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For the past 2 years, morale within my department has been at an all-time low. I want to spare the details, but everyone on my team (including myself) has tried to discuss our dissatisfactions to the general manager, but nothing has come from these discussions. I am a senior member on the team and feel like my concerns are generally taken more seriously, so I often speak up on behalf of the team in hopes that things will get better for us. We are often lied to by our department manager (such as about promotions or pay raises) and no one on the team takes him seriously. For example, one team member was given a promotion back in October, but was told she would not get a pay increase to go along with it until January. Well it's January, and she has not seen a pay increase, but she has been expected to take on additional responsibilities. Another team member was recently hired and was told upon being hired that she would see a pay raise after 3 months. That didn't happen. Many people on the team have had it with the false promises, but unfortunately we have done everything in our power to try and have oir concerns addressed, to no avail.
My main concern has not necessarily been about the pay, but about my job responsibilities. I have been doing the same job for 4 years and have been growing exhausted from the monotony of it. I expressed to my manager 6 months ago that I was feeling burnt out and that I want to be expanding my skills and learning new roles within the company. I was promised that I would have the opportunity to do so.
I just had my yearly performance review last week and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach as my boss told me what his plans are for me this year--more work on my plate doing the same job I have asked him to step away from. And of course no pay increase to incentivize the extra workload.
I thought it over and let that feeling sit in my stomach before I ended up writing an email to my boss telling him that I felt my concerns had fallen on deaf ears. I explained again that I have been burnt out and that I no longer feel it is in my best interest for my wellbeing to stay in my role. I told him that I really want to be expanding my skills and can't do that within my current role (I've mastered it), and I told him that I'd like to have a discussion about whether or not there is a better fit for me within the company. I pulled the trigger by saying "if there isn't, I will unfortunately have to resign."
Since I pressed 'send' on the email, I've been freaking out. My job pays very well and has great benefits and culture, but it is draining my soul. I don't have anything else lined up and I'm scared of what will come once I meet with him to talk about it this week. I hate having to choose between financial security and mental stability. I have of course started job searching, but things are tough in my area, and I don't expect to find anything with better pay or benefits. I'm just in a dead-end job right now and not getting any younger. I know I have to be prepared to walk away if my manager doesn't have a better plan for me, just because I gave an ultimatum and would need to keep my word. My coworker insists that they would never fire me because I'm way too valuable to the company, and honestly I've never seen anyone get fired, even if they consistently miss work, etc. The company culture is like "who cares, do whatever you want" with no repercussions for anything. I am consistently a top performer and can't imagine that they'd fire me either, but if my ultimatum doesn't go my way, would it be smarter for me to "quiet quit" than to simply walk away without another job lined up yet? Other people on the team get away with stealing company time. Some take entire days off while on the clock because our boss doesn't notice when people aren't working anyway. I'm thinking of doing the same until I find something else, that way at least I still have a paycheck coming in, I won't be burning myself out, and I could potentially collect unemployment if they do fire me. What does FDS think about quiet-quitting?
I've been where you are and finally pulling the trigger and finding a new job was the best thing I ever did.
There is something like "employer Stockholm syndrome" if you work somewhere for a long time and feel like it is the only option for you because you know everyone, got comfortable with the environment and started to care. And I know how tough it is and how it damages your confidence if the person who should know best how good and loyal you are - your boss - doesn't seem to even notice, let alone reward all your hard work. It's their loss.
You are highly qualified and you deserve recognition for that. Not just empty words and promises but actual, tangible recognition in the form of money or other tangible benefits.
Quiet quitting is fine. Continue to search for a better job and only do the bare minimum needed not to get fired at your old one. They get what they pay for. If your pay is only enough for mediocre, simple work, that's what they should get from you.
Part of loving yourself is to enabled and nurture your spiritual growth. If you can afford it, take the hit to your wallet before the hit to your soul. It's glib to say, because I don't want to encourage you to go into debt, especially if you are American and your healthcare is tied to your job.
Quiet quitting is fine. You have to balance your needs. Part of being HV is valueing your time - it's your most important resource because it's the one thing you can never replace. Goals aren't worth shit if you don't enjoy getting there (beyong meeting basic survival needs). If your boss doesn't value you and your time, you will have to value it EVEN MORE than you already should. You're allowed to relax. You have permission!
Unfortunately, companies these days don't reward loyal employees, which is why it's the norm to leave jobs after about 2-3 years.
It sounds like you've truly maxed out there after 4 years and it won't get better. Judge your boss by their actions, not words. They don't match. You've given them months to recify the situation after you clearly communicated it. Time to go.
It's ok to stay while you look and leverage your current role for the next one. That's how you quiet quit and benefit yourself.
Would you consider a remote job if you can't find one in your area? Maybe something to ponder.
I had to leave my previous gig since my employer refused to give me a full time position. They were putting me in these situations that I had no experience in because they needed a “warm body”. Sadly, I did not have very friendly co-workers and they kept gaslighting me that I couldn’t do better and that my employer was doing me a favour by giving me the position. In short, when a full time position opened up for something I was interested in, they gave it to someone else with less experience. I knew it right then that I had to leave.
I ended up sort of quiet-quitting. When my contract ended, I chose not to renew my contract, made some excuse, and lied about how I would be back. Truth was that, I had gotten an offer in the spring for another company. I told no one about this and did my interview.
Truth be told, the new gig was $9 less but all the benefits were the same. Granted I lost a year of seniority, two months ago, after working with them, I got promoted. Now, I got another pay increase after completing grad school. Honestly, if you want to quit, and you can manage without having to worry about rent, and other stuff, do it.
Honestly, I don't expect your boss to take you seriously even with the ultimatum so I'd work your wage until you have a new job lined up then go on a VACATION before starting your new role. You owe no loyalty to people who aren't loyal to you and if you're burnt out you need time off.
I know most people never think vacations between roles matter but a week on a beach sipping some bahama mamas will let you destress and go into your new role feeling rejuvinated and ready to learn something new.
It sounds kind a like my situation (4 years in same role - asked for growth / new role, was told 'then go a find another job' by my boss, who then quickly pulled back - guess he forgot for a second that I'm the only one in the team knowing the specific field / tasks, that's 6 months ago. Nothing changed. The moral is SO low of my team and the company in general - but everyone is pretenting. Everything is run super unprofessional and management is not existing) and I've decied to quit quit (since last summer) and then enjoy my free time WHILE being financially stable AND looking for a new job (been offered 2 different jobs, but they weren't good enough). So I'm acting along a la 'the emperor's new suit', doing an absolute minimum and trying while trying not to care that's it's an unprofessional mad-house with very subtle passive agressions and a lot of people suffering from 'employer Stockholm syndrome' (including myself in some regard - so I really need to get away soon, before it totally erodes my sense of self and skillset) - while everyone is pretenting that it's the vert best team and super important work we do... I seriously think that 70 % of the team could be laid of and that it wouldn't make any difference. Pro's: Decent salary, great organization for my resume, I can bike to work (and my sportsclub is on the way), I can "work" from home 2 days a week..., decent lunch offered everyday, never work evenings / weekends, a few nice collegues (that also sees everything clear and how fucked up the place is). But yeah - If you can tolerate it, I would advise you to detach, quiet quit and seek for new jobs (eventhough it's a schizophren state of mind - but it also sucks to be financially stressed out and you might ending up accepting a job that's not good enough) I apology for my gramma. English is not my first language and I don't have spelling control on this site. Greetings from cold and windy Scandinavia 💜
Please do not quit ur job. You can always play it off as you were kidding or you just wanted to get his attention.
Send out ur resume and interview a tonnn till you find something better
Not the time to quit a job thats providing you a paycheck in this economy without a safety net