up with me over things (see, no break whatsoever).

I am due in again tomorrow and there is talk of having me work again next weekend.

I never signed up to work like this.

But do you know what grinding my gears going above and beyond and working nearly right around the clock, just to be subjected to fucking crap when the person doing it won't even do half of the stuff that's being dumped onto my back.

Working until I get migraines.

Seeing tonight's messages and it's not the first time - I am tempted not to go back at all.

OP posts:
LovelyJubly12 · 02/03/2025 23:06

I did. I struggled on for two years hating every minute and writing my resignation letter out over and over again. One day I just walked out .

Instilettosformiles · 02/03/2025 23:13

I have OP and fuck did it feel good.

didnt stop me finding another job either. I got a temp contract the week after and that lead to a permanent job.

life is too short to be unhappy at work

madamweb · 02/03/2025 23:25

Yeah twice. Once because I was young and silly and just wanted to party
Once because my boss was treating me really badly and it was making me ill.

I didn't have any dependents either time though, I am not sure it would be something I would do again until my children are adults.

I left a job I hated last year but found a new job and then the doctor signed me off sick from as soon as I handed in my notice until my new job start date, that was a better solution

OriginalUsername2 · 02/03/2025 23:25

This sounds like my past life as a waitress!

I ended quite a few of these jobs by just not ever turning up again.

NameChanges123 · 02/03/2025 23:34

I almost walked out of my last job. My colleague had just left, meaning I'd then be doing two people's work. They wouldn't increase my hours at all to do the extra work and basically just treated me like shit during a meeting to discuss all this. I resigned pretty much straight after that (well, I became ill on the weekend due to the stress of it all, and when I phoned in sick on the Monday morning, I resigned).

I DID work out my notice as I needed a reference - otherwise I would have walked out immediately with my fingers up at them!

I didn't have another job to go to - luckily I had savings to get me through a few months of unemployment.

Queenanne20 · 02/03/2025 23:43

I went to work one morning and there was a really important board meeting. One of the Directors, who was a bully and who constantly had a go at me, forgot to include an important financial paper but blamed it on me. He was a big guy and leant across my desk and threatened "at the break you're in for it". I sat there and felt like the world was made of cotton wool all around me, as if I wasn't really there. Needless to say I wasn't hanging around till the break time. I went to the toilets and broke down then told my immediate colleagues I didn't feel well and was going home. As I drove away I vowed I'd never go back there again and I never did. It was the best decision I ever made.

Original poster
KingKitty · 03/03/2025 15:36

I took a sick day today. I just can't.

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 03/03/2025 15:46

I went back to get my things and tell them they were arseholes if that counts?

purplecorkheart · 03/03/2025 15:48

I know of a Truck Driver who did. He simply parked up the Truck. Hid the keys nearby, text his boss and told him where the keys were and advised him there was half a load still in truck that needed to be delivered.

TheBewleySisters · 03/03/2025 15:55

I walked out of my job one afternoon after months of bullying and abuse from my boss. The relief was immense.

Sherararara · 03/03/2025 15:57

I did, when I found out I had won £10m on the lottery. Just stood up said bye guys! And walked out!

oh wait that was only in a dream I had…

Original poster
KingKitty · 03/03/2025 15:59

Sherararara · 03/03/2025 15:57

I did, when I found out I had won £10m on the lottery. Just stood up said bye guys! And walked out!

oh wait that was only in a dream I had…

I was so happy for you for a moment.

It feels so good to even get a sick day off here today 😁😁😁

OP posts:
Tara336 · 03/03/2025 16:01

Yes I did many years ago. I absolutely hated my job, it was a really horrible company to work for (gained a terrible reputation) I went away on maternity leave and dreaded returning but at the time jobs were hard to come by so it wasn't as easy as just walking away.

When I was due to return they changed my job, changed and my department to one that was even worse then the one I'd been in previously.

I turned up for my first day after maternity leave and it was horrendous. So I went home for lunch and never went back. I phoned them and said sorry I just can't do this anymore.

It was the best thing I ever did. Within a couple months i had a new job that I loved (after temping there) and I stayed for 18 years and built my career

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 03/03/2025 16:05

Hand your notice in, book any holidays you have left.

Chattie89 · 03/03/2025 16:13

Yes I did once, asked my boss if I could have a day off the following week because a relative of mine had died THAT MORNING and she told me to go home if I was going to be awkward all day, and I needed to understand this was an office. Off I went, short email to HR requesting my p45, that was it. Then went to fucking town on glassdoor. Best decision I ever made and looking back I am really sad I gave that place so much energy and blood, sweat and tears trying fruitlessly to please them. It would never ever have been enough.

OP there are some shocking employers out there who basically think they can treat you how they like because they're paying you, the kind of "you're lucky to have a job at all" type bosses. No job is worth your mental health and your happiness. There are so much happier working environments out there and you deserve one!

HedgehogBob · 03/03/2025 16:14

I did, last November. I just sent a text and said I wasn't coming back. Self employed so a bit different, I don't regret it at all though. The people I worked for were arseholes.

AaaahBlandsHatch · 03/03/2025 16:27

Just remember that leaving isn't the only option. If you've decided on walking out anyway then just... stick around but don't give a shit. Just don't turn up to work next weekend. Don't reply to the messages. Listen to your boss rant on at you and just smile.

Make it difficult for the bastards. Make them have to go to the trouble of actually sacking you - you'll get to collect a few more payslips while you apply for other jobs, it'll annoy them and make things more difficult for them. There's always an outside chance you'll get offered a payout to go quietly.

Okay that last bit's unlikely, but if you're resolved to leave anyway, you've got literally nothing to lose by doing this.

gottakeeponmoving · 03/03/2025 16:31

I did. Went for a walk at lunch time and kept walking.
It felt great - I bloody hated that job.

theboffinsarecoming · 03/03/2025 16:34

Are they really expecting you to work 7 days a week?

Yes, I have walked out of two jobs. One, I just left on the Friday afternoon and never went back, the other one I told the boss where to stick her job and walked out mid-shift. The second one felt particularly good.

LindorDoubleChoc · 03/03/2025 16:38

I did when I was a lot younger. I worked in a sales team with impossible sales targets. Our branch manager called us all in for "an important meeting" one morning, it was in the diary for about a week beforehand. The important meeting turned out to be yet more threats and bullying re. the impossible sales targets. She'd obviously had a rocket put up her by the area manager. I went downstairs, put on my coat, picked up my bag and walked out. Said goodbye to a couple of my colleagues (who were scandalised!) and that was that. No regrets whatsoever.

Ddakji · 03/03/2025 16:40

Not literally walked out but handed my notice in with no job to go to a couple of times. It worked out fine - had something by the time I’d finished working out my notice.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 03/03/2025 16:41

Doesn't the working time directive still apply in the UK?

Starlight40 · 03/03/2025 16:45

Yep, I told my arsehole of a manager to go fuck herself and never went back. Best decision I ever made.

Pomped · 03/03/2025 16:50

What’s your plan for tomorrow OP?

GoldMoon · 03/03/2025 16:53

In the days of temp to perm jobs . I got a position in Thames Water HQ . Managed less than a week before I walked out without telling them I was going.