Friday, July 22, 2011

Employee shocked she was escorted out the door after giving notice

Robin writes:
I resigned from my sales associate job last week. The pressure to continuously meet increasing sales goals got the best of me. My husband, tired of seeing me so stressed, talked me into resigning. I told my manager I had decided to take the rest of the summer off then look for a less stressful position in the fall. An hour after submitting my resignation, my manager approached my desk, advised me he was accepting my resignation, informed me the company would still pay me for the next two weeks, but effective immediately I had to leave the premises. He then asked for my key and escorted me out the door.

I am shocked, hurt and humiliated by this experience. I worked for this company for ten years and was the top salesperson in my department every month during this ten year period. I cannot believe I was booted out so easily and that they did not even try to fight to keep me. Why would they do this? Didn’t they value me as an employee?

First, when you submit your resignation you need to realize you are resigning; the days of using a resignation to negotiate a higher salary or to air your gripes no longer exists. A wage and salary freeze means just that. Think about it if you resign and your company counters with a less stressful job, more pay or both all of your co-workers will resign looking for the same deal. If you want to air your gripes it is best to schedule a meeting and discuss them with your manager not to resign. Also, companies are not required to give you an exit interview.

Why did your manager so easily accept your resignation?
Perhaps your company is struggling financially (many still are) and need to continue to cut costs. You may have conveniently helped your manager balance his budget. Also, you resigned instead of being let go – in the state of Wisconsin your company’s unemployment account will not be affected.

Why were you escorted out the door?
Escorting salespeople out the door may be your company’s policy. They may be afraid you will use the next two weeks to
1. Steal contacts
2. Sabotage the system (the IT Manager at my company continuously blames former employees for our company's computer system problems)
3. Rile up your customers and co-workers by telling them all the reasons why you no longer want to work for the company.
4. Goof off - they may feel you aren’t going to accomplish anything anyway.

In the past, when I have left companies or have had employees leave there are two reasons why employers want them to work during the two week resignation period:
1. They need the employee to train someone else to do their job
2. They want the employee to finish their current projects

My advice is not to sweat this too much. You choose to quit because you weren’t happy.  Stick with your original plan to relax, take a couple months off then figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life.

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:16 PM

    Your explanation for why Robin was escorted out is spot on. My question to her would have been, did she ever talk to her manager about the stress of the job to see if anything could have been done to improve the situation? Resigning, in this economic climate, seems so drastic. Few of us would have the luxury to take the summer off. Just stopping by from LBS. Thanks again, for the heads up! :)

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  2. Monica,
    I agree she should have talked to her manager first. I get the feeling she thought quitting would open up the door for communication and it backfired on her. I also agree quitting was drastic. I continue to meet people who have been downsized after working in their jobs for 10+ years. Many of them are now under employed after searching for a like position for a year or more.

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  3. I think you have some sound advise. It defeats the purpose to worry about the whys when you've already resigned. Like you mention, it's best to relax and give serious thought to what other type of employment the person may be suited for. That said, after ten years, I can understand how she would feel that the management was quick to point her to the door.

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  4. In today's economy, thinking a new job will be available when you are ready to look for it, can be a bad career choice.
    Your description of the employers actions was very accurate.
    Discovered you thru the LBS.

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  5. Maybe Robin could look at her feeling about how the company reacted to her resignation that she is doing the right thing. Let their response be confirmation that that is a place she no longer needs or wants to work at.

    Stopping by from the Tea Party

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  6. Bella,
    I agree ten years is a long time, but I think the days of the going away parties are gone. Even retirees aren't gettiing much of a send off anymore. Best just to move on.

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  7. Ann,
    I agree. Hopefully, Robin will keep me informed of her situation, so I can post a follow-up.

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  8. Chasing Joy,
    Good point. Good riddance as long as she isn't unemployed too long. In hindsight she probably should have found another job first.

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