Employee shares notice period struggles, cites workload, no backup and unpaid overtime

A Reddit user has shared their experience of working extended hours during their notice period, citing heavy workload, lack of support and absence of overtime compensation. The user said they were solely responsible for handling month end closing tasks and continued working late despite not receiving additional pay, as the workload required completion.

The user noted that while no formal request was made for overtime, the volume of work assigned effectively necessitated extended hours. They also reflected that being the only person capable of handling critical tasks on the floor created dependency without adequate support.

According to the post, no other employees were willing to take on the responsibilities, even though colleagues and managers acknowledged that the workload was too high for one individual. A senior colleague reportedly described the situation as a “keyman risk” and suggested creating backups, though no such measures were implemented.


The user said the organisation plans to replace them with an external hire, despite internal challenges in managing the workload effectively.

The user stated that they enjoy their work and have developed strong expertise, attributing early growth to a mentor who provided guidance before leaving the organisation. They added that external recruiters have shown interest in their experience, leading them to believe their skills are undervalued in their current role.

As part of the exit process, the employee said they were asked to document their knowledge in detail through spreadsheets and documents. They expressed concern that colleagues expected to take over the role do not fully understand the complexity of the tasks involved.

The user shared that a manager who had mentored them advised focusing on completing responsibilities without excessive stress and acknowledged that the situation was not the employee’s fault.

The post concluded with the user summarising their experience as working late during the resignation period, expressing dissatisfaction with management decisions, appreciating mentorship and reflecting on professional lessons learned.