Getting ready to quit

[VitaminB123]

Work situation has become toxic. I’ve been starting the initial phase of job hunting, but got to a point today that I need to resign. For a couple of reasons I want to hang in (if I can) for 2-4 weeks. What would you do to protect yourself before you go? A bit like the ducks protocol on leaving a relationship while trying not to let on that’s your plan.

ps not in sales so not sure I’d go on garden leave or similar.

Can you get signed off sick for any period on full pay?

It might come to that.

Quiet quitting. Do the minimum. Remind yourself that you're counting down to leaving so nothing really matters. Have someone you can vent to outside of work.

I'd like to (Quiet Quitting) but want to make sure they don't sack me first.

is it 2-4 weeks til you leave, or til you hand your notice in? Once you hand your notice in, mentally it becomes a fair bit easier because there’s a real end date in sight. Particularly if you have the option to be signed off if it’s really bad.

Till I can hand in my notice. I might be able to negotiate a shorter notice

So you’ve got at most 8 Thursdays left to work there. You’ve got one option which could reduce that (negotiating shorter notice) and a get out clause (getting signed off) if you struggle with it.

but worst case, 8 Thursdays. And 8 Fridays. But also, 8 weekends, and the knowledge you’re moving on. You’ve got this.

Sacking you would take longer than a couple of weeks

How long is your service?

What is Quiet Quitting?

As others have said just do the minimum required and don't stress yourself out.

A couple of weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things...

Depending on your organisations policies compile a timetable with evidence in one folder. If you can, email it to yourself but if not don’t breach policy.

mentally resigning, doing the bare minimum whilst you plan your next move

On a planned day off, dealt with a couple of emails, so can't be accused of deserting my post completely! But away from the laptop now.

Having had a couple of toxic environments at work in the last couple of years, I can assure you you have no idea how much it’s impacting you until you’re out of the situation.
I would move to a model where you do the bare minimum, but also if you can get sick leave I’d take a week and really use that time to focus on the job search.

I’m curious why you think they might fire you first. If you’re not in probation, or you haven’t done anything wrong then they’ll need to go through their usual performance management process. If you’ve been there more than 2yrs you are protected more. ACAS should be your first port of call for support if you think it’s going down the firing route though.
That said I think your focus should be the job search.

I was stuck in a role for a hundred days. I counted down each day, took my wins where I could and let the rest wash over me. It was horrible and the healing process took about as long. Focus on your mental well-being and do what you can to get through.

are you in UK?

if so you cannot generally be fired and removed without pay in less than 2 weeks without some form of formal process so unless you are already in that process you don’t have to worry about that.

If possible you can go off sick, you can have a week without needing a sick note so that is an option if it gets too much.

if working away from an office is an option you can always do that. That makes it easier to do the absolute minimum and gives you space to breath.

good luck in your job search

Thanks all. It may be I just have to get to Friday, before resigning, so let's hope for that!

I'm post-probation but less than 2 years, I guess I would need warning of an HR meeting, so there's that.

Can't WFH unfortunately.

@VitaminB123 have you had any communication from them that they think you are underperforming? If not then this is more about you getting through the time until you putting your resignation and then getting through your notice period. If you get paid holiday and have not used much you get holiday accrued paid, or you can usually take it off your notice period. What is your notice period? If you are doing your job well and not being forced out then you have the control here.

I resigned from my toxic environment middle of March, 3 month notice period.
I’ve “quietly quit”. It took a while to get to that headspace but now I’m doing the bare minimum to keep things ticking over (no-one has noticed!).
I’ve used all my (pro-rata’d) leftover holiday to have the last 3 weeks off before starting my new job and am now focusing on my handover to the people who will be taking over my role. People, not person as they’ve finally realised the amount of work this role requires.
Good luck!

May I suggest an alternative?
I suggest trying to do something really good every day? This could be piece of really good work, it could be saying a few kind words to a colleague, or helping them out with some of their work. It could be just making one more round of tea than others in your team, or making a mental note to pick the phone up first every time for a day. This is a game you play with yourself, but will completely empower you, whereas quietly quitting isn’t good for anyone. It gives you the moral high ground & it gives you a better legacy when you do leave.
good luck, I hope it all works out for you. Xx

Thanks Ava, there is one major area I think I can do some background handover on without being obvious that will give my team half a chance without me.

get signed off sick if it truly is affecting your mental well-being

Go off sick with stress/depression Dr will give u a sick note, they can't sack u if your off sick

Looking ahead, when it comes to addressing your departure from this job at an interview for the next, don’t over-explain. Firstly, only discuss it if asked specifically and secondly be diplomatic- end of the working relationship, job not meeting your personal development goals, you’re a pro-active person etc.
Best of luck to you.

Personally with so little time to go, I’d give my all. I’d ignore advice to go sick, rise above it and leave on a high