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by ubermonkey 1629 days ago
That's an insanely pollyanna take on quitting. What's the worst that could happen? You could get fired for looking for another job. This happens. Most people I know have worked for someone toxic, or worked for a toxic organization.

If you work for nice people and things just don't align, yeah, sure, this approach may be fine, but it's by no means universal.

3 comments

I think the assumption is getting fired instantly from a toxic organization is probably a good thing. The problem is that a high likelihood of a better outcome (as opposed to ending up living in your car), still isn't a guarantee.

The most risk-averse strategy should still use some of the advice posted here, but concerns like minimizing other people's problems and your own guilt are not worth the dangers.

The article's comment to that "But if you have a crap manager it’s better to find that out clearly, and early" is, frankly, ridiculous - discussing your potential quitting is not the way how one would "find out early" that they have a crap manager - presumably they would already know very well at that point, and this would likely be a big part of why they're quitting.
> the assumption is getting fired instantly from a toxic organization is probably a good thing

That's correct – although I definitely take on board some of the other commenters' feedback about things like visas tied to roles. I'm going to add some clarification to make it clear this really relates to employees in good standing in tech companies (obviously a tiny minority of the populace and one of the few groups who have the guarantee you mention).

I have never had this happen to me but I'm always prepared to walk out the door the same day I hand in my 2 week's.

Any personal effects that I'm not using regularly have already snuck home with me during the previous week or two. Documentation I've been meaning to write has at least been attempted to be cleaned up.

Yeh that was my thought, I only got as far as that flow chart. It's missing a path from "your manager hears you out" to "you get fired because they've decided it's better for them if you go now".

And while that may be better in the long term, it's not so good if you want to keep earning while you find your next move.