To quit my job

[Cannotmakeadecision]

I have posted in the work topic before and thought I have made a decision to quit my job; but I keep reading about how difficult is the job market at the moment and getting a bit concerned.

I am early 50s, work for a big 4, Manager level; the atmosphere in the team is not good anymore, high expectations of long hours, high utilisation, some unfair and discrimination treatment. I have been off for a couple of months for burnout and due to return in a few weeks.

I thought I made the decision to quit when I return, but keep overthinking it. I am an accountant, I could ask for a phased return.

Am I crazy to leave my job without another one? We could leave with DH salary, but I have always worked and like to have my independence and salary.

Ask for a phased return and start looking for a new job. See how you feel when you return but at least you will have started the process.

What are your pensions like?

i’d be either thinking of sticking it out for another 5 years, throwing as much as possible into pensions and retiring early.

or quit and find a lower stress, possibly lower paid job I can enjoy for another 10 years or more.

obviously if you can find another well paid job you enjoy then that’s the best outcome, but ime the pay is often high to compensate for the difficult job.

can you go self employed? Or start building a client list so if you choose the retire early option you can do some SE work to top up.

Thank you.

I don’t feel like returning; but I am thinking this may be best than quitting without another job.

I am of a similar age as you and about to leave my job as well.

I have had two episodes of serious burnout because of it and I am done.

I had an awful return to work meeting last week after 2 months off for depression and spent this morning starting to draft a grievance letter for HR.

I have a disability and I am sick an tired of the poor treatment and discrimination.

The best outcome for me is for them to agree to a settlement but I am no longer willing to put my health at risk and keep losing my self-confidence because of a dysfunctional workplace that will never change.

I have a couple of freelance contracts alongside my current job and will continue to develop that and also look for a less stressful part-time role to add to that.

Thank you.I thought I would stay for another 5 years and retire but things have changed in my team and I don’t think this is longer possible.

Finding another less stressful job that I can keep longer will be the best outcome.

Sorry to hear about your experience; best of luck

Can you start looking for another job now?

I had to take time off last year due to burnout in a similarly stressful job. The first month I could do nothing. For the second month I spent an hour every other day applying for job. I got a job after about a month and was able to return to work and work out my notice knowing it was only temporary.

I’d return, try hard not to work long hours, focus on things that help my mental health and job seek: easier to find a job when you have one.

I’d not quit due to the financial risks.

I think you would be crazy to stay.

I am younger than you and a lawyer but had realised for a while I wasn't happy. After a short episode of ill health (plus burnout) and a complete lack of support from my employer, I left my job. 3 months later I don't have anything new. We can't live on just my husband's salary but I had enough money for a few months to reset and I'm thinking about other options for careers. It was easier once I was off the treadmill to consider other options (I'm still considering!)

Life is too short and too precious to be miserable. Take a phased return if you think you want to go back or find a new job but if your soul / heart whatever isn't in it then don't. It doesn't sound like you need to work. If you have funds do some coaching to delve into what you might like to do, you will have lots of transferable skills. Women can change career at any age if that's what you want to do.

You aren't your work, it doesn't define you and you deserve to be happy and healthy

I disagree with the ‘life’s too short’ argument for taking high risk decisions with potentially huge financial consequences.

A bad work situation is hard, but quitting - especially without a redundancy package or settlement - with no job to go to is a big risk.

unemployment, underemployment, financial problems, financial dependency are no picnic or ideal for health either.

How does your husband feel about being the sole earner? Is he happy in his job? Is it stable and reliable?

I don’t think any job is worth risking your health - your job sounds like it’s taken its toll already. I would go back on a phased return so you have some money, and start looking for a new job now with the intention of leaving asap. Good luck

The market is not easy and I’m afraid there is quite a lot of age discrimination around. People in late 40s and 50s I know who have left mid-senior professional jobs recently expecting to find similar ones quickly have found it harder than they expect. It has certainly given me pause when I wanted to just walk out.

I would start looking hard for a new job (I’m not clear if you have) and look to delay return to current job or do a phased return to string it out until you find the next thing.

I hate to say it but ageism is a thing, particularly for women. Job hunting is hard. I also sort of voluntarily left a job without a job to go to in my early 50s. I still believe it was the right decision, but I did underestimate how hard it would be to find a new role at the right level.

He is happy; he said I should seek happiness, as he knew how stressed this job has made me feel.

Thank you all.

I didn’t have much energy in the first two months but have started looking now. I don’t want to go back but I am also finding it hard to job hunt and start again.

I could take a pay cut if needed and potentially change career.

It is so tricky.

Yes, this concerns me. I also worry about having to rely in one job and loosing my independence.

Sadly this is what I suffering in my current job. Discrimination and unfair treatment.

What really helped me was working with a career coach. Just to help me remember who I was, what my values are, what aspects of my job/life energised me and what I no longer wanted to spend time on. This gave me a good strong story to take into interviews after what had been a hard and damaging time. I would recommend it to anyone.

Will so this. Thank you. The more I think about it the more I conclude I need to leave despite the financial risk of relying in one person job and the hassle of having to job hunt. As I feel this job is impacting my confidence and mental health.

If you have decided to leave (and I do get it) then given everything you have said I would try and get an agreed exit, perhaps on redundancy or similar, rather than just resigning. Yes it would make it more testy than just handing in your resignation but would give you a cushion in some extra cash.

If you know people who have left who you think has been settled out and are friendly try and speak to them. I would get a decent employment lawyer who is used to Big 4 to try and help you formulate a strategy.

As an accountant you could work for yourself if that's the way you wanted to go.

Re ageism- I guess it becomes apparent at interview, and with dates of qualifications, but I've noticed no-one puts date of birth or age on their CVs now.