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Subscribe to RSSJoan Clear quit her job as marketing director for a consulting company in the early 1990s, but she still remembers the day vividly.
Clear, who is now 67, had spent a year and a half working for a man who she said was mean, insecure and a terrible communicator. The situation had grown so bad that one day she found herself in tears, a very uncommon occurrence for her.
That’s when she hatched her plan to quit.
Her opportunity came when her colleagues had gathered for a national marketing meeting. Clear said she told them they were going to start with a lesson in the power of language.
She then gave her hated boss an unabridged dictionary and told him to turn to the “P” section.
Then, she recalls that she said, “Now, I want you to look up the word pissant, and you’re going to find your name after the colon.”
It took him a second to understand what was going on, but when he did she said he turned bright red. That’s when she told him to do everyone a favor and have a heart attack.
“To this day I still remember just how much fun it was,” Clear said.
Of course, most experts will tell you that the correct way to leave a job is to first secure a new one and then offer two weeks’ notice, along with the usual niceties about how you’ll miss everyone and you learned so much.
But sometimes, that just isn’t possible. Last week, we wrote about a finance executive who lost his job – and, eventually, a multimillion-dollar bonus package – after mooning company executives.
The story prompted readers to share their own stories of ruining equipment, calling bosses names and otherwise making a dramatic exit from their soon-to-be former workplace. Given the circumstances, we couldn’t independently verify every detail of our readers’ stories.
Clear, who lives in St. Louis and now works as a supervisor in a school writing lab, said she feels like she’s actually been very lucky in terms of the jobs and bosses that she’s had for most of her career. And although she recognizes that you have to make some compromises for work, she said there does come a point when you have to put your foot down.
“I don’t think anybody can allow themselves to be treated disrespectfully,” she said.
Of course, you also want to have a plan for paying your bills. When Clear started making plans for her dramatic exit, she said she also started documenting the behavior she’d endured from the boss. She said she was able to convince human resources to give her severance despite the way that she quit, and she found a new job a couple of months later.
It is actually possible to recover your career – although perhaps not your job – even after something as dramatic as mooning your boss, said Jodi R.R. Smith, who runs the etiquette consultancy Mannersmith.
“The first thing is to take a moment, calm down, pull up your pants and get your wits about you,” Smith said.
If you’ve got adrenaline pulsing through your system, calming down can take as long as 20 minutes. Then, it’s time to apologize – and that doesn’t mean making excuses for your behavior.
“An apology does not contain a ‘but’ - no pun intended,” Smith said.
Chances are, you are still going to lose your job. But Smith said you still want to make sure that you are doing everything you can not to burn any more bridges on the way out.
You also need to remember that your peers, if not your boss, may end up serving as a reference. There’s another opportunity to remind your peers that you did other great things before your big outburst.
You don’t want to peer (to say), ‘She was awesome! She totally told off the boss, she threw a stapler at his head and then she mooned him,’” Smith noted.
When Matt Herriot decided to quit a job he despised, he also knew he wanted to let the whole company know how he felt.
So one Monday morning, Herriot walked into the company’s weekly all-staff meeting.
“I opened the door and I said, ‘I’m not putting up with this anymore, I’m not doing this,’” Herriot recalled.
Then, with everyone staring at him, he put his laptop on his desk, explained the situation to another colleague who was standing there, and walked out.
That's a wrap: Famous quitting scenes
Herriot, who is now 53 and lives in the Atlanta area, had once loved the company he ended up leaving so dramatically. He also had become very close with his co-workers, even attending the chief executive’s wedding.
But after first one and then another private equity firm bought out what had been a family-owned firm, he said things became toxic.
His new bosses were demeaning and aggressive, he said, even going so far as to interview new candidates for jobs in front of the people they would be replacing.
“It was just a horrid environment,” he said.
He left in 2005. It took about six weeks for him to find a consulting gig, and he said his former CEO didn’t speak to him for two years.
But gradually, things began to thaw. And in 2009, he said his former chief executive actually hired him again, to work at a different company. He’s been there ever since.
In retrospect, Herriot said he probably should have found a new job before quitting. But he doesn’t regret the dramatic way he walked out.
“No, I don’t have any regrets because I don’t think I would have the job I’d have today if I didn’t take that stand,” he said.
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I really enjoyed quitting a job 49 years ago. I was a grunt at a Kroger store, responsible for the frozen food. Plus sacking groceries, carrying the $#!t out for the rich ladies, and helping people find the $#!t they were too lazy to look for. The boss was an old geezer who liked to hang out with young boys, and was abusive to the employees. On many days I had to work my 8 hours, clock out, then work another 6 to 10 hours off the clock. One day, when the crew was short a couple of people, the frozen food truck showed up. I unloaded the truck, and put the frozen food on the dock. Then I went to the boss, handed him my little blue bow tie, and made a suggestion as to what he could do with it. It was great to see the look on his face.
So you would actually work an entire shift for you boss without being paid. Why did you do this? Did he ever get in trouble?
I left my last job and it was FUN. I e-mailed to myself the top ten reasons I couldn't work for my boss anymore (bad breath, body odor, his inept style). I did not send it to HIS boss but the IT Dept. did. Sweet revenge for an @!$%#. To this day I get mileage out of it. I have always had great bosses but this one I had to teach a lesson. Don't care about references because I am starting my own business. He was a functioning alcoholic with a bad temper problem and tried to take it out on us. Not anymore! You should try it some time.
It's the worst when you really like what you do, and even like the immediate people you work with, but absolutely HATE the corporation that you work for.
I have dreams about quitting, and nightmares about being fired...
it just plain sucks.
I am currently looking for a new job and am formulating my special way to leave this job. I have never felt like doing this at any other job, but in the few years since this company was bought out they have made several questionable business and personel decisions, leading to a toxic environment to work in, at least in my department, and I plan on being out of here by the end of the year. The hard part is obviously finding a new suitable job, and then I can let them know how I feel about their management style!
aerg
After waitressing for over a dozen yrs. while being a reservist, I was finally called up. I told the owner of the diner who was just sitting down to a big plate of spagetti with sauce and meatballs.
He told me to SCREW my notice, get the hell out and no way in hell would he be holding a job for me when I got back.
He yelled this at me - big mistake - younger, I had a Fiery temper. Words were exchanged and I picked up his plate and just dumped it on his lap. The room went silent for a moment until the guffaws started to grow.
He called the cops, told me he was going to charge me with assault. I asked who the witnesses were and when I looked around, every single person in the room turned their back on him. Then I walked out, holding my finger high in the air over my shoulder.
One of the Best feelings I ever had! Not the smartest thing I ever did, but can't deny how good that felt or how much I felt her deserved it!
That's a spicy meat-a ball! ;)
Knew a guy who worked with me at a streak-house/bar. On the night he quit he pulled the fire suppression system and broke a tray of bar glasses in the ice machine. Needless to say we did no business for the night, clean-up was hell. Cops never did locate that guy. Not certain I would say he went out with style, but he did leave his mark.
I don't agree with the two week notice thing. Sure it's a courtesy, but most companies clearly state in their employee handbooks that all employees are employees at will. If the company you work for hasn't been all that courteous to you and you are going to quit (after finding another job, of course), I think a one day notice is more than sufficient. If you are leaving because you are miserable at your job, do not feel obligated to give any courtesy notice and if you are leaving due to being treated unfairly or unjustly, then do no not let the company try to convince you to stay on to "train" your replacement. If you are leaving under good terms and merely want to spread your wings and move on, then sure, give the two week courtesy notice and wish everyone well.
There is the temptation to "flip them the bird" on the way out, for sure. But think about the consequences... when you're job hunting one or two jobs from now, you'll either have a big hole on your resume (from not claiming to have worked that job), or a potential land mine to your jobhunt when that guy you flipped off give you a horrible recommendation. Best to give notice, and not burn any bridges.
I gave my last employer (13 years ago) the 2 week notice. I intended on honoring it, but I got such crap and disrespect from one of the five partners after the first week of the notice period that I quit early anyway. It was nice to have a short vacation between jobs, even without any pay. I still hate those SOB's for my wasted 13 years working there. I wish them all morbid obesity and heart attacks.
My last job I did give 2 weeks notice but my boss made it so rough on me and accused me of deleting files off the pulic drive (in front of my co-worker) that I left after one week. I wrote to the legal dept. and stated that any repetition of this allegation would be considered slander and that he should refrain from slandering my name in any other manner publically. This shut the big mouth up.
All three jobs I walked away from had the same problem as the others here have
described. I walked away with head held high and resisted the temptation to "DO"
something. They had already ruined my life and was certainly not going to give
any of them further fuel. I didn't leave a hole in the bucket of water, but the
ripples i left behind did everything that needed to be done.
To this day I still remember a marketing professor standing in class tell his host of students that one day we will find out that "Some businesses operate in spite of themselves."
Something I found out first hand when the thriving company I worked for was bought by "Autonation". Within 7 years their corporate plan had put us through 11 General Managers, destroyed our Customer Satisfaction Rating, chased away key personal and tightened inventory until our sales plummeted.
We were soon the laughing stock of the industry. Often referred to as the Watusi Bird... "The mythological bird that flies in an ever decreasing spirals until it flies up its own rectum and disappears."
Among long term employees, some with 20 plus years experience, we watched as one by one we were driven away prompting a underground corporate slogan, "Autonation fires the best and keeps the rest."
Sadly they took a highly respected and successful franchise they paid over 30 million to acquire from the top to out of business. I still shake my head over this one.
I worked for a doctor for years when he hired a new receptionist and that (bad word) would lie to patients and the doctor and all kinds of crap. I told the doc, nothing happened. One day, she started her little game and I blew up at her. Everyone in the office heard it. I wasn't proud of it but I then turned to the doctor and told him I was leaving because I didn't want to see her get someone killed. And I did, went home. Calmed down, wrote out everything I saw her do that was risky, kept a copy and mailed him a copy. Just in case she did kill someone, I wanted to CYA in case there were legal issues later on.
Six months later she burned down the office... and got fired. I'm still in touch with the doctor and he NOW agrees with me that she was a little bit psychotic. Too bad it took arson for him to see that.
I worked for an IT firm. My female manager had me slated to be the Project Manager for an upcoming project, but the upper level male managers nixed it. Instead, they assigned a "good ole boy" with NO project management experience to manage the project, and I was assigned as Business Analyst. He proceeded to run what should have been a relatively easy straightforward project into the ground. He'd have staff meetings with a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth!! I complained to management and him about it. He stopped doing it in meetings, but would still come to my cube to talk to me with it in his mouth. He'd do parts of my job, and when he did them wrong, would try to blame me. If I spoke, he didn't like it, if I didn't speak, he didn't like it. I decided I had to leave, and I NEVER have left a project before it was completed. Right before I finalized the new job, he called me aside to ask what my problem was because I came to work every morning "like someone pissed in your bowl of cornflakes". I took great satisfaction in handing in my 2 week notice. He then tried to play 20 questions to find out where I was going!!! Like I would tell him!! I've been very happily employed at my new consulting job for over 2 years!
Wise employees know not to burn a bridge. You never know when you may need a reference from a former employer.
If you worked in a larger company - managers are usually not allowed to provide a reference....and HR will only confirm if you are eligible for rehire.
Sometimes it is best to not only burn the bridge, but blow it up! You can always get a reference, plus your former employer cannot say anything bad about you to a potential employer. Some bosses/companies deserve a middle finger on the way out.
Please tell me you don't honestly believe employers are just saying "yeah that person worked here" when they're called.
Just because labor laws say they're not supposed to divulge information doesn't mean they're followed. The things I've heard from former employers when calling to verify previous employment have run the gamut of nonchalant to outright mean and spiteful.
Injustice in the workplace is common practice. HR will not help you. You will loose.
Agreed. HR is not really there to help you. They're there to help the company's stockholders. I rely on older co-workers for advice and the occasional favor.
HR is there to keep costs down, primarily by avoiding lawsuits. I've had situations where I couldn't fire someone, even though everything was documented and tied up with a bow, because HR was afraid of litigation.
For the average worker - HR is a trojan horse. Avoid discussing ANY issues with HR. They are there to support upper management. Period.
I hate comments like these... I have worked in HR for over 15 years and it makes me furious when people lump HR professionals together. Just like managers, bosses, upper management... whatever. You have good ones and you have bad ones. But a lot of times HR gets blames on every level. I try extremely hard to be an advocate for the employees as well as my company. I have built trust for my department and I would expect some if not most of my employees value me as a resource.
Several years ago there was a shake-up where I worked, and the whole management chain in my dept was replaced down to the mgr above me. I, as a manager, attempted to meet with my new boss on eight different occasions. Six times he didn't acknowledge the request, and two times he agreed to meet with me and then left me sitting in a conf room and didn't show. Then, a week later, I learned that 6 of my people had been re-assigned to other groups... by hearing about it from them after their new mgr called them. My mgr, and the whole food chain that took over could be best characterized as "when we want your opinion, we'll unscrew your head and dip it out". My boss micromanaged, and blamed his bad decisions (made without consulting the people doing the work) on his subordinates. Eventually that entire mgt food chain was "evicted" as they pissed off their customers and failed to deliver on outrageous promises. One was asked to leave when he threatened an auditor for telling the truth. My boss was asked to leave when his customers had had enough of, you guessed it, him accepting invites to meetings and not showing.
I had a boss who was mean to me at St. Christopher's Hospital in the grant and research department. She came storming from a meeting and yelled at me, kicked the garbage can and told me that I was not a team player. She was so angry that I put the printout not in the recycle and confidential bin. Our area is secured, but the printout was not in the right bin. She told me that she will not support any reason why I need to be kept hired.
I almost walked out on that job. I considered taking this issue to HR, but I was already interviewing for other jobs. I had a job offer and resigned 1 month later.
She gave me a nice farewell party and gave me a nice picture of an artist who drew the hospital.
I left on good terms and endured the 2 week notice.
Once worked for company converting to new software, I was in charge of sections of the legacy software; not part of new stuff at all. I could see the hand writing on the wall, when the new system went up I was gone. Found a new job, got notice the same day we were downsizing. I was called into my bosses office and he explained to me how they laid off 3 people kept 1 person, and gave me that application to support also. I informed him that I actually came in to give notice. He was at a loss, said wait here while he went to HR. He came back with a 10K raise if I would stay. I told him it wasn't about money, as I could find work anywhere it was about having fun. He never spoke to me again.
I worked for a mom and pop survey company. The boss was an arrogant ass, but I sucked it up because I needed a job. I was a party chief with seven years experience. A newly hired guy who was my helper complained some months later he wasn't being paid enough. It turned out he was making a dollar an hour more than me.
I confronted the boss and he was upset I found out, but not because he was paying me less than the guy's work I was responsible for. He gave me a two dollar an hour raise.
Later, he found out I was boffing his wife when he caught us in his house. I let him know I didn't expect to be working for him anymore. He agreed. The cop his wife called also agreed.
The next employer and his VP cracked up when I told them boffing the bosse's wife was the reason why I quit, not for any lack of professional skills. I was hired.
I resigned my job 2 years ago (still looking for another but not on unemployment because we planned well). I couldn't stand the lying, cheating, back-stabbing, and advantage-taking that was done by my colleagues and bosses. It was across the board and it was beyond unethical.
I was a tenured, full public university professor. I walked away from it all and it was the best decision of my life. (I fought and fought for years for the students' sake. They're the real victims.)
It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I decided that my home business which I started when I had a full-time job had grown enough to give it a shot full-time! I hated my boss who was mean-spirited, vindictive, lazy, narrow-minded and demeaning to his employees. Budgeting for the organization had become my sole responsibility, although my boss the CFO was supposed to direct it. I waited until the budget cycle was ready to gear-up and announced my resignation with two weeks notice, after having copied my computer files and e-mails and purged anything that was personal and any handy programs I had created on my own to assist in the budgeting process. My boss was desolate and suggested that a two week notice was not enough and asked me to prepare a tutorial to assist him in preparing the corporate budget and operating the budget package in the financial software that he had converted to over my objections ! Imagine a CFO asking for that. I conveniently left out a few steps in the tutorials. This jerk was even unable to transmit the payroll after I left. Some CFO! He was fired six months later. I met him on the subway some months later and totally ignored him. Nothing else in life has felt so good.
Better to give notice and be the bigger person. Make sure you get good references you can count on and have some good, logical reasons why you left your last employer. In the end, it's really all you can do.
I can hardly wait for the day when I can "quit". After twenty plus years of listening to employees' BS reasons for being late or why they just couldn't drag their butts out of bed, the lying, stealing, and all of the other petty BS that goes on every day. I'd love to see the look on their faces when they show up to a locked up building with a sign on the door that says, "I QUIT!!".
EBO2 - you're right - there are as many pathetic employees as there are employers. I know I worked with a few of those idiots (employees) who should have never been considered for a job even spooning oatmeal at the local buffet line.
You're right, I've been on that side too,