Advice Re: Terminating Employment

[Bolthead]

A little odd to discuss this on this forum however with all the different people being either employees, employers, contractors, unemployed or whatever. I think I will get a good response.


I am sure this is more of an ethical question.

What is the correct tact to take when one is resigning his or her employment. I have had an argument (discussion) with my wife over this and she totally disagrees with my thoughts. Her background has been predominately Public service or institutions that have a culture similar to public service.

The question is simple: If someone is to resign from a job are they obligated, ethically or legally to advise their employer the reasons why they are leaving. My wife believes that you should resign and not say why or where you may be going. She believes your employer has no rights to ask the question and if they do ask this question you don't have to answer. My background has been 100% private enterprise and I believe the employer has the right to know where you are going and what job you will be doing. What happens if you are leaving this company and going to the opposition. Surely they have the right to know this. They can then determine whether to let you work out your notice time or pay you out and march you out the doors. I understand that some people may be covered by an employment contract and this may spell out the rules/outcomes etc...

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would give my notice and if asked I would tell the truth regarding my resignation. Would not matter whether employed in the public or private sector.
Would not feel under any ethical obligation to inform my present employer of my new position.

 

[Mal]

I am resigning for personal reasons. This company is a great company to work for, and I think the staff are amazing. I wish everyone best wishes for the future.

(Or something like that)

 

[Hvr]

There are certain situations where you're not allowed to take information from your current employer and if you were leaving to work for a competitor then they may want you to leave immediately.

As for telling them the reason, well it depends on how tactful you can be. You will almost certainly come across former colleagues in other work situations and may need them to vouch for you or even work with them. Never burn bridges. You'll always be happier in the long run.

 

[irv]

Sounds like you have had a better offer but still have loyalty to your present employee (but maybe I am wrong) if I am correct discuss that with them or alternatively tell them why you are leaving. People come & go in business, just don't burn bridges

 

[puppysparkes]

A little odd to discuss this on this forum however with all the different people being either employees, employers, contractors, unemployed or whatever. I think I will get a good response.


I am sure this is more of an ethical question.

What is the correct tact to take when one is resigning his or her employment. I have had an argument (discussion) with my wife over this and she totally disagrees with my thoughts. Her background has been predominately Public service or institutions that have a culture similar to public service.

The question is simple: If someone is to resign from a job are they obligated, ethically or legally to advise their employer the reasons why they are leaving. My wife believes that you should resign and not say why or where you may be going. She believes your employer has no rights to ask the question and if they do ask this question you don't have to answer. My background has been 100% private enterprise and I believe the employer has the right to know where you are going and what job you will be doing. What happens if you are leaving this company and going to the opposition. Surely they have the right to know this. They can then determine whether to let you work out your notice time or pay you out and march you out the doors. I understand that some people may be covered by an employment contract and this may spell out the rules/outcomes etc...

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

In the circumstance of contracted employment or purchase of a going concern, with specified t&c's referring to your example, no obligation exists. As I understand it, Legislation only covers the basics of being paid out etc.

 

[whatmeworry]

You have no obligation to tell them why you are leaving. If you want to leave on a good note say nothing but the usual blah blah or if you don't care and think you will not go back there to work then tell them in a diplomatic way why you are leaving. Even then if it is a poor company they will just disregard your feedback and you are better the blah blah feedback.

 

[Kef]

It depends on the terms of your employment contract on how and when you resign from you current position. I personally wouldnt give out too much information about where I was going and doing.

Good luck

 

[oz_mark]

No obligation to tell anything as to your reasons. Some employers may ask, probably to get a feel for why people are leaving (underpaid, too few opportunities, whatever)

 

[tuapekastar]

No legal (except maybe if there are certain contract stipulations) or moral obligation to tell the current employer anything about where you're headed. However as Hvr commented, never burn bridges. you never know when you may end up back at the same place, or with the same boss in another place, so depending on your relationship with the boss, just prepare yourself to be pleasantly vague if you do not wish to disclose details.

 

[casanovawa]

1. Are you leaving on good terms or have they screwed you, in which case you owe them very little...
2. What sort of industry is it, small and everyone knows each other and relationships are important or big and not so??
3. Are you going to a competitor, or a company in an allied industry, or a completely different industry?
4. In all of these cases, will your current employer care much and do you go back a long time with them??

All of those issues probably impact on whether and how much to say... But yes in general you never know where you will end up or need a reference or something in the future so unless you would really like to give it to them over some slight, probably do it as sensibly and reasonably as possible...

 

[drewbles]

I am resigning for personal reasons. This company is a great company to work for, and I think the staff are amazing. I wish everyone best wishes for the future.

(Or something like that)

I use a slightly different version.

"I'm leaving to pursue other opportunities".

As mentioned. You inevitably cross paths with former workmates (unless you totally change industries). This way I'm not lying nor elaborating. In my job (IT manager) it's often wise to not say too much lest the employee you're leaving get nasty. Never burn bridges in IT (or other industries for that matter).

 

[Mal]

Yeah it is too small at times. I'm thinking of attending a webcast from someone who is now an European architect for some company. The name looked familiar. Yep I dealt with him 10 years ago when he was working in Sydney.

Tho my favourite story is that through linkedin I saw a previous colleague had taken over the previous role of someone I currently worked with. Chatted with her, and we discovered that he was sacked 3 weeks later. Funnily enough the role disappeared from his linkedin...

 

[vetrade]

Bolthead, your wife is right. Actually I'm surprised you even needed to ask the question.

Nowadays people tend not to stay in jobs for extended periods and employers are not surprised by resignations so you can bet your boss probably won't care to ask where you are going.
Absolutely no one is indispensible so don't over-estimate the impact your leaving will have on the business.

Don't explain; don't complain - but do give adequate notice and be prepared that your boss may want you to leave immediately - don't take it personally. I always immediately terminated any employee of mine who gave notice (I should add I always paid them out) because experience had taught me that the business gets on with things better that way.

 

[drewbles]

Nowadays people tend not to stay in jobs for extended periods and employers are not surprised by resignations so you can bet your boss probably won't care to ask where you are going.

I'd doubt that these days. We have a very long-term staff situation (I'm one of the newest at almost 6 years now). In Customer Service, turnover is high. In more skilled rolls, employers are realising the importance of retaining skilled staff. In my observations, high turn over staff are high turn over for a very good reason; it's the type of job that lends as a step-up to higher jobs, or you're useless at your job and you have to change to avoid being fired.

Absolutely no one is indispensible so don't over-estimate the impact your leaving will have on the business.

Once again, also don't agree here. My roll could be replaced by many people, but my experience with internal systems makes me intrinsic to the daily operations of the business, and is the case for many businesses. Once again, the more skilled, the less replaceable you are. I have a very very specific niche job, as do many people these days.

Don't explain; don't complain - but do give adequate notice and be prepared that your boss may want you to leave immediately - don't take it personally. I always immediately terminated any employee of mine who gave notice (I should add I always paid them out) because experience had taught me that the business gets on with things better that way.

Always explain to a point. Even if it's just 'I've decided to pursue other avenues'. Never burn bridges, you'll never know when you need to cross them again. Every job i've resigned from, i've served my full notice period. One of my ex employers had your stance of pay them out and just tidy it up, but even he made me work it, as I had too many loose ends to tie up.

I think it really depends on the type of job. Many IT jobs require people to tidy up their bits before moving on, others you can turf out with minimal issues.

 

[missafternoondelight]

Wow, I'm surprised how few people really value honesty. I just resigned from my job after 8 years in the same organisation, and was honest about my reasons for leaving, and where I'm going. I think it is constructive; if it is stated in a mature, fair and tactful way, and is not personal, then most managers will appreciate that and at least keep it in mind, even if they don't act on it immediately. I also feel a moral obligation to the future incumbent to at least start a discussion that may lead to them not having to leave for the same reasons. It does depend on what level you're at. I think if you're management level, there's more of an obligation to be truthful, 'man to man'. Also you have to gauge whether or not the things you have to say are things that can be acted on and improved, and if the audience is receptive to listening. If the answer to either question is no, better to keep it brief and just cover off the administrative aspects.

 

[amaroo]

Can't see any dramas talking about where you are going.....competitor or otherwise.

TBH for many - resignation is just another step in the negotiation process. I know plenty of people that have entered a room with negative feelings - and come out smiling.

 

[vetrade]

Once again, also don't agree here. My roll could be replaced by many people, but my experience with internal systems makes me intrinsic to the daily operations of the business, and is the case for many businesses. Once again, the more skilled, the less replaceable you are. I have a very very specific niche job, as do many people these days.

Always explain to a point. Even if it's just 'I've decided to pursue other avenues'. Never burn bridges, you'll never know when you need to cross them again. Every job i've resigned from, i've served my full notice period. One of my ex employers had your stance of pay them out and just tidy it up, but even he made me work it, as I had too many loose ends to tie up.

I think it really depends on the type of job. Many IT jobs require people to tidy up their bits before moving on, others you can turf out with minimal issues.

Yeah, yeah.... everyone reckons THEY are special and indispensible/irreplaceable. Truth is if you got hit by a truck tomorrow it might be an inconvenience to the business you work for but someone else would step up to the plate and they would cope. A billionaire client of mine told me about the "nobody's indispensible" bit many years ago and if you really think about it (as I have over the years) it is truer than most people will admit.

 

[medhead]

Yeah, yeah.... everyone reckons THEY are special and indispensible/irreplaceable. Truth is if you got hit by a truck tomorrow it might be an inconvenience to the business you work for but someone else would step up to the plate and they would cope. A billionaire client of mine told me about the "nobody's indispensible" bit many years ago and if you really think about it (as I have over the years) it is truer than most people will admit.

Of course no one is irreplaceable. But the real question is not if they'll cope but how well the next person will cope.

 

[Happy Trails]

My most recent termination was uncomplicated:
"I'm emigrating to Australia."
That was 25 years ago.