One of many understated disadvantages of an unhealthy work environment is the mismatch between your performance and employer’s expectations. You always feel neglected, used and underappreciated in such a toxic space. This feeling can increase with workplace grievances relating to either harassment, bullying or exclusion.
Dealing with a toxic workplace can be demoralizing and often lead to a drop in your performance. While getting out of such space might do your mental health a lot of good, there are other critical factors to consider before opting for resignation. You may have to talk to your manager or a professional workplace advisor if you feel aggrieved. However, it is imperative for you to carefully weigh your options before turning in your resignation.
If you are considering a possible resignation from your workplace, you should endeavour to speak to any of our professional workplace advisor in A Whole New Approach (AWNA). We are going to painstakingly walk you through available options peculiar to your situation and help you decide if you should opt for a settlement with your employer or a reinstatement in the case of an unfair dismissal.
“Never resign until you get advice what your options are.”
Gary Pinchen
Why you may want to resign: Top reasons employees consider resignation.
- Genuine redundancy: This is one of the top reasons you might have to leave your workplace. Redundancy refers to when an employer curtails the number of their employees because their job is no longer needed. This can also be due to a change in their job process and a mismatch in the employee’s skill set. It could also be the business of folding up or relocating to a new site. Redundancy can be unfair if there is no genuine reason but an attempt to kick an employee out the door.
- Bullying in the workplace: when an employee is bullied by either the management or co-workers, it means that such a person is being intimidated as a result of being perceived as vulnerable. One of the ways most employees handle bullying at work is to throw in the towel and protect their mental health by leaving.
- Inadequate work tools/skills: An employer might opt to resign if they are struggling to deliver optimum performance at work. It might be because the employer didn’t provide relevant work tools or due to a lack of relevant work skills. However, such attitude may constitute to constructive dismissal on the part of the employer.
- Hostile work environment: Even if you are doing a great job at work, there is a likelihood that you are going to be dissatisfied with negativity at work. However, before you take that grand decision, you should take your concerns to the human resource department.
- Being underpaid: If you are being underpaid at work, it can lead you to decide to quit. This is most likely if you are qualified and have high performance at work. Before you leave a job, you should do proper research on job prospects and be sure you aren’t going to battle unemployment.
Should you resign?: weighing the employee’s options
Working in a hostile environment can lead to disillusionment, depression or a lethargy for optimum performance. However, resignation should be considered as a last resort option. Here are some tips to what you can do before deciding to leave.
- Evaluate your options: A very important tip you must bear in mind before thinking of resigning is to evaluate available options. Do you have better prospects with another organization? Are you going to receive due pay and compensation after you leave? Will your resignation affect your chances of getting a new job? Being armed with this information will guide you in making the right decision.
- Do a self-assessment test: Sometimes, the problem might not be from your employer’s end. It could be that you do not have the proper skillset for the job. A hostile work environment might stem from a personality clash with your co-workers. You must understand that you cannot claim unfair dismissal if your employer’s decision to terminate your employment is fair.
- Speak to the HR or supervisor: Before deciding to quit, think about talking with your supervisor or HR. Address your concerns and allow them an opportunity to address them. Do not make an exit plan in haste to paint your employer black. If you are being bullied, talking with your manager may lead to temporary solutions like switching to a different department or a permanent solution such as undertaking a workplace investigation.
- Lay a formal complaint: Even after stating your grievances orally, seek to address a formal complaint in writing. This will come in handy in case you wish to apply for an unfair dismissal claim. This also shows that you resigned because there was no other alternative available to you in the workplace.
- Use the right channels: Engaging in an endless gossip circle with your colleagues is highly unprofessional and inadvisable. Follow the due process laid out in the employer’s handbook. Speak to the right people about your challenges and fear and allow them to respond before acting.
- Maintain an optimum performance at work: While considering a resignation, you should endeavour to put in your best at work. Do not intentionally drop your high performance and enthusiasm for your job. Maintain a healthy relationship with colleagues and management. Becoming problematic at work may have ugly repercussions in the future and hurt your professional reputation.
- Seek professional help: Endeavor to seek a balanced opinion from professionals. Resigning might not be the best option for you. If you are looking for a reliable workplace advisor to guide you through this phase and help you weigh your options, A Whole New Approach is your best choice. We can help you gauge your chances of getting due compensation from your employers and help you determine if your resignation process is right. If you have also been unfairly dismissed already, we can help you apply for redress with the Fair work commission and get you reinstated if you so wish.
Wrapping up
Opting to resign might be better than waiting to be kicked out by your employer. However, the decision to resign from your job should be carefully considered to ensure you are not setting yourself up for failure. If you are being bullied at work or sexually harassed, the continual stay might disrupt your mental health. If your resignation stems from a false redundancy, you deserve to be duly compensated.
One of the key things you can do before taking that leap is to speak to a professional workplace advisor who will guide through available options and the outcome of every decision. If you are planning to resign due to redundancy and it is discovered that such situation is not genuine, you can apply for an unfair dismissal claim to either receive compensation or reinstatement.
Navigating the murky waters of employment and workplace grievances can be tricky without professional help. Are you considering resigning from your job soon? Do you want to gauge your options for a compensation or seek to be reinstated in case of being unfairly dismissed? A Whole New Approach (ANWA) is your best bet. We are a team of dedicated workplace advisors that will help you make the right decisions. Before sending in your resignation, utilise our free consultancy today when you speak to any of our agents on 1300 766 700.
