Is it completely wrong to leave a job with no notice if you are treated poorly?

Question

I am thinking (planning actually) to leave my job with no notice. My boss is cruel and unusual and treats everyone with disrespect. Although I have done well at my job, I do not trust my boss for a decent reccomendation.

I believe that giving two weeks notice will be followed by a lot of yelling and drama. I plan to leave a sincere yet honest reason for my exit.

I have never done anything like this, however it really is that bad. What do you think?

Thank you for your answers.

Answer 1

you dont have to stay the 2 weeks that is just being polite for the company to try and get a replacement. at my last job i left just after 3 days of telling them i quit.

Answer 2

I would give a 2 week notice. Even though your boss is a jerk, don't lower yourself to his level - be the bigger person here. If he's as bad as you say, he may let you go immediately after you give notice and not require you to stay the full two weeks, but at least you have done your part. You always want to conduct yourself in a respectful, business-like manner, no matter how anyone else acts. Even though you don't plan on using him as a recommendation on future job applications, more than likely you will have to list this job as part of your job history (otherwise there will be a gap in your work history, and prospective employers will definitely question that) on future employment applications. If you do have to list this job, do you have an immediate supervisor whose name you could use (that would be willing to put in a good word for you), or is your boss the only one you could list? Hope this helps. Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

I have had an occasion to have a suck job as you have described. The gnashing of teeth and the wailing, the despair....
Bah....

Let's look at it this way, your boss is, shall we say, less than desirable. You cannot trust your boss to leave a decent recommendation for you on your next venture.

What to do...what to do...

Business ettiquette calls for a minimum of 2 weeks notice. This is to allow your boss to post a vacancy for your job, or to get a new person trained to do your job. There is no law that says that you need to give a 2 week notice. If you don't plan on having anything to do with this boss or company again, write a nice long letter detailing your reasons. Have the sack to deliver it to him personally. He may scream, but at this point, who cares.
There may be repercussions in future jobs when they call up to verify your employment and see what kind of employee you were.

I had a job where I got to a point where I was so disgusted with it, I simply clocked out and went home. For me, it was no big deal. But I was barred from the property after I collected my last paycheck.

Answer 4

In some states, the two week notice is part of the law (I think it is in Illinois) and by giving the two week notice, you are entering a new requirement on the employer. If he tells you to "GET OUT RIGHT AWAY!" he still owes you the two weeks pay. Might be a good reason to give notice?

Whatever you do will be the most remembered about you. Acting fair and giving them a chance is better. The option might be to leave and never say anything. They may not notice and may pay you for your time off. Leave enough personal items to make them think you are coming back.

There... two extremes.... but do what your heart says is right. YOU have to live with YOU for the next years. If you give them the opportunity to be fair, YOU will remember it.

PS... What is sincere BUT honest. Shouldn't it be both?

Answer 5

Are you positive you won't need a recommendation? If it were me, I'd give the 2 weeks notice via a very respectful, professional letter (and keep a copy for yourself). At least then you will be following protocol and he won't be able to say anything bad about that. Are you sure he wouldn't be different in private, away from the other employees, as in giving a decent recommendation?

Of course if you fear for your safety, it's not good to stick around, but if it's just a personality conflict, or a clueless boss, I'd be the more professional, mature employee and do things right.

Good luck at finding a better job!

Answer 6

YES. It is always wrong to respond to mistreatment with further inappropriate behavior. The act of not providing appropriate notice when leaving a job reflects on you as a professional. Your employer will reap what they've sown and you can depend on that. When you don't do what is right you've meted out your own justice. Always do what is right! Always be the consummate professional! Never ever lower your standards because revenge isn't really all that sweet when it reflects poorly on you. Think about it like this...People are more likely to remember how you responded to an adverse situation than the actual situation. No one will remember how poorly your employer treated you, but they will remember that you left with bridges aflame.
I was in the same situation and was totally discontent with my day job. I contacted this lady at www.tagurit.net and she was able to help me be my own boss. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made besides getting married and having a family.
Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

As a general rule I wouldn't do it. It's called burning a bridge, and you can never predict when you will need that bridge in the future. Leaving without notice is a form of spite-ul revenge. If you turn in your 2 weeks, you saying basically, 'I am better than you are'. You bolt, you are saying 'I can be an asshole too'. Depending on what your job is, leaving without notice could wind up putting a burden on your co-workers.

If bossman starts screaming at you when you turn in your 2 weeks, then you say very politely that you are no longer in a position to accept abuse, therefore you are leaving immediately instead.

Answer 8

Sounds like it's the boss that needs to be leaving and not you. If he treats everyone poorly, as you say, then you are undoubtedly not alone in your displeasure with this guy. I would get together a group of co-workers who share your feelings and bring this all to the attention of your boss. If this doesn't change his attitude, then you should take your caes to whomever it is that your boss answers to. With enough people complaining, and citing examples of his mistreatment, the "higher-ups" will have to do something about your boss' behavior. If they don't do anything about it, you all may have grounds for a lawsuit.

I hope I was helpful. Hang in there!

Answer 9

It sounds like you are handling this unfortunate situation with some maturity as you are planning on leaving a detailed reason as to your abupt exit. However, as uncomfortable as it may be, I would encourage you to give the customary two week notice and leave it to your boss to be the lesser person. While it is somewhat remote, it would not be in your best interest for any prospective employers to find out that you failed to give adequate notice to your previous employer regardless of the circumstance.

Answer 10

If its me, i would give two weeks notice. i understand the situation you are in, some times walking away from the job, people think they have taken a revenge against the boss. Your boss may suggest that you leave right away, that would be even better for you. If not , then you don't have to listen to any more B.S from him, and you are free to answer for next two weeks. That may encourage other employees to take notice.

Answer 11

I wouldnt advise it, even though you are treated badly now, quitting without notice will prevent you for working for that company in the future. You never know what can happen, things change so quickly in business that the company you quit now may be the best place to work two years from now. You also dont want to build that kind of professional reputation. My advise would be to tough it out, its only two weeks. Besides you will find that those two weeks will be pretty easy knowing that you will be gone soon.