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Resigning from toxic senior job under a year - shitting myself!

13 replies

teekay88 · 19/07/2022 06:50

To cut a very long story short I left my previous role just under a year ago to work in what represented a great promotional opportunity to a Director role for a charity. At the time of the interview the job that was sold to me was very much in keeping with my skillset and it seemed as though they had a great culture from how they presented themselves at interview

Pretty much from about 3 weeks in there were some major red flags. My colleagues are not nasty bullies or I doubt deliberately trying to be this way but essentially the culture places almost no value on people skills or wellbeing. Almost everyone's manner is abrupt, brusque and there is a pervasive blame and critical culture. The role is very different in reality to what I was sold and I was honest with them at my probation appraisal that I felt it was misaligned to my skillset and that I had doubts about the culture. In my first 3 months I'm not exaggerating when I say that not one person not even my boss asked me.how I was finding the role or settling in. There is a very high performance culture and people are so stretched that excessive overtime is a constant. In a team of 40 I'd say about 25 have major issues going on (I'd know as I'm in HR) and there is always some type of conflict disaster or wellbeing issue going on in the team.

I have a 3yo son and I have seen almost nothing of him during the week since I started. I perhaps stupidly agreed to full time compressed hours (because I have a day off with my son I didn't want to lose) but in reality my days are insanely long as there's always extra to do. Despite raising it several times I'm consistently scheduled in for meetings and events on my non working day and there is an underlying implication that this is expected because I'm senior. My manager is not all bad - we've got to a point of a fairly good working relationship but he remains unapproachable and a bit unpredictable and I haven't found myself able to be honest about how I've been finding things. When I raised issues in probation he basically went on a charm offensive for a short while which gave the impression these things were all solvable but in reality im 6 months later and all issues have worsened

The three major factors that have made me miserable ate the workload the culture and a relationship with a colleague who is also a director who I find very undermining and constantly critiques my work/ tries to delegate to me. I recently found out there's a chance she will become my manager and that was the last straw for me thinking I needed to get out

I've decided to commit to resigning after a long hard think over the past few weeks . The trouble is - I'm in a senior leadership role so the fact I'm leaving in under a year especially when everyone else has worked together for about 12 years will be a big deal. I had plans underway which if left will cause big issues. I recently recruited new members to my team so the timing feels awful. And so I'm really anxious about telling my boss. Any advice on how to hold that conversation or get over the guilt and anxiety loop would be much appreciated. I really want and need to get to the other side of this

OP posts:
Netaporter · 19/07/2022 06:57

@teekay88 given what you have written, I don’t think you have a choice but to leave. However, it is much easier to get a job when you have a job. Unless you can afford to have no income, line yourself up a role first, then resign. Yes, the timing is unfortunate but you’ll burn out if you don’t leave.

Campervangirl · 19/07/2022 07:03

I'd be totally honest, compress what you've said here, state the facts and resign.
You've absolutely no need to feel guilty.
My old manager used to say "you work to live not live to work" he was a good guy.
Your role is impacting your life negatively.
Be strong, take a deep breath and resign today.
I'm sure someone will be along soon to give more practical advice but I wish you well, update us when you've done it. 💐

Netaporter · 19/07/2022 07:04

I’d also add that you need to be firm about your day off and working hours until you leave/hand your notice in. You’re in HR so you know the drill, keep a diary of each and every incident that you’ve been scheduled to work on your day off, make sure you are clear about the reasons why the position is impossible to carry out and write all of them in a letter to the charity chair of trustees as you leave so that the next person stands a fighting chance. You’ve raised the points previously so they won’t be a surprise but it might be a surprise to people who won’t alter how they work to accommodate ‘new’ working practices for those coming up the ranks 12 years later. Good luck and put you and your little boy first.

MerryMaidens · 19/07/2022 07:05

I did the same thing in almost identical circumstances- but after 6 months. I knew I wouldn't be able to stand it any longer. Really, you just have to bite the bullet. Keep it professional and say the role isn't a good fit, offer a decent notice period and be clear about what you will tie up and move to the next phase before you leave.

It hasn't harmed my career at all- I went freelance for a short while and then into another role. You'll feel so much better once you've done it!

SunshineAndFizz · 19/07/2022 07:07

You have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

They mis-sold you the job. The culture is bad.

This is no one else's career (and life!) other than yours, you're 100% within your rights to find something better and you should never feel guilt about that.

Tollystar · 19/07/2022 07:14

Of your three concerns giving you anxiety about speaking to your manager (only been there under a year, leaving projects in the lurch, just having recruited a new team) only the last two impact your employer, so put the first one entirely out of your head. In all honesty the last two aren't things that you should have to solve either, but I get that if you are conscientious and professional, then you want to tie up all ends. How long is notice period? Can you come up with a plan to address these last two issues - identify who you will handover the projects/training responsibilities to, along with a roadmap etc.

With regard to the actual resignation, I know everyone says it has to be done face to face, but I found it much easier to write a simple factual resignation letter in Word, attach it to a short email to my manager saying please can we discuss this in our 11 am catch-up (or please could you call me to discuss/let me know a good time to come over to discuss, (according to your set-up)). That way, as soon as you have the call/go to his office, he already knows what's on the cards, and the conversation is much easier than it is when you have to pluck up the courage to drop the bombshell on him, after all the greetings/how's the weather niceties.

Good luck, definitely sounds like you are doing the right thing to me!

Fupoffyagrasshole · 19/07/2022 07:18

Start with not working on day off - I don’t work Tuesdays and I’ve started to leave my laptop at work so I absolutely can’t join anything to do with work! you have to own that day off and they will soon learn

however in your position I’d be out the door and feel zero guilt about it

why do you feel like you owe them something?

id probably try line up another job first though if you can hold on a bit longer
sounds horrible

KatherineJaneway · 19/07/2022 07:20

It is an unpleasant conversation but it needs to be had. You say the role is not as was sold to you, you've given it X number of months but this role and company is not a good fit for you so you are hamding in your notice. No emotion, just facts.

Good luck 👍

Bubbleha · 19/07/2022 07:31

In the charity sector there is a huge drive to modernise, with wellbeing of staff and beneficiaries at the heart. If you left because this wasn't the case then charities that are on that journey will understand why and won't hold that against you - particularly in HR. Respecting people's working arrangements is really simple stuff.

If you wanted to stick it out a bit longer, you could start that change? Recruitment is diabolical in charities at the moment - you could start right now with a focus on culture and how that impacts recruitment/retention. It'll tell you then whether the org is ready to change.

Bubbleha · 19/07/2022 07:32

Ignore my last bit - I see you've been there for almost a year. That's enough time.

ferneytorro · 19/07/2022 07:41

You need to change your mindset to one of being angry that they mis sold and have done nothing to address the culture issues and are taking the mickey on your non working day. They are lucky you’ve stayed as long as you have. You’ve nothing to apologise for. If you can do that it will make the conversation easier . They are forcing you to resign rather than it being some failure on your part. Appreciate easy for me to say I’m not the one having to do it!!

BlooberryBiskits · 19/07/2022 08:40

SunshineAndFizz · 19/07/2022 07:07

You have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

They mis-sold you the job. The culture is bad.

This is no one else's career (and life!) other than yours, you're 100% within your rights to find something better and you should never feel guilt about that.

I agree with all this . Question: are you not going to look for a new job while you are working, or do you think you need time to yourself to get over this?

I felt bad/guilty for leaving my last boss/team in the lurch when I left (and my boss was initially shocked/angry that I resigned). However: a few months on she’s moved to a different team, & my old role not even filled …! (I left because I was fed up in working 60+ hour weeks). Long and short of it: they will cope, not your problem xx

angelispink · 11/10/2023 10:01

What did you decide in the end OP?

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