Anyone quit their job without notice?

Cpcompany

I did something totally out of character and unexpected today and quit my job.
Basically, I am working on a non contract casual basis as a chef for 25 hours per week and I wasnt really enjoying it. My boss is going back home for a week and has asked me to take care of the restaurant while he is away. I actually said no when he asked me, bearing in mind I only started in May, having no previous experience whatsoever and he wants me to manage the place and be the only working chef.
Then this week he pretty much just told me what I had to do while he is away. It's already hard enough to cope when two are cooking when we have a busy night,never mind me on my own who still barely has a clue.

While me and the boss got on reasonably well, we have had a number of run ins (again, unusual for me) and he isn't that good to work for.
I work two 12 hour shifts on thursdays and fridays and after work I have a hell of a problem getting to sleep.

Last night we had a hell of a busy night and were rushed off our feet. I couldnt get to sleep until well into the morning and unfortunately I slept through my alarm today and didn't wake up into well after my 11 AM shift started. Instead of phoning up with an explanation and rushing to work, I mailed and said I wasn't going back to work.
I just came to realise that I hated the job and there is no way I feel comfortable running a restaurant and felt that I shouldn't have been put in the position in the first place. The manager initially said he was closing while he was away (I wouldn't have been paid of course)

I do feel bad for quitting this way as it's totally out of character and unprofessional .I really am not doing that well financially and I am aware that I could have made a massive error of judgement. Fortunately apart from rent I have no responsibilities.

Sorry, about the rambling nature of this post, I think I am still a bit shocked by my actions !!

Anyone done anything similar and how did you cope?

DCFC79

A friend of mine went out at lunch time and didnt go back as he had enough of it. I know what the place was like as I was there until a few months before he left. Was meant to give a months notice as per contract but they ddint say anything. Claimed jsa for a few weeks then found some agency work.

Notmyrealname

Unbelievable. Got no money, only works 2 days a week and quits their job.

Well as you're the only chef, I assume it won't be able to be open now you've walked out?

Your employer is completely entitled to sue you for the losses that having to close the restaurant costs him. If he has to hire in agency staff, he can sue you for the cost of the agency staff required for the notice period you've not served.

And expect to be sanctioned by the dole office when you go to sign on. Oh and you'll probably find it'll be a couple of months before housing benefit kicks in and depending on your age, you'll probably only get the shared room rate which won't cover what your rent is so I think I'd be looking for somewhere else to live too, not that it'll be easy to find one when you're unemployed.

Completely and utterly stupid.

Why are you a chef? 12hr shifts are pretty much the norm and they usually work a lot more than a 2 day week. Find another career - this one is for people who can actually work hard.

If I were you I'd go back, formally hand in your notice and work the weeks notice. Its only two shifts...

Uncertain

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Your employer is completely entitled to sue you for the losses that having to close the restaurant costs him. If he has to hire in agency staff, he can sue you for the cost of the agency staff required for the notice period you've not served.

Not if "I am working on a non contract casual basis" means a zero hour contract - which it may well!

sniggings

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Unbelievable. Got no money, only works 2 days a week and quits their job.

Well as you're the only chef, I assume it won't be able to be open now you've walked out?

Your employer is completely entitled to sue you for the losses that having to close the restaurant costs him. If he has to hire in agency staff, he can sue you for the cost of the agency staff required for the notice period you've not served.

And expect to be sanctioned by the dole office when you go to sign on. Oh and you'll probably find it'll be a couple of months before housing benefit kicks in and depending on your age, you'll probably only get the shared room rate which won't cover what your rent is so I think I'd be looking for somewhere else to live too, not that it'll be easy to find one when you're unemployed.

Completely and utterly stupid.

Why are you a chef? 12hr shifts are pretty much the norm and they usually work a lot more than a 2 day week. Find another career - this one is for people who can actually work hard.

If I were you I'd go back, formally hand in your notice and work the weeks notice. Its only two shifts...

Sue him, get real, he has the right to stop working if he wants.

To the OP, just sign on straight away, they may stop your money for walking out, or might not, but it will just be for a few weeks, and you can claim a crisis loan as soon as you start a claim and waiting for payment.

Housing benefit too, you can claim that without benefits, you will just have to prove with bank statements etc you have no income.

I think you did the best thing for you, maybe not best walking out if you could have helped it, but your boss did drop you in it so you owe him nothing.

Good Luck.

Gothicfairy

Many many years ago I took a job cold calling for a kitchen company, I got no training and the job was so painful it almost crippled me ( I have a back problem and the chairs / tables were so old it was impossible to sit still for the 10 hour shift)
I hated every moment of it and managed 2 full shifts before leaving for the evening shift drink and not going back.
I do regret being a coward about it all but I in no way shape or form regret leaving the job but equally I was lucky as I walked out of one and straight into another one ( in the very pub I was drinking in as it happens) but I am not sure I would be that lucky now.

TrickyWicky

Yes I've done so many times unfortunately. I've walked from some half decent jobs and I've walked from some real carp jobs. It usually happens when management decide to give me a hard time over something totally un called for. Something in my head can't cope with yet another wrongful attack against me (that I've suffered with all my life even from my own family) and I just walk out - usually when they're least able to cope with a staff loss.

I walked from one place a few years back that had staff on leave, sick, abroad etc. They chose to screw with me (the only one who qualified under the disability laws) one time too many and I walked out leaving them in the deep stuff.

Do I regret it? Yes, frequently however every job I've worked in I've always had unfair personal attacks against me and I've lost the plot with it all. Every new job I start I've come to expect it won't last long and frankly I don't really care much anymore.

DVardysShadow

Notmyrealname wrote: »

.... Your employer is completely entitled to sue you for the losses that having to close the restaurant costs him. If he has to hire in agency staff, he can sue you for the cost of the agency staff required for the notice period you've not served.

I think that you are going a bit daft with this. If OP had actually stayed and takings were down - or not even up as much as the owner hoped for for a bank holiday - the owner would be entitled to sue. Being 'entitled to sue' is misleading to the point of being meaningless. What really matters is whether the person doing the suing actually has a case which holds up which he could reasonably expect to win.

In this particular case, the OP has a very strong defence in saying that he does not feel capable or competent of taking on the running of the restaurant. Op should collect evidence and make notes of any contact with the employer where he made this point.

mustang121

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Your employer is completely entitled to sue.

You are not American by chance are you?

Notmyrealname

mustang121 wrote: »

You are not American by chance are you?

I take it you're going back to school next week?

Go read up on employment law. If an employee doesn't work their notice, an employer is entitled to sue for costs such as temporary agency staff.

Notmyrealname

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I think that you are going a bit daft with this. If OP had actually stayed and takings were down - or not even up as much as the owner hoped for for a bank holiday - the owner would be entitled to sue. Being 'entitled to sue' is misleading to the point of being meaningless. What really matters is whether the person doing the suing actually has a case which holds up which he could reasonably expect to win.

The fact the OP walked off the job without notice and the employer has to get agency staff to cover or closes the business would suffice.

In this particular case, the OP has a very strong defence in saying that he does not feel capable or competent of taking on the running of the restaurant. Op should collect evidence and make notes of any contact with the employer where he made this point.

The OP has no case. The fact he doesn't feel competent in running the restaurant does not entitle him to walk off the job without notice, especially whilst the owner is still there.