That day my wallet was left in the office, which I only found out at the tram stop. It was sad: a colleague with whom we worked side by side for 4 years quit, we were just seeing him off. We had to go back. In addition to the wallet, there was the same colleague in the office: a great system administrator in every sense, who had been scammed to St. Petersburg. He didn’t notice me right away: bent over, he was stroking the system unit with his huge palm and talking to the computer about something. It was unbearable. He turned and said: “I’m leaving my soul here, hang it on a hook.” A year later, I had to go through this too, and then again and again. Later, I had to sign the applications. And it became clear: any dismissal is painful and often ugly. This means it’s time to understand what to do to make the dismissal as comfortable, painless and correct as possible.
Leaving is almost always sad: even if you hated your job, boss and colleagues, you probably loved the computer, which was a faithful friend and silent assistant, the office itself, the road to work and home, you loved something.
At least your experience. Part 1. Job search: sources, resume, interview with HR Part 2. Set-up and adaptation: interviewing the boss, passing the probationary period with a breeze Part 3. Working as a newbie: growth in the company Part 4. Working as an experienced employee: how don’t burn out Part 5. Dismissal: I’m leaving gracefully
You're on the verge of burnout
Burnout can lead to International Classification of Diseases: “Occupational Syndrome” of emotional burnout / WHO to exhaustion, decreased productivity and mental problems. This is a result of chronic stress in the workplace. Dismissal in such a situation seems logical: a burnt-out person needs rest and a lack of worry.
But quitting your job will lead to a decrease in income, which will make you worry for other reasons. And if you get a new job right away, you risk not coping with burnout.
Therefore, you should first try to solve the problem without radical changes. It's best to talk to your manager. Explain that recently the volume of tasks has increased significantly or the responsibility has increased and you can no longer cope. Or you need an emergency vacation. As a last resort, you can ask for a vacation at your own expense - a sort of test for dismissal.
Perhaps they will unload you a little, calm you down, or give you other tasks. Or maybe you find out that you took on some tasks and responsibilities on your own and in vain.
Start thinking about quitting if it turns out there is no light at the end of the work tunnel.
We know how Habr readers quit
A year ago, the author of Verovir published a wonderful, sincere article on Habré about layoffs. It has one drawback - it is too subjective and emotional, although the author does not hide this. With the permission of the author of the text, we use the survey results to analyze the reasons for dismissal among Habr readers and talk about behavior in each case.
▍So, what did the survey tell us? (serious sample - 2490 people)
48% of respondents changed 3-5 jobs, which is quite typical for the modern commercial sphere; there is a high percentage of those who changed jobs more than 6 times - 17%, about the same number of stable ones who changed jobs 1 time (the question was formulated a little incorrectly; most likely, this included those who did not change jobs at all.
Among the reasons for changing jobs, the most expected is bad attitude from management (and this is worth listening to), the second is insufficient wages. A fairly high proportion is occupied by socio-psychological factors: burnout and internal conflict. Surprisingly, the legacy stack encourages only 18% to change jobs.
38% of respondents consider their job ideal, but the remaining 62% are very unstable in relation to their current workplace. This is a reason to think about it and start working on retaining, rather than finding, personnel.
35% of respondents are ready to leave their job with an increase in income by 25%, the same number - by 50%, and 13% each want either a double salary increase or are not ready to leave (in fact, both of these categories are most likely satisfied with their work).
Among the reasons for dismissal, everything is quite standard: the most popular reason among dismissals is voluntary (among those who responded, 93% went through this), 12% - at the request of the manager and 14% due to layoffs; 17% according to the agreement of the parties, popular in the IT sphere, and only 4% did not pass the probationary period (I think there are many here who left the company at this stage).
Work has become boring
If you perform similar tasks for a long time, work turns into a routine that does not bring any emotions. The days merge into one, you fall into apathy. But you still remember the times when you came to the office with enthusiasm, and you would like to return them.
Quitting your job and looking for a new job with a broader range of tasks seems like the right move. But there is a risk that in the new place they will want to make full use of your experience. And then you will have to do basically the same thing as before. On the other hand, trying out an unfamiliar role under stressful conditions (and a new job comes with anxiety and stress) can be uncomfortable. Therefore, to begin with, it is worth assessing career prospects in your old place.
It is important to understand that no one but you will make boring work interesting. Even creativity can become a routine. You need to look for motivation first of all in yourself.
There are tangible benefits to growing within the same company. Firstly, you know its specifics and can easily deal with new responsibilities. Secondly, they are familiar with colleagues and management. And if you worked well before, you can count on a loyal attitude towards you.
Important Additions
- On the last day of work, you must pick up your work book if it is kept on paper. There is an option to send it by mail. For example, the head office and the actual place of work are located in different cities. The employee must give written consent to send the book by mail.
- We recommend that you independently or with the help of a third-party specialist check the correctness of the calculation of payment upon dismissal. It must be made for the actual days worked. The rate at which you worked is used for calculations. Among the deductions, only an advance payment is allowed if it was issued. No taxes or social contributions should be withheld.
- If severance payments are delayed, this must be compensated. According to the law, demand 1/150 of the Central Bank rate for each day of delay.
- Demand compensation for sick leave if you fall ill within 30 days after termination of the contract. Moreover, the need to pay sick leave does not depend on the reason for stopping work. Any former worker who is dismissed due to layoff, or in another way, and even those who were expelled for a disciplinary offense have the right to count on benefits.
- Sickness benefits are calculated at 60% of average earnings. An employer may not pay for sick leave if the employee requested benefits 6 months after the certificate of incapacity for work was closed.
resign profitably in any situation if you know your legal rights. Therefore, when the thought of terminating your employment arises, study the current legislation in advance or try asking a lawyer for help. Of all the existing options, the most profitable for the employee is layoff. Then comes the termination of the contract by mutual agreement, the least advantageous option is at one’s own request.
One of your colleagues is annoying you
If possible, of course, you should not work in a toxic team. But it happens that colleagues are generally normal. And one person is so annoying that the chair under you periodically melts due to the blazing of the butt. Emotions are so strong that the office begins to be associated with a bad mood. And in the end, you want to give up everything just to not have to deal with this person again.
But quitting just because someone pisses you off is hardly worth it. In this matter, it is important to separate the wheat from the chaff. Understand whether a person interferes with your work and influences it in any way. Let's say, if he constantly appropriates your merits and then receives bonuses for it, something needs to be done (but not necessarily quit). If a person just infuriates you because he doesn’t behave the way you like, you should change your attitude. The world is full of annoying people; every company has them. And if you get angry because of everyone, you won’t have enough nerves or company.
All this applies to the boss. If he is unfair, demands something inadequate from you, or fines you for nothing, this is a reason to leave. But if you are a vegan, and he pesters you with his meat, this is hardly a reason to change jobs.
Action plan
Before leaving your usual place of work, draw up a unique action plan for the first time after leaving. This plan should include absolutely everything you plan to do.
This even applies to periods of idleness. Your plan should reflect this: a vacation for two weeks. During this period of time, you need to put your thoughts and affairs in order.
An action plan should be drawn up for every day. It requires attention to the smallest details. This is necessary so that in the first time after dismissal the person does not lose his ability to work.
The plan must contain descriptions of the goal, the means and skills that you have to achieve it. If you decide to find a job on the Internet or become a freelancer, then your action plan may include the following points:
- I want to find a job as a call center operator remotely within one month.
- To do this kind of work, I have good speech and am quite sociable.
- I have all the necessary technical means to perform such work.
- I want to become a call center operator to realize my capabilities.
Such a plan can be an excellent incentive to quit a boring job. When drawing up a plan, it is better to play it safe and prepare three versions of such a document: the best, the worst and the realistic. Life can throw up all kinds of surprises, and the best plan will not work. And you will be ready for any development of the situation.
Your friend quit
If your friends have left for other companies, you can feel devastated. You used to have fun together at lunch. And now it seems that the comrades have moved on, but you remain. Therefore, it’s time to look for a new job, or even just quit for nothing.
Try to assess the real state of affairs without emotions. If you have been planning to leave for a long time and the dismissal of your colleagues has become an additional motivation, writing a statement would be logical. But if you like the job and you have prospects, there is no point in quitting. You can meet with friends at other times.
Overcome your fears
Despite the incredibly annoying team, the tyrant boss, the low salaries, you are still afraid of being fired. Various fears can prevent you from making a decision to change jobs:
- Fear of being unemployed or finding a new job, even worse than the current one.
- Fear of ceasing to be significant.
- Fear of what people will say.
- Possibility of receiving a lower salary.
To stop being afraid of being unemployed, you need to increase your self-esteem. Otherwise, there will be no opportunity to change jobs. She won't come on her own. To give yourself confidence, read affirmations every morning and evening:
| I'm afraid of getting confused at an interview | I'm a confident person. |
| I'll be out of work | I will find a decent job. |
| I won't be able to pass the interview | I'm professional |
Every employee has the right to have their merits noticed and appreciated. When starting a new job, any person needs to start anew to achieve the respect of the team and recognition of their professionalism. Do not forget that absolutely all employees employed at a particular enterprise have equal importance in the ongoing production process.
If work has ceased to be a comfort zone, then you should not feel guilty before the company for wanting to work in better conditions.
The human mentality is such that they will condemn you no matter whether you write an application for settlement or remain faithful to your enterprise.
The amount of salary is a strong argument for staying at your current job. In conditions of discomfort, it is worth reevaluating your value system. If you don’t have time to spend the money you receive, and you have to use your free time to restore mental strength, then the value of these pieces of paper drops sharply.
Before you quit your job, sort out your rhinestones. This will help free your life from unloved activities and from the heavy burden of negative emotions.
Working conditions have changed
Transformations within a company can be scary and frustrating. Previously you worked in one program, now in another. Yesterday we reported monthly, today we reported weekly. It seems that it is easier to leave than to delve into everything again.
Change is normal. If the company does not improve, including in internal processes, it will gradually decline.
Of course, it would be naive to think that all changes are for the better. But to assess their consequences, we need to work in new conditions. And then make an informed decision.
Your skills and abilities
Once a new activity is identified, it is necessary to evaluate your abilities from a critical point of view. Take a piece of paper and write on it everything that you think will be useful to you in your endeavors. Write down absolutely everything. Even what seems naive or ridiculous at first glance. Relate this to a new activity and concentrate on the fact that it will become a happy release from problems and failures for you.
This practice will not only give you confidence in yourself and your abilities, but will also strengthen your conviction that you are on the right path. And a positive attitude affects absolutely everything in our lives.
Your office romance is over
The advice not to enter into such relationships makes sense. Both personal and work life are important parts of existence. An affair with a colleague mixes them together. But if a relationship comes to a sad end, it’s not so easy to separate the spheres of life back.
Indeed, seeing your ex-passion at work every day is not easy. If a partner begins to plot, it is doubly difficult. But the most appropriate solution for both would be to behave like adults. Discuss the situation, agree on neutrality. Being out of work and out of money is probably worse than being out of a relationship, so it's in both of your best interests.
Maintain a good relationship with the company
It happens that dismissal occurs due to conflicts with colleagues or management. Good news from scientists: Office wars are likely nothing personal for employees. An organization is a separate system with its own laws, in which conflicts occupy a special place and perform their functions.
In conflictology, at least four meanings of office wars are defined:
- team unity (for example, employees unite “against” the manager);
- a signal about more acute situations within the team, which are disguised as superficial conflicts;
- an impetus for the creative development of the organization, when it is necessary to look for new solutions for the development of the company;
- changes in the socio-psychological climate within the organization.
Therefore, if a conflict arises with co-workers, just know that you are in some kind of acute situation for the company as a whole, even if it seems as if you were guilty of something or made a mistake. Dismissal is the way out of this situation, and there will be no emotional intensity outside the company. You may have noticed that during the working day you only talk with colleagues about problems, but as soon as you find yourself in an informal setting, negative emotions go away and the topics of conversation change.
Try to ignore the irritation and look at the situation rationally: before leaving, it is important to communicate with colleagues in an informal setting in order to leave a pleasant impression before leaving. This is not difficult to do. Treat your colleagues to a farewell pizza, personally exchange contacts with those employees who are pleasant to you or could be useful, write a final letter thanking you for working side by side and encouraging you not to lose touch. At the interview you will definitely be asked about the reasons for leaving, and after that they may check your references, so the more contacts you can maintain, the better for your career.
Someone close to you needs care
This is not a completely gender-neutral point, because men are much less likely to be expected to quit their jobs and retrain as a caregiver. It is mostly women who bear the brunt: they quit their jobs and provide care for those whose health has deteriorated.
But before writing a statement, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. It is clear that the desire to surround a loved one with care is great. There is also the threat of public condemnation if you don’t do this. But the patient will most likely require professional care. A specially trained person knows how to do everything correctly and quickly. And his services require money. You will also need them for food and other important things. And if you fall out of professional life for several months, or even more so, years, this will likely affect your salary and career growth.
Therefore, it is important to think everything through and decide how to combine caring for your loved one and effectively making money.
You've made a big mistake
In such cases, sometimes you just don’t want to go back to the office. It's embarrassing to look your boss and colleagues in the eyes. It seems that no one will ever forgive you for failure. It's easier to quit and disappear.
But from the point of view of career prospects, it is better not to do this. Firstly, everyone makes mistakes, just on a different scale. Secondly, it’s not entirely fair to run away and leave your colleagues to clean up the consequences of someone else’s shortcomings. Finally, it’s better to leave on a high note and leave a good impression. At least in case HR from a new job decides to check what they think about a person at the old one. So it’s better to first bravely admit the mistake, deal with its consequences, and then think about changing the company.
How long does it take to notify the employer of dismissal?
The concept of compulsory service is not provided for in the law. The employee must only notify the employer in advance that he intends to resign. The deadlines for different categories of employees vary. An ordinary employee must report 2 weeks in advance, and the head of the organization 1 month in advance. Workers on a probationary period, fixed-term contract or seasonal work submit an application 3 days in advance. The working period starts from the next day.
At the same time, having announced their dismissal, many employees stop showing up at work, taking sick leave or vacation. Such behavior does not serve as a basis for extending the period.
