Boss is refusing to let me take my foot off the gas

[tiredofthisshit21]

I'm retiring at the end of this year, corporate role, mid senior. I gave more than my contracted notice out of courtesy, did everything right. I've only got just over two months to go and I had thought that there might be a bit of easing back of the pressure to ease me gently into retirement. But my manager just keeps piling on the workload and pressure, regardless. I'm trying to care less, I really am, but there's no acceptance whatsoever that I have no incentive to go the extra mile any more. Currently facing into another working week with dread.

If you've been in this situation, how did you handle it?

@SalmonOnFinnCrispi guess I was interested in others experience. I have received some good advice, eg care less, just do your hours etc. Asking for advice doesn't mean I have to do everything in every response, does it?

She doesn’t get sick pay.

Do you have your official leaving date in writing? If you’ve already passed your three months’ notice period, is there an HR department you could discuss with, to check you could now just leave at any point?

Tell your boss you’ve joined an oil painting class/triathlon training/professional landscaper course/volunteering for a charity after work so you have to leave on time.

People aren’t obligated to take the advice they’re given when they seek it. Merely to listen, which OP has and has responded multiple times.

Go off sick - you know, the terrible stress ......

I think a lot of managers dont understand how to manage or motivate someone when the usual carrots and sticks dont apply.

OP doesnt need a good reference, she isnt going to get a bonus, she doesnt need to add to her CV. Her line manager needs her far more than she needs him. He just doesnt seem to have worked that out yet.

Shouldn't you be at work ?

I am 100% on your side @tiredofthisshit21

Been there, done that, took early retirement earlier this year due to the absolute stress of project managing a new systems implementation that was inevitably going to be a shit show. I hadn't even had a say in the new system and wouldn't have touched it with a bargepole. I gave them 4 months' notice and OMG did I wish I hadn't done that, and just given them a month's notice instead.

They can't sack you. They can't force you go to above and beyond. Work exactly your set hours and not a second more. Not your circus, not your monkeys, and they will not appreciate all your superhuman efforts, so drop the rope.

And STOP CARING.

And there will be pressure, because he’ll still have to meet his targets in order to secure a bonus that you are not eligible for. It’s easier for him to pressure you than figure out how to get his remaining team to go above and beyond.

As long as you are completing your contracted work in your contracted hours, it’s totally unreasonable of him to expect you to work unpaid.

You should have asked to reduce your hours and go down say to a three day week. But you didn't. You want the money for doing less work. It's cheeky.

Okay, so that gives you two weeks before they start, so in that time you can make notes of 'procedures' and 'handover' information. Or at least make a pretence of doing so, whilst telling your boss that you are 'too busy' with organising that to do any actual work as much as you normally do. It's going to take a few days to reorganise all your emails and files/folders at least.

The six weeks after that: two will be the new person getting their feet under the desk whilst you show them the ropes, and the remaining month or so - well, it's their job now, so they do it and you sit, watch, and do nothing advise if required.

No, she's been quite clear - she doesn't expect to do less work, she expects not to do extra work.

I believe (IANAL) that if you and your employer have agreed a leaving date, you cannot then leave before that unless your employer also agrees to bring the date forward. It might be worth an ask?

Very true. In my last few weeks of work I remember thinking there's no way all this will get finished before I go. 🤷‍♀️ as pp said, not my circus, not my monkeys. Not caring what the boss thinks is very liberating.

I made a plan in my own mind of what I thought I could accomplish in the remaining time and focussed on that. I took great pleasure in not attending the departmental away day. I put a retirement countdown app on my phone, which gave me a daily reminder not to get swept up in it all.

Edited for typo

At 8.39am?