Handing my notice in at a bad time - is that okay?

[SarahCrowcombe]

Am I being unreasonable by handing my notice in now?

I have hated my job - I escaped teaching (which I loved, but it destroyed me) and started a job in marketing at an NGO. It was okay at the start, but I then soon found that it didn't interest me in the slightest, and the lack of human contact and constant screen time started to negatively affected me and my mental health.

Fast forward to 7 months in, and my lovely Line Manager left for a better paid role elsewhere. The company didn't replace him, leaving me to do both jobs (with only 7 mths experience in that field and no formal training). The company said that they wouldn't replace him and wanted to hold his job open with the view to giving it to me (in a year when I have more experience), and they got an agency in for a few hours a week. So I have now taken on a massive workload and am basically now doing the manager job anyway (and I am totally lost because there is so much I am being asked to, of which I have no idea how to do, and am being given ZERO help or training from my boss who just says: 'sorry I don't know'). On top of this, I took a £10,000 pay cut when I first took the job and have struggled financially. I also know the manager job that they want to give me in a year, will be a tiny salary increase - hence why my line manager left in the first place.

So, I have just been offered a job in Student Support at a brilliant University. Much more up my street, in Education, a £6,000 pay rise, great career progression, amazing holiday, amazing maternity (for future planning - my current job has almost no maternity pay), options for doing their apprenticeships whilst also being paid (so I can retrain in another career should I want to) and they seem super lovely! So overall, MUCH better for me!

BUT, I feel terrible. Me handing in my notice will come totally out of the blue, and will be leaving everyone in the lurch. The boss will likely be extremely annoyed because they've kept the manager role open for me, and they will have lost the entire team in the space of a few months. It is also a very bad time for the company in many ways, and they are VERYYY stretched for staff (with another manager quitting in another team last month, who they haven't replaced yet either), and I feel like I will be letting my close colleagues down and leaving them all alone.

I think I am looking for a little reassurance if possible.

Thank you so much in advance! 😊

I stayed loyal.

It got me nowhere.

I had found myself doing my line manager's job as she felt more productive wfh but didn't actually do the job which fell to me . I ended up working two hour's overtime everyday to cover her tracks.
I was paid overtime for a while but cost cutting led to a ban on overtime but service users needed the service. So I continued, stupidly.

I had to resign in the end.

No one cared.

Just go for it. We are numbers.

Do it. They'd do the same to you.

They don’t deserve their loyalty
they have treated you appallingly
they’ve exploited you
£6,000 pay increase is a no brainer
maternity package alone is worth the move
enjoy your new job!!

I was you. When I gave in my notice, they advertised for my replacement with a higher salary offering than mine..
They won’t look after you, so you need to.
Be selfish, get yourself a nice drink, and write that resignation with a big smile on your face.

Go and don't look back! They haven't held the manager role open for you - they've expected you to do it anyway with no increase in pay! You owe them nothing.

The amount of people that have been ‘promised’ promotion, and then when the agreed time is up, management find some excuse for not honouring their word…
‘Bird in the hand’ every time OP.
Congratulations, enjoy your new job 👏🏻

I wouldn't even hesitate. Get that notice handed in and don't feel guilty. They haven't felt an ounce of guilt about lumbering you with two roles with no pay increase and no additional training.

Don't reward them for treating their employees like crap!!! Go, enjoy your new job. Hopefully others will do the same until they get the message.

Also why are they making you do your managers job, but saying you can't have the job title yet? You're doing the job!

That's really shit management, you've got all the work without the authority, pay or support.

Never will be a good time. I got lot of recognition for my work but no payrise for the 2 jobs I was handling and it was close to nmw, millions in profit and 60% of revenue and I was training new people. 40% of the business was split between 7 people. I had full freedom butalso had zero help with the most difficult colleagues
Cash is king and you are paid peanuts. You are not there to subsidise their business failings and stress yourself for low pay

I hear you, OP. It feels really awkward and you feel like you’re letting them down.

But OP, this is just a job. You’ve done a great deal in your short time there, and now you’ve found an opportunity to do something that will make you feel more fulfilled.

There’s never a “great” time to resign, there will always be some obstacle. Its ok to put yourself and your career first. In the end, we’re all replaceable at work. Go for the new job!

Absolutely what ponderingwidow said.

You’ve been gaslit and dumped on.

Do what’s right for you.

Very odd. My line manager felt the same after COVID and went awol during most of the day. Everyone complained to me and she never appreciated I had her back

Agree with @kelsaecobbles

Walk away. Don't look back.

Why are you even thinking of NOT leaving? Just hand in your notice and move on. You owe them nothing at all.

Skip out of the door and don't give it a second thought

If possible though try and get a decent bit of leave /break before the next job as you must be shattered

good luck in your new job OP don't look back !

Ofcourse go for the new role!
Never feel bad. Being very blunt the company you work for does not care about you and would boot you out without hesitation if they decided to.
You must do what is right for you!

You don't owe them anything

congrats on the new job

You are being taken for a ride. Leave and never look back. New job sounds perfect for you, don't miss the opportunity!

Definitely definitely take the new job! I have just left my org isa room after 21 yrs at an organisation going down the pan and everyone leaving at same time. But somich better for me. They are taking advantage of you. If necessary they will get an agency/consultant and pay them a lot more than you. Do not feel guilty!

Take the other job. The company will show you zero loyalty if it came down to it. Yes, it will make things awkward for them, but they have managed the situation badly and that is on them, not you. The fact everyone is leaving a sinking ship indicates they are not paying market rates for their staff.

I'm so happy for you! Sounds brilliant! Of course you go - sounds just the right plan.

No way should you feel guilty! They have behaved terribly. There isn't even any guarantee you'd get the manager's job. If they wanted to give it to you then they would. They will have to put up with the consequences of their own actions.

Go to the other job and don't give this job a second thought.

I also did this. And ended up getting shat on. Loyalty and support isn't always returned, even by people you thought you could like and trust.

OP they may not have been telling the truth about the manager's job anyway - there's no guarantee.