Have you been suspended, facing disciplinary action or just get the feeling that things aren’t right at work? If you have been suspended or pulled into a disciplinary it can sometimes feel easier to quit rather than go through the weeks of meetings, interviews and decision making. Whatever the reasons for your disciplinary or suspension, it can certainly feel easier to resign. But is that the right thing to do? Should you stick it out and see what the outcome is or bolt?

The answer depends on the situation and what your next steps are. Is this a job that you go to for the money or is this your career that you love?

Think about your field – would a resignation look better? With a resignation, at least it looks like your choice to leave, but you need to agree with your current company what your reference would say. There’s no point resigning if your reference says you resigned while under investigation for misconduct. If you can get your current company to agree a neutral reference, they might want to avoid the disciplinary process, so it might be an easy route.

This won’t work though if you work in a regulated industry and your allegation could affect your registration or future work. For example, if you are a care worker and are accused of misconduct towards a patient in your care, it’s likely that the disciplinary would need to carry on even if you resigned. Any outcomes would then need to be reported to your registration body and would be reflected on future references, so think very carefully about whether this would apply. In these circumstances, you need to weigh up your options. Did you do what you are accused of? Was it a mistake or an oversight? Sometimes going through the disciplinary process isn’t that bad, and will end with a warning. If it was a genuine error, then you can carry on with your work and just make sure you don’t make the same mistake again.

If your field of work is close knit, how hard will it be to secure work with another company? How much do you know about what goes on in the other companies? If you know about what’s going on over there, they know about what’s going on in your company. Think about how close knit your work community is and how a resignation or disciplinary would affect your future prospects.

What are your next steps?

Do you have savings to fall back on while you search for work? Can you sign up with a temp agency and earn money in the short term while you look for something more long term? Or would you be relying on benefits to fill the gap? Your next steps need to be carefully thought out so you can make the right decision.

If you have savings to fall back on – how many months can you manage before the money runs out? It’s tough work finding a job, and lots of employers prefer someone who is currently employed. But if there’s a shortage of workers in your field, your certainly in a stronger position than someone with just basic office skills.

If you’re going to be reliant on temp work or benefits, how soon can you register and start work? Will the temp agency need a week or 2 to get references and find you a suitable placement, or can they get something lined up for Monday morning? If you can walk into temp work and feel you can manage the short-term contracts, think about whether this is a viable option. If you can temp for a few months with good references, your quick resignation from your current job won’t seem such a big deal to future employers. If you’re relying on the benefits system to help you short term, what will that mean? Can you take the reduction in money, as benefits won’t match your wages. How much would you get, is it enough to carry on paying the basics? Would you even qualify for benefits? Some reasons for leaving your current role will mean you aren’t entitled to anything for a good few months. How would you cope in that period? Thinking logically about your next steps means you can try and make the right decision.

Don’t bury your head in the sand. This isn’t going to go away. If you are facing disciplinary action at work, don’t hope for the best and leave it at that. Be prepared. Do you have a union you can call for back up and support? What about friends or family? Contact ACAS or your local Citizens Advice Bureau for advice. If you bury your head in the sand and ignore this, you won’t have a good defense for whatever you are being accused of. Make sure you are prepared – get copies of statements, interview notes and relevant policies. If you’re suspended, your HR department should be able to send you all this, so get in touch with them and ask for the copies. Even if you decide that you’re going to resign, think about your actions that led to this situation. If you can pinpoint what went wrong, you can try your best not to repeat the mistake for your new employer when you get that next job.

How can The Wage Shop help?

By trusting The Wage Shop to take care of the financial side of things, you can focus on relaxing, knowing all your Income Tax and National Insurance obligations are being met. As an employee of The Wage Shop, you are also covered by our Insurance Policy. Why not call us to find out more?

Once you’ve landed navigated this minefield and got back on track, don’t forget to contact The Wage Shop to see how we can help with keeping you compliant. Head over to the website for more details on how we can support you or Contact Us for more information on our great value, flexible service.