Have you ever handed in your notice, then packed your stuff and...

[cijay]

Unfortunately no. I spent 5 years in a job that I had loved 15 years before that. Every time I have left a job it has been due to 'restructuring' under new management. Not just a matter of not wanting change (I don't mind change) but every time it is by someone who waltzes in, has no idea what the company is about and decides to change it for the worse. (One of the times, within a year, a 30year old company no longer existed so it's not just my imagination).

I was one of the few though who gave my resignation and stayed for the two weeks. Like someone above said, usually, you give your resignation and they tell you, either by the end of that day or in a day or two to not come back. My brother was high up in HR and he and a lawyer cousin explained why. It's not so much company secrets (like someone said, they would have gotten hold of that info before giving their notice) but then people have plans to leave a job they hate - they work to get 'hurt' on the job so they can use the benefits, sometimes even able to retire early off of those benefits. That's one of the reasons, when people are fired, they are told to gather their stuff and are escorted out. So they don't "trip" on the way out and sue the company.

 

[Tigerlulu]

Yep. I didn't do it lightly. I spent a good week trying to avoid it and praying about it. Ultimately I just felt very strongly that my answer was to leave and leave now.

Turns out I quit just in time for the bottom to drop out of my family.

But I left when my position got pulled into a power struggle between my boss and another Vice President. It was a ridiculous situation. Such a shame too--it was a job I loved very much.

My boss was very supportive and left herself shortly after. She helped me as much as she could and we have remained close friends.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Yup. Twice.

Once, I was supposed to start a job working in an area that I had experience in and was comfortable doing the tasks. When I got there, it was the busiest day of the week, and the owner was frazzled. He pretty much threw me what I needed to work with, and said "take that person over there". No tour, no orientation, and no working in the area/tasks I was familiar with. It was kind of a front of the shop/back of the shop situation, and I had always done the back of the shop. I had no idea where anything was, I broke something trying to adjust it, the owner found a new one and while fixing it, said "I'm going to kill you!" He meant it to be funny, but I sure as heck didn't take it that way! I finished out my shift and got in the car knowing I was never going to go back there again! And since the owner never had me fill out any real paperwork, all he had was my phone #. He called the next day when I didn't show up, and my roommate told him that nobody by that name lived there LOL I was like 22 or something. I never did get paid for those 4 hours, but I didn't care! It was awful.

The 2nd time, I worked at s small daycare/preschool in my little town. The owner of the school was bi-polar and had ADHD, so one day she was nice and sweet, then all the sudden the next she would turn on you and go crazy. She was like that with the kids, too, on occassion. She didn't want to work, so she had her staff run the place, which was fine with us. It was much easier to work there without her around! I was allowed to bring my kids with me, for free, and at first it was just DS1, then I had DD while I worked there, and then 19 months later had DS2. By then, DS1 was already in school and just came back to the daycare for PM aftercare. Then summer hit, and enrollment was down because of the economy in our state, everyone was getting laid off and didn't need daycare. Ms. Owner was getting scared and (I believe) rethinking her long-standing decision to have staff kids attend free. I ran the summer camp for the older kids, so I had DS1 with me pretty much all the time, DD was 2 and potty trained, so when we were outside or attendance was low, she would come to me, which was fine, but then, the owner decided she was going to work more to cut down on payroll, and thought that the baby room would be the easiest. DS2 was about 4 months old. He was a good baby, but the director also had just had a baby and she was there as well. So, she would constantly tell me to bring DS2 with me into the school-age summer camp area and keep an eye on him, just for a while. I was fine with that because I didn't really want her taking care of him anyway, and my 5th/6th grade girls LOVED to help me with the baby. (even though it was totally against state guidelines)

Anyway, I could feel the tides turning, and I was going from being a "star teacher" to a problem for the owner. I wasn't the first one...I witnessed her turning against employees many times over the 5 years I was there. I always knew it was possible. She started to lie to me, and avoid me. The last straw was when she was talking and DS, who was 6 at the time, said something to her and she whipped around and literally screamed at him. He was a good kid who she always liked, and he didn't say anything bad....she was talking about what the school age kids were going to do that week and he piped in with a suggestion, like all the kids were doing. Nothing rude, nothing snotty, not even anything crazy. Just a suggestion of walking to the park or ice cream store. She totally lit into him telling him that it was HER school and she didn't need him telling her how to run it, etc, etc. The other teacher and I were stunned for a minute, then the other teacher took DS out of the room, and Owner and I had a little chat. I told her that if she didn't want me working there anymore, I was fine with that, but she will NEVER talk to DS like that again because he loved her and looked up to her and did NOT deserve to be yelled at, and if she ever had a problem with him again, she needs to bring it up with ME.

She apologized, but also said that she heard I said something to the director and she was mad about it. So instead of asking me to explain, which I did and it was a total misunderstanding in the first place, she decided to just be snotty and mean. It never really got better after that, and I formed a plan to make my exit. After 5 year and 3 kids, we had a LOT of stuff at the school - clothes, bedding, diapers, bottles, cups, extra formula, all of my teacher supplies...just a whole lot of stuff. I knew once I gave notice, I would not be allowed back, so I started packing up on a Monday, and took everything home little by little. I actually closed the school on the last day, so the last thing I did was take down all of my kids' name tags and labels off of everything before I locked up. I left my keys, school-issued phone, and resignation letter on the owner's desk as I walked out. We never went back.

Best decision EVER.

 

[loves to dive]

Never. The only time I even gave less than a month notice was a part time job in high school and a part time job through a temp agency. I'm a bookkeeper so it usually takes at least a month for an employer to find someone else and then to get them trained. I might add, I'm in my upper 50s and have only worked 4 jobs in my entire life that were full time. As stated earlier I worked part-time in high school as part of school work study. Then I moved back overseas where my parents were living and worked full time in two different jobs, both of them were over 2 years each and I had to leave both when leaving the country to come back to the states(I don't count those as full time jobs since I was just working to stay busy). Then I worked for 3 years in a job that I hated but still gave a month's notice when I left, worked 5 years in the next job and again gave a month's notice (had to quit to move out of state to take care of my mother). Worked 5 years in my next job, again gave a month's notice (business was in the process of closing down) then I went to the temp job for about a month before I got my current job, which I've been at for 27 years. I did work part time at a beach store while living in Florida with my mom and even that job I gave a month's notice before I left.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Ironic thread..I decided to take a seasonal position to work during the holiday with my regular job. I planned to work nights and weekends. I am in my second week of training right now when they announced there would be no weekend or weekday hours. They went on to explain we could take less hours with our regular position. Unfortunately the seasonal position pays less. I doesn't make sense. I agreed because this was for some extra holiday money, not work the same amount of hours for less.

I am thinking of writing my superior and explaining my decision. Why go through another full day of training? I am worried that this will negatively impact my regular job.

 

[dadtoagirl03]

I dream about it every night, but then I wake up and see the bills on the table and my dream is squashed.

 

[Jestocost]

Once, when I gave my two-week notice and the employer I was leaving told me I wasn't welcome to come to work during the notice period. The also refused to pay me even though giving notice was "required" under their policies. Fortunately I was able to start at my new employer immediately and my former employer's handling of the situation only reinforced why it was a great decision to leave.

I did have a former employee of mine give her two-week notice, come to work the whole time, and then leave at lunch and never come back on her final day. We had a farewell celebration planned and she didn't tell anyone in the company that she wasn't going to return for the afternoon.

 

[kamik86]

I haven't. My first job I gave 2 weeks for before working at a summer camp that summer.

Every other job I have had besides my current one had a defined end date (college campus jobs end when the school year ends, co-op jobs had a defined end date when I was hired)

My current job does let people work those two weeks. We have had people try to screw us by deleting files in the past but most people don't.

If anyone tried to steal anything they would have to be very careful what... we work for the government and they can prosecute even if the company can't if the information or items were government owned and not the companies. Many people aren't aware of just how much in this office is really owned by the gov.

 

[rszdtrvl]

DH once worked for a telemarketing firm, and left during lunch and never came back. They called a couple days later to ask if he would be returning.
:/
He now works for the state and has been there for 15 years.

I worked a 3 1/2 hour first orientation day at Walmart and went in the next day to say that the job was not something I feel I would excel at and turned in my ID badge.
I now work for the school district - perfect days, hours, and schedule for my family!


Oh - when I was a teenager, I did turn in my notice and leave the same day! It was a fast food job. I actually think I did it twice for the same establishment - with 4 or so years separating the times.

 

[wilkeliza]

There was one that I did but only because they wouldn't let me do my two weeks. I also wanted to work part time for the company which I was doing as I needed the money for school but they wouldn't take my new schedule. I basically got a weekend job that paid 3 times what the other store was paying me. With school that meant I could work a few days during the week and then on nights. The management team switched right as I got the second job and even though my original store manager was willing to work with me as he thought I was a great asset to the team (including winning a few corporate competitions) the new management team basically said if you can't give us full availability then you are out. I told him sorry I could still make more than I was and do more good for the world at my new job so I was going to choose that and left with out coming back.

The 1 other I served 13 days of my 2 weeks notice but did not go on my last shift. I was a shift lead at a Starbucks and the manager was just awful. So bad that I began desperately searching out a new position after he threatened me when I called corporate on him for not paying people who had to manually clock in and out when there were computer errors. I had the proof he just didn't like being called out. I got a new job that needed me to start ASAP. I secretly worked a few days of the trail period at the new job and as soon as I had the offer for full employment I gave my two weeks and said I could only work the closing shift and weekends at the store. Well the last shift I was suppose to work my ceiling caved in. I was not about to leave my apartment with my dog with a giant hole so I called in.

Every other time I've given ample notice and several times even trained my replacement.

 

[Squirlz]

I took all my personal stuff home over several days in anticipation of quitting. Final straw came when I got yet another drunken email from my boss berating my work. He had sent it at 3am and that morning he was"sick". I told his asisstant I was taking my last 3 days of vacation, then on day 4 I emailed my resignation.

 

[happily single]

I did. About 15 years ago. I had been working at the law office for about 5 years and they fired the attorney I worked for and replaced him with a control freak. This boss was such a control freak that a simple letter that went to the court and said "enclosed please find xxx, please file" had to be done in draft and then hand signed by him. Just an FYI, the court's don't even read coverletters. They simply look at the enclosures.

I worked on the 3rd floor of an very small, old house and his office was on the second floor. I had just returned from being home with my ds1 (at the time) who was recovering from chicken pox (9 days after the vaccine!). Anywho, I really hated him (as did much of the staff). I was in his office, he gave me some work, then a hard time for being home for 2 days with my sick child. I was "dismissed" to do the work he gave he. As I was walking up the stairs to my desk he was already buzzing my desk "Are you done yet? What are you doing?". I seriously had enough. I walked back down the stairs, into his office and said "F You". Then walked upstairs to the manager (who sat next to me) told her I quit, took my things and left.

 

[puffkin]

In my industry (accounting/finance) it is very much frowned upon and you definitely will burn a lot of bridges if you do so. 2 people have done it here in the last 2 months, and it has not gone over well. I have always given at least 2 weeks notice but usually closer to a month because of transitioning duties.

In college, I worked PT at a retail store on the weekends. I decided after my shift it just wasn't worth the aggravation and pay so I told the manager on the way out the door I was done and wasn't coming back. I wasn't on the schedule again until the next weekend so I figured they had plenty of time to fill my shifts.

 

[RedAngie]

Just once. I took a part-time seasonal position at JC Penney's one holiday season. After my first day I knew I didn't want to work there. My next scheduled shift was a few days later, and I didn't bother to show up or even call. Which was grounds for immediate termination. Fine by me. From what I understand, it's quite common for seasonal workers to just disappear.

 

[ThisIsJason]

Never did it myself, always gave notice. Two weeks, if not more. Where I work now when you put in your two weeks, you are shown the door within within the hour. You get paid for the two weeks.

When I was working at a college job a guy was on his second or third day went on a 10 minute break and never came back.

 

[nkereina]

As tempting as it might I have been, I didn't. I worked in a relatively small industry, it was a bad idea to burn bridges.

It's never a good idea to burn bridges, no matter what industry you are in or what size. I went to school for hospitality and ended up working in banking. Now, my job may be on the line and I may need to turn back to the hospitality industry if something happens. You just never know. My current employer even has a policy in place that says if you give less than two weeks notice, you are automatically flagged as a "no rehire". That's how much importance they place on that two weeks notice.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

My first job in college was fund raising over the phone for the university to alumni (aka telemarketing). It was awful and I wasn't any good at it. After my second training session, I never went back.

In terms of "real" jobs that I've had since then? No, never. I've always given at least two weeks--at one job I gave a month. I've never wanted to burn any bridges and all of my employers have been good to me so I've had no desire to "stick it to them."

 

[princesspiglet]

I did, August of last year and it was the best thing I ever did.

I had been with the same company for 6 years and had the same manager for the last two I was there. He was a complete and total jagoff and could do not do his job. He would blame everyone else for his mistakes, curse and scream and call everyone idiots, morons and ****heads on a daily basis. He pushed me to my breaking point many times, but I could never leave because I loved what I was doing and I needed the money. There had been at least 10 complaints filed with HR over those two years and yet they never did anything to him.

A week prior to my quitting, he pulled me into his office at 5pm on Friday and accused me of making HIS mistakes- mistakes that cost the company thousands of dollars. After 30 mins of him yelling at me, I went home and cried and prayed. I vowed that I would never let anyone speak to me like that again. My husband and I discussed me quitting all weekend long and decided that it was finally time. I went in on Monday morning and wrote a full page resignation letter, packed up all my things and made my way around the office to say goodbye. Fortunately, he was out of the office at an off-site meeting until 1 pm. At noon, I sent down my resignation letter to corporate HR and walked out the door for lunch and never came back. I also made sure my out of office said this, "Due to the total lack of respect and utter incompetence of our manager "Bob Smith", I have decided that I can no longer continue working at XYZ. It has been a pleasure to work with you over the years. If you have any issues, please contact HR directly and voice your complaints".

He came back into the office at 1 pm and tried to send me an email and got my out of office!! I was told he came out of his office and started freaking out. Went into my cube and was throwing my staple and binders around everywhere. He also kicked some walls and punched a mirror in the bathroom.

Sad thing is....a year later and he is still there...yet 4 more of my fellow co-workers have left because of him.

 

[2Kds2K9]

I worked for a government contractor for 7 months. The first 90 days were great and I loved my job. On day 91, the owner of the company showed his true colors! It was horrible! Nothing like having your boss walk past your office every day saying, "you can be replaced." Just kept thinking that I needed to hang on for one year. We had a huge office blow up on a Friday afternoon. I have never experienced anything like it. This man was horrid! So much so, that our receptionist was so upset, she went running to the ladies room and urinated on herself. I went to my office and typed up my resignation letter and was getting ready to hand it in when the VP talked me out if it. (I was the office manager and the staff loved me). Went home and after discussing it with DH, I resigned on Monday. The owner sent in HR who told me the owner wanted me out by noon. GLADLY! Proceeded to hand over all my keys, ids, credit cards etc. Went skipping out of the office so happy I didn't have to do my two weeks. At that point I didn't care about the pay. It was not worth it.

Ironically, the VP who talked me into thinking about waiting to resign, resigned on the spot during an executive meeting! They were offsite and he had it with all the bs. So right there, he emailed his resignation to the owner, stood up and put all his company stuff on the table and left!


The turnover rate at this company is 125%!

 

[deedeetoo]

I did in college. I worked at Victoria's Secret and was screamed at constantly. When I told my supervisor she started screaming at me that if I quit without going through the proper channels I would be black listed at their company and it's affiliates (the limited and express I believe) and could never be hired again. Whatever, girl.

This happened to me at McDonald's when I was a teen. I quit, walked out the door and the manager yelled after me "You'll never work in another McDonald's again.". I was .