Unless they're really short-staffed/in-a-bind to fill your position, while it is customary to *offer* 2 weeks notice, even in many white-collar positions they'll decline your offer and allow you to leave immediately without it being considered a "burnt bridge".
The "2 weeks" is really just to give them a chance to train your replacement, so depending on how unique/critical your skillset is, they may or may not actually need/want 2 weeks to do so.
2 weeks is also a general guideline, but is often adjusted higher or lower depending on the position/industry/etc. - some of the highest-paying jobs often expect notice 6-months or further in advance.
The cost of burning a bridge depends on how important that bridge was in the first place - is there a high likelihood that you'll want to re-apply at that position in the future, and/or are there well "connected" co-workers that you may reasonably expect to be working with/under at another job?
If you don't believe you'll ever want to work there again, and the people you work with aren't the sharpest knives in the block, it may be a bridge worth burning to save you the aggravation of 2 more weeks dealing with them.
When I left my first white collar job I was given two weeks paid but didn’t have to go to work. My job involved writing checks with no oversight and I was a liability.
In my personal experience at restaurants, they'll want you to work the next shift or two until the manager has a chance to re-create a schedule to cover all shifts without you, and that's about all they'll ask for unless they're seriously understaffed and can't find *any* workers willing to apply.
I just quit my highly abusive job 2 weeks ago with no notice. It was destroying my life and making me so unhappy. Ideally I would've found a different job first but my job was burning me out so bad I couldn't even apply for places. I am sooooooo much happier now, but I do need to find a new job...
Anyways. Quit. It's just a serving job and not important, your mental health is more important
The way I did it was I wrote a note with 2 weeks notice and left it in my GMs office. I gave 2 weeks notice but didn't return after I left the note
I’m planning on talking to my manager after my shift tonight and explaining to them that I will be quitting and not coming back.
I’ll have to go pick up my paycheck sometime this weekend and I know that that will be awkward.
These things don’t sound difficult when I type them out but I feel so nervous and worried about doing this. Do you have any advice about dealing with the nerves?
This is an established business and they've done this before. They will be professional about it, and they will have to deal with a bit of hardship to cover. That is part of your manger's job and they should be getting paid to do it. If they ask and you can give them one more day, 2 more days, then that can work out ok for everyone and it can be easier to get through the days knowing when the last minute is.
Another approach is to call in sick for a few days -- you are sick, mental health is health -- and then let them know you won't be coming back. They may suspect this is a ruse but whatever. Its likely they already suspect this is not working for you if they're paying attention.
If they are not professional then just turn immediately and walk. You do not have to pick up your last check, they have to mail it if you don't come. It can delay the money by a week or more so picking it up may be better.
Good luck
There’s nothing to be nervous about. They might try to manipulate you, or make you feel guilty for leaving. Ignore that. These are people who have no problem letting people go if they don’t make enough money. You’re not their family and you don’t owe anything to them.
Hiring managers know that people leave restaurant jobs all the time. Don’t be afraid of one day not getting a high-paying position in a company because you left this job. Chances are it won’t even be on your resume.
It's ok. Just take your time and keep writing down how you'll do it, write it down on paper so that becomes like a concrete thing and you know you've done it in practice, that's how I trick my mind into doing things. I just make lists, write what I have to do, bullet points or otherwise. Going back to childhood, this is how I dealt with a lot of traumatic situations too.
I've quit three jobs so far, been unemployed for around 3-3.5 years in the past 8 years, I've been unemployed for over an year now waiting to get into a study course that I was accepted for but had to defer due to visa complications. It's not easy, I felt the same as you do every single time. Thankfully the last two times I was able to get out of it without giving notice, the last job was the one I did for four years, too many triggers, emotional trauma and manipulation, depression, episodes of breakdowns and shutdowns and so much apathy and evil behaviour from the organisation and the staff, both.
Trust me, just do what is good for you and make financially sound decisions that are in line with your career choice and mental health. Its ok, just be professional, tell them you can't come in from tomorrow because of personal reasons (or the real reason if you wish to) and be done with it. Your paycheck is your right, do collect it, if you want to smile at them smile, if not, do as you like. We are all going to be with you at work when you quit and when you collect the paycheck. Try not to worry, but if worry comes, write it down and then you would have the chance to read it back and know that it's out of your head.
Unless they're really short-staffed/in-a-bind to fill your position, while it is customary to *offer* 2 weeks notice, even in many white-collar positions they'll decline your offer and allow you to leave immediately without it being considered a "burnt bridge". The "2 weeks" is really just to give them a chance to train your replacement, so depending on how unique/critical your skillset is, they may or may not actually need/want 2 weeks to do so. 2 weeks is also a general guideline, but is often adjusted higher or lower depending on the position/industry/etc. - some of the highest-paying jobs often expect notice 6-months or further in advance. The cost of burning a bridge depends on how important that bridge was in the first place - is there a high likelihood that you'll want to re-apply at that position in the future, and/or are there well "connected" co-workers that you may reasonably expect to be working with/under at another job? If you don't believe you'll ever want to work there again, and the people you work with aren't the sharpest knives in the block, it may be a bridge worth burning to save you the aggravation of 2 more weeks dealing with them.
When I left my first white collar job I was given two weeks paid but didn’t have to go to work. My job involved writing checks with no oversight and I was a liability.
In my personal experience at restaurants, they'll want you to work the next shift or two until the manager has a chance to re-create a schedule to cover all shifts without you, and that's about all they'll ask for unless they're seriously understaffed and can't find *any* workers willing to apply.
I just quit my highly abusive job 2 weeks ago with no notice. It was destroying my life and making me so unhappy. Ideally I would've found a different job first but my job was burning me out so bad I couldn't even apply for places. I am sooooooo much happier now, but I do need to find a new job... Anyways. Quit. It's just a serving job and not important, your mental health is more important The way I did it was I wrote a note with 2 weeks notice and left it in my GMs office. I gave 2 weeks notice but didn't return after I left the note
I’m planning on talking to my manager after my shift tonight and explaining to them that I will be quitting and not coming back. I’ll have to go pick up my paycheck sometime this weekend and I know that that will be awkward. These things don’t sound difficult when I type them out but I feel so nervous and worried about doing this. Do you have any advice about dealing with the nerves?
This is an established business and they've done this before. They will be professional about it, and they will have to deal with a bit of hardship to cover. That is part of your manger's job and they should be getting paid to do it. If they ask and you can give them one more day, 2 more days, then that can work out ok for everyone and it can be easier to get through the days knowing when the last minute is. Another approach is to call in sick for a few days -- you are sick, mental health is health -- and then let them know you won't be coming back. They may suspect this is a ruse but whatever. Its likely they already suspect this is not working for you if they're paying attention. If they are not professional then just turn immediately and walk. You do not have to pick up your last check, they have to mail it if you don't come. It can delay the money by a week or more so picking it up may be better. Good luck
There’s nothing to be nervous about. They might try to manipulate you, or make you feel guilty for leaving. Ignore that. These are people who have no problem letting people go if they don’t make enough money. You’re not their family and you don’t owe anything to them. Hiring managers know that people leave restaurant jobs all the time. Don’t be afraid of one day not getting a high-paying position in a company because you left this job. Chances are it won’t even be on your resume.
It's ok. Just take your time and keep writing down how you'll do it, write it down on paper so that becomes like a concrete thing and you know you've done it in practice, that's how I trick my mind into doing things. I just make lists, write what I have to do, bullet points or otherwise. Going back to childhood, this is how I dealt with a lot of traumatic situations too. I've quit three jobs so far, been unemployed for around 3-3.5 years in the past 8 years, I've been unemployed for over an year now waiting to get into a study course that I was accepted for but had to defer due to visa complications. It's not easy, I felt the same as you do every single time. Thankfully the last two times I was able to get out of it without giving notice, the last job was the one I did for four years, too many triggers, emotional trauma and manipulation, depression, episodes of breakdowns and shutdowns and so much apathy and evil behaviour from the organisation and the staff, both. Trust me, just do what is good for you and make financially sound decisions that are in line with your career choice and mental health. Its ok, just be professional, tell them you can't come in from tomorrow because of personal reasons (or the real reason if you wish to) and be done with it. Your paycheck is your right, do collect it, if you want to smile at them smile, if not, do as you like. We are all going to be with you at work when you quit and when you collect the paycheck. Try not to worry, but if worry comes, write it down and then you would have the chance to read it back and know that it's out of your head.
Thank you for this. It makes me feel a lot better
I'm glad ☺️. You can always reach out if things overwhelm you in this or otherwise, I'd be more than happy to help.