Need help giving two week notice **Update post 12

[3angels]

DH lost his job a year ago and we were forced to move back to our home town. Within a few weeks we were down to our last few dollars so I took the first job that came along. My coworkers are great and the work is always interesting and plentiful. The problem is that my supervisor (one of the owners) micromanages her staff, is OCD and flat out bat-poo crazy.  Several of my coworkers in other departments have stated they couldn't work directly for her and don't know how I manage it. The truth is, the only reason I have lasted this long is that my doctor put me on anti-anxiety medicine after I had a panic attack that was so bad I spent a full day crying and hyperventilating.

The staffing agency that placed me there is helping me find a new job but first I have to find a way to say "You are absolutely nuts and I have to quit before I end up just like you!!" I also have a feeling that as soon as I give my notice she will go ahead and fire me on the spot. I now understand why she has such a high turnover rate with her direct staff. Please help.

[Moray]

Write an email.

Dear Bosslady,

I hereby tender my resignation effective [x date].

Thank you,

3angels

If she asks to talk about it or asks why you're leaving, say you found another opportunity that will suit you better. She may be nutso, but it's still a good idea not to burn any unnecessary bridges

[MrTango]

I like VorpalBunny's wording, but I think it would be better to give her a hard-copy of the resignation letter, rather than just an email.

[lilfox]

I also have a feeling that as soon as I give my notice she will go ahead and fire me on the spot let me go effective immediately.

I agree with VorpalBunny - use the minimum professional wording possible and give no reasons directly to supervisor.

As for the strike-through above - she may say "You're Fired" but if you've submitted your resignation to HR (the other owners? your staffing agency?) as well, it should be on record as you leaving, not being fired.  So consider any statement of hers that you do not need to show up the last two weeks to be a gift.  Even in resigning from non-crazy-making jobs, sometimes people just are asked to leave the day of resignation and not stay for the full two weeks.

[Firecat]

I'd make sure you take anything personal home (and get anything personal off the computer if that's relevant) before handing in your notice. That way, if she tells you to leave immediately, you can do so with a minimum of difficulty. And definitely keep it professional on your end; your boss may not appreciate it, but others at the company may, and you never know when or in what capacity you may run into them again.

[kglory]

Are you a temp?  You mention a staffing agency but it isn't clear if they placed you here as a temp or as a permanent placement.

But if you are a temp, I think you have an easy out -- your resignation should be through the agency because the agency is actually your employer.  So I'd call the agency, tell them you plan to give your 2 weeks notice, and ask how they would want you to handle it.  Do they want you to send the letter or email to your boss?  Do they want to handle it?  Do they want you to wait a week. Etc.   Good luck!

[cicero]

Write an email.

Dear Bosslady,

I hereby tender my resignation effective [x date].

Thank you,

3angels

If she asks to talk about it or asks why you're leaving, say you found another opportunity that will suit you better. She may be nutso, but it's still a good idea not to burn any unnecessary bridges

I agree

and as much as youmight want to say the truth, it will cause more harm (to you) than good.

so tell it to us here, or write it in a letter that you will then destroy, but keep your dealings with your boss professional

[bopper]

You can't convince the boss that she is crazy.
Write the resignation letter as the others have suggested.

However, if HR does an exit interview, then tell them about your boss.

[DCGirl]

I also have a feeling that as soon as I give my notice she will go ahead and fire me on the spot let me go effective immediately.

I agree with VorpalBunny - use the minimum professional wording possible and give no reasons directly to supervisor.

As for the strike-through above - she may say "You're Fired" but if you've submitted your resignation to HR (the other owners? your staffing agency?) as well, it should be on record as you leaving, not being fired.  So consider any statement of hers that you do not need to show up the last two weeks to be a gift.  Even in resigning from non-crazy-making jobs, sometimes people just are asked to leave the day of resignation and not stay for the full two weeks.

When someone gives notice and is asked to leave that day, it's generally not considered being fired.  It's that the employer has chosen to accept the employeee's resignation effective immediately.  That's the risk that anyone takes in resigning; two (or however many) weeks' notice is a courtesy, not a requirement, on both sides. 

[DavidH]

There is very little to be gained by conveying the message, "You are absolutely nuts and I have to quit before I end up just like you!!" and a lot to lose.  Unless you are 100% sure that you will never need anything from them again and that they will under no circumstances every interact with anyone you know in a professional capacity, I'd avoid sending that message at all costs. 

A basic letter along the lines of the following is probably best.  If you can find it in yourself to add that you've enjoyed working for them and perhaps your paths will cross in the future, that's even better.

Dear Boss
Effective on MM DD YYYY I am resigning my postion of XYZ to pursue other opportunities. 
Thank you,
3angels

[sweetonsno]

I agree with everyone. Ignore the "crazy" and just give your notice like you would to a normal person. Tell her that you're giving notice and that X is your last day. You don't need to explain, but if she asks, I vote for lying. Say that something better came up or that you need to take care of a family member or you're going back to school. Whatever.

That being said, I think you should address the crazy to the appropriate persons. Someone above suggested telling HR in an exit interview. I would suggest telling your rep at the staffing agency as well. If this lady is totally crazy, they might want to stop working with her (or only place battle-axes there... I know I'd probably cry every day under that sort of pressure).

Good luck.

[artk2002]

The staffing agency that placed me there is helping me find a new job but first I have to find a way to say "You are absolutely nuts and I have to quit before I end up just like you!!" I also have a feeling that as soon as I give my notice she will go ahead and fire me on the spot. I now understand why she has such a high turnover rate with her direct staff. Please help.

First off, you never, ever say that. Don't even think it, even though it's the truth. You don't have to give reasons for anything in a resignation letter, but if you do feel the need, give something generic: "A new opportunity" or something like that. Make it about going to something, not about getting away from something.

If you do decide to address the crazy in an exit interview, make it absolutely factual. Don't say anything that you can't prove (you are documenting everything, right?). Saying "my boss is a loon" makes you look unprofessional, no matter how true it is. Nutty boss could be gone in 6 months and you could find yourself reapplying to the same company -- you don't want to leave them with the impression that you are anything less than professional (advice also known as "don't burn any bridges.") Trashing your boss may be emotionally satisfying but it drags you down to her level and rarely (if ever) produces positive results.

Second, be prepared that she will fire you on the spot. Welcome that -- it's early freedom. Which means that no matter how painful this place is, don't give notice until you have something lined up, or have enough savings to tide you until you do.

[3angels]

Update: I turned in my resignation on Wednesday effective at the end of next week but not to Boss Lady as she left for a meeting and didn't come back. So I gave it to her dad, the main partner. He was upset and sad to see me go but understood - he knows his daughter is very difficult to work with. Said he had hoped he had finally found someone who could tolerate working with her.

The next morning when BL still hadn't come in, Boss Man called her and told her about my resignation. Suffice it to say her reaction was way worse than I anticipated. She called me at lunch and informed me that all the passwords had been changed except for the 2 required for me to do the basic functions of my job and for me to give the key to my office door to her husband that also works there. Her tone and words were very hateful and over the line. So, I made the decision not to go back on Friday.

On a good note, the staffing agency that placed me in the position (I had already finished my 90-day probation with the staffing agency and been transferred to the company's payroll) called me shortly after BL's phone call saying that they had an interview for me after hours that day. And I got the job, starting Monday, with a significant raise  This company has almost no turn-over - usually people only leave when they retire - so that tells me it is a great place to work. And the partner that interviewed me assured me that Nobody would be yelling at me at his company!

[AmethystAnne]

I'm happy to hear about your new job!

[Black Delphinium]

That's great news!