can I resign but still ask for severance? by Alison Green on April 3, 2025 A reader writes: Last summer, an old mentor from my past company — who led a couple projects I was on but was not my direct manager — took a new VP role and sent for me. I had applied for a role on her team at our former org and didn’t get it, but […] Read the full article →
the wet carpet, the pickle jars, and other stories of final F-you’s to jobs you hated by Alison Green on March 17, 2025 Last week we discussed final F-you’s to jobs or bosses you hated, and here are 18 of the best stories you shared. (Caveat: appearing on this list is not an endorsement of said behavior in every case! Stories are shared primarily for entertainment value.) 1. The revenge A legal secretary at the Big Law firm […] Read the full article →
let’s discuss final F-you’s to jobs or bosses you hated by Alison Green on March 13, 2025 Most of the time when you leave a job you hated, you do it professionally — you give notice, you transition your work, you move on, even when there’s malice deep in your heart. But sometimes you get the opportunity to go out with a bit more verve — for example, the person who quit […] Read the full article →
is it better to quit without another job or be fired? by Alison Green on November 14, 2024 A reader writes: Which would make it harder to get another job — quitting without another job or getting fired? If you have a job where requirements have changed radically and unreasonably, where every day is a nightmare, and people with long track records of good work are being threatened with being fired, I know […] Read the full article →
when is it OK to quit without notice? by Alison Green on September 12, 2024 A reader writes: I’ve read your advice that two weeks’ notice before quitting is the professional standard, because it “provides time for you to wrap up projects and transition them to whoever will be covering them in the interim.” In general, I agree. But what about in situations where you couldn’t possibly “wrap up” anything […] Read the full article →
my boss is upset that I quit without more notice because I’m vital to the business by Alison Green on July 24, 2024 A reader writes: I just left my job. I had worked at the same small company for six years. Over the years, I have seen admin staff leave with little notice and staff who gave notice but did not actually work through it. My boss, Amanda, told me that she actually did not want them […] Read the full article →
the lawnmower message, the mangled journal articles, and other stories of deliberately burnt bridges by Alison Green on June 19, 2024 I recently asked about bridges you intentionally, happily burned. Here are 12 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The fish tank In college, I worked as a cashier at a national chain pet store. The pay was dismal but it was pretty easy work, so I stuck around. After working there for three years […] Read the full article →
can my employer make me give four weeks notice when I quit? by Alison Green on June 17, 2024 A reader writes: When I started at my current job (an entry-level administrative job, no state secrets here), my offer letter stated that I would have to give minimum four weeks notice when I left or I could open myself up to legal action from the company. I also live in an at-will employment state […] Read the full article →
sometimes an old job isn’t done with you … even when you’re done with it by Alison Green on May 20, 2024 When you quit a job, you typically assume you’re finished with that work — once you’re gone, your former colleagues will find a way to move on without you. But sometimes an old job isn’t done with you … even when you’re done with it. Bizarrely, I hear all the time from people who still […] Read the full article →
can I leave before my notice period is up if my boss is being a jerk? by Alison Green on May 7, 2024 A reader writes: What’s the etiquette, if that’s the right word, for leaving a job before the end of your notice period? I resigned due to a toxic micromanager boss who also leans toward abusive. She has been out on medical leave for the last three weeks, but is back today. I’m halfway through my […] Read the full article →