Knowing When to Leave a Workplace

Before diving in, a quick disclaimer: my basic needs are met, and on a good day, having a job makes finding the next one easier. The market is unstable, and I am fully aware of that.

In the past two years, I worked with about ten companies; some contract, some volunteer, some part-time, and others full-time. Moving through so many environments made it almost inevitable that some were not a good fit. Most roles were remote; only one was hybrid, and that was not a typical office setting.

Out of respect, I will refrain from mentioning company names or specific timelines. I simply want to share my experience in the hope that it gives someone the confidence to leave certain environments or helps them identify whether a workplace is right for them.

One thing I do not compromise on is my health, both physical and mental. At one of the companies I worked with, I often say there was no hour of the day I did not work. Remote workers usually struggle with balance, but this was far beyond that. There was a complete disregard for boundaries, and this continued despite communicating them several times.

I received calls outside working hours, which can sometimes be understandable, but these calls were not urgent and sometimes came at 2 AM. On top of that, harsh words were used by superiors in ways that would not be acceptable even in personal relationships. Eventually, my sleep cycle was ruined, my appetite disappeared, and I struggled to create personal time. I would wake up early to go to the gym just to avoid interruptions, yet I was still contacted most days. My trainer even joked when I was not on my work device. Loved ones pointed out that I was losing weight and losing my usual spark, all while working from home. It was a stressful period, and meetings frequently extended far beyond working hours and ran close to midnight.

I told myself to stay because I did not want to feel like I was giving up. I weighed the pros and cons, trying to remain optimistic even though the cons were clearly heavier. There was something specific in a certain role I was supposed to gain from staying, but when that did not happen, I realised that if it would not come in that small form, it certainly would not come in a larger one. That became my final straw. Combined with everything else, I made the decision to leave. I always try to leave on a good note. It has not always worked, especially since some employers have even tried to scam me (a story for another day), but I still try because recommendations matter and it feels right to close things properly.

There are many reasons that show when your time at a company has come to an end. If you have a feeling, supported by clear signs, that a workplace does not respect your boundaries, does not align with your long-term goals, or does not value your contributions even after you have communicated your concerns, that may be a sign to move on.

The best next step is to begin job-hunting while keeping your current role. If staying is truly harmful to your well-being and you are ready to take a chance on yourself, leaving and restructuring your goals may be the better choice.

I hope someone reading this, especially if they are in a similar situation, is able to navigate it with clarity and without burning bridges.