To walk away from a job with no extension agreed - even though they quietly assumed I’d stay?

[ZingyKhakiGuide]

I started a fixed-term contract earlier this year (ending 30 June). It’s been… a ride. Poor management, vague expectations, public undermining, you name it. I’ve handled everything professionally but started job hunting early on. Still no new role lined up but interviews in progress.

A few weeks ago, my manager casually said “we have three months left”, meaning she expected me to stay until August. We’d never discussed extending, no offer was made and I certainly haven’t asked to stay. She’s since sent a vague email saying we need to meet to “discuss a couple of matters” and make sure my annual leave is up to date. It’s clearly a soft probe to see if I’m planning to leave.

The thing is - I am. I’ve mentally clocked out, booked my last two days off and plan to finish on 30 June. I’m tired of the undermining and moving goalposts. I’d rather take the financial risk than drag this out for crumbs of clarity.

AIBU to call time even though nothing else is lined up yet? My friend says it’s risky and I should wait until I have another offer. But I’m done playing games with people who can’t even be direct about an extension.

Would you walk too?

I, personally, would wait to have an offer in hand before leaving for my own sake. If i were a recruiter looking at you I would believe that your contract had not been extended.

So what, though? If employers want to be able to offer short term employment they need to accept that some people find this more convenient and work on these contracts. Your own prejudice should be noted and worked on in your own time.

You’re obviously not happy but whether you should walk depends on what funds you have to fall back on if you don’t find another job quickly and how likely it is that you will.

Edited for typo!

I'd probably chance my arm and email her politely to say something along the lines of 'my fixed term ends on x and I've received an interesting offer from another company. Unless you are intending to offer me some kind of pay increase/sweetener to stay I'll be finishing with you on 30 June.'

I agree with this. However if you really hat it there just respond stating your contract expires in June 30th.

Is your manager likely to convince you to stay on even though you don't want to?
And if they do are you likely to bob along day to day going through the same thoughts?

My first port of call would have been to reply and enquire what they meant when saying 3 months, could be a mistake or they could be seeing if you want to stay on, not by mentioning outright to you but by you not correcting they may be thinking you're wanting to stay.

If your contract is until end of June, you can take the financial hit and you definitely want to leave make the decision and go, if not before you know it time goes by and you're just stuck in a place you don't want to be.

Yup I would do the same as you. I’ve also left jobs without having something lined up, never been an issue getting one. Plenty of temp you can do until you something permanent