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Original poster

I'm leaving and suddenly the world of work needs to be done

106 replies

Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 18:55

Just need to vent and get through the next 5 weeks.

Organisation I work for (public sector) are closing in next 18 months due to, basically, no money. Cuts on resources like everywhere have gotten worse over the last year, and it's become intolerable. People are jumping ship left right and centre, some are holding out for redundancy and/or retirement, no one knows what going on/decisions haven't been made or kept quiet and to put it bluntly, it's a complete shitshow.

My line manager left in July due to uncertaintyof job security, she wasn't replaced so I was left with someone who is chaotic in her approach to leading a team. I'd been looking for a job as I can't hold out for redundancy, I'm a single mum and have a mortgage to pay (I know everyone needs their job but I mean I couldn't hang around waiting for redundancy/job uncertainty). Found a new job, leave in 5 weeks.

Since then, people don't seem happy for me (I guess because they are worried about their own position) and suddenly I've been given a shit load of work to get done before I leave, to the point the next 5 weeks will be hell. And because I'm owed 3 days annual leave still which has to be taken before I leave (as won't be paid for untaken leave instead) I've been told "oh can you take some mornings off instead of whole days so you can get the work done".

I know they probably feel like I've left them in the lerch but I had to do what was best for my family; have job security. They are making me feel bad for handing in my notice. Just need to get through next 5 weeks!

OP posts:
EauNeu · 23/10/2024 19:16

You tell them to prioritise each task, from highest to lowest as you will only be working your set hours and will be taking your holidays. You do what you can in that time based on priority order

Floppyelf · 23/10/2024 19:20

EauNeu · 23/10/2024 19:16

You tell them to prioritise each task, from highest to lowest as you will only be working your set hours and will be taking your holidays. You do what you can in that time based on priority order

Edited

This times a 100

tribpot · 23/10/2024 19:21

You absolutely take full days, not mornings. Stock answer "sorry, I have plans". The end.

Agree with @EauNeu completely - they can prioritise the work, or they can leave you to prioritise it, but you are not committing to getting endless tasks finished. What are they going to do, they can't fire you. Better to be up front than to say you'll get them done and then leave without them all completed.

I sympathise with them in that clearly your role won't be replaced either, leaving even more for those left behind to do. But this is only going to get worse, and it's up to them if they want to tolerate it in return for the possibility of redundancy.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/10/2024 19:23

EauNeu · 23/10/2024 19:16

You tell them to prioritise each task, from highest to lowest as you will only be working your set hours and will be taking your holidays. You do what you can in that time based on priority order

Edited

And if they're particularly aggressive/dickish about it, perhaps that's caused you to become ill. Or maybe your new employer would be happy to discuss you joining them earlier?

MuggleMe · 23/10/2024 20:04

If you don't bust your arse what they gonna do? Fire you?!

anniegun · 23/10/2024 20:10

What a non-problem. Work your hours and hand over unfinished work to your boss. How hard can it be?

WinterFoxes · 23/10/2024 20:10

Say you need full days leave and will be taking them. Also say the workload is unrealistic and set some things to prioritise/hand over. As PP have said, what can they do? Fire you? Keep working at a reasonable manageable pace and don't worry how they treat you. You'll be gone soon.

Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 20:18

It's not even tasks I can prioritise into smaller tasks, it's one big task that has to be done consistently in the 4/5 weeks or else it will all fall apart. In 5 weeks this won't matter, but it's quite sad that an organisation I've given 10 year to is treating me with contempt in my final month 😔 Just shows work really don't give a fuck about you as long as they get their pound of flesh.

I'll talk to my line manager about the 3 days, the reason they said mornings is because they want me to present 4 afternoons a week and the 5th day have other tasks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 20:19

anniegun · 23/10/2024 20:10

What a non-problem. Work your hours and hand over unfinished work to your boss. How hard can it be?

Because my line manager doesn't do what I do, I'm my own entity so to speak.

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 23/10/2024 20:21

Don’t do it. What are they going to do - sack you?

tribpot · 23/10/2024 20:22

I can understand why you can't be too specific about what the task is, but what will fall apart if you don't do it consistently in the 4/5 weeks? Is this the one task you've been given to do for the duration of your notice period? Or have you got to do this thing every day (every afternoon?) for 4/5 weeks on top of all your other work? What happens if you say no?

Miniopolis · 23/10/2024 20:27

Can you just leave three days before the end of your notice period?

Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 20:29

tribpot · 23/10/2024 20:22

I can understand why you can't be too specific about what the task is, but what will fall apart if you don't do it consistently in the 4/5 weeks? Is this the one task you've been given to do for the duration of your notice period? Or have you got to do this thing every day (every afternoon?) for 4/5 weeks on top of all your other work? What happens if you say no?

I have to do 4 sessions of something with 4 groups, so week 1 - session 1, week 2 - session 2 etc. So if someone misses a session, they fail basically because there's no chance to do it at a later date. They could attend a different group for the session but it becomes a logistical nightmare. Usually these sessions are run over a period of time, not 4 weeks in a row where if people drop out/don't attend it falls apart for them.

OP posts:
freddyfluffball · 23/10/2024 20:29

Well you're leaving so if it doesn't get done it's not your problem, on the nicest possible way. Genuinely, what can they possibly do if it's not done, you're already leaving. Don't get stressed out about this, you don't owe them anything now.

HeddaGarbled · 23/10/2024 20:32

When I was in my notice period, a manager tried to dump her worst class on me. I refused. She wasn’t happy but she couldn’t make me.

Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 20:36

The funny thing is in 5 weeks I won't care about this! But I just don't want to be burnt out till the 11th hour before my new job 🙃

OP posts:
Quitelikeit · 23/10/2024 20:39

It’s the type of situation that would force me to take a two week sick note 😂😂 in three weeks time!

Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 20:41

Quitelikeit · 23/10/2024 20:39

It’s the type of situation that would force me to take a two week sick note 😂😂 in three weeks time!

Oh believe me I've thought about it 😅 It's the people who need the sessions I deliver that are keeping me from doing it! If it were just admin work etc I'd say stuff em! 😆

OP posts:
Newwindows · 23/10/2024 20:58

If the sessions take four days a week I would offer to take the 5th day as leave for three weeks. They will have to get someone else to do the other tasks.
That is generous but it is that or a three day block. You should not lose it.

Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 21:04

Newwindows · 23/10/2024 20:58

If the sessions take four days a week I would offer to take the 5th day as leave for three weeks. They will have to get someone else to do the other tasks.
That is generous but it is that or a three day block. You should not lose it.

Unfortunately I'm doing the tasks to already cover those who can't be in 2 places at once. It's a complete shitshow honestly, I won't loose the 3 days trust me! I'll work it out

OP posts:
Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 23/10/2024 21:16

Can you reschedule one of the afternoon sessions to a morning? 'Dear clients, due to holiday leave all of my advanced crochet* classes will be on Monday morning instead of Friday afternoon because I no longer care.'

*substitute relevant activity unless you are teaching advanced crochet.

WhatTheFudges · 23/10/2024 21:20

All of this doesn’t sound like a you problem, so why are you making it yours?

They will need to get someone else to fill in and run the sessions, if they can’t, again, that’s not your problem, it’s theirs.

SquirrelHash · 23/10/2024 21:24

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 23/10/2024 21:16

Can you reschedule one of the afternoon sessions to a morning? 'Dear clients, due to holiday leave all of my advanced crochet* classes will be on Monday morning instead of Friday afternoon because I no longer care.'

*substitute relevant activity unless you are teaching advanced crochet.

🤩😆

Original poster
Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 21:43

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 23/10/2024 21:16

Can you reschedule one of the afternoon sessions to a morning? 'Dear clients, due to holiday leave all of my advanced crochet* classes will be on Monday morning instead of Friday afternoon because I no longer care.'

*substitute relevant activity unless you are teaching advanced crochet.

That sounds like a plan lol 😆 Unfortunately they can't do it in the morning as they are working (for our organisation) 😕

OP posts:
Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 24/10/2024 18:52

Healingsfall · 23/10/2024 21:43

That sounds like a plan lol 😆 Unfortunately they can't do it in the morning as they are working (for our organisation) 😕

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