Leaving a job with nothing lined up?

[booksandsnowflakes]

I’ve worked for the local authority for 10 years, the last few years have just been constant changes, restructures, threats of redundancies etc… I’m absolutely miserable. I manage a team of 7 but currently only have 2 in post due to recruitment being blocked for cost saving. I’m so far behind on most things because I can’t run a team with no staff so I’ve been prioritising the important stuff but naturally less pressing things have fallen behind. A fortnight ago I had to have unexpected emergency surgery so I’m currently off sick and I’m so tempted to just hand my notice in and not go back. I’m in tears all the time at the thought of going back and also worry I’m going to end up put on performance management because I’m constantly criticised about stuff not getting done/the way I manage my team even though I’m trying my best with very little resources. Part of me thinks I should just quit while I’m ahead as any performance management is going to look awful on a reference. Aside from all that the wider team is bitchy and just not a nice environment. I was trying to stick it out because we’re TTC and the maternity benefits would be handy but I’m absolutely miserable and worried I’m going ruin my future staying.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated

Try and spin your sick leave out and get applying for new jobs.

It's better to be in work when looking for new jobs I think.

The job market is awful at the mo - I have quite a job a few years ago and had nothing lined up. I was employed again within a few weeks but i personally wouldn’t do the same thing now
i would tho get signed off sick with stress and take some time to think / plan your next move - I’d also put all of the above in writing to senior leadership - no one can fulfil with work of a team of 7 with only two people in place

I once left a job quite spontaneously, with nowhere to go, and it felt gloriously liberating but also pretty scary. I did go out straight away and get a casual bar job, because my rule has always been to keep working, whatever the job - then about 3 months later I managed to get back into my chosen career.

I was also TTC at the time and found out about a month after I'd left the job that I was pregnant, so was glad I'd done the bar work to tide me over. It meant I was only eligible for whatever the basic maternity allowance was (I forget what it's called) but we managed; babies are cheap and I was back working again properly by the time my savings ran out.

It was definitely the right thing to do, as my physical and mental health had really been suffering, but it was very risky too. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

The job market is terrible at the moment. Lots of places having redundancies.
It very much depends what your role is with the council but I’d be very wary of leaving a job without one to go to at the moment.

Job market is disgustingly horrendous at the moment.
Monday’s interview couldn’t find it, rung employer who couldn’t give any landmarks and said well don’t you have a satnav?! (top customer service not) it’s current employees must go to work with eyes closed.
The next day the delightful employer on Indeed marked me as ‘employer not selected ‘ about an hour before interview due, still travelled there and receptionist as rude as hell in letting slip they clearly forgot they were interviewing and 15 minutes later it became clear there is quite a problem with the job so wind up merchants.

I’m sorry the only success I’ve had this year is with a public sector employer with a job lasting 12 months if lucky (who couldn’t say they were any better then the current useless public sector employer) and a pay for own dbs if lucky, all to have a job. And even then 4 months later advertise a customer service role/receptionist as permanent.