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.

Do a round of adding colleagues you want to stay in touch with on LinkedIn. And/or start organising a works night out or something like that to give a reason to share your own contact details with the people you like.

Have a good look round your desk etc to start removing personal stuff you've forgotten about, if any (can do in a subtle way)

Submit any expenses claims.

Have an eye test if you can reclaim the cost as a VDU user.

Submit any holiday requests if you want holiday during your notice period. Same with any medical appointments/ other circs where you might need compassionate leave.

Check you've got certificates/CPD type records if relevant to your job.

Resubscribe to professional mailing lists from a personal email address.

If you've given work an emergency contact, check who this is and update with a view to it being someone who'll be sensible if work contact them claiming you're (mentally) unwell.

Thanks @independentfriend , lots of good ideas, hopefully I don’t need to worry about the last one.

Why would they sack you?

Keep your job until you're kicked out.

Your reference will only be start and leave dates - however you leave.

Be professional at all times.

Distance yourself emotionally from your current work environment - just work out what you do and don't have to do to stay professional.

you haven’t really said why it’s toxic.

But my advice…. Was hating my job- I would say it’s toxic culture- no listening etc. not treated like people, like work on work regardless of whether you have capacity, time or ability. When you ask for support it’s brushed off. Schoolyard behaviour, unprofessional boss (think flirting etc)

I just stopped giving a crp. stopped reacting to the unprofessional behaviour. A couple of times subtly called the boss out on his weird behaviour. I just started doing the work, in the work hours and ignoring it, and detaching myself from it. Amazingly now I don’t seem to give a sht my manager and his manager seem to be being super duper nice to me - I’m sure some cr*p is about to land but it’s made me time there so much easier.

@inabubble3 my situation sounds like yours (except no flirting)- I’ve spent last 6 months putting up the professional boundaries. And it’s got worse not better.

Work out your leave date, work out how much leave you will accrue and put that leave in to take it.

Keep your head down, do your work and don’t hand in your notice until your contract stipulates you have to.

Ah this is a shame. Are there any decent colleagues? I’ve been at mine for 2 years- it’s hybrid working and taken me so long to work out how things work. Anyhow I think I’ve worked out a handful of people are decent and genuinely nice people- just pretty brow beaten. I still don’t treat them as friends as such but I have opened up to them about some of the things- like drip fed it- and it turns out everyone’s in the same boat….. i have also made a bit of an effort to be personable- like remember details about colleagues that they’ve told me and follow up. This is soemthing that was really lacking - and I just think making an effort with a few people that can be bothered has made it a little better for me. There are a couple of colleagues that are off ish with me - including the manager and honeslty I just am friendly and have as little to do with them as possible.

Does your team work face to face or via teams? I don’t really trust my manager so I ask for things via teams/ email. Then there’s a paper trail. It’s impersonal but things have led to making me do this.

anyway good luck. Do what you need to do. Get out if you need to etc etc but also try and switch off after work- as in keep yourself busy with others x

Thanks for all your support. The thing I was waiting for happened sooner than I expected so I was able to resign yesterday. A relief it’s on my own terms. Working my notice so I can leave things as best I can for my team.

Well done Vitamin.Get that notice done.🙏🙏
I left a toxic workplace last week after a month's notice.
It was cliquey, gossipy school girl mean girl stuff.
I decided to do what Ava said.Do good work,clear my personal stuff.physically and mentally pull away and manifest into my new role.
I think it worked as the mean girls didn't speak so nothing new.Area manager gave me a leaving pressie and offered me a new role within the company!
All made me feel lighter for leaving and not in the depths of depression that their behaviour was doing.