…To Ghost Employer

[ThePlumVan]

..not resign, not communicate that I have a new job, literally just block and move on with my life ?

Been in current job 8 years.
Had the most horrendous Line Manager for 6 of those. I work across a matrix structure so am answerable to several Department Managers - but LM is the one who has refused to sign off legitimate expenses with receipts so I no longer submit them, has refused all training/CPD opportunities in that time, micromanages things she knows nothing about, contradicts me, produces meeting minutes that are misleading/inaccurate, requests very shading business practices be carried out and when I refuse has tantrums and tries to do it herself but again she isn’t qualified so can’t do it, won’t sign off annual leave until the week before so it’s too late to book holiday and then says they might have to be cancelled anyway depending on business need so I can never look forward to anything, books evening meetings when I have caring responsibilities, books daytime meetings onsite with no notice when I am working miles away, demands me to drop everything with the other departments when she has something that can wait and they don’t, so I end up working evenings to meet the other deadlines. If I miss a call from her will continually phone me until I pick up even if I’m in meetings, I could go on and on - but basically it’s been awful and has affected my mental health horrendously.

I don’t want to work my notice. I don’t want to see or speak or think of her ever again.
I feel bad for the other Depts, but not enough to go back (currently on annual leave).

YABU - just be professional and work your notice.
YANBU - your life has been hell for long enough, just block them and crack on with your lovely new job.

Resign formally, by letter, even if you serve no notice.

If you just disappear then someone you work with who is a reasonable person (so I don't mean your line manager or HR) could think you have harmed yourself and maybe call the police for a welfare check. Don't be unreasonable to the good people you have met at work, or cause one of them unnecessary worry.

I hope you can find a new job soon.

Resign in writing, list the reasons why you are resigning and state that you would like to be released from your notice period because of the hostile working environment that your LM has created.

If HR insist you work your notice, then respond in writing and ask for details of the actions they will take and put in place, to safeguard you and your wellbeing, from your LM and their treatment of you - e.g. are they proposing that your reporting line changes temporarily for your notice period and LM has been told not to contact you etc.

Basically, it allows you to stay professional, but puts the onus on them to come up with something to allow you to serve your notice - or take the easy option and release you.

I did this OP.
Background, was acting manager and was not going to be offered manager’s job as only contracted for two days. Although doing extra hours for which they paid me a paltry £100 per month. Very little effort was put into recruiting a full time manager because, oh yes… I was doing it
I arrived home late from a traumatic long haul flight and emailed the district manager to see if they’d found anyone and got a load of drivel in reply. Just totally flipped and sent my notice by text. She replied something but I was transferring sims and couldn’t read it so sent resignation in writing later that day and told her that I had so much holiday left that it would cover my notice and I wouldn’t be back in.
And I have not regretted it for one minute. Only wish I’d done it sooner.

Good advice. Go to the doctor and send a sick note accompanied by your resignation letter. If the company has any HR they will probably ask you if you want to raise a grievance. Which you may wish to consider or not…
At least this way you haven’t gone AWOL and now have unauthorised absences on your record which could be reflected in any Future reference.
Good luck op.

Sorry for pp as only just read your post re stress sick note. In that case get signed off for ‘personal reasons’ for the duration of your notice period.

Keep it formal. Send resignation letter (to multiple parties within your org, not just LM). State the date from which you expect your employment to end (regardless of contractual notice period, just pick the date that suits you). Ask them to come back to you with acknowledgement (set a reasonable time frame eg 2 working days?). If they insist on you working your contractual notice, you could argue and threaten constructive dismissal etc, but it might be easier to just agree to work your notice but on your terms. ie work the minimum hours necessary, say no to any unreasonable requests, avoid/ignore LM, have long lunches, enjoy some good chats with nicer colleagues or wfh etc. You don't even have to outline your terms to anyone but yourself. Don't ghost. It might be satisfying today, but you burn bridges and lose control of the narrative that could come back to bite you in the future.

I'd be looking in the acas website to see the position re constructive dismissal.

A lot of constructive dismissal cases are unsuccessful as they end up being “he/she said” and arguments are due to differing perspectives. Leave dignified.

I wouldn’t ghost I would say the situation is unmanageable and that you are left with no choice but to leave with immediate effect, that you are taking advice on the same,

HR bod here

Many people do this, not loads but more than you think.
Usually we would send a chaser letter then the next letter would be an invite to a disciplinary hearing which would proceed in absence and terminate employment on gross misconduct. No notice pay or pay for the time AWOL. Dismissal on any reference.

The smarter thing to do is go off sick and resign simultaneously. You'll get SSP for your notice period at least. Maybe more if your employer pays it.

You will need a reference from this employer (most companies make it obligatory to get a ref from most recent employer).

It would at least say you did not work your notice/give notice, and since you would not follow absence reporting procedure, they could also start a disciplinary, which could also go on your official (neutral, factual) reference. You could be dismissed for gross misconduct.

So no, doesn't sound like a good idea. You may get lucky but it could also make you difficult to employ, unless you work in a field where nobody cares/ takes references/ background checks.

You could do 'notice with immediate effect'. Still not great as could come up on a reference but could be best for all involved.

Here’s what I did:
I went off sick with stress, I sent in a sick note detailing stress and anxiety. I remained at home for a few Months on full sick pay and then sent in my resignation. I stated as I couldn’t see my returning to work in the near future I considered it best if they accepted my final sick note as my resignation period. They accepted and no further contact was made. Job done and dusted.

I'd be all for you doing it, but I feel you might be in the shit if they won't give you a reference.

Go in. Talk about your new job with utter glee. Smile. Then take it super easy, if people ask you to do much remind them you won't be here in a week or two.

YANBU. She sounds awful.
Think about going for Constructive Dismissal and leave immediately.
www.gov.uk/dismissal/unfair-and-constructive-dismissal

Thanks everyone for understanding but also putting me right, I feel a lot better about it now xx

I’ll put written notice in and ‘work’ notice period so as not to inconvenience the lovely colleagues and do exactly nothing for the one who made my life hell.

Love the suggestions about mentioning new job at every opportunity - will definitely implement that 😊

Thank you for the update OP and I wish you well for the future.

One thing I would do is to present HR with copies of all your legitimate expenses and copies of receipts and say that as part of your leaving process you expect these to be authorised and paid in full - alongside any time off in LIEU outstanding or and outstanding leave. I'm sure they wouldn't want to be taken to court for monies outstanding...

I’m glad that you are doing it properly by handing in your notice. I do agree with others that if you find it impossible, then you need to see your GP and get signed off for the rest of the notice. I have given notice with immediate effect while on holiday. I have also walked out of a job, and even years later I still feel horrible.

@ThePlumVan Id still be professional even though its pickles situation

Send your resignation in at close of business on the last day of your holiday, with immediate effect.

Detail every single reason why you are doing so and the fact that you have previously reported issues to HR who have ignored your concerns.

In the letter, make it clear that the behaviours have not been that of a reasonable employer and that it has affected your health. Advise them that they have breached the implied term of mutual trust and confidence which is why you do not feel able to fulfil your contractual notice.

Somebody in HR will shit themselves and they would have to take you to court for breach of contract (not serving your notice). They won't as the only thing they can claim is any difference between your cost and the cost of any replacement.

Grow up
You can't not resign & disappear off the face of the earth. Its childish, what would you do if they did a welfare call with the police?, what will you do when you need a reference from them?

Resign
Take all your personal possessions home
Hand in any company assets - laptop etc
Phone in sick for your notice period

Do this exactly. Or you can "negotiate" an exit deal with hr an the understanding you won't claim for constructive dismissal (which it sounds like this is if they haven't responded to an upheld grievance and are behaving otherwise unreasonably)

I would say only do that if all of your pay and entitlements are current and you don't need anything else paid to you. I had an employee do the no notice thing once. If he'd spoken to me I would have been flexible on notice but he decided he was going to be a smart arse and wasn't going to show up anymore. Unfortunately for him we were just about to process pays and I legally withheld payment equivalent to notice period. It's the only time I've ever done that and was solely because of his attitude.

Personally I have quit a place that was hell on wheels while I was on leave. There was no way I could have gone back.

It can be done, you've just got to follow the terms of your appointment so you are not adversely impacted.

YANBU
BUT... I would put it all in writing and hand it in as notice and state the hostile work environment is why you will not be working the notice period.

You don't HAVE to work your notice.

I'd send an email or letter saying you're leaving and then block everything.