If you or someone you know has been suffering emotionally, financially and spiritually in a nasty and unhealthy work environment, I strongly recommend that when you leave this toxic situation, you do so with good sense. This way, you’ll depart with as few scars as possible. Here are seven things you can do to make this break as painless as possible.
- Make a plan. Plan your countdown to freedom. Realizing that you are simply not going to get through them all, prioritize remaining projects and tasks. While you don’t want to leave your current employer high and dry, you have to be realistic about how much you can get done in your remaining time.
- Have a few discussions with a coach, friend or mentor. Clarify why the current job is not a good fit and what you have learned from this. This can help you avoid the same sinkholes in the future.
- Seek feedback. Even in the nastiest of situations, it can be worth your while to seek input about any skills you might need to learn to have more success in the future. You have nothing to lose.
- Decide on when to give notice. Sometimes it is best to simply leave the minimum two week notice, or whatever your contract requires, if you think that others in your workplace will be doling out extra heaps of nastiness — especially for you.
- Keep an upbeat perspective. Knowing that there will be light at the end of the tunnel will help you to deal better with the travails of your soon-to-be-over job.
- Don’t burn bridges. I know that it might feel immediately wonderful to tell the sociopath you work for what you think about them, it rarely pays off. As evil as that person is, the world of work is a small one. The world outside likely won’t understand the situation and you could come out looking less than rosy. Besides, poking a snarling, vicious dog with a stick can result in deep flesh wounds.
- Leave some time in between. Celebrate. Even if only a few days, have some clear time between leaving the old before beginning the new. Do something special. Stay a night in that luxe hotel, spend the weekend with the kids, or head out on a fishing expedition. Congratulate yourself on choosing to make a difference for yourself, your spouse and your family. You being happy at work will spill over in benefits to them.
How have you escaped a tough situation? What steps did you take to retain your sanity while counting down the time? What words of wisdom might you have for someone struggling in tough situation?
I’ve been with my current employer only a few months but the toxicity in the workplace is palpable! Morale is so low & tension is off the charts. Until now, I’d never worked in such an oppressive environment. People are overworked, underpaid, disrespected & unappreciated. Top management has taken from staff every little perk imaginable.
I imagine this work environment akin to what existed when the rights & needs of employees were a mere ‘blip’ on the burgeoning Human Resources radar.
I’ve never been one to ‘jump ship’ but, after reading this article, I realize I need to plan to get out sooner rather than later.