Walked out...now what?

[colourbynumbers]

Basically, I walked out of my job yesterday.

It was the final straw after weeks of dealing with my very unprofessional boss (and business owner) and her hostile behaviour.

Her husband has just called me to say that I need to give them a letter saying that it was my choice to leave and that I won't be going back - but he told me not to put the reasons why on there. He said I needed to do this because it was a legal requirement and they had to give the letter to the accountant - is this correct?

If I'm going to write a letter, i feel like I should put the reasons for me leaving on there!

Is there any reason why they could be requesting this?

I would also put the situation on r/legaladviceuk on reddit.

If you don't have a contract where a notice period is stated you only have to give 1 week notice. If you don't have a contract at all then it's just casual labour and you don't owe them anything but it sounds like they're trying to build against constructive dismissal which you'd be within your rights to raise if you have evidence of mistreatment.

Go to the doctors and get signed off for work related stress

What @fuzzyduck1 says and yes give your reasons. You may spare some future person from the humiliation and stress if the boss/es have to look at themselves.

I've just been there to drop of the letter and collect my wages - I've been given half of the money she owes me and been told to go back next week for the rest!

I'm sure she's planning to keep the rest but was waiting for the letter.

In the letter, I wrote:

"Due to the unprofessional and hostile environment created by you, it has become impossible for me to continue working at xxxx.

As I feel you have given me no other choice, please accept this as my formal resignation, effective immediately "

Well that was a bit silly @colourbynumbers, unless an employment lawyer advised you to do that.

I had no choice. I needed my wages and she wouldn't give me them without a letter.

I wouldn't say it was silly, if the atmosphere was anything like the place I walked from (after only working there for 3 months and finding out I was the 8th person in the role in 2 years) then your mental health needs it more than you would need for it to drag out. I walked because I'd have one hell of a job proving the things which went on, sometimes it's not worth the hassle and until you have been in that kind of situation you can't know what it's like.

You spent time posting here when you could have picked up the phone to ACAS and still got down there by end of day. Let's hope you've done the best thing. You still should call for independent advice, especially as you aren't likely to see the rest of the money without taking some further action.

I’m not a HR expert or employment lawyer and neither is anyone else on here ( apologies if I’m wrong )so please don’t base your decision on anything here in case it backfires
If you ask for this to be moved to legal there are properly qualified people there who can help you

Be careful:
What you put in the letter could Barr you from claiming any benefits should you need to.
Just be professional.