Ever walk out on a job without much notice?

[SarahB]

Scenario:
I started JOB 1 in December, much of which thus far has been a lot of on the job training. Ineffective, if you ask me, given what I'm going to be doing. It's in the medical field and essentially they gave me a book, stuck me in a library for several days expecting me to come out understanding some rather complex stuff. Overall, I did and I do, but when I did (or do) have questions, people are exceedingly rude. I'm a nursing student with a high GPA and I'm no doofus, but I'm treated as such for any question (nevermind, people's lives are on the line here and this is highly specialized and technical). On top of that, I'm going to be working nights and there's no unit secretary at night, so I have all those responsibilities as well for a large hospital unit (over 30 beds with new admits during the night from the ER) while constantly being vigilant with the main aspect of my job, which again, if I miss something, people's lives are on the line. They usually give 3 weeks to train people for the unit secretary job by itself, but I'm supposed to be content with side-by-side training with a rude, snippy 22 year old for 4 days and be ok with it on top of my other responsibilities.

Anyway, about a week and a half ago JOB 2 which I interviewed for the day after I found out I got this job (but before I started working) called and offered me a position. It's much better (not only more pay and less stress, the place is hard to get into, and closer to where I want to go in nursing once I'm an RN), but they offered me fewer hours than I wanted (still enough for benefits and a likelihood of being able to pick up more). Nicer people and environment too. I decided to take it and hoped I could stay per diem (on call, as needed) at the other job because they really need people. Basically, I'd finish out what I was already scheduled for and then work a few days a month to cover gaps. I sent a formal, written letter to my supervisor in job one at the beginning of this week. I heard nothing. I e-mail her yesterday asking if she received the letter. She claimed she received nothing and was pretty angry I even ask because it's "inconvenient" for her. I can understand that, but I'm about ready to be single here again and she won't be paying my rent.

My staying per diem was a favor to her as not to completely cut them off high and dry just before my training time was up and I was to work alone (I wasn't even full-time, but only 20 hours), but right now, I'm ready to say "f*ck 'em". The JOB #1 place has been exceedingly rude (not to mention made me park 3 blocks away in a shitty neighborhood in the bitter cold while I was doing some of my training on day-shift when I was pretty sick- which kept me sick for far too long). I think I'll work tonight for the money and that's it, but I feel kind of guilty too. It's probably not a big deal, but still I feel like a jerk. I guess what hit me last night is that I was talking with one of the nurses and she said, "Wow, you got in there (meaning the place for JOB 2). They are so hard to get into and it's more money. Just go and don't look back. This place isn't worth it and there's no accident there's such a high turnover with staff."


I guess I'm worried about burning any future bridges when I'm an RN, but it's not like there aren't a ton of other places to work and RN's aren't in total demand. I've probably answered my own questions here, but just wondering if anyone has been so fed up, they've just left like this and perhaps just needed a good dose of venting at this point.

Thankfully, the other job is there and thanks to anyone who just read my disjointed ramblings here.

[disgruntled_goat]

1. hell yes

and i recommend it for everyone at least once. feels great.

[SarahB]

4. Oh, I can see that.

In some situations, it could be pretty satisfying.

[Zomby Woof]

2. Yeah

I had a new job ready to start on a specific date, and just to maximize my income (poverty in Seattle sucks), I gave 2 days notice on the old one (plus, they were idiots, and didn't deserve the courtesy), because I at least wanted to celebrate the new job in between. :-)

Best of luck, Sarah, whatever happens. If anyone deserves it, it's you. :hug:

[SarahB]

5. Thanks, sweetie.

Fortunately, I'm not going to be completely strapped for cash in the near future, but I have to make something. I guess I'm lucky the other thing came through at least. I'd be pulling my hair out in misery at this point if it didn't. :crazy:

[ET Awful]

3. Hell, when I left Bakersfield, CA and moved to the LA area, I gave

5 hours notice :).

I got offered the job, they offered to pay for the move, IF I could start on the following Monday (this was Thursday night). So, I loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly . . . as it were :).

[SarahB]

6. I found your picture.

Sorry. I had to be silly there. :D

I just tend to expect a lot out of myself, but sometimes you do your best and other people fail on their ends, so I guess one just has to do what they have to do. Not always easy though.

[Left Is Write]

7. Once, but I was only 16, and they treated us like crap.

[NNadir]

8. Yeah. Do it.

My wife did it too. Once, memorably, she told her boss he was a sexist little cretin to boot. It was tough for her to get a new job for a while after that, but she ultimately did. Years later we really, really laugh about it. It was great!

On the other side of the coin: A little over a year ago I got fired for the first time in a long life.

You know what? It was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. I didn't necessarily realize it at the time, but it was.

In no time at all, you'll hardly recall any of it.

[KG]

9. do not be concerned about leaving a job abruptly

especially if you've only been there a short time and especially especailly if they suck. screw 'em.

[SarahB]

21. Simple and to the point.

Why do I analyze everything to death? :crazy:

[onecent]

10. I left a note on my desk that said, "Today was my last day".

A telephone company -- and the boss lady was teaching me some of the computer room work "wrong" because she wanted her friend to have the job and not me...It worked.

[skygazer]

11. Sounds to me like you don't owe them much loyalty

It doesn't sound like a good situation and the other sounds much better. You have to think about what is best for you and Job 2 is obviously way better. You were considerate enough to offer the per diem option - whatever rude comments they make, they must know that this other job is one that it makes no sense for you to reject.

It's not an unheard of thing for a person to accept one job offer and then find out that they've been offered a better one. Take Job 2 and, like your co worker said, don't look back.

Good luck with it.

[serryjw]

12. Make a copy of the letter you sent

that she supposedly didn't receive and leave it on her desk on your last day...add you would consider working part-time if she needs you at the hours that are convenient to you.....Companies ahev no loyalty to you anymore.I would do wehat works for you the best.

Ohhhhhh, yes, I have left several jobs in my 20's with no notice. It's not a great idea but sometime the immediate has to take president over long term

[baldguy]

13. Employment is a two sided proposition.

You have agreed to give up your time, knowledge & labor to your employer. In exchange, your employer pays you money; and may also agree to do others things for you in addition e.g. benefits, time off, perks like free coffee & donuts - or training. The type and level of all the various forms of compensation should have been understood by both parties - the employer and employee - before the job began. Unless its a pre-condition of your employment, your employer should provide the space, tools & training you need to do the job.

If you don't perform your duties, your employer would not hesitate to immediately end your relationship with that enterprise (more so if you don't belong to a union). If your employer doesn't live up to their end of the agreement then they don't DESERVE to have you work for them, especially if there's someone else offering you a better position.

Why are you doing favors for someone who treats you like shit? If they need you so bad - even if it's just on call - then ask Boss #1 what she'll do to make it worth your while. Ask for a raise. Have her guarantee to pay you for -x- number of hours each week - even if you work less. Make her bleed a little.

If she refuses to meet your demands, then you can say "Fuck off" in good conscience.

[SarahB]

20. True as well.

I tend to have this old-fashioned, mid-western view on loyalty in many avenues in my life. Often I stay in situations that any other person would have the sense to try to get out of because I value being a good and trustworthy person. I'm probably a bit too much a goody-goody because you're right, the loyalty isn't necessarily the same on the other end.

[Zenlitened]

14. YOU are the manager of YOUR CAREER

That's the way to look at it, in my opinion. You have to make decisions about what's right for the bottom line.

So I would say don't beat yourself up over how Job 1 will react. It's a business decision, plain and simple.

And don't feel obligated to share with them your disappoinments when they ask why you're leaving, even if they say "oh, it will help us improve."

If Job 2 is better for you, in all the ways that you describe, go for it and don't feel guilty. It's just business.

:) :hi:

[SarahB]

18. Great post.

Kind of sums it up. I like your username too. Very cool. :D

[Zenlitened]

27. Shucks, now I'm all blushin' and stuff.

Thanks! :hi:

[asthmaticeog]

15. You did the right thing.

You can always leave Job 1 off your resume, and Job 2, since it's a hard job to get, is probably way better resume-fodder for the future, anyway.

I once walked out of a production graphics job on deadline day. I felt bad leaving my co-workers in a lurch like that, but I spoke with them soon after I did it and they understood, as they were all ready to snap, too. It was a new startup entertainment magazine, and despite it having one of the best staffs I've ever worked with, the publisher was such a stupid tool the publication folded within four months; actually, about two weeks after I walked out. The way he ran the place was so discombobulated that the working hours were unnecessarily long and taxing, and the workflow was riddled with snafus a competent publisher could have avoided with ease. While I was there, I interviewed with a more stable publication, who luckily had a job open up when I bailed out of the first place. That was 6 years ago, and I'm still with the latter job, and I've even been promoted to Art Director. Had I worried about the ramifications of leaving a crap job without notice, I have no idea what I'd be doing today, and I doubt it'd be anywhere near as cool.

Sometimes, "fuck 'em" is the right thing to say.

[SarahB]

17. Yeah, and...

Thank goodness it's a brief enough time where the resume gap won't even be noticeable.

The job itself isn't great, but not all that bad either. The place itself is hard to get into and under a larger umbrella or network that I personally feel is simply better in terms of quality of service of healthcare in our area, so I can stay there and move around to a degree while maintaining my seniority as my career moves forward. It shows, first and foremost, in the way they treat their employees, of which, I have firsthand knowledge from other people I know who have worked in both places.

[NoPasaran]

16. A long time ago

I was working at a place that went through an internal upheaval. (Service manager was forced out, went nuts, took hostages, ended up shot.) Rather than bring in someone competent to replace him, the company promoted some of the install guys to try and run the place themselves. They quickly alienated everyone else and responded by having a series of meetings with us malcontents where we were told to either get happy or get lost. I was gone the next day. It felt great!

[HEyHEY]

19. fuck YEAH

I once quit and walked out...another time I gave a day's notice

[JAK1941]

22. Only once, but I'm proud to this day that I did.

The boss wanted me to fudge some billings between two companies, (his and his son's), so that he could screw the government out of some income taxes. I called him a bastard and walked out. :evilfrown:

[Stepup2]

23. Yep!

It was most cathartic too.... made sure I left them in a bind too, most racist, sexist manager I have ever worked

[Cobalt Violet]

24. I never give a notice.

I usually get so fed up and aggravated and sick of being taken advantage of that I walk out or never go back. They're just shit jobs anyway. They don't treat me right, I don't feel the need to be nice. But that's just me.

[SOteric]

25. I haven't, but I was exceedingly tempted once.

I won't bore with the details unless they're of some genuine value to you. Long story short, down the road I had an occassion to be very very glad I hadn't just cut and run. In what was a fluke of cosmic proportions I ended up working with one of the people at that initial job again. Our second set of interactions were significantly better, and in large part because there wasn't any lingering pissy-ness over my exit from the first job. I was quite glad as I actually liked the job I had at the time.

If you live in a small town, work in an industry which is short on qualified help, and hope to be able to support yourself down the road, I think it's probably best to suck it up and humiliate them only in your phantasies each night.

My 2 cents.

[SarahB]

26. One thing that makes me unsure...

is factoring in the concept of not burning any bridges. Given what some of the other employees have told me, I won't be the first one to do have done this if I do. Fortunately, I'm in a relatively large metropolitan area with many opportunities moving further and further in a field where demand is very, very high. All of it is high stress to a degree, but I think it may just be a matter of figuring out which avenue within it is something that is not only tolerable stress-wise, but something that one personally can thrive in and get some kind of intrinsic satisfaction from it in the process. :)

Probably the main thing is within the aspect of patient care. I don't want to be a part of something in which I feel that I cannot do merely an adequate job due to circumstances, much less the great job I'd prefer to do.