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The long and short of it is that my workplace is chaotic and mismanaged. I have made numerous attempts to fix issues but I’m always blocked by someone more senior than me. It’s very stressful and I’m thinking of changing jobs.

Should I tell my workplace? I ask because I really enjoy the field I’m in, I know my job extremely well, the commute is short and my working hours are exactly what I want. Should I take the risk that my workplace might actually try to fix the problems if they know they’re going to lose me? (It’s not a big business and I suspect I’m one of the reasons it’s still afloat) or is that bad business practice?

The other consideration is I’ve seen multiple staff leave over the years and the boss has taken every resignation very personally and given staff a terrible time before they’re able to leave. By giving him a warning I think I could minimise his reaction.

What would be the best way to handle this? Say nothing and hand my notice in as a surprise or warn first and see if anything good comes from it before I start job hunting?

Should I take the risk that my workplace might actually try to fix the problems if they know they’re going to lose me?

Definitely not. They're not going to magically change their attitudes as soon as you threaten to leave.

If they were serious about fixing problems then they would have done so already. If you threaten to leave now, then the realistic best case scenario (for you) is that they promise to fix a few things to keep you happy, maybe fix one of those in a half-cocked way much later than expected, and resent you for forcing their hand.

The worst case, which is arguably more likely, is that they start looking for your replacement immediately, they then let you go when it's suitable for them, not you, and you're left without a job and a stable source of income.

You have the luxury of an existing job and steady income stream at present, even if you'd rather move. If you want to leave then use that luxury to your advantage, and maybe take a bit longer over finding a new job that's a really good fit for you. Don't hand them all the cards, cross your fingers and then hope that you're not fired and things start to get marginally better. That's a hell of a risk for very little gain.

The other consideration is I’ve seen multiple staff leave over the years and the boss has taken every resignation very personally and given staff a terrible time before they’re able to leave.

He's going to do this whenever you leave, warning or no warning. Not resigning for this reason is just delaying the inevitable.

I would say no - I've been in a near identical situation and ultimately you need to face the fact that at this point you're basically beating a dead horse.

As you say you've made multiple attempts to try and fix the dysfunction, it's possible that threatening to leave might shock them into making a change but I doubt it, I think you might hear them say all the right things (to walk you back from leaving) but real and lasting change of the kind that it sounds like this company needs only happen with sufficient collective will (and importantly - desire) to do so.

And of course their remains the distinct possibility that they just drop you (depending upon the locale - if you're "at will" then they can fire you any time for any reason other than those protected by law).

The other consideration is I’ve seen multiple staff leave over the years and the boss has taken every resignation very personally and given staff a terrible time before they’re able to leave. By giving him a warning I think I could minimise his reaction.

Ahh..the Boss-who-takes-it-personally-when-someone-leaves. I've seen that species in action more than a few times (unfortunately) and giving them more notice won't help - you just get the poor treatment for longer.

You've tried to help this company - that's admirable. Now it's time to help yourself, look (discreetly) for another job and as soon as you have something signed and sealed, resign and work your notice.

Should I take the risk that my workplace might actually try to fix the problems if they know they’re going to lose me?

What do you imagine is going to happen? This would be the absolutely best scenario there could be here:

• Weebo goes to boss and says "Boss, I'm unhappy with X, Y and Z and I think I want to leave because of it."


• Boss goes and talks to the rest of management, tells them "Weebo is upset about X, Y and Z, and we might lose a good employee because of it."


• Management gets right to work fixing the problems.


• After some period of time (how long would you give them?), Boss would come back and say "Weebo, we've worked on X, Y and Z. We hope that you will stay here at the company."

Sounds silly, doesn't it?

It's not going to happen.

By giving him a warning I think I could minimise his reaction.

Not likely. If your boss is a bad enough boss to 1) take an employee leaving personally, and 2) hassle the leaving employees because of it, there's probably nothing you can do to stop that.

There is pretty much zero upside in announcing your intentions to leave, and lots of downside.

I was in exactly the same position in 2010. Admittedly, the boss was my father and the only employees were me and my sister, plus regulars we brought in during busy seasons.

I laid it on the line for him (my boss/father). Shape up or I ship out. The results were mixed. With all humility possible, the company was only operating because of my diligence. He immediately recognized this and granted my raise request, but other issues he stalled. A few things did get better, but ultimately he did not do anything. It was actually me essentially taking over all operations and edging him out.

Today, he's retired and I'm running a tight ship. For you, I recommend against advanced warning more than is common for your culture. All you have to look forward to the likely verbal placating and ultimate inaction. I at least had the unspoken promise that I would be boss and owner one day, which is ultimately what kept me around. Without that little carrot, I would have left with very little warning (and I almost did, submitting a few resumes and entertaining a few call backs).

I was exactly in the same situation. It was September 2017 and I was working for this company for around 5 years already, and several very good developers came and go in this time. (They are not even aware what they have lost, they were some very good developers.) I was practically the only one left. (There was also one person hired by Jan 2017 and he also ran away in around 8 months).

I first told the manager things were chaotic, explained him in detail what I think was wrong. His response was that they would invest on some mobile application, they would hire a remote team, I would be the technology team lead whatever.. I told him it was not what, it was how. I do not think I was successful explaining myself.

Then it was January I told them I was going to quit by April (my notice period was way shorter but I wanted to leave in dignity and knowing I would transfer all the knowledge I have to the new coming person myself) and I asked them to take action. They wanted me to prepare a job ad, which I did (for the position I was going to leave) but somehow it was never posted.

In May, I was fully burnt out, I could not take it anymore, and I told them I would not work anymore. They told me "You are practically giving us a 0 day notice". I could not care less and I did not even bother arguing..

I am much, much more happier now since I gave up.

This may seem unrelated to your question, and I would not know the definitive answer anyway (and I never understand people claiming they know), but what I am trying to explain it is: who cares what you say? Do say if you feel like it, do not listen to anyone. But do quit and do not wait to burn out completely, there will be no good in it.

Be professional (which I was not, I acted emotional), try your best, no good? Quit.. Tell them before or only by notice period? Does not matter really. It seems like you are already wasting your time..

Should I tell my workplace that I’m thinking of quitting?

Do not threaten your employer with quitting — it's just bad form.  Work with them as a fully-on-board team player pushing for continuous improvement until the last.  Use the most rational and logical arguments you can articulate — and as you go, try to learn new arguments by learning more about the business.