Aibu to jump before I’m pushed (work related)

[Hp737]

My role at work seems to have come to a standstill. I work for a large company. My boss was let go a month ago because most of our operational oversight is moving overseas, and our roles were quite closely linked/my remit is fast disappearing as they make that transition. (However I haven’t received any official communications from our senior management also overseas about this- it’s been badly handled and “officially” our team don’t really know what’s going on.) I have begun to be left out of the loop on decisions and processes that were previously part of my role, and the expectation from most of the people I work with is that I’m “next” to go, and there will be a second round of redundancies in June/July.
However I have only worked here for 1.3 years so I think I’m not technically eligible for redundancy pay/if I felt I had a case for constructive dismissal it wouldn’t be valid.

I also have a school age dd. Summer is always a total nightmare childcare wise as my fiancé and I work full time and we have had to use most of our annual leave up already as we had family emergencies and also are getting married this year. I would need to take 2 weeks off because of this in summer either if I stay at this job or if I changed jobs, honeymoon etc are booked. However if I changed jobs my annual leave would be pro rated accordingly and I would have literally none left for the rest of the year.

I have been severely demotivated by these events at work and it has really made my anxiety worse. It’s so shit knowing you’re “for the chop” and I have pretty much been left to my own devices for the past month. I know my days are numbered.

WIBU to resign a month before my dd breaks up for summer (this would be nearly 4 weeks from today) and take a break this summer instead of trying to start a new job/do wedding stuff/field childcare? The way I see it I either get made redundant at some point in the next 2 months, or I resign for the sake of my own sanity/ in time to not have to worry about summer childcare. I highly doubt I will get some great redundancy package due to my short service at the company.

My fiancé is a high earner and I have around 8k in savings. I have a good cv and haven’t had trouble getting jobs before- I would need to look for something to start in September.

Aibu to consider resigning and taking the summer off for dd/wedding then going back? I feel so demotivated here every day and I’m sick of getting no clarity from anyone. My new “boss” is a guy based overseas I’ve never met, who I speak to once a week. I just want out really. Any advice?!

To clarify I would resign a month before dd breaks up for summer because I am on a months notice and I would likely be expected to work it.

Also she is still little and I almost feel like this summer is some time with her I might never get again (been back at work FT since she was 6 months). I’m well aware this would be a luxury though..

I think you have already made up your mind. If your fiance can support you all I don't think I'd have a problem
Enjoy the summer with your daughter

I'd do it in your circumstances without question!

I'd exit the job.

If it's the company this to treat staff like this then there's nothing to stay for anyway.

Have your summer. Enjoy it. Go job hunting after your wedding.

This doesn’t even sound like something you need to weigh up too much to be honest, it sounds completely weighted in favour of quitting! Just quit and enjoy the summer.

Definitely resign now.

Do it and have a lovely chilled out summer

Thanks all it’s good to hear that. I’m pretty risk averse and the idea of a gap in my cv makes me a little nervous but I know with the wedding (August) and childcare issues the summer is going to be busy anyway. To clarify I’d have to stick it out at work before resigning for about 4.5 more weeks, to line up end of my notice period with dd end of term (and get a bit more cash under my belt). I think I can do that if I know the end is in sight but the alternative is just waiting for potentially 2+ months to see what happens here, which doesn’t really solve my childcare issues for summer.
Those 4.5 weeks feel easier to swallow with a deadline for handing in my notice and a summer to look forward to. But I don’t want to be stupid with my cv. Aside from the wedding and honeymoon (already all paid for )I’m not looking at an expensive summer, I can keep it cheap and just enjoy dd, so it’s not so much money but the fear I won’t be able to get something else easily after summer. They say it’s best to job hunt when you’re in a job. So I’m still a little anxious.

Noooo. If you are confident you can get another equivalent job now / in 3 months / in 6 months then HOLD OUT for a payoff.

If you're stressed and anxious I'd get signed off by the GP and wait for the settlement offer. Seriously

Is your DP supportive about you resigning?

I would speak to your boss/hr and ask outright if your job is going to be made redundant because if it is you would prefer they did it sooner than later. If you're going to resign anyway you have nothing to lose.

@fedup21 yes. He thought i should’ve resigned when this first kicked off as I got so stressed and down. I didn’t, as I didn’t think it was practical with a couple of big expenses coming up, and I did think I should see what happened. He was relieved for me when I suggested this plan last week.. he’s v supportive (esp as his work has got very full on and so wedding planning etc has suffered)
To the pp who said hold out for settlement- I didn’t think I would be eligible as I’ve been at this company 1.3 years.

I have previously asked my current boss,)his boss and our HR biz partner what is likely to happen and none of them will say (it’s a very cloak and dagger sort of place, normal procedure with this sort of stuff is suddenly springing it on you which is what happened with my boss- here today gone tomorrow)

I'd be cheeky and request 2 months unpaid leave

What Dexy said

Noooo. If you are confident you can get another equivalent job now / in 3 months / in 6 months then HOLD OUT for a payoff.

If you're stressed and anxious I'd get signed off by the GP and wait for the settlement offer. Seriously

Always expect the unexpected.

You only get statutory redundancy after two years- check your contract to see if they offer any none-statutory provision. If not I don't see any benefit to hanging around. It sounds as though the timings work well for you. I wouldn't worry about the CV gap. Its only going to be a six weeks or so which you can legitimately explain.

Enjoy the rare chance to spend quality you-time

If you don’t have much to do, can you brush up your cv and get looking for jobs whilst at work? I like the idea of taking the summer off unpaid.

Normally companies will make an offer regardless of how long you have been there. But if they think you will resign anyway then they might save money by not. I would suggest you make this your backstop plan and spend the next four weeks being keen and eager and telling them you want clarity, want a role etc. This might encourage them to sort things out sooner and then in four weeks you can do whatever seems best.

Another option would be taking unpaid parental leave. I can take 2 weeks from when dd breaks up, then I have 2 weeks annual leave booked which would be paid and covers the wedding and honeymoon. I am entitled to return to the same job after this and would only have 2 weeks childcare to worry about til school starts back. Maybe this would be a better thing to propose, for continuity?
Thanks so much for all the advice. My company appear to be quite cagey on their redundancy policy on our intranet.

Start looking for jobs now then tell them at interview you won't be available until September. If nothing comes of it, at least you've got some interview practise in.

Yeah carry on being a team player but get polished and actively on a job hunting mission, redirect the stress.

£8k is not a lot of cushion with dc and a wedding and you would be in a much better position if you can set up a new job start date that gives you an arranged couple of weeks break between positions than just cutting off your nose to spite your face now.

How quality is the "you time" going to actually be if you are constantly worrying about how the hell you are going to pay the mortgage come the end of summer?

Stress needs active management and planning (A,B and C) not ostrich behaviour. I think you need to consider seriously if quitting for a lovely summer with no next move is actually avoidance behaviour. Could you get signed off by your GP for a bit and use a little of your savings to get some professional help in dealing with stress long term? CBT is a great tool for life long stress management for example.

The issue here is the impact of having a gap in your CV. It is well known that it is easier to get a job when you are in a job. I think you have decided you are leaving, either through choice or redundancy. The best time to start a new job or even look for one is September. Try to hold on till then. Take unpaid leave if you can.

This is an opportunity to deal with the anxiety of being in a downsizing company. It won’t be the last time. Where ever you go this will happen and you will have anxiety, want to leave and hate your job. It is just a case of what ever will be will be.

There is a good chance that you are kept on. It’s usually the big expensive fish they go after first. But that starts a stampede of people following them or looking for new jobs. It could well turn out that they need to keep you because people with long service have upped and left. That’s pretty much my experience.

Taking time out from a job is addictive unless you are a workaholic. Chances are you will never want to go back. If you were in your late fifties and had a lot of capital behind you it’s a no brainier. You are not and £8k is nothing.

I'd start looking for a job and say you need to give 3 months notice if you get any interviews quite soon, you can adjust this if you need too. Redundancy looks better on your CV as you explain your function was moved overseas.

I definitely resign and have a chilled out summer and enjoy your wedding if DF is supportive and you can manage financially.
It may be the perfect job doesn’t come up immediately, are you prepared to take something else come September for the short term possibly part time so you can keep things ticking over?
I left a very well paid NHS role 5 years ago, because it was making me so miserable and stressed and was effecting home life. I took a job in Waitrose in the short term but within 8 weeks had lined up a fantastic job in private practice working with consultants I’d worked with in the NHS. It was very scary leaving with nothing to go to but also I felt 110% better once I’d actually made the decision.
Make sure your CV is up to date and start putting out feelers / applications for new jobs.