Quit my job via email...was this really poor etiquette?!

Just seeking opinions since I still feel really bad about it. Here's the scenerio. I left a job of six months to work closer to home. I worked at this new employer (small family owned corporation) for five weeks and received another job offer late last week. Since I communicated several times with my (5 wk) employer several times on his cell phone prior to accepting the job, I didn't really think it would be out of the norm to call him Sunday night to tell him I was resigning and ask if he wanted me to come back at all. (During the hiring process he quite often asked me if I thought the employer I was leaving would walk me out, thus I could start sooner than two weeks).

Well, he told me to come into the office yesterday morning anyway and we could talk. He never approached me, only communicated to me via IM (instant messaging...office protocol for communication). This is what he said in his IM's:

Give me your resignation tomorrow. Verbal. Then we 'll have you write something up. Then I'll talk with (business partner) and we'll decide if we'll walk you out.

Now, I had to let my new employer know by Monday (yesterday) if I was taking the job, and when I could start.

I had very little work all morning long (maybe an hours worth) and I thought it ridiculous that I should sit there and come back the next day to see if they would tell me to leave. I left for lunch with such a knot in my stomach that I decided I just wasn't going back and I sent a written resignation via email telling them I wouldn't be back.

Was this totally inappropriate under the circumstances? I've never left an employer this way...always given the two weeks notice.
Making the decision on whether or not to leave was hard enough, I just couldn't deal with sitting there all afternoon and going back the next day to see what they decided.

Input please?! (edited to finish a sentence...phone rang and forgot to finish!)

Thanks,
Sandy

This message was edited May 23, 2006 11:12 AM

Sandy, IMHO, sometimes, with extenuating circumstances, a person has to break their own rules.

I say don't look back ... go for it. No regrets.

DITTO THAT GrannyLois!!!!!

(BTW, I had a Granny Lois myself!)

Really? That's cool. I knew there was a Granny Lois in the Bible (Timothy's grandmother) ... didn't know there were others.

Hmm....no offense to you, Sandy, (you did ask!!) but I do think it was improper to quit this way.

It may have been understandable if the 'other' job were only available to you if you were to start the next day, without exception..... but even then....understandable and proper are two different things.

I love email, too, and use it often to communicate, but there are some things that are better left to be done 'in-person', and I think quitting a job is one of them.

Turn the tables......what if you were *fired* from a job via email?
I'd be *livid* if I were!

Also....(unless they're *really nice* people) they likely won't be a good reference in the future.

Again, no offense to you....I'm certainly not standing in your shoes.....but you asked and that's my humble opinion Ü

On a different note....good luck in your new job!
Hoping all works out for you.

I'm not in your shoes, either, but, what about using the old employer as a reference in the future? It must have been a terribly uncomfortable day for you!

Hi Sandy,

As others have mentioned, sometimes these events occur, and
it isn't as though you intentionally left them hanging and didn't
care. So in this particular case, we won't beat you too much. ;-)

You obviously have a conscience - something many
these days do not.

The one thing you should realize is that a good reference will
likely not be available from this employer, though I would think
a five week employment was not worthy of recording.

May your new job be a great one!

Hey Nan! Actually, yes, I have been terminated via email. Myself and 20 other people. "Pack up your things and come back tomorrow for your last check". Was quite a shock I tell you!

Sandy

Then I think you just answered your own question.

Remember...you asked! Don't be upset with me, please:)