Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you what happens if you just stop going to work?

93 replies

VladmirsPoutine · 16/02/2017 22:34

If you just e-mail your manager and tell them that you're not going back ever at all or if you hand in your notice and just decide to not work your notice - what actually happens thereafter? What repercussions can you face?
Posting for traffic - sorry but I'm feeling like doing exactly this.

OP posts:
38cody · 17/02/2017 01:00

depends entirely on your contract. Some jobs you can be off sick for 6 months full pay before you negotiate an exit deal - others it's days.
What does your contract say?

Evergreen777 · 17/02/2017 08:00

I think reference requests can ask about number of days off sick. I wouldn't necessarily mean you didn't get another job, but could be an issue. But if you're determined to leave your employer might just allow you to not work your notice, as you being there being angry/stressed/etc may not be good for the workplace either. That wouldn't be sick leave.

Or if you have children you could apply for unpaid parental leave.

BlackberryandNettle · 17/02/2017 08:10

Could you hand in notice and ask them to waive the notice period /take unpaid leave? What is your notice period?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 08:14

they don't tend to ask about your absence record when they do references.

Actually yes they do.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 17/02/2017 08:21

when you say you have used all your annual leave, when dies your leave year run from/to? Because if for example it runs sept-Aug you will have to pay back some of this as you'll have gone over pro-rata.

queencrunch · 17/02/2017 08:23

I did it. They made threats. Nothing happened. They just gave the bog standard reference. You won't get job seekers for awhile. New companies can't take sickness into account.

Was still the best thing I did

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 08:24

when you say you have used all your annual leave, when dies your leave year run from/to? Because if for example it runs sept-Aug you will have to pay back some of this as you'll have gone over pro-rata.

^ this

The80sweregreat · 17/02/2017 08:30

Best check your contract, if you've only been there a little while you may only need to work a weeks notice.

KeyserSophie · 17/02/2017 08:31

Tbh, they are unlikely to pursue you through the courts, however, I would just resign and ask them to waive your notice period as a compromise agreement.

Absence records are checkable. I have to be honest and if I saw someone had a block of sick leave directly before they left their last employer, then I'd be somewhat reluctant to employ them in a similar field, because it's pretty obviously a negotiated exit following stress related sick leave.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 08:39

because it's pretty obviously a negotiated exit following stress related sick leave.

Then I think you need to review your assumptions.

I left my last employment through illness. Nothing to do with stress whatsoever!

Gwenhwyfar · 17/02/2017 08:39

"theres a chance that if u hand in notice they make u take garden leave anyway so u dont have to go back"

OP would know if she worked in one of those companies though. I've only ever heard of it for people who go to work for a competitor and only for senior staff.

Gwenhwyfar · 17/02/2017 08:43

"Poor reference;
Poor reputation in your field;
Benefit sanctions for intentionally making yourself unemployed;
Difficulty finding new role;
Poverty and debt;
Poor role model to your children - not being responsible / finding new post before walking out."

What?? References - already covered, many employers only give factual references anyway
OP might not have a 'field' and might be able to work for lots of different organisations that don't all know each other
Yes, she won't be able to claim JSA for a while - I expect OP knows that
Poverty and debt - has to be weighed up against mental health, if she becomes to depressed to work she'd eventually have money problems anyway
Poor role model? Don't agree. A responsible person makes the right decision for them at the time, which could be walking out and it's not always wrong to leave a job before you have a new one.

unfortunateevents · 17/02/2017 08:49

You have been talking about resigning for some time. You either have to bite the bullet and do it or get on with the job, because you are obviously miserable and this must be obvious. Surely once you have handed in your notice the knowledge that you only have a fixed period of time to get through in the role will help you work out your notice? Many references nowadays are purely factual - dates, job title etc. - can you find out your company's policy in advance? I would not bank on getting garden leave as a poster suggested - this is rare and usually only happens in cases where you are moving to a competitive role, not the case here. Are you actively looking for another job? How difficult do you think it will be - you haven't given any idea of what field you work in?

Bantanddec · 17/02/2017 08:55

I've done many references I'm always asked for dates of sickness (but not reasons). Also if you resign you cannot claim jsa as you have voluntarily left employment.

Ilovewillow · 17/02/2017 08:56

If you take your notice period as sick leave that will be in your reference as usually reference ask for sick leave to be listed. I would write your letter of resignation go in with it and speak to your manager or their manager if this is the problem and ask if you can leave immediately, you probably won't get paid though. Even if you can't leave immediately you might be able to negotiate a reduced notice period. Unless you really cannot manage it I would advise this as it's the professional way to leave!

gamerwidow · 17/02/2017 08:58

I would question why an employee had a large amount of sickness in the year before joining us but it wouldn't necessarily rule you out of a job. For example I would be far less worried about a big block of sick leave from a specific bout of illness or injury than lots of little blocks of sick leave from minor ailments. i recently employed someone who had to take 6 months off of work at their last work due to developing a Long term condition but their references were excellent and the Long term condition is now known about and being managed and they are an amazing member of staff. Good employers will take everything into account so if you are an otherwise good employee then take the sick leave and buy yourself sometime to think.

HerOtherHalf · 17/02/2017 08:59

What?? References - already covered, many employers only give factual references anyway

True, but "Ms X resigned and did not honour her notice period" is entirely factual and would likely be viewed in poor light by a lot of prospective employers surely. It then comes down to whether they believe her side of the story and think her action was reasonable, assuming she even gets the opportunity to explain.

KeyserSophie · 17/02/2017 08:59

*Then I think you need to review your assumptions.

I left my last employment through illness. Nothing to do with stress whatsoever!*

Ok- I probably should rephrase it. If I saw a block of absence directly before the employee left their last role, I would get an explanation. If the problem was now resolved I would hire them. However, if I felt the problem would be likely to reoccur - say, they left a nursing post due to stress and they're now applying for another nursing post - I'd be a little wary, to say in the least.

happypoobum · 17/02/2017 09:04

OP how much notice do you have to give? I think this makes a difference really. For example I have to give three months notice and that would be intolerable in a job I hated.

If you have to give anything from a week to a month then I would try to stick it out if I could. How long have you been there?

Do you think you will feel less stressed once you have given your notice in anyway?

I hope you work it out.

StrawberryShortcake32 · 17/02/2017 09:34

If you don't work your notice it can still affect your new job as they may refuse to give a reference. Someone left us in the lurch over Christmas once, really struggled and we all had to do overtime at Christmas because this person didn't work their notice. He then had the cheek to ask me for a reference.

Your situation is going to be different I'm sure it's not just a case of you not being bothered but just beware that's possibly how your employer may look at it and refuse a reference. They don't have to pay you for the notice period either.

I hope you find a job you enjoy soon Flowers

whatsthepointofmorgan · 17/02/2017 09:36

I think it's now against the law to give an employee a bad reference.

happypoobum · 17/02/2017 09:40

You can give a bad reference if it is all true. They would be more likely to refuse a reference which might ring alarm bells.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 17/02/2017 09:40

I think it's now against the law to give an employee a bad reference.

Not strictly. A reference has to be factual ie not made up.

Quite often employers refuse to answer certain questions which I guess allows you to make your own assumptions.

flumpybear · 17/02/2017 09:41

What's your job and how long have you been there?! Do you need them for a reference?
Personally if I was that unhappy and it was the job (not my mental health) then I'd talk To my manager and tell them how unhappy I was and can I change roles within the company - what is your job??
I'd leave with immediate effect if I felt I was going to suffer and I didn't need a reference but I'd personally explore other options first

Notso · 17/02/2017 09:43

In DH's company if someone hands their notice in depending on the reasons then more often than not they are told to leave that day but still get paid for their notice period.