Being honest to my boss as I walk out the door. Financial ramifications?

[JoeWras]

Based on the above, I'd be more concerned about the real quiet guy.

Yeah, I know what you mean. He swore that he had no clue as to why the boss gave him an f.u. But I think he knows. Still, very strange. Two quiet guys mix it up last day.

That was enough for me to look for another job. I eventually left and moved to Megacorp2, so I never found out what happened to quiet guy, except that I've never seen him in the news.

So, back to the OP. Do you want to become the "quiet guy" people talk about 20 years later?

 

[daylatedollarshort]

I had kind of an opposite small world story. I had a boss I hated at megacorp. I survived to finish a couple big projects and went on to work a different project under another manager, so he didn't force me out or anything. Eventually I left for a smaller company. A couple years later my manager showing me his resume, recognizing a similar background. Needless to say, he did not get an interview.

I actually think that is a pretty similar small world story, maybe just from a different viewpoint. The lesson I learned from my experience was not to burn any bridges needlessly. It made me realize the next time I was looking for a job some random intern from my past could be influencing the decision on whether I got hired for some position or not. Or maybe somebody had already and I just didn't know it, like the applicants whose resumes I chose not to distribute.

 

[stephenson]

There is zero chance the company you are leaving will care.

Options (either identifying yourself, or anonymously):
1. Walk out quietly and elegantly
2. Tell management what you think of them
3. Use your collective knowledge to turn them into whatever oversight group exists inside and outside your company
4. Same as 3., above, but provide it to the local newspaper - unless it is a national company with government interests, then provide it to the government oversight mechanism
5. If there has been clear wrongdoing or serious ethics issues, provide the information to appropriate control boards
6. Get even on a personal level by spending an hour a day researching how to childishly get even
7. Go to work for a competing company and make them really pay (remember NDAs and illegal behavior issues)

Unless there is wrongdoing, just walk out quietly and elegantly.

 

[foxfirev5]

Nobody cares about you in the workplace. But that's why we're of a similar mindset on this forum. The difference is that we made our own way and found a way to the next chapter.
After 36 years I had my opportunity for an exit interview on my last day. Took the high road and let them figure it out. I was fortunate enough to do it over the phone from my home office. At 10 AM I kicked back with my second Miller Lite and made the call. It was just a cordial discussion with HR. Over the past few years I had made my thoughts well known, why end on a downer. After all being FI has it's perks.

 

[bclover]

I've never understood hte whole need to "go out in a blaze of glory"
Op, let me ask and I apologize I have not read all the replies, do you think if you are brutally honest that will change anything?

I too was fed up with my megacorp by the time I left. It had long since sucked the joy out of working there but honestly what would me "going" off accomplish?

Truthfully I was so darn happy the last couple of months working because I knew I really didn't have to be there if I didn't want to that I was so uber nice it was sickening.

Lastly, letting people "have it" rarely paints the company as the bad guys, usually all it does is leave them with the memory of you being a jerk.

 

[braumeister]

I was so darn happy the last couple of months working because I knew I really didn't have to be there if I didn't want to that I was so uber nice it was sickening.

Not an uncommon situation.
The last couple of months of my employment were similarly relaxed and stress-free. The company had been bought by a megacorp and the handwriting was clearly on the wall that a huge layoff was coming.

As one of the more highly paid members of my department, I assumed (and hoped) that I would participate in the layoff with a reasonable severance package.

It came to pass just as expected, and I was deliriously happy on layoff day.

 

[Hyper]

While I completely agree with Gumby's post, unfortunately I fail there. OP stated bullying and abusing employees. Two sayings come to mind: Bullies don't stop until someone stands up to them and Evil prevails when good men, women do nothing. Maybe if more stood up respectfully as possible, the work place and life might get better for all?

 

[harley]

When I was working in network security we hired a woman onto the team. It quickly became apparent that she wasn't properly quiet and subservient to our bosses, and she made a lot of noise about the difference between our security processes (which were quite good) and the actual implementation of the security (which was driven by favoritism and the good ole boy network). She was fired not long after on a seriously trumped up reason, and was immediately escorted off the premises. So about 8 hours later (midnight) I got a call because she had signed onto our network and sent an email to everybody from manager level up to CEO saying how if our team had been doing their jobs she wouldn't be able to do this, which was true. Her access should have been disabled before she was even told she was fired. They wanted me to un-email all those messages so they (management) wouldn't look bad. But we couldn't undo it. I'm not sure I would have even if I could. It caused a big brouhaha although it eventually died down and nothing really changed (this was a megacorp after all). But I always admired her exit. It wasn't un-classy like going on a rant, but it was still a big "FU, I was right". It still makes me smile.

 

[FIREchief]

From my experience, not only will it not make a difference, but they will be recounting your exit for weeks - laughing at you. If you leave angry they will feel you were weak and could not handle the changes.

Make your departure about you, not about them. I plan to leave with a simple, "Thank you for providing an opportunity that contributed to my financial independence. I no longer need to work for a living.

this^^^! I just started reading this thread and it took three pages before finding a post that echoed my thoughts. I've experienced several levels of megacorp, and BreathFree nailed it with the "laughing at you" comment. Any employee who tried to "set the boss straight" quickly became nothing more than a source of entertainment. Usually, they weren't very good at it and wound up walking away with more baggage then they came in with. Sorry, but that's just the way of megacorp.

 

[DrRoy]

Time to leave on your own terms. I think it would be pointless to talk to your manager. Maybe to her manager or someone higher. That would have more effect on her anyway.

 

[Elbata]

After reading the comments, how about this idea:

Write a letter to boss's superiors upon leaving. Only mention who has left and that you know your writing might come off as disgruntled employee. Also mention that you mean no harm to the company, in fact you care that the company prospers.

Have them keep the letter and that after a few months, if they'd like to talk to you, you're willing to let them contact you.

 

[VFK57]

My wife is still working as mid level manager in mid size corporation. Her advise was: if your retiring decision is made, you should let all your grievances to be known to upper management and / or exit interview. If you would not do it, it will eats you later that you could but did not do it.

 

[travelover]

I agree that it is best for all to just leave and keep your mouth shut and get on with your life.

The only other option that might be worthwhile is to get fired deliberately and either get severance pay or unemployment. At least then you'd have something tangible for your efforts. This assumes, of course, you don't plan on working again, at least in the same field.

 

[Blueskies123]

As a manager of hundreds of people over the years it is my observation that the people making the most noise when they left were the poorest performing employees. I was so relieved when you left.

 

[ERD50]

My wife is still working as mid level manager in mid size corporation. Her advise was: if your retiring decision is made, you should let all your grievances to be known to upper management and / or exit interview. If you would not do it, it will eats you later that you could but did not do it.

For me, 5 minutes after I was off the property, those kind of issues were the furthest thing from my mind. I had a new life to look forward to, and I got busy with that.

I only think about the past issues introspectively. They don't bother me. Water under the bridge.

-ERD50

 

[Just_Steve]

When I was w*rking i watch the movie "The Purge" and had a bunch of people I would have put on the list. The other night I was watching the second Purge movie and couldn't even think of one single soul I would want to purge.
As Gumby posted "forgive those who trespass against us" lightens the mental load more than you can imagine.

 

[rayvt]

ERD50 has it right.
It's a job, not a marriage. It's a business relationship, period. No reason to get all emotional about it.

One of my co-workers explained this to me in my early years at the company. Then he gave me his motto in full detail, "I f*king love Motorola. And Motorola loves f*king me." (Notice none of that "megacorp" BS, I name names.)


Everybody else has it right, too -- nobody in the company, not even HR in an "exit interview" cares what some quitter has to say. You might as well vent at the traffic light because it turned red when you wanted it to stay green. It's non-productive and mentally unhealthy.

Don't bother to complain to HR or higher management, either. In all cases, they will side with management, not you. In five minutes, you will be just another random guy on the street who doesn't work there.


Actually, when I told my boss I was quitting, he said, "I wish I could afford to quit, too. I'm sick of all the political B.S."

 

[MRG]

ERD50 has it right.
It's a job, not a marriage. It's a business relationship, period. No reason to get all emotional about it.

One of my co-workers explained this to me in my early years at the company. Then he gave me his motto in full detail, "I f*king love Motorola. And Motorola loves f*king me." (Notice none of that "megacorp" BS, I name names.)


Everybody else has it right, too -- nobody in the company, not even HR in an "exit interview" cares what some quitter has to say. You might as well vent at the traffic light because it turned red when you wanted it to stay green. It's non-productive and mentally unhealthy.

Don't bother to complain to HR or higher management, either. In all cases, they will side with management, not you. In five minutes, you will be just another random guy on the street who doesn't work there.


Actually, when I told my boss I was quitting, he said, "I wish I could afford to quit, too. I'm sick of all the political B.S."

+1000

I was in a 15k+ Megacorp company. I played out what if I flamed them on the way out on the exit interview.

My biggest issue was my immediate mangler wouldn't respect my privacy on FMLA issues. I'd gone to HR and they didn't have, "a slide in the deck the consultant put together for that issue", so how could they respond? Other than you two work it out.

My VP was afraid of the CIO and it was apparent he'd flame me.

So what? I said nice crapola on the exit. It's what they wanted.

I'm FREE!

 

[brett]

Just say goodbye and thanks for the memories.

Focus on the good years of steady employment.

Besides, even if you do spout off you will most likely not be telling them anything that they do not already know. Lots of us worked in and ended our carreers in similar environments.

 

[FIREchief]

One of my co-workers explained this to me in my early years at the company. Then he gave me his motto in full detail, "I f*king love Motorola. And Motorola loves f*king me." (Notice none of that "megacorp" BS, I name names.)

Good for you! That said, I think I missed your point on the motto...

 

[Al18]

I would focus on improving the company processes - you can't change people. Keep it brief and positive with your boss. At the exit interview with HR, I would list the top problems - and a solution if you have one. Keep it general - a sentence or two about each issue, and try to stay positive. List these issues on paper and hand them to HR. Don't bother to put your name or date on the paper. Once you've left the company, it's up to HR to act on these problems.

If you have a close coworker, call them up 3 months after you leave to see if any of your suggestions were implemented. Change comes slowly.

Enjoy your retirement - don't dwell on these problems. They're not your problems anymore!

 

[old woman]

I would keep it classy, tell them you are leaving for other opportunities or something else vague. Then if you want to have old coworkers remain friends you are welcome to come back to go to lunch with them and get the latest gossip. You can also tell them later why you left, years later or at least after you have a new job for a year you know will last.
Telling them how they lost you won't help you at all and isn't likely to help them, but you don't want to help them.

 

[Markola]

I would keep it classy,

This is the approach I adopted - twice when canned - and it worked. It's no fun for most managers and HR professionals to let people go. When I got the news, I adopted the line "I understand, things change, if it's not a fit for you, it's not a fit for me, will you help me look to the future?"

I knew the decisions would not be reversed so I decided to make a bet that getting the next job would be easier if I left with class. I got much bigger severances, the chance to work from home the last months, recommendations from former colleagues and, crucially, even a great one from the final boss, and have even attended retirement parties since in both organizations. More importantly, I "fell forward" both times, ending up with better jobs, bigger titles, more pay and more responsibilities at new orgs. I make far more money now and have a happier circumstance than ever. It was fun going back to those retirement parties looking good, happy, confident and with a much better job than the people there, who were still hauling the same old BS buckets. Strength.

Did I feel treated poorly and unfairly? Yes. Was I angry? Yes. Was I hurt and embarrassed? Yes. Did I want to tell them all to shove it? Yes. Was it hard to swallow my pride? Yes.

Regardless, I decided that my objective was not trying to fix something that could not be fixed and that my self-worth was not about a particular job, of which I've had dozens of successful ones since high school. My objective was to play the human game well and improve my professional circumstance. My way of saying F You was to pretend they could not bother me in the least and that I viewed the termination as an opportunity to continue my talented career. Nothing but success. Everyone gets knocked off the horse occasionally but character is reflected in how we get right back on. Had I taken the opposite approach, nothing good would have come of it - for ME.

 

[haha]

+1. I learned the meaning of "small world" when I moved to the other side of the country, became the HR screener for my department at a megacorp, and resumes from people I'd worked with a decade before started coming across my desk. Some of my former coworkers ended up getting job offers and nice relocation packages to the Bay Area and some didn't get their resumes forwarded on to the hiring managers.

Reminds me of a cousin who had been incessantly and violently bullied by a couple of punks in our neighborhood. When he eventually became warden of the state prison, who do you think he was happy to see show up in his roster of inmates? And who was very unhappy to see him get this position?

What's that saying, "what goes around comes around?"

Ha

 

[VFK57]

For me, 5 minutes after I was off the property, those kind of issues were the furthest thing from my mind. I had a new life to look forward to, and I got busy with that.

I only think about the past issues introspectively. They don't bother me. Water under the bridge.

-ERD50

Sure it is a better way of dealing with it. Yet every person has a different personality / character what is hard to change when you are at mature age.