Anyone quit their job without notice?

Treehugged

Cpcompany wrote: »

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?

I sympathise with you totally about being in a job from hell but you should have worked your notice. It's tough out there, and whilst we shouldn't stay in a job we dread going to, we still need good references.

Yes you can get a mate to stand by the phone and play 'former employer', yes you can make up something to fill in the gap if the aforementioned isn't an option, but nothing's quite the same as a genuine reference.

Good luck though because I understand why you did it.

At least you're free:beer:

Owain_Moneysaver

Notmyrealname wrote: »

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.

And what notice period applies to a "non contract casual basis" worker?

DVardysShadow

Notmyrealname wrote: »

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.

It would suffice as entitlement to sue. But of itself this is far from sufficient to win a case

Notmyrealname wrote: »

.... 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.

What does he do? Turn up to work while the owner is away, but keep the place closed? Expect to be paid and end up dismissed on a disciplinary?

The employment is casual. There is no commitment on the owner to actually give OP any hours at all. Can't see that OP could be made to pay for agency staff for shifts which might never be given to him - or equally might be taken from him at the drop of a hat.

androidgamer

notice is usually 1 week for every year worked at an establishment, but can be up to 2 weeks so the employer can recruit without losing trade/ business.

as for walking out, the job centre will sanction you for not finding another job before leaving. I have had to re-sign on this month as I left a bar job after 10 weeks work on a zero hour contract & didn't work any notice period. i was getting around 30 hours per week but my hours were cut to 15 per week, which would only cover my rent (some staff were given 5hrs per week?!).

having explained this to my employer they were a bit taken back that i was resigning so soon, even after telling them "i can't live on 15hrs per week!"

the jobcentre have given me numerous forms to complete to explain why i left the job, but it still doesn't seem to register with them (am still waiting for my JSA + HB to come through). i would have liked to have continued working but bills come first, everything else seems to comes 2nd (like a job)

Notmyrealname

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

And what notice period applies to a "non contract casual basis" worker?

Read up on employment law, I'm done talking to dummies.

Notmyrealname

DVardysShadow wrote: »

It would suffice as entitlement to sue. But of itself this is far from sufficient to win a case


What does he do? Turn up to work while the owner is away, but keep the place closed? Expect to be paid and end up dismissed on a disciplinary?

Hands in his weeks notice, works it and doesn't go back.

Uncertain

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Read up on employment law, I'm done talking to dummies.

And this, coming from the person who repeatedly insisted that there was no requirement for a separate signed agreement before training costs were recoverable! :rotfl:

As I have pointed out on other threads you (and some others) wildly overstate the circumstances under which there is any realistic chance of an employer being able to sue an employee who fails to work their notice. You also overstate what they could realistically expect to be awarded if their claim was successful.

In this case, although we have not been told for certain, it is most likely a zero hour contract where there is no obligation on the employee to accept any work offered (or on the employer to make any minimum number of hours available).

getmore4less

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

And what notice period applies to a "non contract casual basis" worker?

AIUI the same notice as any contract if you work long enough.

A casual contract is really just a short fixed term contract

There is an issue is that if you work every week(any day in a Sat-Sat week) then that week is worked and there is continutiy between weeks which build up employment rights.

A key feature is that the periods of work are by mutual agreement and ther can be no requirement to give work or except any offered

The effect of this is any notice is redundant unless the offers of work are for longer periods say more than a week where you may want to break the agreement to work for that period.


The first post would suggest the employer does not know about casual contracts since thye seem to be asuming they can tell the OP when to work.

bevanuk

It's done now, so there's not much you can do.
Should have given and worked your notice period, explaining the reasons why. They may have got some help in the kitchen.

E-mail is a cowardly way out.

falko89

Yep walked out once when I was a teen, they decided to make me a perfect example on their new no smoking policy, I decided it wasn't gonna happen, walked out and never went back, they decided it wasn't such a good idea and came back grovelling as I was greatly needed, never went back. Thinking about doing the same now but unfortunately have commitments now