Knowing When it's Time to Quit a Job
The Five Signs that Tell Employees They Should Move On
Apr 1, 2009
Just like with a bad love affair, some times people hold on too long. The problem with doing that when it relates to a job is that it could mean the difference between leaving voluntarily and being escorted out the door.
For all the employees out there who are currently in a job that doesn’t seem to fit quite like it used to, it may be time to start looking for a new employment opportunity. Here are five signs that tell employees that it’s time to move on.
Individual Performance is Lagging
Whether it is from lack of interest in job duties, general boredom in one's career, no new growth or learning opportunities or another reason, when an employee’s individual job performance begins to slip, it is time to think about looking elsewhere.
Now this is not a move that should be taken lightly or decided upon in the heat of a bad moment; however, when the quality of an employee’s work declines, the employee is not the only one who suffers. And if this type of behavior continues long enough without resolution the choice to stay or leave may be taken out of his or her hands.
Going to Work is Causing Health Issues
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about half of employees in the United States put in 50 or more hours per week on their job, more than the Europeans or the Japanese. It’s a big reason why American people have job-related medical problems and are looking for balance in their lives.
This inability to find balance can exact a high price on an employee’s mental, physical and emotional health and result in a whole range of health issues, from depression and stress to sleeplessness and high blood pressure. And for employees who also have a long commute, the end result could be disaster.
What Personal Life?
Employees who spend too much of their time focused on their career run the risk of not only having the previously mentioned health issues, but they may be destroying their personal life as well.
Whether that means missing time with their family and other loved ones or just not taking sufficient personal time to enjoy the fruits of their labor, working too much is not healthy. Do it temporarily. Do it to put aside money for a specific purchase. Do it and then it's over.
Bad Habits are Taking Over
Employees who are miserable in their current job many times will unconsciously act out their unhappiness by picking up bad habits. Things such as calling in sick on Monday or Friday, routinely showing up to work late, snapping at family, friends and coworkers and similar behaviors may be the result of work dissatisfaction.
When employees find themselves acting out inappropriately, it is time to take stock of the situation and determine the root of the cause. If they are able to determine that their job is the culprit, it just might be time to move on.
The Boss’s Behavior Has Noticeably Changed
When someone works for a great boss, the day-to-day grind can be tough, but worthwhile. However, just like the rest of the workforce, bosses can have personal issues to deal with or feel stagnate in their career. When this happens they may develop some of the same bad habits mentioned above.
While it could just be a temporary phase that will go away with time, employees shouldn’t be subjected to tyrannical boss behavior for too long. So when a boss is unappreciative, unforgiving, unethical, or all three on a consistent basis, it’s probably time to move on.
Another reason that there might be a change in a boss’s behavior is if an employee made a major mistake that still hangs overhead like a rain cloud or somehow disappointed her boss. Employees who begin to see the best assignments or projects going to colleagues or realize they are being left out of the communication loop may want to consider looking for a new position before it gets any worse.
The important thing is to never let things get out of hand by always keeping a finger on the pulse of the work environment and then knowing when it is time to quit a job.
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