Reasons for Leaving

“Should I resign?”

This question may have run through your head a few times over. This a very familiar question to most employees and others might have mulled over this question too. It is familiar to almost all working people.

We all feel that fire burning with so much passion inside of us when we started a job. We establish certain work goals for ourselves — career growth, higher salary, and better opportunities. We work harder as each day, month, and year go by, and the stress and tiredness either lessen or get worse. The time will come when all the energy, effort, and passion we had for the job slowly die and this familiar question hits us.

The first thing you do should be to ask yourself this question: “Why do I want to resign?”

Is it because of your new boss or new rules? Is it because of the lack of employee benefits? Is it because the people you closely work with are not competent enough to produce quality work? You don’t feel happy anymore?

Whenever you feel like resigning, it is high time for you to evaluate your work. Thinking of resigning should not be ignored because sometimes, it is a decision that should be made. But of course, resigning is not as easy as one plus one or reciting the alphabet. It should be thought over multiple times and there should be, as much as possible, the right time for you to do it. So, when is the right time for you to resign?

• You cannot handle the stress and exhaustion anymore.

It is true what they say: no job is stress-free. All jobs give stress to their employees, but it can be different from one employee to another. Our stress tolerance also varies. Some people take stress and exhaustion as a good thing, for others, it is bad. It depends on how each person handles stress and exhaustion. 

If it affects your lifestyle already and causes a negative impact on your health, evaluate your options. It is normal to be dedicated to a job but sacrificing too much of yourself can be harmful.

You must remember that your employer can easily replace you. But your health and lifestyle cannot be easily replaced and fixed.

• There is no more growth.

Your job should be able to help you grow professionally through the help of your colleagues and bosses. Sometimes, your boss may even give you certain opportunities that can challenge your capabilities and dedication. These opportunities are for your professional growth and development if not, there is no reason to take these on.

• Toxic work environment.

Negative colleagues, unhappy bosses, and poor employee benefits all add up to what a toxic work environment is. An oppressive environment where you cannot voice out your opinions or seek clarifications for decisions or employees’ rules is not worth the time and effort.

Do not sacrifice your happiness and other opportunities for the benefit of others. The relationship must be a two-way street. You give your best and you and your family must benefit through just compensation and a better work environment. 

• Greener pastures.

A lot of employees resign because of the greater opportunities offered to them. Do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to have better benefits, pay, colleagues, and work environment. Most often, employees are offered a better income and better benefits because it is what they deserve based on their career performance.

• You are underpaid, yet overworked.

Let us face it. In this economy, a better salary is always a green light for an employee to accept a job opportunity for the benefit of his/her family. Filipinos work for their family’s sake, and for them to sustain themselves well, they need to be paid the amount they deserve. If you dedicate yourself to your work almost every day, yet you are only paid a minimum wage, then, start evaluating yourself. An employee may ask the employer for better benefits if he/she has the competence commensurate for such benefits. 

Leaving a job is difficult, especially during these trying times but if you so decide, do it professionally. Your past work background will have an impact on your future job.

Note: This article was previously published in the printed issue of The Corporate, Guide, and Style for Professionals Magazine.