One in five employees admit that their workplace is a toxic environment, findings from The Career Wallet Group’s recent survey reveal. The stark reality is that for many professionals, leaving a toxic job can lead to an ongoing, vicious downward spiral of abuse, being held back or barred from opportunities, or much worse, horror stories of being dragged through employment tribunals for several months and irreparable damage to one’s career.
If you have identified that your employer or workplace is toxic and you want to leave, but are worried about the financial or career implications, here are five steps for you to bear in mind before handing in your resignation letter:
1) Understand your why
Before deciding to leave an abusive employer or toxic workplace, it’s important you understand your reasons so you don’t walk into the same situation, or worse, again. What exactly is it that prompts you to leave, or makes you feel uncomfortable or undervalued?
Some of the more obvious signs are high turnover rates, or subtle and overt discrimination and sexual harassment.
But you need to be aware of the less conspicuous factors as well, for example, do you feel undermined by your manager or colleagues every time you’re in a meeting? Are you overworked and underpaid, or unrecognized for your achievements despite how hard you try? Do you dread starting work every Monday? Are you chronically stressed and burnt out? Do you regularly experience confusion about your role and responsibilities?
Depending on the symptom and how severe it is, this might be something you could escalate to HR or to your boss before deciding to quit. But if it is indeed unsafe or you know that management is unapproachable and the situation cannot be resolved, it is best to move on to the next step.
2) Create an exit strategy
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail,” Benjamin Franklin once famously noted. You cannot just waltz into work to pack your things and leave. You need to strategize so you don’t abruptly throw yourself into uncertainty and confusion.
Set a deadline for when you will hand in your resignation, then brainstorm what you will need to move from unemployed to employed within that time period. Then, working backwards, develop a plan with SMART goals that incorporates all those elements.
For example, you could decide to hire a career coach to help you transition, or update your resume, and decide to complete both within a month from now. This also keeps you motivated for a short time while you are still working there, because you can anticipate leaving your toxic job very soon. Be sure to also include a financial plan for how you will support yourself and your family in the worst case scenario. This can include savings or even a side hustle.
3) Define core values
What are you looking for in your next employer or role? Perhaps now is the time to make that long-awaited career pivot? Or maybe you wish to remain in the same role, but with a different employer.
Whatever the case may be, gain clarity on what’s important to you in this next stage of your career, and make it your non-negotiable. You might find it helpful to read this article about five things to consider before applying for a new job. You can also gain a good indication of your core values based on your answers to question one, above.
For example, is having a supportive coaching manager most important? Are you looking for a 20% salary increase so you can be paid at market value? Are you looking for a team that embraces you for who you are without discrimination? Or perhaps, the flexibility to have a clearly defined career progression route is essential. Whatever it is, write it down in a list and use this list to inform your job search.
4) Build your network—online and offline
If you haven’t done so already, start establishing contacts outside of your current professional bubble—ideally people who are not closely affiliated with your employer. Networking with the right decision-makers and those who are connected with them, opens doors to a plethora of opportunities, even before they are posted on job boards.
You can never fully estimate the value of one strategic connection. LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool for establishing such connections and growing your network.
However, if you are worried about the potential consequences of networking via this platform due to your employer finding out, you can and should consider offline networking, through attending job fairs, networking events, conferences, and training, especially those that are directly related to your industry
5) Don’t burn bridges
While leaving your job, there are a few cardinal rules you need to be aware of:
- Don’t tell your colleagues of your plans to leave just yet—people will talk and the news may spread prematurely or in a way that may hurt your prospects for your next job.
- Follow the formal procedure outlined in your HR’s policy for handing in a resignation notice in writing and provide at least two weeks’ notice.
- Complete all deadlines and projects assigned to you and try to avoid leaving extra work for your successor to pick up; if this is indeed unavoidable, create handover notes and file all resources and documentation in a secure, organized, and easy-to-find location.
- Train your successor if this is allowed or asked of you.
- Depending on your relationship with your manager, you may ask them for a reference.
- Be cognizant of existing relationships with external stakeholders and do not burn bridges with them or tell them why you are leaving; they may be your clients, employers, or partners in the future!
- If asked why you are leaving your role in a job interview, state that you are looking for career progression. You can also mention that you are looking for an employer who aligns more with your values.
Quitting a toxic job is not an easy decision, especially if you already feel demotivated. But with the right strategic forethought and planning, this significant life-change will be one of the best decisions you will ever make for your wellbeing and for your career. Take it one step at a time and embrace the journey.
Read the full article here
