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

[RioIndy]

Rather than waste your time trying to piss off higher ups, perhaps you can think of a couple of fellow workers who could benefit from looking for a better job and need a reference from you.
Offering to them to be a reference might be enough to encourage some of them to also leave a sinking ship.

Thanks for all the responses!

As for this quote, all the employees agree how bad it is and we have now all teamed up to happily provide each other references and we excitedly keep each other up to date on applying for other jobs as we all deserve much better

 

[Lakewood90712]

It's a job, not a life partner. Start down the new road.

When you have enough $ in your one more year plan, give 2 weeks notice. If an exit interview comes, decline to say anything.That speaks volumes to anyone in HR.

The co. is being run as intended by the management , all the way to the top. This applies to EVERY WORKPLACE. If they were interested in the views of you and your co-workers, the place would not suck so much.

 

[Beldar]

TL-DR below
Naturally the team is disintegrating rapidly as the most talented employees are leaving to somewhere that deserves their services. This is going to include me as well very soon. [/b]

When you pull your hand out of a bucket of water, does it leave a hole?

Thought so.

If you're ready to leave / ER, then just do it and don't look back. They don't care and neither should you. You won't regret a thing (I was in the same boat when I left).

_B

 

[Lakewood90712]

P.S. Be ready to leave the same day you give notice. A lot of places will payout the 2 weeks and push you out the door. It's not personal , just the way many employers handle resignations.

 

[Walt34]

While it's been many decades since I worked at a megacorp, like the others I don't see any positives other than five minutes of satisfaction at telling her off, but I see lots of potential negatives if you want to work again or would possibly ever want anything from that company again, like a simple verification of employment.

So I would take the position that it is in your own best interest to not say anything and simply put a wide grin on as you leave. You don't want them to remember you as the asshat who made a speech when you left. What would be better is to have them forget all about you by the time you leave the parking lot.

 

[athena53]

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.

I like this. Another possible exit observation if they actually ask: "You must be aware of the many reasons I chose to resign. If not, it really won't be useful for me to list them for you."

Still a bridge-burning response but it keeps you from getting down into the dirt with them.

 

[bigcmagor]

After reading all of these posts, I'm glad I spent my career at Micro (not Mega) Corp. I've always taken great satisfaction in sacking managers who treat people as their property. Just handed out 50+ watches celebrating 25+ years of employment at Micro Corp too. Running a successful enterprise is so simple (golden rule anyone?) that it amazes me how many leaders screw it up.

 

[bigcmagor]

I will add my suggestion to follow the exit interview path if one exists and copy the highest person in the hierarchy that you know. Be as brutal but honest with your assessment as you feel you need to. Personally, I've followed up and acted on these many times. It may make a difference for others.

 

[Rustward]

Rio, being "brutally honest", most employers don't care what employees think of them -- especially exiting employees. Just leave.

Most ex-employees quickly become distant memories for a short time and then quickly fade away after that. Just leave.

Just leave.

 

[Freedom56]

TL-DR below

My department that used to be great has gone down the drain in dramatic fashion since Megacorp swooped in.

The company culture, and this boss, is now focused on creating this elaborate veil they are trying to pull over everyone's eyes where they want to brainwash all the front line employees into doing more work for less money and being happy about it so management can get bigger bonuses. Modern corporate slavery.

My boss has since been readily stepping on everyone else and bullying and abusing the rest of the team, cutting our bonuses and threatening to fire anyone who doesn't smile and nod at every nonsense demand she has. She is clearly only concerned about securing her own position and bonus any way she can and she knows that most of her team is more talented and skilled than she is.

Naturally the team is disintegrating rapidly as the most talented employees are leaving to somewhere that deserves their services. This is going to include me as well very soon.

I have a substantial "F*** Y** fund" stashed away. This was supposed to be my One More Year gig. The financial numbers are always going to be better if I let her walk all over me and stick it out, but every day I hate going in more and more and at some point my day-to-day happiness and self respect are worth more than OMY.

I can sense that I'm getting quite close to having had enough and pulling the plug. And like many people I have a burning desire to be brutally honest with her and I want to rip this ridiculous corporate veil down. Though I would do it without yelling or swearing.

Will this burn bridges? Absolutely, and in my position I am totally ok with that.

Will it make a difference to the company? Probably not much as the problems are systemic now and those seats will eventually be filled by desperate but low performing new employees.

I am fully prepared to end this career entirely and never come back. If I need to work in something else I have references. No matter how I slice it as pragmatic or useful or not, I will regret for a long time not being honest for my own self respect, and that does have a usefulness to my happiness.

So the question is: Other than burning bridges, are there any other ramifications I should be concerned about? Can her or the company somehow charge me or sue me for being honest? (because I am getting the way of their bonuses). I have about 10K in a company matched retirement fund, which is a drop in the bucket, but not nothing, can they somehow take that away?

TL-DR:
-I want to be brutally honest with my terrible, shameless boss as I walk out the door, for my own self respect.
-I have the funds and I am fully prepared to leave this entire industry.
-What could be the consequences other than burning bridges?

No matter how bad it is, you should never burn your bridges as it may come back to haunt you someday. It is better to take the high road and leave on good terms. Just my opinion.

 

[rodi]

I would not volunteer the feedback - but if asked - I'd be honest.

I worked for a Fortune 500 company in the 90's - I didn't like what was happening so I found another job. At the same time, another valued employee gave notice... I guess we were valuable enough that it raised some eyebrows in the upper management... and we were both (separately) called in to talk to the Sr. Veep (later became CEO). I was totally honest with why I was leaving (Laying off 1/3 the workforce while some (me) were on mandatory 60 hour weeks to meet a deadline indicated poor management to me.) Laid out the facts from my persective. Sr. Veep dude admitted there was no change in the immediate future as far as push to work 60 hour weeks to meet deadlines. That confirmed my decision to leave the company.

I didn't burn the bridge... They hired me back less than 2 years later. And apparently some good had come of it - they gave lip service to work/home balance, increased vacation, etc.

What I really hear in the OP's first post is the buckets are out of balance. We talk about holding 2 buckets - one has money, the other has work bullshit... When one bucket gets heavy enough (in this case the BS) - it tilts your decision towards ER. The OP admits to being a bit light - but close enough - on the FI side of things... Sounds like the BS side of things are getting to be too much.

I ER'd when my BS bucket got too full. (From the company I'd originally been honest with - but 20 years later.)

 

[daylatedollarshort]

What could be the consequences other than burning bridges?

some day you could be lying in a hospital bed with an IV in your arm and she (as a volunteer) will appear at your bedside .....

+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.

You never know who you might cross paths with again in the future or you might decide or need to go back to work one day, so why burn bridges if you don't have to?

I think it might be nicer to possibly get offers to come back for more money at some future time than it would be to let off steam for 20 minutes.

 

[RockyMtn]

While I'm sure the napalm approach is tempting you are better off just holding your tongue and skipping out the door. Things probably aren't going to change anyways!

This is especially true if you are going to be looking for other employment.

Good luck!

 

[retire2020]

OP: Just move on. Not worth your time...who cares on the way out? My manager was nice but I had lots of complains about CEO at my MegaCorp...just walking out on my own term was the best revenge! They'll eventually loose all the talents - sure did in my group. Three out of 10 resigned and already out and I'm on my way out on 11/30.

 

[JoeWras]

It is tempting, but don't do it.

This brings up the opposite. For those working at Megacorps where people are leaving (either on their own or through layoffs), what do you think of those candy coated good bye emails? You know: "This is the best place I worked and you all will do great things..." kind of mails.

Those are just as obnoxious, in my opinion. I've seen people leave with those even though privately they were very bitter. Why not just leave with a neutral "goodbye" and be done with it?

 

[harley]

Why send an email at all? The people you know already know, and nobody else cares. Maybe a month later someone will ask "I wonder what ever happened to old what's his name?" Personally I just slid on out the door.

 

[RobbieB]

I've had good bosses and tyrant bosses from age 18 to age 59. What's new?

 

[RunningBum]

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.

 

[MRG]

I choose to burn no bridges on my way out.

I'm proud of doing it that way. In the Megacorp I was in the higher ups were supporting the work 24x7 folks(or other insane people), h €ll they were chummy. So dropping dimes offered zero upside and unlimited downside.

Obviously YMMV.

 

[Hyper]

One of the initial things (there were several) in my case megacorp was the owner of the co retiring and little junior taking it over. Most of upper management retired with the owner (daddy). Little junior then proceeded to bring all his buddies in and put them in places they had absolutely no business being in, which was nothing to me until it made it impossible to do a good job, pay and benefits went out the door and how the employees ( myself included) began to be treated. I get a lot of pride from working my whole career without stepping on others and for doing what I believed to be right and standing up. I can count on one hand those that stood up for ANYTHING! I could have stayed but my boss went out of his way to hurt me & mine. That's the way I took it anyway. As I was leaving he did something very unethical, there was an audience and he was seriously put in his place. There's absolutely no way I could or WOULD even try to go back to that co. Business is business but a person deliberately going out of their way to hurt another when someone's family could be hurt is different deal. Great part is that the great Lord put these people in my path and I ended up retiring @ 45!

 

[RioIndy]

Thanks for all your posts. Hearing the stories and different takes on it are helpful, and even just venting a bit helps on its own. I take pride that I have never resulted to stepping on anyone to help myself getting ahead in my career at someone else's expense. I did it through hard work and skill.
What gets me is that .... the world we live in also values ruthlessness, selfishness and greed in "corporate america", actually it feels like it values those MORE than it values hard work and skill. And a large part of me wants to yell and protest against that as it's not the world I wish to live in.

 

[Finance Dave]

I agree with many who say "don't do it".


As far as the matching...check vesting rules...that will tell if they can "claw back".


IMO the fact that you WANT to say such a thing says something about your character...put that in check, tame the lion inside, and experience some personal growth.

 

[canuck5]

"You're already gone". Focus on what is going to bring joy and happiness in your life, to replace the work sponge that is taking it out of you. Move on soon and volunteer some time to people who you can truly help and let your fellow employees see that there is life elsewhere.

 

[brucethebroker]

IMHO, the only people who might value the feedback are HR. Anytime I passed the bosses and went directly to HR, the response was much better.

Second, be prepared for "security will escort you to your desk and out the door. TODAY is your last day.", when you give your 2 week notice.

 

[retire2020]

I take pride that I have never resulted to stepping on anyone to help myself getting ahead in my career at someone else's expense. I did it through hard work and skill.

+1. The sad/pathetic part was that the people I had taught and helped went after my job and made my life miserable! Once I quit, I heard from other colleagues and manager himself about who was bad mouthing behind my back. I offered to these same folks to drive my Mercedes and they were jealous that I had one and they did not instead of appreciating my generosity.
Few years later, all these guys came looking for a job - needless to mention where their resumes went!