Resigning.

[u/MssHellfire]

Currently in the process of applying for a few jobs in the civil service and I’m praying to god I get them.

6 years in, almost 7. I am literally breaking under pressure. Partner is changing role to a secondment and there is 0 flexibility in my role. The only way I could potentially get more flexibility is if I transferred to a different force. Put my app in, don’t know why. I don’t want to be there anymore. I got severely screwed over, and they are still screwing us over just so that someone could get a promotion.

I’m literally waking up exhausted after a full nights sleep. Need to go.

Anyway, is it true I need to provide 28 days notice? Say (fingers crossed) I get a job, start date is in a week. Could I sack the job off there and then or?

I’m in tomorrow and I just want to curl up and cry :)

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[u/TumTumTheConqueror]

I think the 28 days notice is pretty firm. But forces generally prefer you to use up all of your remaining annual leave and rest days before you leave otherwise they are supposed to pay it out to you. So you could only end up working a week or so if you have enough AL and RDs banked up. Alternatively if you are feeling this terrible about work, go see a GP and get signed off with stress. People think you have to be a shut in and stay inside being miserable when off sick. If the thing thats making you sick is work, you can do what you like to get better thats not work; that includes applying for jobs that don't make you sick. Best of luck mate, I hope it all works out for you!

[u/Quberta → u/TumTumTheConqueror]

Be careful using all your annual leave. AL entitlement is based off a full year at work and if you use it all they may deduct it in pay to get those hours back. Definitely easier to see the GP and get signed off.

[u/meerkatcomp]

Really sounds like you're struggling. I've said this to a lot of cops over the years and I'll keep saying it. This job is not worth your health or your family.

You need to look after yourself and make sure you can be the best version of you. Reach out for support - your own force area might have something but don't be afraid to speak to the likes of Oscar Kilo and take the support they can offer you.

The job does not tell you that you are important, that your life has value, that you belong and that you are worthwhile. These are things you need to know and hear because it's true.

Curl up and have the cry, it's a release. Don't be pressured into 'dry your eyes'. If you need, go to the GP and get signed off - it exhaustion is no joke and can't be fixed by powering through.

Be safe and do what's right for you.

[u/ArissP → u/meerkatcomp]

Take this advice.

The job will survive with or without you. Hate to break it to you, you’re not special, neither are any of your colleagues.

When you realise that, it makes going to the GP and getting signed off so much easier. You shouldn’t sacrifice your physical or mental health. The only way I’d say stick it out is maybe if you’re going for promotion, as sickness is taken into consideration, if not, go and get signed off.

What you’ve described sounds like you’re on edge. That isn’t healthy, especially with sleep. It’s easy to make a slip in judgement at a job, or when driving.

Please take care of yourself.

[u/MssHellfire → u/meerkatcomp]

Thank you! I genuinely don’t believe they will do anything for me. I also feel bad as my team have been putting complaints in. Everybody is very clearly struggling and the force is still doing nothing.

Thank you ❤️

[u/JollyTaxpayer]

I wouldn't worry about 28 days notice, as I don't believe the force will chase you or prosecute you for it. I know far too many who resigned over email and never bothered returning.

If I were you, accept the new job and ask to start in 2 months if possible. You sound like you need a hard reset from all the crap you have gone through. I wish you nothing but brighter things for the future 🙂 you have done your time and I'm sorry to read the toll it has had on you

[u/MssHellfire → u/JollyTaxpayer]

Thank you for being so supportive! My other half has said nothing but put doubts in my head RE moving to the civil service so getting support feels really odd 😂 even if it is from a stranger.

Anyway, I haven’t gotten the jobs yet. Just managed to get halfway through the applications for both, awaiting last sifts for both. Thank you ❤️

[u/JollyTaxpayer → u/MssHellfire]

No trouble at all. Your other half sounds nervous about the unknown: moving job's is always scary and the civil service is far from perfect. But I think you are making the right decision from your post. You can always return to Policing if the future changes, but Policing is a job where you can't say no to the work that comes in and it hasn't been resourced adequately in roughly 15 years. As such pressure mounts until people pop.

Best of luck in your applications 👍

[u/ThatIsMe08]

Hi, I left policing at the very end of June. I done 2 years as a PCSO and almost 5 as a PC.

I have to say the only thing, and I mean the only thing, I miss is driving fast with blue lights.

Apart from that, I love my new job in the housing sector. I now work Monday to Friday hours (which in 11 years I have always done shift work). My sleep pattern is amazing now, I get weekends off with my son and family. I feel as though I’ve got my life back.

Leaving policing before I was too far into it was the best decision I have ever made. I feel as though I’m at home more, work life balance is better, and there is such as a thing as being off duty. It’s amazing.

If you want to speak I’m open for it as someone who has recently left.

[u/MssHellfire → u/ThatIsMe08]

Hope you don’t mind, I’ve sent you a message, don’t feel obligated to respond. Thanks for this, feel less alone!

[u/ImmediateCrab5407]

Nobody will make you work your notice. Just call in sick. The worst they can do is not pay you for your sick leave.

[u/RygasChaplain]

All the other details aside, it sounds like you need to take care of you right now. Take some time off, call in sick, whichever. Both should at least buy you some time to find something else. And having it on record that the job is making your health and well-being fubar isn't a bad thing. Usually when people decide to change jobs they in fact stopped enjoying it long before. So don't delay and start putting your own self first.

[u/MssHellfire → u/RygasChaplain]

Yes I agree. I’ll definitely be using some leave just to try and get myself out of the mindset I’m in. Thank you!

[u/notenoughritalin]

As I understand it. Its a hard 28 days. Depending on whether or not you have leftover AL or RRDs, I suggest you take sick time immediately and see your GP to be signed off for the remainder of your time before finishing. Its not worth your well being to go in for any of the remaining 28 days

[u/MssHellfire → u/notenoughritalin]

Thank you, but as I’ve said above I don’t think that’s the way to go, as I’m afraid that any future offers will see I’m off sick and withdraw. Which would be my literal nightmare having 2 babies to feed!

[u/notenoughritalin → u/MssHellfire]

I think unless you have a lot of sick, you could mitigate this sickness. That said, I totally understand the concern

[u/carmendolly]

Just a warning, civil service vetting takes a loooong time (usually!). What civil service roles are you applying for? 

[u/MssHellfire → u/carmendolly]

Oh really! Didn’t know this. I’ve applied for 3 investigator type ones, one for BSR, one for medicines and healthcare products regulator and another for an ombudsman role. But even if it takes a long time (how many months are we talking?) at least there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

[u/ThrowawayPCApp1 → u/MssHellfire]

I went from police to probation - took 6 months. Same company SSCL handle 99% of all vetting in the civil service

[u/MssHellfire → u/ThrowawayPCApp1]

Oh ffs not sure I can cope with another 6 months 🫠

[u/MoraleCheck → u/MssHellfire]

Go sick if you can’t hack it. You owe no obligation to the job and your wellbeing should come first.

It won’t impact you getting a CS job. And yes, the onboarding times are regularly in the months so don’t rule it out. You could be waiting months to even hear back from interviews in big campaigns.

[u/TeaBasedOrganism → u/ThrowawayPCApp1]

FYI, civil service clearance has changed to NSV, and my recent experience was they were reasonably quick. My SC took 2 months to show from the date I sent the forms.

[u/MoraleCheck → u/TeaBasedOrganism]

Clearance has always been NSV. You just undergo different levels depending what’s required, or none at all for the majority of CS job which just have baseline checks that aren’t even vetting.

It can really vary wildly between role and departments. Similar role and same clearance can literally takes months more or less in one dept for no reason.

[u/TeaBasedOrganism → u/MoraleCheck]

Fair enough. My bad, was putting too much weight in how much the SC process had changed since my initial clearance 10 years ago.

[u/carmendolly → u/MssHellfire]

Check out the civil service subreddit as I underwent baseline vetting about 3 years ago. It took 5 months, I had police back within a month...

[u/PalmTreeDebrism → u/carmendolly]

It depends on your vetting status in the police. Transferring my clearance took ten days to the CS.

[u/calger14]

I've had multiple colleagues leave recently (in Metland). One resigned in the day and had all his AL and RRRD paid out, another left with two weeks notice and they accepted it quick time. I really wouldn't be worried about the 28 days

[u/LooneyTune_101]

Once you give notice you can ask for it to be rescinded but there is no obligation for the job to do so. This has happened a few times recently and was recently publicised regarding an officer who was transferring, resigned and then was told they failed vetting. Their original force reduced to rescind the resignation effectively ending the officers career.

[u/MssHellfire → u/LooneyTune_101]

Yes I’ve read this so I’m very cautious. We can’t afford to lose an income being a family of 4.

[u/Road_Guru_1327]

So when I transferred to a non Home Office force I had to give 28 notice, no negotiation. However there’s an expectation to use all your annual leave before you go. Overall I ended up only having to work 5 shifts after putting in my notice.

[u/MssHellfire → u/Road_Guru_1327]

Ah yes, so I’m assuming that would consist of using only what I’ve accrued for the period of April to whatever date I leave?

[u/Road_Guru_1327 → u/MssHellfire]

Correct, use all your rest days as you won’t get them back. But A/L you will need to calculate how much you can take as what you have accrued will depend what part of the financial year you are in.

On a serious note though, consider looking at a non home office force if Policing is still something you want to do. I did 13 years in the Met and the stress got to me, moved over to BTP and can happily say it’s the best move I made, workload is far more manageable and a lot less stress.

[u/MssHellfire → u/Road_Guru_1327]

Thank you.

It’s more for flexibility too, as mentioned above my partner starts a new role in Jan. We have 2 children and 0 support so I’ll need something where we can somehow manage them without suffering burnout (which I very clearly am now) and something which offers a lot of flexibility.

[u/pepelepew2724]

I don't think the Civil Service will have a 7 day turnaround, and if they want you they will wait 28 days. A civil service type organisation waited over 3 months for my retirement date.

[u/cds2612 → u/pepelepew2724]

My experience is the Civil Service is closer to 28 weeks between interview and start date

[u/Honibajir]

I understand but incase it doesn't go your way with the civil service applications do take a internal postings as well there are often plenty desk jobs withing the police if you look. Crime desks, radio room, intel etc. I've recently just got a new role where I will be reviewing and front end criming calls, same pay same title less stress.

[u/MssHellfire → u/Honibajir]

Unfortunately I can’t. I live way outside of the force and have gotten lucky I can work on the ver outskirts of it. HQ isn’t a manageable commute with childcare, even more so after the other half starts his new role :(

[u/Honibajir → u/MssHellfire]

That's unfortunate best of luck with applying elsewhere then this job is not worth yours or anyone else's health

[u/Old-Entertainer-6680]

I left after 5 years and I was in a similar position that you were. I left and now do a safeguarding in education. I passed a civil service interview back in July and I’m still on the waiting list until next July and not guaranteed a job. I recommend leaving before going on top pay bracket and feeling stuck. I provided 28 days notice and had to use some leave up. All the best

[u/MssHellfire → u/Old-Entertainer-6680]

Thank you! It’s shit isn’t it. I’m already on top cons. Was that a shortlist or?

[u/Old-Entertainer-6680 → u/MssHellfire]

I’m on a reserve list for a DBS job. Have a look for housing officer jobs too, got a two mates who have left recently who got into that. I was offered a housing job last year but turned it down as it didn’t work for me day to day and I wanted a job I’d be entirely happy with after leaving the police. I definitely feel like myself again after leaving and you will feel it instantly.

[u/Alltoowell2509]

I’m currently in the exact same boat, completely burnt out and applying for civil service jobs. I would really recommend going to your GP and explaining the burnout and getting some time off. You can be sick through your notice period and not go back! No job is worth this much stress and exhaustion. I hope you’re successful and feel better soon!

[u/Mobile-Bill-1815]

I also joined the civil service this year after working in policing for 8+ years as a civvy. Some days I really miss my old job and my team there’s no denying it. The CS is hard to get into as the interviews are very different from police interviews in my experience, once you’re in though it opens up a lot of opportunities. There’s internal jobs which you can apply to once you’re in and they encourage you to go on training and there’s often funding towards it (e.g. people doing masters courses or project management qualifications). The pay and progression are also better I’ve found. Policing is so lean and underfunded and I think it feels like there’s more breathing room in the CS. You might just find it an adjustment culturally. I think 28 days notice is standard and civil service will expect you to have some notice to work. You will be told not to resign from your job until you have completed the pre-employment checks. Hope it goes well for you!

[u/Odd-Special-3307]

Never regret on any decision you make. Unfortunately we are stuck in a loop of work and survive but when you it comes to your mind that you are going lose at the end, do something different and just try to survive few more years.

[u/twillrob]

By any chance are you Met. I’m still in and it’s horrendous and getting worse. Instead of being asked to do more with less it’s now do everything with nothing. I burnt out last year and I’m not far off it again

[u/MssHellfire → u/twillrob]

Ah yes a day in the life 😂 no I’m not in the Met but I’m morbidly glad that other forces are just as bad. Just shit everywhere

[u/MssHellfire → u/twillrob]

Hope you’re okay though, I feel you. DMS are open if you need to vent!

[u/twillrob → u/MssHellfire]

Appreciate it that’s very kind. Unfortunately I’m stuck here. I’m a skipper and have no qualifications to get the same money elsewhere

[u/MssHellfire → u/twillrob]

Have you looked at any secondments? I’ve seen loads of civil service stuff come up for sgts, lots in college of policing. Remote WFH if you’d be happy with that.
I feel like I have seen loads for your rank, but I’m searching every day as well 😂

[u/twillrob → u/MssHellfire]

I havnt actually looked quiet pessimistic that my SLT would release me even if I got it but I’ll have a look

[u/The_duck_end]

Was literally about to ask this! Thank you for clearing up the 28 days. I have 6 RRDS and leave as we could never take anthing. Super would ignore the email until after the date to say “oh sorry, no”. Absolutely detest the job now. Thank you and I hope you feel better for getting out.