resignation dilemma

[mtnmom]

I will try to keep this brief.

I am in the midst of battling some personal (marital) problems that, quite frankly, my current job and shift (nights) have only seemed to exacerbate. I will not elaborate on them here but things have gotten pretty bad. I have quite unexpectedly been offered a position locally with much better hours and willing to accomodate my school schedule. It is a godsend and feel like if I can get a more stable schedule and be there more for my family, then we can begin a mending process.

I tried to give notice to current manager (who is aware of the problems I have been having)...was to give 2 wks, explaining in my resignation letter that I would like to give longer but due to compelling personal factors I did not feel as if I could give longer and that family had to come first. My manager stated that we are going into holidays and she is going to have a problem staffing - that if I do not stay until Dec 2 then I will be a "do not rehire" at that facility.

I feel as if they are just treating me as a warm body! I do not want to do anything to jeapordize my career...but I so desperately am ready to begin some healing at home. I really need to be there with my girls at night and on weekends.

In 2 more years I will have my FNP anyway and so I dont anticipate needing to return to this facility...but still am afraid of a "black mark"...

I really thought I would get more understanding than this...I did not ask to be placed in this situation. what do I do?

[mtnmom]

You stated that you requested a change in work schedule, your hours were cut so you obtained an agency position. This is a RED FLAG in many HR minds that you are not dedicated to that facility and only want to leave as you got better deal elsewhere.

The reason that I requested a change in work schedule was that when I was hired I told them up front that I was in an FNP program part-time and needed to accomodate my one-day a week class schedule - I had recently been placed on a schedule that required me to work all night, p-a, the night before class. (school is an hour away) After a couple times almost falling asleep at the wheel and then missing a class I asked that something be done - by this time it was too late in the semester to drop. The response I got was to cut my hours by 1/3-1/2 because "I dont have anywhere else in the schedule to put you". I only have scheduled 2 days for agency, was cancelled one and sent home after 6h the other. I only did that to make up the hours I was stripped of. The rest has come from savings.

I feel like because I was up front before hire with my school plans and the need for flexibility, that should not be a surprise to them.

Make sure your spouse understands that by your leaving without 4 week notice, your losing pay through no fault of your own. If family needs dictate your leaving, then do so with clear conscious.

Oh, he wants me to finish the notice and get the pay. He is a controlling alcoholic that complains about my schedule but complains also about the hours I have lost. My whole objective right now is to be able to be around my kids more....and time is of the essence. 2 weeks ago my 15-yr old daughter told me that she "did not want to marry anyone like dad" and "he is not a good dad". Every day to me is important right now ... thats why I feel that the sooner I get on a more stable schedule and am able to be with the kids more at night/weekends, the better for both kids. Plus I dont know at what point I might have to throw in the towel on hubby...there are good days and horrible ones. Right now with the schedule I have I am trapped and could not make a domestic adjustment even if I had to.

I guess I sound like a real whiner, huh?

[gypsyatheart]

mtnmom....No you are not whining. You are frustrated and this is a safe avenue to "vent". I totally understand what you are going through.

Stick to your guns....leave your job as planned...in 2 wks.

You already have a job, you are pursuing an advancement in your career....ask yourself, "am I ever going to want to work for this facility again?". My bet is the answer is "no"! Don't worry about being blackballed. That mgr is blowing smoke up your *$$! I'm sure a call to the head of HR, friendly person or no, mentioning you are planning on consulting with a lawyer regarding this matter....they will shut up real quick.

Ultimately....you have to be prepared, what is the worst that can happen...you leave in 2 wks, start your new job, spend precious time w/your kiddos and lose the paid time off. I could live w/that.

Don't ever let anyone tell you what you are going to do w/your life or allow yourself to be intimidated into something out of fear.

This is precious time w/your children....crummy hospitals, managers, facilities are all over the place. You only have one family.... Stand up to the hag and leave as planned.

[gypsyatheart]

Oh! Heeheehee, I just thought of something....if your mgr persists w/this line of reasoning, that you need to give 30 days (and, btw,are you willing and in a position to do that, anyway, will your new job be there in 30 days?); simply say to her, "well in that case, why am I bothering w/a 2wk notice. Why don't we just make today my last day?!" See what she says then, call her on it, stand up for yourself!

[mtnmom]

I have 5 attorneys in the family (but my employer doesnt know that). I spoke with one of them this am - although he is not a specialist in labor law he stated that unless the no-pay-the-PDO issue is spelled out in policy & procedure then the employer cannot make it stick. It is not addressed in any of the printed material that I have but I will check the online p&p tonite and go from there.

One good thing is that the new job will be there whenever. I have spoken with them and they are very nice and understanding. that is a good sign.

So no, I dont care about the no-rehire bit, but thats a lot of money to give up, especially given my fragile situation, so I am not going down without a fight on this one.

thanks for the input and please keep your fingers crossed for me.

And no, I am not going to acknowledge to my employer that I have access to any legal advice right now. I am going to see where I stand with p&P and then if that is in my favor, I will reveal...