I’ve been planning on quitting my job for at least two months. The politics has been driving me mad. My boss has been out of the lab for four months and hasn’t answered any of my phone calls, pages or emails.
After drafting a resignation, I ran into a problem: which Human Resources office should I send this to? Dr. Boss is an MD who does research as well. I work for the University’s research branch, but the hospital pays my salary. After being bounced between the two HR offices, today I sent the resignation to four places: one to U. HR, one to Hospital HR, one in Dr. Boss’ mail box and another copy was emailed to him.
I spent another morning puking my guts up before work. I’m tired of sitting on my ass feeling like a failure. I’m tired of stupid political plays keeping me from working. (The Grape Vine says that Dr. Boss is angry that I have been working with other members of the department. Since Dr. Boss hasn’t given me any indication what he wants me to do, and clairvoyance is not in my job description, its better for me to leave than cause any more trouble. Also, I’m torn between confused and pissed. Boss can bitch to the other MDs but not answer my messages? Are you a pediatric doctor or a patient? I forget)
Now, I’m going home. This stinks, but maybe I can keep lunch down.
That sucks. A few years ago I was planning on quitting my job, but when I had my first-and-only panic attack because I had to go into work one monday morning, I decided to expedite the process.
I gave 4 weeks notice so that I could complete all pending assignments and they could train someone to do all the tasks I had sole responsibility for. Not only did they not bother, but two days after I served my notice my boss called me in to chastise me on my writing style (I’d been working for him for 2 years). I came this close to turning on my heel and just walking out never to return. I really needed the last two paychecks for moving expenses though. I took a mental health day the next day though, otherwise I think I would have just strangled him.
It’s about time. I’ve never seen anyone so dissatisfied with a job and continue to hang around so long. I’m glad you finally decided to take action. Have a nice summer!
I’ve been hanging around hoping to have a face to face conversation with my boss. I was (naively) hoping to find out if what I’ve been hearing thru the junior researchers is true - funding being pulled, department being disbanned, Dr. Boss interviewing with other univerisities, etc. Also, I wanted to try to get a letter of recommendation.
After weeks of not hearing anything, and the situation at work becoming more hostile, I’ve decided to leave. Not sure how I’m going to explain this to a future employeer. Somehow, I don’t think “Boss abandonded me” is a common reason for leaving a job.
Not common, but as soon as he tries to contact your ex-boss, he’ll see that it’s true! I’d also skip the letter of recommendation from him and get a couple from your co-workers; the people who actually know what you do. It’s better than nothing, and infinitely more useful in most cases.
Yay! Oh, wait, I liked reading your Pit threads: Boo! Don’t worry about future employers, just explain to them that your department/lab/area was being left in limbo, and with you having a baby on the way, you couldn’t really hang around to see what was going to happen. Simple and honest.
Congrats! I agree with those who said you shouldn’t worry about explaining. I also agree you should ask your colleagues for recommendations, not Dr. Boss.
Don’t worry about explaining, anybody who’s half familiar with research will know about research groups assploding. If someone from HR ever asks about it, just explain that the head of the group moved elsewhere.
If you haven’t finished obtaining the biology degree–finish it. You don’t have to use it, if this experience has ended your desire to work in biology, but why let those last few credits stand between you and being able to mark obtained degree in biology on future job applications.
I’ve been told that now is the slow season re: hiring; it’s supposed to pick up in August & September.
While I still get up, exercise, shower, dress and caffeinate before 7AM (and apply to all the jobs in my field that Monster, CareerBuilder, Yahoo Hot Jobs and others offer) I find some of the extra time stressful. I’ve started to make a list of things I’ve always wanted to do & day trips I’ve wanted to go on that my wife & kids wouldn’t enjoy. If I can manage my time right, get my job search things done and get the household things done early enough, I go out and experience them.
I work on my yard and house. We bought a fixer-upper, and there’s no reason for me not to be fixing it up while I’m looking for work. It’s funny how I don’t mind shovelling in the back yard for a couple of hours or mowing the lawn or planting new plants, but I can’t be bothered to sweep, mop, or vacuum. To each their own, I guess.
About time! Congrats, M_M. I’m really glad to see you taking this step, as scary as it may be.
Have you considered needlepoint? My mother loves it, and when I tried it, I didn’t mind it too much. (My mother just found my old needlepoint project, which is about 90% done, and has started pushing me to get it finished. Maybe I can send it to you, and you can finish it for me? )
Congratulations, Mouse_Maven, on escaping from that rat trap! What you went through is no way to treat any human being, let alone one whose other full-time job is constructing another human being.
The cynical part of me says that Dr. Boss or someone superior knows exactly what they are doing: the decision to abandon a department, to create hellish conditions and force people out, is deliberate and premeditated: a weaselly way of downsizing without having to actually admit it like someone with gonads would. I hope that isn’t true.
Be sure to get all holiday pay, etc, due to you. And that “Record of Employment” form that says that you’ve quit and that it’s Officially Over.
Don’t worry about future employers, just explain to them that your department/lab/area was being left in limbo, and with you having a baby on the way, you couldn’t really hang around to see what was going to happen. Simple and honest.