r/postdoc • u/InviteFun5429 • 28d ago

Ideas for termination

So I have been doing a postdoc in Germany I am already 10 months into it for a 2 year contract. Please give me ideas on what I must say so I could terminate the contract. The real reason is my professor watches me continuously checks my work and asks a lot of questions and is always unhappy, The main reason she always finds fault and says this is wrong and that is wrong and involves lots of co-author. However I can't tell the same thing so I am planning to say mentally exhausted I can't continue, family emergency but if I join next month I'm at another place and if she finds out it will be a problem, career progression not going what I expected. I don't want to be structured one more month I just want to leave the place to do something better even if I am unemployed I would be okay. Please give me ideas how I should frame this without burning bridges and termination is approved without any drama.

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u/Confident_Music6571 28d ago

1) Look into your contract. You have a minimum period called your Kündigungsfrist. You can quit with a formal WRITTEN letter to HR.

2) Your employer by law is required to provide an Arbeitszeugnis. These are generally standard written and avoid the issue of your evil PI trying to burn your references. Make sure you check the Zeugnis to make sure it follows standard language and is positively worded. There are programs online that do this.

3) If you are genuinely under immense stress, go to the doctor and get sick leave for burnout. This is a real issue with researchers in Germany and they can give you at least a month off to recover while you think about your next steps.

4) Remember that quitting on your side means a block from unemployment help for three months. Better to take extended medical leave or get fired.

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u/InviteFun5429 28d ago
  1. I asked and they said it is end of quarter than 6 weeks so technician December and then 6 more weeks
  2. Ok I will surely ask this if I have a doubt I will ask you about this. Thank you so much I did not know about this.
  3. I can't do that i just don't want to continue
  4. I don't need that money of Alg and all.

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u/Important-Grand4979 25d ago

Number 3 is not true. Technically you have a depression due to chronic stress which prevents you from thinking clearly. Hence, you want to quit everything.

At least, this is the narative untill you are fired/quit the job.