Job Advice

Should You Give a Toxic Job a Courtesy Two-Week Notice?

For the past few decades, the two-week notice format of leaving a job has been an employment courtesy. Therefore, it's considered proper business etiquette to give an employer two weeks of notice so that they can find or train someone to fill your role. However, the rules may not apply if you're working in a toxic environment. Here's why:

Your Health Is Priority

Your mental, emotional, and spiritual health are more important than any job or task, and you should never put yourself second to please someone else, even an employer. Thus, you should deeply consider exiting without a courteous notice if any of the above-mentioned aspects of your health is suffering.

Long-Term Exposure Could Be Traumatizing

Long-term exposure to toxic behaviors can affect you in one of two ways. It can strip you of your self-esteem and confidence, or it can one day seem like normal and acceptable behavior to you. Neither outcome is good. Therefore, think twice before sticking around in a toxic environment out of guilt.

You May Do More Harm Than Help by Staying

The chances are high that your work won't be appreciated in a toxic environment, regardless of what you do. You might want to stay and "do things right" because you're a kind-natured person, but the group may say negative things about you anyway. Sometimes, there's no such thing as a win-win situation when the workplace is toxic. All you can do is make the best decision for yourself and go with it.

Ultimately, the decision is up to no one but you whether you want to stay in such a position. You could stick it out just to do the business the courtesy, or you can leave and take care of yourself. Either way, you should let the employer know what your decision is. If you're not going to make it to your shift, tell someone so that they can get someone to fill it at the very least.