how will you quit?

[sol]

Last week, one of my coworkers walked into the office of his immediate supervisor and announced that he had just filed his paperwork to retire from federal service.  Then turned around and walked out of the building for the last time, at 10am on a Tuesday.

There was no two weeks notice.  There was no discussion of his plans, nobody knew he was even unhappy with his job.  The usual "Bob Smith is retiring!" email that usually gets sent around instead said "Bob Smith has retired effectively immediately and has already left the building." 

There were rumors of an obscenity-filled rage-quit, but I think that's just my coworkers projecting their own fantasies onto the story.

I'm not sure I could put my employer or my team in that kind of position, like I think they deserve better than to have me suddenly gone one day without any succession plan in place.  On the other hand, I know that many people on the forum are reluctant to give any notice because they fear how their employer will respond.

When the time comes for you to leave your job, how will you do it?  Six month's notice and an office party with balloons and bad cake?  Maybe just stop showing up and see how long they keep paying you?  Tell your most annoying coworker where to stick it?

[iamlindoro]

RE is far enough away that I don't have a lot of fully-formed fantasies yet.  I've also started to see FI/RE as more of a spectrum for myself, too-- we're about 3 years out from "retire comfortably with to trouble in Central or South America," 5 years from "retire comfortably to Central or South America AND take yearly trips abroad to anywhere for a few months, and 7 years from "retire anywhere, I'm rich, bitch!"

Probably one day something will annoy me, I will have passed one of those gates, and I'll look at my SO and say "screw it, let's do it."  We'll probably retire gently, though, and give a few weeks or months of notice as we make firm plans.  That is, unless work changes drastically and I find some reason to enjoy something more dramatic :)

[Janie]

2 weeks notice, no drama

[Mistah Cash Lion]

It's a bit far off for me so things could change, but I am a respectful person and would likely give the courtesy of 2 weeks notice even if they didn't deserve it.  If they try taking advantage of my last 2 weeks, I would have no problem telling them that I won't put up with that and leave early.

[Retired To Win]

It's a bit far off for me so things could change, but I am a respectful person and would likely give the courtesy of 2 weeks notice even if they didn't deserve it.  If they try taking advantage of my last 2 weeks, I would have no problem telling them that I won't put up with that and leave early.

This is the way to go.  Fair but not allowing for any bullshit.

[pbkmaine]

I gave them a quarter's notice. I visit clients once a quarter and this allowed my company to send my replacement with me on my "farewell tour." She took over most of the work, so my last quarter was kind of a breeze. It created a lot of goodwill, and as a result, I still work about 5 hours a week on a few projects.

[okits]

I'd like to think I would be professional, but if I were really unhappy I do think there's a small risk I would flame out spectacularly (though with FI so close I'd probably just suck it up until I could give two weeks' notice.)

No-notice Bob Smith, in the absence of a tirade or any complaints, may have had something personal come up that he didn't want to disclose at work.  If he was a good guy I'd be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[nora]

I think I will get pregnant, go on maternity leave and say three months before the end, presuming our income is going ok, say I am not coming back.

[Bateaux]

I'm leaving 2018 and on my last performance appraisal I gave notice.  I hope to leave on good terms in case I need to return some day.

[BlueHouse]

Wait until the one jerk I work with belittles me or someone else in a meeting to try to make himself look better,  wait to see that no one else will tell the jerk to shut it, then I'll just get up and walk out and never go back. They'll probably think I'm crying in a bathroom somewhere and they'll hold up the meeting. I won't care by then.
Or I'll give about 6 weeks notice.  However long the incremental funding on my contract is at that point.

[Cressida]

bad cake

I know right? I'm not the world's greatest cook but making good cake is really not hard. Why is grocery store cake so utterly fucktastic?

On topic: It's at *least* a couple of years out, but my current plan is to attempt to stay on as a part-time contractor. So unfortunately I can't tell my most annoying coworker to stick it.

[libertarian4321]

  Maybe just stop showing up and see how long they keep paying you?  Tell your most annoying coworker where to stick it?

Federal government?

You'll probably be long dead before anyone figures out you are missing.

[Monkey Uncle]

I'm leaving 2018 and on my last performance appraisal I gave notice.  I hope to leave on good terms in case I need to return some day.

Yeah, I'll have re-hire eligibility, so I'll want to leave on good terms in case of FIRE failure.  It would suck really badly to have to go back, but running out of money would suck even worse.

I estimate that I'm still about 3.75 years out, so I've got some time to think about it.  I'd like to give 6 months notice to allow for transition planning.  But I may be cutting it close on the size of the nest egg.  It would be embarrassing to give notice, then a couple months later discover that I need to do another year because of a market crash or some other such calamity.

[gaja]

The law here says at least one month notice, and most contracts have three months. For retirement there are so many regulations and benefits, that I would probably start talking to the HR department at least 6 months in advance.

[Davids]

Simple 2 weeks notice. No drama.

[arebelspy]

Last week I informed my supervisor and the person in charge of my program I won't be returning next year.

So that's about 5 1/2 months notice before the next work year begins, but only about 2 1/2 months until my last day of work (teacher w/ summers off).

They're in the transfer season where teachers (and other staff) move around between jobs, so while I could have held onto my job and not given notice "just in case," the right thing to do was tell them so someone else interested could move into my job.

[Paul der Krake]

If I'm reasonably happy at the job: 2 weeks notice, giving some BS excuse for leaving. Drive into the sunset with the windows rolled down and free bird playing on loop.

IF the job is horrible, I'd just not show up and see how long it takes them to notice. Also drive into the sunset with the windows rolled down and free bird playing on loop.

[stuckinmn]

I gave 4 months notice on Febrary 3, but my boss is awesome and I didn't want to leave him screwed.  I told him and a guy that currently reports to me that will replace me that I was retiring, but we agreed to tell everyone else it's a sabbatical.  They know me and understand it, but most others would get dismissive or jealous at the R word.

[pachnik]

I would give 2 weeks notice at the least at my current job.  I would definitely be willing to stay on longer to train a replacement which would make it easier on the owners of the company not to mention the replacement.  The owners of the company where I work now are really great so I would want to make it as easy on them as I can.

But in reality because of their ages, I think they will retire first.  I just hope that I will be FI at that point and able to retire at the same time.  Or go part time to close down the office or something like that.

[mm1970]

Last time I quit I gave 3 months notice.

This time?  I'm looking for a new job. I'd give two weeks.

[Clean Shaven]

Captain Obvious : if you get an annual or other periodic bonus, don't give notice until you receive that payment.

I actually had a coworker give notice in mid December, at a job with a couple thousand year end bonus being typical. He didn't receive his bonus check.  Kind of a dumb shit, so that was not unexpected behavior for that guy.

[ender]

Captain Obvious : if you get an annual or other periodic bonus, don't give notice until you receive that payment.

I actually had a coworker give notice in mid December, at a job with a couple thousand year end bonus being typical. He didn't receive his bonus check.  Kind of a dumb shit, so that was not unexpected behavior for that guy.

Yeah, this is definitely a consideration.

[MrsPete]

Simple for me:

Every year we teachers are asked to fill out a form indicating our plans for next year (we just did it last week, so it's fresh in my mind).  We're asked to indicate whether we intend to return to teaching next year, intend to transfer, intend to retire, or whatever else. 

[benjenn]

I gave my boss 14 month's notice last October with the thought it would really be nice to have a year to train my replacement and that would give us a couple months to get someone (I have someone in mind) hired and started by the first of the year.  That didn't happen.

The end of February, I told him we had moved our retirement date up 5 months and were now going to be leaving the end of July instead of the end of the year.  I gave him a very reasonable timeline to have someone hired to start by the first of June, right before one of the biggest events I have all year - something that someone really, really needs to experience before they're left to be in charge of it (a week-long trip with 70+ high school juniors to Washington, D.C.).  This would give them only 2 months to spend with me training them, June and July. 

The date for having my job posted for that to happpen was April 3.  Today is April 11 and nothing has happened - so that  whoever ends up taking my place won't have the benefit of being trained whatsoever for that event -- or any of the other events that I'm reasponsible for throughout the year.

Oh well.  I am leaving in 110 days... 66 works days.  After that, not my circus, not my monkeys.  I didn't want it to be this way and I definitely did everything I could to make sure it wouldn't be this way but alas, looks like it will be a mess.  Makes me feel for the person taking my place, whoever that may be.

[use2betrix]

I have a feeling I'd be to excited to be done to not bring it up. Make sure some of the pricks I work with are stuck there why I'm out mountain biking and fishing.

[Roots&Wings]

As nicely and quietly as possible. Give HR the requested 3 weeks notice after bonus time.

Collect my payout for banked/unused vacation time (~4 months expenses). Use up sick leave for doctor/dentist visits, take care of any expensive procedures. Max out retirement account contributions.

Have all benefits transitions in place (healthcare, 401k, etc). Send out a friendly farewell note and stay in touch with colleagues via Linked In.

[Valhalla]

I wouldn't quit in full. I'd transition to part time hours / work.  To completely switch off from one day to next would be too jarring.

[London Moustache]

My plan is to get to my number and then give them a year. They funded my retirement, so I should do them the courtesy of not f***ing them over. Plus, I think it would be fun to work for a year like Peter in Office Space. Skipping meetings. Leaving early. Laughing when someone gives you an impossible deadline. Good fun.

[The Pigeon]

I'll give two weeks, but I'd be tempted to just say "see-ya!" like the fellow in the OP did. Since my job is with an "at-will" employer, and they can terminate me immediately without cause or notice, I should be able to return the favor.
But, I'll probably play nice and give two weeks.
I'm too nice. ;-)

[Valhalla]

I'll give two weeks, but I'd be tempted to just say "see-ya!" like the fellow in the OP did. Since my job is with an "at-will" employer, and they can terminate me immediately without cause or notice, I should be able to return the favor.
But, I'll probably play nice and give two weeks.
I'm too nice. ;-)

You're nice, but it's also wise to not burn bridges.

Who knows if circumstances change you need or want to go work back there (as unlikely as it seems)... you never want to shut doors too tight, just in case...

[Numbers Man]

Actually, I love that story about the dude that retired on the spot. I don't think you owe your employer any consideration. Give the notice that is convenient for you. There have been many people terminated by their employer without notice so I think that the employee has no duty to give notice.

[spokey doke]

I'd give some indication to the people who would be affected in time to avoid major downsides, but the main idea is to simply slip away and be gone.

[steveo]

By the stage I'm ready to quit I will have at least one year long service leave on 1/2 pay. I intend to just go on that and still accrue more annual and long service leave but just not come back. So I think I will get another months pay at the end of my year of doing nothing.

[TomTX]

A few months ago I told my boss that I planned to retire as soon as I could take the (reduced) pension.

So.... 12 years or so notice.

This actually led into the discussion about getting my salary increased over the next 5-6 years for a bigger pension. Already got a nice bump.

[Cookie78]

I'm not irreplaceable at work, They can live without me until they hire someone else. I also don't hate them and have no reason to walk out. I'll give 2 weeks notice, like usual.

[dungoofed]

I put in my notice a few weeks ago (not FIRE). Gave several months notice, taking the last few weeks as accumulated annual leave (therefore maintaining health insurance, benefits etc. Common practice here in Japan, as opposed to the "payout").

I had known for a while this day would come and had been signalling so to my boss for the past 6-12 months. But as for actually giving notice, I agree with everyone else who is saying "don't burn the bridge" - simple and concise is key.

[Write Thyme]

My first job I slowly went to part time to on call then new management came in, and I eventually said I wasn't coming back. Second job I gave a week notice, but that's the best I could do because I was starting elsewhere. My current job...well I'll give two weeks notice, but lately when people give notice they just fire them on the spot.

[AlwaysBeenASaver]

My current job...well I'll give two weeks notice, but lately when people give notice they just fire them on the spot.

This is exactly my fear and why I won't give notice until I'm ready to be fired on the spot that day. I'll be giving 2 weeks notice, and possibly let them extend it to 3 if they have a good explanation of how the extra week would help train a replacement or get a project to a good stopping point.

[goodlife]

This really depends on your job I guess. I work in finance...if you quit, they ask you to get your things and get out of the building, they don't allow you to stay on normally. They pay you in lieu of notice in that case. So that's pretty nice actually, you just always have to make sure that you have anything personal that you may have saved somewhere/lying around somewhere cleared out well in advance since you may not be allowed to come back to your desk, ha!

[Rural]

Mine will be a little over a year, partly because of wanting to be sure my department keeps the tenure-track line and has the opportunity to hire for it (hiring season is fall-winter for a next-fall start in much of academia) and partly to avoid derailing the graduation plans of any of our majors - courses are planned out a year in advance, and I teach one that those who are going to graduate school really need.


But, knowing this in advance, if I want to I can always give notice as our FI number approaches instead of after we reach it. I don't know yet if I'm leaving when we hit the number. We'll see what the job looks like then - lots of other pending retirements may change the environment for good or ill.

[zinnie]

It kind of depends on the employer. I have left that day before when the environment was not the one I wanted and I had just started the job. I'd also have no problem doing this if it was a toxic environment and I didn't care about a reference.

At my current job, I get along with my boss and team so well that I think I would inform them of my plans to leave and then have the conversation about how long it makes sense for me to stay. I wouldn't volunteer anything unreasonable, but if I am really leaving the work force I wouldn't mind staying past just two weeks to feel like I left them in a good place. 

[iwasjustwondering]

Last week, one of my coworkers walked into the office of his immediate supervisor and announced that he had just filed his paperwork to retire from federal service.  Then turned around and walked out of the building for the last time, at 10am on a Tuesday.

There was no two weeks notice.  There was no discussion of his plans, nobody knew he was even unhappy with his job.  The usual "Bob Smith is retiring!" email that usually gets sent around instead said "Bob Smith has retired effectively immediately and has already left the building." 

There were rumors of an obscenity-filled rage-quit, but I think that's just my coworkers projecting their own fantasies onto the story.

I'm not sure I could put my employer or my team in that kind of position, like I think they deserve better than to have me suddenly gone one day without any succession plan in place.  On the other hand, I know that many people on the forum are reluctant to give any notice because they fear how their employer will respond.

When the time comes for you to leave your job, how will you do it?  Six month's notice and an office party with balloons and bad cake?  Maybe just stop showing up and see how long they keep paying you?  Tell your most annoying coworker where to stick it?

Mmm, cake....

I will give notice right after bonus season, whichever year that turns out to be, and I'll give two weeks' notice.  I have given more than two weeks before, and I don't see the value in giving more, either for me or my employer. 

I could give two weeks right before my next big bonus is due to arrive, but you never know.  I'll wait till the cash is safely in the bank before pulling the trigger.  We get a ton of resignations on or just after bonus day in my company. 

[EllieStan]

It's not my style to walk off like that, and I hope the job I have when I'm ready to retire will be one that I love. I'd let my employer know a few months ahead so they can hire someone and the transition is not too brutal.

[YK-Phil]

My board of directors treats me extremely well. Actually, they give me complete carte blanche to do my job (read: they don't give a damn about what I am doing as long as I keep the books balanced). So I will definitely give them sufficient notice -perhaps three months, to allow me plenty of time to find the right person to take over and train him/her while I am still on the job, that way, the likelihood that the new person could blame me for any bad management or problem would be significantly reduced.

[arebelspy]

Mmm, cake....

The cake is a lie.

[ash7962]

I will probably give notice either at the end of year review (which is where they tell you bonus amount) or right after I get the bonus check.  I work for a super small company so I'll probably try to work with my boss to come up with a plan for transitioning.  I'd make sure I finish up projects and offer to be part time to help train the newbie (if they hired another).  I'd also allow them a period of time to call me if they had any questions on code I had written.  So yeah, pretty boring.  The job isn't the best but I think  it'd make for a good transition for both me and the company.

[Neustache]

As my next job will hopefully be as a teacher, I'll be similar to arebelspy's timeframe - probably quit in February to give them a head's up that they need to look, and then work until the end of the school year.

But if I were at a corporate job - two weeks and that's it. 

[Catbert]

Retired Federal government employee.

For years I carried the form necessary to retire in my DayPlanner.  (It's the government so of course there is a form.)  I fantasied about whipping it out in the middle of some god awful meeting where I was being beaten up by upper management.  I planned on signing it "to be effective immediately" and walking out.  I'd be famous among my peers and employees.

When the time came, however, I told my immediate supervisor about a year ahead of time that I'd be retiring around the end of the year.  Got the big lunch, Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the whole shebang.   

[SenoritaStache]

Ummmmmm, just 2 weeks, no need for more.  I'm thinking I would do it towards the end of my final year, maybe in the month of December. 

[StetsTerhune]

I've made a chart of the pros and cons of quitting by date. By far the most logical is to put in 3 weeks notice the date my annual bonus hits my bank account and make 4/1/2016 my last day (insurance for the month plus that month's pto if I work the 1st).

That said, I've hit my number, and there's a lot of things that could annoy me enough to quit before then. No matter what though, the act of putting in my notice will be more than enough of a release for me and I won't need to flip out dramatically. Plus it's a small enough world that it's never worthwhile to burn bridges for me.