The Case for Good Manners when Leaving a Job
By Bill Radin
Imagine a co-worker who trashes his cubicle, plays practical jokes
on his replacement and slinks off with the copier on his last day of
work.
Is this a person you'd recommend to a prospective employer? Or
expect your company to rehire? Or want to work with again? Probably
not.
We can only hope that the reported antics surrounding the Clintons'
White House exodus are untrue, because bad behavior—from a chief
executive, no less—degrades the employment experience for the rest
of us.
A Strong Dose of Character
When faced with leaving a job, it's best to exercise decorum,
whether the move is voluntary or forced. To make the best of an
awkward situation, here are four tips to remember:
1. Keep your mouth shut. Leaving a job (like ending a personal
relationship) is strictly a private matter; and waving your dirty
laundry serves no purpose.
2. Stay cool. Even in the context of a "confidential" exit
interview, there's nothing to gain from scorching the Earth.
3. Keep your distance. Soliciting support (or fomenting dissent)
from your co-workers might create the impression of a conspiracy or
coup d'etat—and unwittingly implicate innocent people.
4. Burn bridges at your own peril. The company you left yesterday
may need your services tomorrow. If you don't have anything nice to
say, don't say it.
Sure, it's easy to be gracious when everything's rosy. But it takes
an extra dose of character to act like an adult when the going gets
tough. If you're ever caught in a sudden employment shift, try to
maintain your composure and consider the consequences of your
actions.
Workplace trends like flexible schedules and casual Fridays may come
and go, but good manners are forever. Otherwise, Shakespeare
wouldn't have written, "A person is remembered for his entrances and
exits."
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