How to Resign From a Toxic Job

If you are no longer comfortable in your work environment and are thinking about quitting your job, you know that making the final decision to leave your toxic job is the hardest part.

Therefore, if you believe your job is toxic and can’t take it any longer, you need to ensure that quitting is the best option for you.

Finally, if you have decided to resign from your toxic job, you should know how to do the process gracefully without burning all bridges to avoid any further regrets. 

In this article, we are going to discuss what a toxic job is, how you can resign from your toxic workplace step by step, and more.

Why Employees Leave Their Jobs

There are different reasons why people leave their jobs, but according to various surveys, being unhappy and job dissatisfaction are among the common reasons people quit their jobs. 

Long story short, having top positions is not the only factor to be satisfied with your job; having days off, a healthy workplace, self-care, etc., are also important factors.

Other reasons why people leave their toxic jobs include:

• Lack of recognition
• Poor communication
• Bad management
• Little or no advance opportunities
• More and better pay
• No autonomy
• Too many red flags

Note that most of these reasons are signs of a toxic workplace, which means if you notice any of these items, you should know that you are not the only person who wants to leave their job!

Finally, you need to prioritize your needs and leave the company you are working for if your employer doesn’t care about you or other employees.

What Is a Toxic Job

In simple words, a toxic workplace is when it negatively affects your mental and physical health.

As you may know, a toxic job affects your well-being, and workplace issues can follow you home and keep you in a bad mood for a whole day.

Moreover, a toxic job is more than your position and career, as it can be influenced by various factors, such as bad management, poor communication, toxic employees, etc.

You will notice the following problems if you work in a toxic workplace:

• High turnovers
• Fear and anxiety
• No life/work balance
• Poor support
• Micromanagement
• Abusive actions and behaviors

If you keep noticing such factors, it is better to look for a new job or try to explain these problems to your employer and resolve them.

What Are the Characteristics of a Toxic Workplace

As you may know by now, there are different characteristics of a toxic workplace, and noticing them is an alarm for you to search for a new job because it’s the right decision for you.

 Let’s see common signs of a toxic work environment:

Poor communication

Communication is the key to solving all problems; however, confusing or poor communication is the main reason causing issues in workplaces.

Poor communication can lead to huge problems on different levels because it may cause misunderstandings about the details of projects and cause other employees to suffer.

Gossipy behavior

A successful workplace is one where everyone respects each other and avoids behaviors such as bullying or gossiping.

Nobody bad-mouths employees and managers in a healthy and professional work environment, while in toxic workplaces, everyone gossips about each other and talks behind others.

Bad management

Bad management and leadership are among the main reasons for a toxic work atmosphere because disrespectful behaviors influence employees and create an unhealthy mood in the work environment.

Bad managers usually don’t care about their employees and just think about themselves, so if you are looking for a new job, make sure you analyze how employees talk about their boss.

Little growth opportunities

Employees who work in a toxic workplace experience little or no growth opportunities, which means their employer and managers don’t provide any training, mentoring, or career options.

High employee turnover

If you notice several people are thinking or deciding about quitting their jobs, you should consider it as a clear sign of a toxic job.

A high employee turnover is mostly because of all the bad factors you can imagine for a workplace and employer, so if you notice this sign, it’s time to look for a new job.

How to Resign From a Toxic Job Step-by-step

Let’s see the actual steps you need to take to resign from your toxic job:

1- Make your decision

Before doing anything, you need to think carefully about leaving your job and ensure there is no way to resolve the problems rather than resigning from your job.

If you can’t come up with the right decision, you ask yourself questions such as:

• Are you satisfied with your tasks?
• What factors can include your mental health?
• Can you solve the conflicts with your boss or coworkers?
• Is there too much pressure on you?
• Do you have difficulties with your current position?
• Will you be happy in another department?

As you may know, many problems can be solved by proper communication, but if you think there is no space for conversation, then you can make your final decision.

2- Make a list of what you expect from a healthy job

You can’t just quit your job because it can lead to work in another toxic workplace if you don’t know why you are leaving your job.

Creating a list of what you are looking for in a new job helps you avoid moving from one toxic job to another.

3- Stay on your decision to resign

Leaving your job is an important decision to make because it affects different aspects of your life, such as finances and family issues. Therefore, once you make your decision, you need to stay committed to that choice to start the process.

If you think this step may be hard, you can create a list of your reasons for quitting your job to remind yourself why you want to leave your toxic job.

4- Make an exit strategy

As mentioned earlier, quitting your current job may be a difficult task, so you need to create an exit strategy to make the process easier. 

Note that when you are creating an exit strategy, you need to consider: 

• How will you resign? 
• When are you going to look for a new job?
• Can you support yourself financially after leaving?
• Are you going to resign when you find another job or not?

Remember that there are various details you need to consider while making an exit strategy, so ensure you pay attention to all aspects.

5- Choose a resignation date

When you finalize your decision to leave your job, it’s time to set a firm resignation date to inform your employer.

Note that you need to give two weeks’ notice to your manager so they can find a replacement for you.

6- Don’t talk about your plans

Always keep your plans to yourself, and don’t share your goals with your coworkers because they will talk about them in the workplace, which may have a bad effect on your reputation.

7- Resign from a toxic job decently

When you want to resign from your job, it is important to politely inform your employer about your decision and let them think about your request and find a replacement.

To finish this process properly, it is better to inform your employer at least two weeks earlier, deliver your notice personally, write a resignation letter, say goodbye to your coworkers, etc.

Note that when you properly leave your job, you can better look for a new job because your new employers may ask former managers and colleagues about you.

How to Find a Healthy Workplace

When you resign from a toxic job with a bad work environment, you do anything to avoid working in another toxic place, which means finding a happier and healthier job is necessary.

To find a healthy job, you should first be intentional about all common red flags and be careful about all the signs of a toxic workplace.

Think carefully about how you want your new job and workplace to look like, how you want your colleagues to behave, etc.

Another thing that helps you find a better workplace is sending your application to someone you feel comfortable with and think is the one you want to work for.

Remember to check all the reviews of the company and take some time to speak to employees of the new company to see what they say about the managers and the work environment.

Finally, make sure you are using the right sources to find your desired job and workplace because it helps you get accepted more quickly in your new position.

FAQs

1- Is it better to stay or leave a toxic job?

Leaving your toxic job is always an option, and making the final decision is all up to you. However, a toxic job damages your mental and physical health, so it is better to resign from your toxic job and look for a better workplace.

2- Why is leaving a toxic workplace hard?

It is because of the relationships and emotions you built up with your colleagues and the moments you shared in the company. 

3- Is my job really toxic, or is it me?

Not all workplaces are perfect, but a toxic job or company is defined as being disorganized, distrustful, disrespectful, etc. If you feel any of these behaviors, it means your job is toxic, and nothing is wrong with you.

Conclusion

The important thing to remember when resigning from your toxic job is that you are leaving your current toxic job to find a healthy and happy workplace.

Therefore, you must act exactly how you want to see your new employer and colleagues. Try to be positive and kind and avoid bad behaviors that cause to create a toxic atmosphere.

Finally, don’t forget to start the resignation process positively because you don’t want to burn out all the bridges!