Resigning your job to go to school? I know I am!

[Coconut Water]

It's been many months since I began the countdown to quit my job. It wouldn't be so dramatic if I had not lost almost all respect for my employer. In a nutshell, it is my pleasure to leave.

 

I have only a week and a half until logistics will absolutely require me to leave the job. I was going to give a week's notice of my resignation. But based on my employer's unpredictability (and pretty unsavory ways of treating employees and others), and the fact that I need cash that I could get from working about a week longer, I am second guessing whether to give any notice at all.

 

I usually prefer to "not burn any bridges" and so I could have work references down the road. But a coworker told me that one person gave a week's notice and they sent her home that day. But then, another person who gave a week's notice because she was moving out of the area, was allowed to stay and work that last week, ending on a positive note. I thought school was similar to the moving scenario, in that I am not quitting to find another job. But it's so hard to know how my employer will react to my giving notice, for sure. 

 

I have said that a few hundred dollars of cash I can earn now over the next week will be worth gold in my coming academic year of not working. However, there are other factors! Getting over a terrible cold with allergies, and also needing to finalize downsizing and packing up to make my local move into my grad apartment are all at play. Not to mention wanting to get ahead on my class reading.

 

Any advice? Or perhaps stories of your own resignation for school, which do not have to be at all in the same vein as mine.

 

P.S. The idea for this thread came from my trying to maneuver a day off work so that I could attend an optional campus-wide grad student orientation next week. 

 

[LittleDarlings]

I did. Basically I told my boss that I was going back to school and I had important things I needed to do to prepare (there was an issue of hours and time off and mandatory stuff at school) and then shortly after I gave my two weeks.

[nugget]

Perhaps say you recently found out you were accepted to grad school and are seriously considering accepting the offer??? If they respond well, tell them you are accepting it, shortly afterwards. If not, tell them you will decide by the end of the week (the last day you want to work) and either they will let you go or you can quit on your last day.

Edited September 19, 2014 by jenste

[Lifesaver]

Give the notice. It's the right thing to do, even if you can't stand your employer.

I actually gave my boss a LOT of notice. Everyone knew I was going to school, she knew I was leaving, and had mentioned to someone else that she was miffed I hadn't mentioned it to her myself, even though I had two months left.

I initially gave her about a month's notice, which she appreciated cause our hiring process took forever. Oddly enough, I ended up taking medical leave for that month due to a death in the family.

[Coconut Water]

Give the notice. It's the right thing to do, even if you can't stand your employer.

I actually gave my boss a LOT of notice. Everyone knew I was going to school, she knew I was leaving, and had mentioned to someone else that she was miffed I hadn't mentioned it to her myself, even though I had two months left.

I initially gave her about a month's notice, which she appreciated cause our hiring process took forever. Oddly enough, I ended up taking medical leave for that month due to a death in the family.

Thanks Lifesaver. My feelings about my employer aside, the real problem with giving notice is the loss of control of my income because they may terminate me on their terms.  But the clock is ticking, and so I may only be able to give a few days' notice, if at all. 

 

Perhaps say you recently found out you were accepted to grad school and are seriously considering accepting the offer??? If they respond well, tell them you are accepting it, shortly afterwards. If not, tell them you will decide by the end of the week (the last day you want to work) and either they will let you go or you can quit on your last day.

I like that this is kind of a hybrid solution.

 

I probably won't know what I'm going to say, until I get into the manager's room and gage the vibe of him/her (another complication? Not knowing which manager is the one I have to report to that day).  I guess really, I just want to be as honest as is practical… and simply need to decide what day that will be on.

Edited September 19, 2014 by Coconut Water

[Lifesaver]

I thought my boss was going to can me early too. But the reality of doing that is she'd just be screwing herself.

Having waited til the last minute and not given appropriate 2 weeks notice, they may be pissed. But I think it's better to give some notice than none at all. Especially if you ever plan on using this place as a reference. I get money being tight, but still, be a good sport about it.

[ProfLorax]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're let go rather than allowed to quit, can't you then claim unemployment? 

[Coconut Water]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're let go rather than allowed to quit, can't you then claim unemployment? 

That's when being "let go" means you are being laid off and through no fault of the employee. In my case, if my employer sends me home, it's not being laid off - it's being fired.

 

I thought my boss was going to can me early too. But the reality of doing that is she'd just be screwing herself.

Having waited til the last minute and not given appropriate 2 weeks notice, they may be pissed. But I think it's better to give some notice than none at all. Especially if you ever plan on using this place as a reference. I get money being tight, but still, be a good sport about it.

The reality of my boss is that they have so many employees filling the same position, one single employee doesn't matter. Which is why they can afford to fire anyone at any time, with the most noticeable difference being that a chair is empty. 

[Vene]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're let go rather than allowed to quit, can't you then claim unemployment? 

Depends, if it's for a reason the state decides isn't the fault of the former employee they get unemployment. If the state decides it's based on merit (such as consistently showing up late) then you're not getting it.

[Coconut Water]

That's when being "let go" means you are being laid off and through no fault of the employee. In my case, if my employer sends me home, it's not being laid off - it's being fired.

 

To clarify on my point - this is my knowledge as applicable to California.

[dr. t]

Can you ever imagine needing to use this job as a reference? If so, give notice. If not, make sure you can make money.

[Coconut Water]

Can you ever imagine needing to use this job as a reference? If so, give notice. If not, make sure you can make money.

I thought of that too…and thinking about it again, I might just give fake notice on Monday as a week's notice, and then I will just need to take a day off before that supposed last day of work.

 

I have been making progress on my packing and downsizing, and so if I absolutely have to, I could theoretically work til next Monday - later than I was planning to. But if they let me go, at least I tried to be professional.

 

It's not my first choice reference but the job does look ok on paper, seemingly related to what I see myself doing after school. I interview applicants for a networking organization, and I am interested in going into a new role down the line where I work with people in a social work type of function.

Edited September 21, 2014 by Coconut Water

[nugget]

Do you have any sick days you could use during your last few days of employment?

Edited September 21, 2014 by jenste