While it may be terribly tempting to leave your job in a blaze of glory, letting everyone know exactly what you think of them and the job you are gleefully leaving, the repercussions can be unpleasant.
Once a friend worked for a very large multinational company, in a regional branch (where there were still over 500 employees). More than once disgruntled ex- (or soon to be ex-) employees sent branch-wide emails letting literally EVERYONE in the entire company know what they thought!
Quite often, I’m sure, this occurs when an employee has finally “had it”, but it’s a very bad idea for a number for reasons. Put yourself in that position. The problem is that not only are you leaving a job in a way guaranteed to get you no positive references, but you are also leaving a lot of people with a very bad impression of you. And these are people who may know future potential employers you may want to work for one day! Unless you are planning on leaving the city or the country forever, it’s sometimes best to keep your thoughts to yourself.
Even if you’ve never had the urge to tell everyone in your organisation what you think about them and the company, you may have wanted to at least let your boss or a couple of choice colleagues know your true feelings. Again, it may seem satisfying, but always remember that these people know other people… and those other people also know other people… and so on and so forth. So you’re not letting several hundred people know how much your company sucks, but your negativity may still spread much further and wider than you ever imagined it would!
In fact, it’s probably a great idea to keep all your negative opinions to yourself! While your boss may have been a loathsome specimen of humanity, letting everyone know your opinion of him isn’t a good idea. It could get back to him, and if you’re using him as a reference for your new job, that is something that would definitely work against you.
Some people leave their jobs so angry that they are tempted to do stupid things like steal or damage company property. Needless to say, this is definitely a bad idea. Not only can you get into trouble professionally, but you could also find criminal charges raised against you, which could threaten your entire future career.
Finally, try and leave your job on a good note, even when you are glad to be rid of the company and hope you never see your boss or half your colleagues ever again. You never know what the future may hold!
Well, I do agree with you and have experienced couple of these email even sent to our clients. However, I found that this is pretty normal behavior in Asia as people mix their emotion with business even in politic and never think long-term. In my case, my employee after leaving the company and back to his home country (Pakistan) wrote to all the clients and revealing internal issues (which every company has) with them.
I always believe in a simple fact of life that goes around, comes around and even as an employer we should not burn the bridges because noone knows about the future.
Good advise/comments as a pre-warning. I personally have received such not so great feedbacks. Nevertheless, the temptation is great but the energy can be channel into more constructive way by providing frank feedbacks to individual on improving themself. It could be well accepted as there are no hidden Agenda. Fundamentally, leave with a good feeling from both angle.
Nice Article, very informative. I noticed couple of people write emotional stuff before leaving. That should be avoided. After all world is so small.
Very good advice. I have only left from three companies in my career, but each time, I have made it a policy not to participate in “exit interviews”. I have come to the conclusion that there is no actual positive benefit to be gained on the part of the departing employee and can only lead to situations such as the ones that you have described. I politely decline to be interviewed and leave with a smile and handshake.
It makes no sense to burn bridges. We live in a very turbulent world where letting your emotions get the best of you will do you no good. Time is a great healer and the individuals you might not care for today can come in quite handy tomorrow.
Dear Jenny Ho, a good piece.
I too believe that what goes around, comes around.
It’s very difficult for an employee, especially if you’re layed off in these econimic times. But I agree, a full display of your emotion isn’t professional. And it will come back ‘to bite’ you in the end.
Try to talk things out before you leave. But most of all, try to learn from it. Know what to do and what not to do in the future.
One last small piece of advice, feeling and being vengeful is plain bad Karma. And this will show in your interviews with prospective employers. The same goes for a positive vibe, after closing things off on a good note…
Greetings,
Evita Martina
Very nice article, short and clear. Even if in the human nature, these kind of bad reactions can be understandable, this can not be acceptable. First, never enter into a fight you will loose (credibility, positive attitude…), and second the world is a village, and on this point I join Mike on one of his point; never burn the bridges.
I completely agree with this. Also, feel that all of us at some point in time in our careers may have gone through this. The question I have now is that, if we have done something like this and realise the repurcussions as we grow in age, responsibilties, maturity and designation etc, what are the ways to curb the same as you know these people are still in the same industry and you just want to pick up the phone and start the connect again. Not because you need them for any work or anything, but simply because you have moved on and grown over these petty things.
The article is very good when iot highlighted the fact that you never know if you are going to meet the same people in the future and it’s absolute truth.
When we got experience we realize that the world is not so big as we thought and we can met our collegues in another corner and in different situation.
Very true!!!! Just leaving a thanks note to your colleagues would be great. I entirely agree with Jenny’s views.
Thanks Evita! And bad karma robs the body of endorphins too!
Rgds
Jenny
Very much true that what goes around always comes around, so before leaving an organization never leave a bad impression to the employer.
Great article. Thank you Jenny for summing it up.
My rule is – Business is business, don’t take it personally! And even if you are canned – well, it is a great opportunity for you to find new job, new colleagues and new horizons.
Excellent article! I agree with it wholly. When I have left jobs, I always make sure I do exactly what I always do… a great job, if not better. This leaves the employer with a feeling that you are leaving to better yourself and hopefully, that they are also losing a good employee. If you are leaving due to other circumstances, such as, no chance of a promotion, then I would share this with the employer because hopefully, they will see they should have a succession plan in place. Keeping employees actively engaged and learning more about career ladders will reduce turnover, and keep new employee training costs down. Have a great day all.
Julie
Being the only PMP in the Projects department, I was very surprised when I was given a two week notice due to “budget cuts”. After going through the phases of shock, disbelief, and then anger, I realized that the best thing to do is to thank the directors for the opportunity of working in their department and swapping contact information with your coworkers. Rather than doing something negative like sending nasty emails, I asked for letters of recommendation. It is a very small world and it’s not a good idea to burn your bridges. To me, it is best to stay positive not only in these last days at work but more importantly when I am with my family.
Hi Noel, thanks for your insights! i have learned new things from you!
Rdgs
Jenny
Very Nice article. However one should consider the fact that if someone is leaving a job that would not be without any reason. It’s simple that the employee is not happy with company. However I do fully agree that while leaving the job, one should leave with good notes. Employee should participate in exit interview where He/She can mention his/her reservations and company can take those reservations as a feedback to correct every wrong thing so company can hold other good employees.
Nice Message.
I completely agree with the thought that there is no point spreading negativity once you are going to leave a place.One should know how to play safe in the corporate world.How ever giving a frank opinion in Exit Interview may be a good idea as company officials are aware of the reason leading to attrition.It may also be a good feedback to the existing managers.
This is the most powerful message I have read this week for my part of my experience with most of my friends who are leaving the job.and it happen other way round also.The advice is—-Dont let yourself be carried by emotions.All the negatives encounters are part of you positve experience in life.The negatives things you see are to harden you up to struggle hard in apositive way for your future.You never know what tomorrow holds for you.