How to Quit Your Job

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I very recently resigned from my position as salaried “Branch Manager” from a national and prominent Company in its field.
Within three months of my start date I was suddenly and “permanently” laid off by the Company which cited budgetary reason as the cause. WITHIN 15 MINUTES of that disparaging news I received I was met by another Company Branch Manager from a city close by and had to leave my office immediately. (Other employees nationwide were also let go)
Within only two days, I was called and offered my job back and given the exact same responsibilities and duties (managing the branch office; employees; and warehouse facility as I had previously done before), but now as an hourly Branch “Lead” instead of Branch Manager - along with a hefty 22% reduction in pay! (Keep in mind: same duties and responsibilities)
To further add to this pay cut, one month later, the Company stated all “hourly” employees (which I was now a part of) would - for supposedly “a few months,” – be paid for only 7 hours a day/35 hours a week instead of 40-45 hours a week that employees actually worked. In addition, some of the warehouse employees were let go so that I now had to do almost all the work on the floor previously done by others – in addition to managing all the office responsibilities as I normally had.
There was no way this additional work could be completed in a 7 hour day. Unfortunately for me, the daily responsibilities still had to be completed. This meant, in addition to cutting my salary $8,800 a year just one month earlier, the company now expected me to work 9-10 hours per day, but paying me only for 7. This “7 hour a day” mandate from the Corporation was only to last November and December, but as of mid-January I am told it has been “extended” into 2012…!!
I did realize when I took the job that it required a driving commute of 120 miles a day/$100 a week for gas. But after my income had been slashed so drastically within a few months into my new job, and then having my income eroded further with the last cut, I gave a ONE WEEK NOTICE of resignation and left my new Company of 4 months at the end of November.
With all the financial BS that I went through in such a very short amount of time, I feel they are lucky I gave them one week!!

Short-Changed of OH 8:41PM January 10, 2012

Most of this would have been good, solid advice - for about 1965 or so. In today's job market, especially in the service industry where employees are treated like lumps of meat as opposed to human beings, most of it really doesn't apply.

Milton of WV 6:50PM January 10, 2012

My thoughts have always been that the best time to start looking for a job is when you already have one. As for giving notice, Well, you din't get 2 weeks notice when your getting laid-off or fired. Training your replacement? Who trains you for your next job? not your soon to be former employer.

Mother II of TX 6:40PM January 10, 2012

My dear, you know where the problem is? The lack of knowlegment of the "Managers". And you know why? Because when they get the position, forget that they where employee, too. And the position become to be to big for them.
Before you quick, let them to pay for your unemploymente, because if your are quitting is because you know the treatment that you recive, and do not let your blood, sweed and tears to nobody, special if they don't have any consideration for you.

Ramon of MN 6:37PM January 10, 2012

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Jim of IL 6:23PM January 10, 2012

This is terrible advice, considering how most employers treat their employees, as resources to be exploited, either give your boss the finger and quit, or get another job, and then take your two weeks vacation (you wont get it otherwise unless you've already taken it) time off, whatever until your ready to leave. Remember your company has absolutely no loyalty to you, so you should not have any for them.
The only jobs worth not ditching over are high-end and government jobs, where you're previous work experience actually matters, for any working class job...forget it, no one really bothers to call previous employers, i know i didnt, most people are good people and leave because their previous job was screwing them 99% of the time

David of GA 5:35PM January 10, 2012

I just resigned and asked to do so immediately. Helping a smooth transition is a very nice gesture for the employer/manager but they're the ones who caused you to leave in the first place -- what's with rewarding them time when years ago they had YOU sign an "at will" contract? Works both ways. No requirement for my being laid-off or termination; no requirement to give them an smooth transition or to teach some replacement. Just quit!

couplewords of CA 5:32PM January 10, 2012

Recently gave my 2 weeks notice to now former employer. Former employer made counter offer to match new job salary. After 3 years with no raise I was not taking counteroffer.
Why would I think that my present/ former employer will actually make good on his counter offer after 3 years of maltreatment and disprespect. In the end it was not a matter of money, but a matter of trust (or lack of).

jack of NY 5:26PM January 10, 2012

When leaving the company you worked for 6 months or less, and the separation was sort of sour. And moving on with your life, you wished not to include nor even not to mention that 6 months work time you had. Would that be a negative or a barrier on your job search? That work experience was not at all related to your experience but had to do due to financial reasons. Thank you.

miles s gardner of CA 4:57PM January 10, 2012

How a boss/employer handles the news can validate the decision to resign. I've had several bosses behave badly - one disparaged my new employer as "unethical" - and it just reinforced all the reasons I decided to look for a new job in the first place. Like Alison commented below, a good boss takes the news in stride and plans for the transition.

Name1 of WA 7:37PM December 20, 2011