AIBU doing the bare minimum in my notice period

[Londonlady33]

Been in my job a couple of years, and am working my three notice period at the moment. 4 weeks to go and I have no motivation to do anything. Probably doesn’t help that I’m working from home and Greys Anatomy is always available.

So AIBU? Or is this normal? Make me feel better by your slacking off stories please!

Me too OP. I'm just coming to the end of a 3 month notice period (that I've done entirely from home) and have done maybe 30 mins work a day for the last 2 months of it. I work in a role in a massive corporate and generate a pipeline of work by actively promoting the service that I offer. Once I took my foot off of the pedal with doing that, my workload shrank to almost nothing. I've given advice and training to the person who will replace me, and written handover notes. Ive answered urgent queries. And I've contributed strategic input into how the service will be run going forwards. I've worked so hard for my entire working life, and particularly for this company, and feel totally guilt free about taking this period of down time. Good luck in your new role!

if I ever apply to such a business, I'm likely to come across people I knew from my time at the Big 4) then sure go for it and burn that bridge.

The OP is talking about winding down output, not running around the office trashing the place. Honestly.

Are your colleagues going to be lumbered with extra work because you're slacking off?

As a teacher, I can’t get my head around it. You can only resign at half term, to leave by the end of term.
So no, I wouldn’t spend the next couple of months doing the bare minimum, any more than a dozen other professions. I’d see it as letting people down that I’d worked with for years, and not doing the job properly because I couldn’t be arsed would impact badly on others.

@NovemberWitch but teaching is of course different, as are a million other jobs. Lots of people have a one-day notice period. But in certain professions, in the private sector, and particularly in something like Sales, you create your own work. In your notice period you tie up loose ends, handover any remaining projects and are on hand to answer queries. It used to be 'garden leave', but companies don't tend to bother with that these days.

Totally depends on the job and whether you're letting people down by slacking. For most of the roles I've had, my workload has naturally tailed off toward the end as I've wrapped up existing projects and am not assigned new ones. By the end there just isn't a full day's work to be done.

I also work in an industry where it's common to go straight on gardening leave if you're leaving for a competitor. I wouldn't resent someone that was working their notice for slacking a bit -at least they're doing a handover! I also feel 3 month notice periods are punitive. No-one should be so indispensable they can't leave after a month or so - accidents and illnesses rarely happen with a 3 month notice period...

If you like burning bridges. Many career fields are revolving doors where everyone knows someone and you could find your prospects diminished due to the informal networking and name dropping that goes on.

Lot of Kool-Aid drinkers on this thread.

YANBU OP - presume you're talking about getting your duties/handover done but not pretending to be busy the rest of the time. Enjoy!

He he a lot of these responses seem to have been written in the 1940s

I had a three month notice period in my last job that they made me work, whilst simultaneously cutting me out of anything so I had nothing to do. I worked from home and decorated my house.

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

He he a lot of these responses seem to have been written in the 1940s

Have you seen how much MNetters whinge, whine and complain when people don’t do their jobs to 110% of capacity? I’ve got all the education boards hidden because of it. 🤣 OP asked a question, got a range of answers.

IME it's the norm when people are leaving. And colleagues managers know it's the norm and proceed accordingly.

@cookiemonster2468

A lack of motivation is quite normal in a notice period. But if the employer has generally treated you well during the time you've been there, it is only decent to not leave a mess for the next person to inherit, so you should keep on top of things.

This unless you are leaving because of poor treatment etc ! The place I work at really do not deserve any work commitment from people who are leaving !! Sad but true.

Professional communities in London are small, it’s amazing how often you cross paths with people again.

Assuming you’re in a professional job in London op (user name/3 month notice period) I’d make sure you do enough to protect your reputation, it’s a valuable asset.

My notice period from my first job was one of the best holidays I ever had.

@Donotgogentle

Professional communities in London are small, it’s amazing how often you cross paths with people again.

Assuming you’re in a professional job in London op (user name/3 month notice period) I’d make sure you do enough to protect your reputation, it’s a valuable asset.

Thank fuck I don’t have to work in that shitty environment

It sounds like you wouldn’t enjoy it.