Resignation from work - what should he do?

Question

My boyfriend recently got a transfer within his company so that we could move to a different town. He has worked for his company for 3 years and has earnt a good reputation there... however, after 4 weeks on his new account, he hates it. Last week he had an offer from another company who will pay more money and are much closer to home.

He handed in his resignation yesterday and asked if he could leave immediately. All hell broke loose and all his bosses said that they thought it was "disgusting" that he was "demanding" to leave straight away (which he wasn't). His old and new boss (who arranged the transfer) have said that they wash their hands of him and can't believe that he wants to leave after everything they've done for him.

The people at work didn't talk to him anyway - now he will have a very frosty month ahead. He was actually in tears this morning because he hates it so much. He got paid yesterday and a few people have told him he should just walk. What do you think?

Thanks for the replies so far - you've been really helpful xx

Answer 1

i can understand their position, they have put in an effort to move him to this new area and now he's quiting after less than a month.

I think he has to bite the bullet and see the month out.

It may not be fantastic, but it is more honourable.

Answer 2

To be 100% honest with you, I am with the employer on this one. As a courtesy and professionalism; you give advance notice to your employer that you are going to leave. The reason you do this is so that the company has sometime to hire, train and transition the new person into your job. I can understand that he hates his new position and that he has another offer but that is just something that you don't do as a professional.

He now has completely destroyed all business connections that he has established over the past 3 years; no matter what they would never take him back again. He will be branded with a non-rehire able and he will never work for them again. You never know and sometimes you do want to come back to the same company, even if it’s for another position and this option is no longer available to him.

I am very sorry to say this; but what your boyfriend did was not right and he is definitely in the wrong. He needs to stick it out for the rest of the month and help transition his job the best he can. I would even recommend that he goes and apologizes to them and explain to them that he will do whatever is necessary to train and help transition the new person taking over his job.

Answer 3

You should never walk out of a job, no matter how much you hate it, because it makes you look bad to your future employer.

Your husband will be in for a not very nice month, but it is only a month and it will fly by. The other option is does he have any leave that he as accrued and is entitled to take?

As it is your husband has done nothing wrong, although asking to leave straight away was a bit cheeky, everyone has to work their notice. Unless of course the company itself ask you to leave straight away.

His company is acting like petulant children, but he needs to be the bigger man here and not run away just because he's going to have a rough ride to the end....

Answer 4

Hello Emmie,

Presumably if your bf was treated in a fair and respectful manner by his new boss and colleagues he may not have felt it necessary to accept the other job offer.

I assume your bf was given a Contract of Employment (if not he should have been). If so he is probably required to give a months notice and work that month out, unless he can agree an earlier departure with his boss.

If not, he is under no obligation to stay for the extra month.

If the has a contract he is morally, though not legally obliged to fulfill his part of the contract. After all a month is nothing in the scheme of things and although he is not being treated in a very fair manner by his employers or colleagues, I do feel he should 'stick it out' and work his notice.

However from what you say, his new boss and co-workers are responsible for him taking the action he is, because of their attitude toward him.

Having said that, Ifeel he should speak to both his current boss and to the boss who arranged his transfer.

Remind the latter of the reasons for his wishing to be transferred and how he was being treated in his new location.

He should explain to his new boss that he feels that he was forced, albeit reluctantly, to leave because of the way he is being treated and the bad atmosphere there.

Tell your bf that if no one is speaking to him, why worry? It is only four weeks and he will be free of the place. Also tell him to think of all the energy and breath he is saving not having to communicate with his fellow workers (LoL).

One other thing, is the new firm willing to wait for him to serve out his notice? If not, he owes it to himself to simply say "To heck with my present job", and simply leave. This new job seems too good to miss.

Poseidon

Answer 5

To be honest I would stay and work the notice, his new employer will understand that he has to work notice in his current job and it's always best not to burn your bridges - you never know if he will need to go back to them for a reference in the future. I know it won't be a very nice month for him, but if he knows that there is something better around the corner hopefully that will help him get through it!

Answer 6

i'd play it by the book and work for the coming month.

but generally they sound like a bunch of children, both the boses and the employees, so don't let it affect him

Answer 7

given that they're unlikely to ever give him a glowing reference after all that, my advice would be to just walk. he's got another job to go to, after all