Have any of you ever spontaneously quit a job? Was it worth it?

[purbeast0]

You and I have talked about this before and I'm with you -- I don't understand it. It is just a job for Christ's sake, not your life. People who miss kid's events, vacations, etc. to put in extra hours for free are throwing their lives away. Sure, 30 years ago, working those hours may have had tangible benefits. But now? I've certainly not seen them in 20+ years.

yep, but as you can see from this thread, people are brainwashed to think it's normal and okay to be paid for 40 hours of work and working 50-60 hours. if i was at a place where that was normal and okay, i wouldn't be there very long.

Another sanctimonious self-righteous post brought to you by purebeast.

Douche.

sorry if i'm not scared to live my life at a job on my terms unlike many others.

 

[unokitty]

Every job has it's pluses and minuses. I've had more pluses....up until the last few months.

Maybe I'm just tired and don't know what the hell I'm talking about. I still have my 10 days vacation that I received new in October of last year. Haven't had a chance to take any of them yet. Maybe that fact alone should be telling me something........

What most people like, and dislike, about jobs are separate qualities. Consequently, most people simultaneously like and dislike their jobs. I always try to keep separate inventories of my job likes and dislikes. When the dislikes get too out of balance, I get a new job.

When I was younger, I quit my share of jobs. My favorite was when I was working for a computer manufacturer and my best friend and I quit on the same day...

Anyway, it seems that you have a mismatch between your expectations and those of your company. That said, it doesn't seem like the company has any motivation to change.

If it were me, I'd make sure that my resume was updated...

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[PricklyPete]

I wouldn't just leave. Confront the owner (politely) expressing your concerns (burnout, differences of work style).

Ultimately it is his choice whether he wants to work with you or continue to demand his methods. If he continues, find another job.

I loved my last job (and the people I worked with), but I definitely had some differences on how customer projects (and ultimately the customers) were treated. It involved the project leads being spread way to thin and us not being able to do a proper job for anyone customer project. I brought this up several times with the partners and each time they agreed...and then did nothing. I was working too much to try and patch up these "policy holes". In the end, I left and found a job that pays as well and allows me to leave everyday at 3pm with the laptop staying at the office. The work is not as challenging/fulfilling, but life is much sweeter. To top it off, when I left my last company, they still needed me and allowed me to work evenings (20-30 hours) for ~5 months at full consulting rate...so that was a huge "bonus".

 

[JBT]

Find another job, sounds like that place sucks. Like you said in your original post work to live, don't live to work. Find a new job and get out, or get negotiating.

 

[ultimatebob]

No offense Engineer, but I have to agree with ultimatebob here. Don't feel bad -- I did it to myself a couple of jobs ago and routinely worked 60+ hour weeks. One night, it was 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM on a Friday night and I was still at the office and it dawned on me -- why am I doing this to myself?

At your next job, set the expectation of 40 hour weeks.

Yeah, I learned that you really need to speak up about stuff like this at an old job. Most bosses don't really pay close enough attention to notice your work schedule when you are salary, and might not even realize now many hours you are working. If you remind them that you had to work OT the week before, most of them will give you flex time the following week.

On the other hand, there are some asshole bosses that expect you to work 80 hours a week because they are too damn cheap to hire a second person. Don't work for these people.

 

[KlokWyze]

Yup. Great feeling. Don't burn bridges if you don't have to though.

 

[BikeJunkie]

sorry if i'm not scared to live my life at a job on my terms unlike many others.

Don't apologize for that. Apologize for thinking and acting as if you've walked 100 miles in the shoes of everyone you routinely judge on this forum.

Douche.

 

[purbeast0]

Don't apologize for that. Apologize for thinking and acting as if you've walked 100 miles in the shoes of everyone you routinely judge on this forum.

Douche.

 

[yllus]

From being an independent contractor for a number of years, let me offer up my method for quitting / leaving a client: Ask for a nearly unbelievable amount of money to stay. The amount should be enough that if you are actually given it, you'd be happy to stay. If you're not given it, you were leaving anyways. It's a win-win situation of your own making.

 

[manimal]

Start leaving after 9 hours every day until they fire you or you get a new job.

Take your vacation time.

make it hard on them to fire you. Do a good job and start telling them after a few days when they start to yell at you how much you love your job and going home at night on time will help you get balance. If they make it tough on you make notes and talk to a lawyer. After a certain degree what can they do to you if your ready to quit anyways.

Make your reality.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I'm strongly considering giving a notice this week. I'm tired of the expectations....no matter how much I give, more is expected. Customers love the work....boss can't stand my 'slowness'. Wants a 'get in - get out' type and no matter how many hours I do at home at nights / weekends, it's just not enough.

I'm just worn out to the point of crying now.

Anyone else ever felt this way and just quit? Did it work out ok?

This is a story of a GOOD worker ALL around America.

Now you see why so many don't go up and beyond and ONLY do bare minimum and 8 hours.

More you do, less they appreciate it and MORE they give you. Going up and beyond = you are a sucker to the company.

I see this on consistent basis in ALL companies I have been with and deal with/am in. In my position I get to work with all kinds of people from all departments.

Those that are slackers, get raises/advance and seem to succeed.

Those that bust their ass only get more work and corporate hammer onto them in time.

Shit is backwards......I see no hope of fixing it either. As I have tried # of times and it only resulted in "shot in my own foot". I've also seen MANY try and fail as well.

 

[z1ggy]

Have you even asked your boss why he expects so much out of you, for so little in return? If you're the type of guy with skills that could easily land you another job, you should be in control not him.

It's one thing to work a few extra hours of OT a week to get a job done, or maybe even a lot of OT one week to get a job done.. But constant 60+ hour weeks, month after month is just too much.

If I were you, I'd tell him you need a break from how he's been treating you, and if you are a guy who could find a new job easy... maybe let him know that you'll leave if things don't change.

His reaction will tell you everything you'll need to know about how to proceed. You're smart enough to take care of the rest.

 

[JEDI]

From being an independent contractor for a number of years, let me offer up my method for quitting / leaving a client: Ask for a nearly unbelievable amount of money to stay. The amount should be enough that if you are actually given it, you'd be happy to stay. If you're not given it, you were leaving anyways. It's a win-win situation of your own making.

ding ding ding winner!

make this man ATOT Sage since we already have a ATOT Preisdent

 

[alkemyst]

I have, one was a place where I was doing advancements to their code and they wanted me to walk over and explain every step to their son so he can learn.

They put my modem in his office so I'd be forced to sit next to him.

I told them I couldn't work like that. The next day I just decided it wasn't worth it to go back.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I have, one was a place where I was doing advancements to their code and they wanted me to walk over and explain every step to their son so he can learn.

They put my modem in his office so I'd be forced to sit next to him.

I told them I couldn't work like that. The next day I just decided it wasn't worth it to go back.

 

[alkemyst]

don't cry bro, not all of us are spineless individuals.

I have quit other jobs as well, like one where they wanted me to triple bill my time.

Never came back to it.

 

[Slick Mcflicken]

Yes many times, but what you never want to do is burn a bridge. (reference)

 

[Red Squirrel]

it's crazy just from this thread hearing how many people will work for free. not a chance in hell i would ever do that. okay maybe like for a few hours once a year or something, but on a regular basis like many of you are talking about? lol fuck that.

Yeah I find it crazy too. Is this a US thing? I did not even know it was legal for companies to do this but I hear of it all the time. Then again companies can do whatever the hell they want. The latest craze here in Canada is to fire all the local staff and replace them with "temporary" foreign workers who can be paid less than minimum wage. Their excuse is that they can't find people... maybe it's time to pay more then?

Sometimes I will do a small "favor" that I could technically log as overtime but I wont, but other than that I log and get paid for all my hours. If ever we work through lunch we get free lunch, so it's usually a general consensus that we wont bother putting in that 1 hour as over time as half the time we work through lunch anyway if we order something for ourselves, so not really a big deal. Working several hours past the scheduled time to go home, that's a different story and I count every hour. Time is money.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

If you can be out of work for two months and not be hit too hard, why not? I worked at a window factory for a couple weeks and even though the hours were long and I got overtime, the job was fucking awful. I did, however, get a call that thursday that I'd be an apprentice electrician in a month and a half. So I had a $15+ hr job + full benefits and training lined right up. I'll also be making $30 and hour plus when I become a journeyman in 2 years.

 

[Tweak155]

Purbeast has it right. I won't work like that myself and I don't work for free. With determination you'll figure out any hill you need to climb.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Find a job which looks promising. Tell them you can start in 2 weeks.

Tell your current employer that you have an opportunity you must act on now. Give them 1 or 2 days notice but have all your stuff out before doing so.

You may be told to leave immediately. Well so what? You might be offered the moon. Refuse it. What is wanted is you working for free and a carrot dangled might keep you on only to find you were lied to. Expect shenanigans.

Take those two weeks or so and relax, travel, whatever. Your current job is killing you, literally. Catch up on life and recover and that way your head will be there when you need it on day 1 at the new job.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

don't cry bro, not all of us are spineless individuals.

I have quit other jobs as well, like one where they wanted me to triple bill my time.

Never came back to it.

I was supporting you, dummy.

A lot of people are in abusive relationships with their work. They need to wake up to it and say "just because you support me doesn't mean you get to abuse me!".

 

[Imp]

Purbeast has it right. I won't work like that myself and I don't work for free. With determination you'll figure out any hill you need to climb.

This is funny... I agree, we're just pawns to companies to be bled dry. But there's another forum I frequent about careers. There, a bunch of people would be calling people not willing to do more than 40 hours a week "entitled".

 

[purbeast0]

This is funny... I agree, we're just pawns to companies to be bled dry. But there's another forum I frequent about careers. There, a bunch of people would be calling people not willing to do more than 40 hours a week "entitled".

they are only doing that because that is all they know and they are secretly jealous.

i mean the fact that you are getting paid for 40 hours a week and working more than 40 hours a week ... that right there means you are in a bad position. people who think that is "normal" and that people who work 40 hours for getting paid for 40 hours are "entitled" are just delusional.

 

[squarecut1]

Engineer, you mentioned in another thread that your brother passed away due to a drunk driver. Maybe that is affecting you as well. Perhaps counseling might help. I'm sorry for your loss