To ask if any of you have ever walked out of a job and if it worked out for you?

[HangingBasketCase]

I'm very unhappy in my current job at the moment and am actively looking for something else. It's got to the stage now where I'm dreading going in in the mornings, I've grown to dislike it so much. I hate everything, the incompetent management, the pay (a pittance for what we do), my colleagues just everything about it.

It's my day off today, I should be relaxing but can't as it's all that's going around my head. I feel full of resentment and anger, it's only a matter of time before I blow.

Ive always been taught never to walk out on a job without something else lined up first, but even if I do find something I'd have to give at least months notice first. They are very particular about notice and have been awkward with former colleagues when they've tried to hand in notice., they won't make an exception.

Help?

I don't think it's a good idea to walk out without working your notice. It will really screw any chance of a decent reference.
But yes, you should leave if it's putting your health at risk.

I have done this. I worked in a place for 9 months and my boss was a horrendous bully and the organisation was awful. I politely resigned saying i didn't think the job was for me. I didn't have another job. However I had good safety net (husband earning good money) and I am a professional and had 10 years experience at the time so knew I'd get another job. I did - within a month, and have been there over 5 years. Best decision I made. Only after I left did I realise the full impact of how awful it was

I should say I did work my months notice there (only fair - it was in my contract)

Yes I came back from a lively hols with DH to a Tsunami of shite at work. Handed in notice same day, after 7 years I had my fill of the place. Lovely line manager tried to change my mind but all the money on earth would not have persuaded me. DH was delighted as stress disappeared. I temped for a bit till I worked out it was time for a baby and then a whole new career. Best thing I ever did. Good Luck, be brave x

Hand in your notice tomorrow and ride it out. Surely you can put up with it for just a month longer?

Only walk out if you can afford to do so, and remember that you will receive either no or drastically cut down benefits if you need to claim.

Meanwhile job hunt like mad.

Are you in a union? Is there one you can join?

Also it may be worth seeing your GP and telling her or him that you're feeling depressed/stressed, possibly due to work. Partially because you really are, and partially because it will help set up a paper trail for when you leave, they try to not pay you, and you take them to an employment tribunal

OP, is your question leaving without having a new job lined or walking out without even serving notice?

I should have added I did not resign in anger I was amazingly calm and collected and worked my notice. We still need references, many times I felt like "sounding off" and storming out but I would have been the loser. If it is affecting your health and home life detrimentally I would definitely think about something else.

Yes I have. Best decision I made. It was like a big weight had been lifted from my shoulders and the world looked colourful and happy again.

I didn't realise, until I'd walked away, that I was extremely unhappy there.

Don't get me wrong, it was difficult to do; I had savings to fall back on and I promised myself and DH that I'd he back in employment within 6 weeks. I started a new job on week 5, having 3 offers on the table.

It really depends what you do: your employability, skills, qualifications and the location you can work in, as to how favourable the job market is for you. All of the above was favourable to me.

I even talked about the reasons for leaving quite honestly too (poor working environment, hours, health etc) - so didn't rely on a reference either.

I didn't walk out but I felt close to it, really close.

I'd had a few niggling things, then something quite big happened (basically I did a lot of work on a project, without my input it would have completely failed yet I was marked down in my appraisal - and therefore got a reduced bonus - for not doing another task - despite my manager clearly stating which thing should take priority). Anyway, my blood was boiling but I also knew I shouldn't make a decision out of anger. I asked for a week off immediately. In my head I was thinking "if I don't diet this week off I'm going to walk out" and I knew I would. Fortunately he granted the week off. I took a day or so to make a list of all the things I'd contributed to the department, the issues I'd faced etc and the forgot about it for the rest of the week. When I returned to work I arranged a meeting with the manager. It was productive as I'd had time to lose the anger and I had tangible things written down to demonstrate where I was coming from. I also raised things such as long term career progression and how dissatisfied I was and asked him honestly was it in both of our interests for me to look for another job. It he upshot was he understood where I was coming from and we were able to move forwards. It could have gone the opposite way though.

That's a really long winded way of trying to say can you have a dialogue with your manager before making a decision?

I walked out of a job without a job to go to. Best thing I ever did. I did work my notice but the minute I handed in my letter I just had such enormous relief I knew I did the right thing. I smiled every day for the remaining 4 weeks. Within a month I had my dream job which sadly led to redundancy but I wouldn't have changed it for thr world.

I did. Best decision ever. Had nothing full-time lined up to replace, but got something to tide me over a few days later (part-time cover for maternity leave) and within three months found a new job. Management at old job was incompetent, corrupt, and vindictive towards staff in general and these were the reasons I gave for leaving old job when I applied for new jobs. I was open with new potential employers that it wasn't because I felt they were out to get me (which may have made potential new employers wonder if I was a liability) but that I fundamentally disagreed with the ethical and social way old employers ran the company. I think new employers liked the fact that I had a conscience. Do it. Be prepared to take something less well paid or out of your comfort zone until you find the right job again. Being unhappy for much longer shouldn't be what your life is all about. Not directly relevant, but now having a DC I am so thankful I am not at the old place anymore. It would have been horrible with added stress and time management being somewhere where your bosses couldn't give a toss!

I walked out without serving notice. Told the vile manager to shove his fucking job up his arse. Didn't have a job lined up either. Luckily had a bit in savings and a partner with a job. Without this wouldnt have been able to easily give up as no benefits..
It was quiet a few years ago and a lot easier to stumble into jobs. Which I did.

Then a couple of years ago did it again. No savings, less wages from partner. Couldn't stay where I was, affecting my sanity. Went to collect youngest from school, not been able to do it for months. Saw an ad for a job. Deadline was an hour later. Rushed through with an application. Fumbled through an interview, offered something else. I am still there now in a more senior position.

Yes. Walked out of a six year restaurant management career after a customer decided it was my
fault her son had died.

It wasn't my fault, and she was clearly grieving, but the abuse I received that afternoon made me realise I really was done. Walked out and never went back - despite begging and pleading from area management.

Ended up as a TA, now earning a hell of a lot more as a subject specialist. I am SO glad I left.

I walked out but I was on a temp contract anyway so not as bad as it sounds. It still felt very liberating to do at the time.

The office environment was awful, the staff were all miserable, the manager spent most of her time outside smoking and I was made to feel like the office junior despite years of training and experience.
I waited until the Friday afternoon then I calmly emptied my desk and just stood up and said bye. When a colleague said she would see me Monday and I just said ' I don't think so" and that was that.

I then had the summer holidays to enjoy with my children and got a fab new job which in am still doing 7 years later in the September.

I did one day at a job once, it was sold to me as something slightly different and I realised when they briefed me how dull it would be.

It was really hard as had to ring the rec cons and walk away, but on the plus side no money changed hands and the person who hired me was actually really lovely about it (considering!).

Yes it worked out well, now I'm doing what I want at home on a flexible basis, which I much prefer.

You'd need to be prepared to answer questions about why you left with nowhere else lined up in job interviews.

I've been at the other side of the table in that situation. Rightly or wrongly, it could reflect badly on you in the eyes of future employers. They don't know if you were put in an impossible situation, or if you were given a tap on the shoulder and resigned rather than being fired.

If at all possible, try to stick it out!

Was about to hand in notice despite not having another job as colleague was making me truly miserable and they called me in to a meeting to start redundancy process. Result!

Yup, I walked out once too. I did have another job lined up but wasn't planning to leave for a few more weeks as I was still in the 1 week notice period. In the end I just had a 2 week break between jobs.

My boss was a horrible bully - and I told her so. God it felt good!

And then I was escorted off the premises past all the other disheartened unhappy staff, beaming ear to ear! Makes me smile even now thinking about it.

It would be really difficult for me to discuss it with my superiors because they are rarely around and are hard to get in touch with when they are. I don't want to say what I do because we are not really supposed to talk about it on the internet, so that's why I am being cryptic.

I'm actually applying for another vacancy right as we speak. I've even considered going into my local pub of which I'm a regular and asking if they would give me shifts behind the bar, even though I have no experience.

I would do anything to get away.

It's risky, not just because you don't have a job lined up, but because future employers may see you as a bit flaky.

Have you tried agencies? If finances aren't a huge issue temp work may suit to give you some breathing space?

I have, but DH supports me mainly so its not really a huge deal for me. I also have other means of working freelance to bring in an income if I really need to.

I have considered agencies, and I know a lot of people who started off as a temp and ended up permanent. I would like to retrain as a nurse, but need to gain experience before a training provider would take me so there is also the possibility of going into care work.

I walked out of one shortly before my contract ran out, mainly because the owner's son addressed me as "you there" when we already knew each socially. I don't permit liberties.

The next bunch were worse, but they annoyed even more unpleasant people and went on fire.

Sometimes working for a massive sclerotic bureaucracy with OCD has its charms.

I've done this! Managed 3 months in the worst job on earth. Had no job to go to but a little bit of savings. Was out of work for 6 weeks. Temped for 5 months then landed my lovely job I have now and been there 3 years. Best thing I ever did! . That Sicky feeling of dread on the drive in...... Never never again!