Exiting from an employment is very crucial and one of the most important decisions to make in your career life. Some people do not really care about how they exit – it could partly be attributed to the lack of knowledge on employee disengagement processes and its aftermath effect.
The other day at an event with small business owners, a woman was telling me how her employee just got up and quit without any notice or acknowledgment. She discovered, the person leaving had no idea that there was a right way to leave a job, and that it wasn’t as simple as saying goodbye and walking out the door.
It’s a situation nearly everyone encounters – and one that younger people are facing more often than their elders. In a recent Gallup survey, 21 percent of millennials said they’ve changed jobs within the past year –more than three times the number of nonmillennials.
Whatever your age, you’re likely to someday find yourself ready to quit a job – whether you’ve been offered a new opportunity, you’re relocating, or you’re escaping bad management or work you don’t enjoy. Whatever the reason, how you leave a job is just as important as how you start one. Think of it as your last opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and integrity.
An employee can resign with immediate effect and forfeit some of his/her salary in lieu of serving notice of exiting but how right or professional will that be? Considering the fact that one must ensure a smooth handover process. I don’t believe any one wants to throw the business out of balance by exiting with immediate effect knowing the implications on the business.
With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to help you know what to do when the time comes for you to exit:
Follow protocol: Every organization has different processes and expectations for people who are leaving. Most require a formal letter of resignation to begin the process, followed by a combination of paperwork and meetings. Keep everything as brief, specific and positive as possible. Submit yourself to all the process leading to your exit to ensure a smooth exit process.
Give adequate notice: Plan ahead – don’t spring any news without thoughtfully processing it yourself, and make sure you give the required exit notice. Make your notice long enough that you can finish up incomplete tasks and hand off your responsibilities to someone else, and to give your employer time to plan for your departure. Work as if you just started work with all the zeal to achieve success – it may be difficult though but print a lasting impression of yourself.
Be mindful of what you say on the way out: Most organizations will conduct an exit interview, which gives you a chance to share feedback and thoughts with management or HR. No matter how frustrated with the company you may be, stay constructive with your feedback. When asked why you are leaving, be clear, informative and specific without unnecessary negativity. This information is documented and kept on your file, you may never know who lays his/her hands on it.
Don’t burn bridges: No matter how unhappy or dissatisfied you may have been, keep your calm and a high level of maturity. You never know when you’ll need a reference or even find yourself on the other side of a hiring desk from one of the people you’re dealing with now. As the old saying goes, leave nothing behind you but golden footprints. In any case you are exiting and that is the most important decision.
Be helpful during the transition: As you start counting down your last weeks and days, don’t make life harder for your co-workers by slacking off. Tie up any loose ends and leave your area well organized and ready for someone new to pick up. Be as helpful and supportive as possible during the transition. It’s the right thing to do – and it’s another way to make sure the last impression you leave is a great one. It should not be in your interest to make work difficult for your successor – the transition must be such that the successor will not be tempted to call you in relation to your handing over.
Hold on to your ethics: Don’t copy or email yourself a bunch of company documents before you leave. You never want to put yourself in an unethical situation where your employer might accuse you of stealing trade secrets or of violating a confidentiality agreement. Your integrity is the most important thing you can leave with. Most exited employees are guilty of this but it is really unacceptable and questions the integrity of the exited employee. Your manager or HR reps may not confront you on why you copied company documents but an impression may have be formed about you.
Be ready for the unexpected: What if your boss says they really want you to stay and makes a counter offer? It may not happen often, but you don’t want to get caught off guard. Know your reasons for leaving and what it would take to change your mind. There may be consequences for either staying or exiting – the choice is yours. It is always advisable to do a lot of consultation before deciding to put in a resignation letter.
Employee onboarding should inform new employees on processes for exiting – employee manual/handbook should also detail how employees can exit considering labour law provisions. Surprisingly some exiting employees may not know the process required for employee disengagement. HR and line managers should educate everyone on exiting processes. Don’t forget to submit company property in your possession – even the once they may have forgotten or do not have records of, it’s a test of your integrity. Remember you have built some relationship with certain people and you need to keep it going. Even apart from work related matters, you may need them for other purposes; be it personal, social life etc.
In short, be your best self. Whether you’re starting a job, leaving, or at any point in between, work to bring out the best of who you are every day.
Source: Bright Ampadu Okyere/Lolly Daskal | Tel. #: 0244204664 | Email Address: hrtoday@gmail.com
