Resignation - How did your boss take it?
Discussion
I enjoy my current place of work, but found myself stagnating recently, I have mentioned this in reviews but have found no change.
Having been thinking about a move for some time now (more than 6 month) I've been offered a job in a rival company, who my boss used to work for before starting his own company, where I will get to do more of the work I enjoy, and less of the work I don't. My boss hasn't taken the news well and instead of telling me why I should stay at my current company, has just bad mouthed the company I am going to. The last person to hand there notice in he didn't speak to them for the period of there notice (a month). Bit awkward in a company of only 12. It's my first proper job since leaving university, but surely this isn't the response most employers give!
What's the worst response people have had to handing in there notice?
Having been thinking about a move for some time now (more than 6 month) I've been offered a job in a rival company, who my boss used to work for before starting his own company, where I will get to do more of the work I enjoy, and less of the work I don't. My boss hasn't taken the news well and instead of telling me why I should stay at my current company, has just bad mouthed the company I am going to. The last person to hand there notice in he didn't speak to them for the period of there notice (a month). Bit awkward in a company of only 12. It's my first proper job since leaving university, but surely this isn't the response most employers give!
What's the worst response people have had to handing in there notice?
After I handed my previous boss (a thoroughly rotten individual, a brown-nosing, lazy, credit-stealing hypocritical bully) my resignation, he seemed a little put out at the thought of having to do some recruitment work to replace me. He asked me what my new salary was, to see if they could possibly match it.
His face dropping as I told him the figure (comfortably more than his salary) is a moment I'll cherish forever
His face dropping as I told him the figure (comfortably more than his salary) is a moment I'll cherish forever
Going to work for a rival company is somewhat different to going to work elsewhere, from an employer perspective. The concept that a lot of knowledge of your company, customers etc. has been "poached" by a rival isn't good.
One thing to be aware is that i did know someone who went to work for a rival and found themselves being pumped for information about them and their customers, he wasn't comfortable doing it and ended up being out of a job within a few weeks. Extreme but being confident of their motivation can be useful!
One thing to be aware is that i did know someone who went to work for a rival and found themselves being pumped for information about them and their customers, he wasn't comfortable doing it and ended up being out of a job within a few weeks. Extreme but being confident of their motivation can be useful!
I remember leaving a job a long time ago to join the army and to say the boss was a knob would be an understatement. Always thought he was a cut above the rest whilst the reality was that the rest kept covering up how crap he was and protecting his massive fat arse.
Anyway handed in the old letter and he got real vocal and loud. Words like traitor, wont cut it out there, making the biggest mistake of your life, cant hack the army, they will eat you alive, blah blah blah. I stayed the ultimate professional and didn't rise to his petty comments......no...hang on...that doesn't sound right!
Oh yes, I remember now. I advised him that I would enter in to a battle of wits with him, however he had clearly come unarmed. He went bright red, paused and the volume went up some more. TBH I thought he was having a stroke. So after he threw a few more insults I told him he wasn't very jolly for a fat bloke, poke your notice up your arris and don't bother to write a reference.
I honestly thought he was going to exploded. Needless to say I left there and then. Never looked back and I do believe he got fired about 8 months later.
Anyway handed in the old letter and he got real vocal and loud. Words like traitor, wont cut it out there, making the biggest mistake of your life, cant hack the army, they will eat you alive, blah blah blah. I stayed the ultimate professional and didn't rise to his petty comments......no...hang on...that doesn't sound right!
Oh yes, I remember now. I advised him that I would enter in to a battle of wits with him, however he had clearly come unarmed. He went bright red, paused and the volume went up some more. TBH I thought he was having a stroke. So after he threw a few more insults I told him he wasn't very jolly for a fat bloke, poke your notice up your arris and don't bother to write a reference.
I honestly thought he was going to exploded. Needless to say I left there and then. Never looked back and I do believe he got fired about 8 months later.
I had one boss say "you are just not worth that much" - strange because I had just been offerred that so I must have been
Recently my boss insisted I stay, it needed a main board meeting to approve the 30% pay rise which they backdated. At the same time though they increased my notice period to 12 months
Recently my boss insisted I stay, it needed a main board meeting to approve the 30% pay rise which they backdated. At the same time though they increased my notice period to 12 months
blueg33 said:
I had one boss say "you are just not worth that much" - strange because I had just been offerred that so I must have been
Recently my boss insisted I stay, it needed a main board meeting to approve the 30% pay rise which they backdated. At the same time though they increased my notice period to 12 months
Good work. Understand these notice periods are rather difficult for the companies to enforce? Ie not worth the paper they're written onRecently my boss insisted I stay, it needed a main board meeting to approve the 30% pay rise which they backdated. At the same time though they increased my notice period to 12 months
Had it all from escorted from the building on the spot, not even allowed to clear my desk (company policy), 3 months gardening leave and the whole of the month's notice period trying to convince me to stay, all were amicable in the end with a thanks for all my work and best of luck message and provided very good references.
I handed my resignation in this morning. HR were quite surprised given the pay rise I had received 7 weeks ago.
They then proceeded to remind me that company policy was 'Gardening leave' with immediate effect. This I already knew, hence in hadn't booked anything in my diary.
I was allowed to clear my desk, and whilst doing so I was greeted by a somewhat irate MD who advised me that he considered it somewhat discourteous and unprofessional that I hadn't advised him personally.
my contract clearly states that I should notify HR in writing.
He wanted my keys to my company car right there and then
and wouldn't believe me when I advised him that it was in for service and that I had arranged to have it valeted at my expense whilst it was in and that the garage would be returning it to site after lunch and were collecting one of the VIP cars for service. He was insistent that my car was in in the car park, I had to zoom one of the CCTV cameras onto my parking space to show him that the identical car that I had purchased last week and was parked in my spot had my personal plate on it and was not my company car.
He wanted my lap top, my corporate card, my iPhone, iPad etc before I left site and told me that he was advising security to escort me from the building
I guess it's fair to say he didn't take it very well
30 minutes after I left the premises I received a phone call on my personal mobile from the HR Director, asking where they could find the plans Thursdays incoming visit from Global HO. I casually replied "do you mean the plan I have spent the last 3 weeks trying to find out from xxxx (the MD) exactly how he wanted to play it? The last visit I organised he advised me that security was overbearing and created the wrong impression and that I wasn't to plan or organise anything without discussing with him first"
The GF works for the same company and holds a fairly senior(ish) position she had a second interview with a competitor last week, if she gets the job the MD will probably have a coronary.
Meanwhile I'm going to enjoy my Gardening Leave before starting my new job
They then proceeded to remind me that company policy was 'Gardening leave' with immediate effect. This I already knew, hence in hadn't booked anything in my diary.
I was allowed to clear my desk, and whilst doing so I was greeted by a somewhat irate MD who advised me that he considered it somewhat discourteous and unprofessional that I hadn't advised him personally.
my contract clearly states that I should notify HR in writing.He wanted my keys to my company car right there and then
and wouldn't believe me when I advised him that it was in for service and that I had arranged to have it valeted at my expense whilst it was in and that the garage would be returning it to site after lunch and were collecting one of the VIP cars for service. He was insistent that my car was in in the car park, I had to zoom one of the CCTV cameras onto my parking space to show him that the identical car that I had purchased last week and was parked in my spot had my personal plate on it and was not my company car.He wanted my lap top, my corporate card, my iPhone, iPad etc before I left site and told me that he was advising security to escort me from the building
I guess it's fair to say he didn't take it very well
30 minutes after I left the premises I received a phone call on my personal mobile from the HR Director, asking where they could find the plans Thursdays incoming visit from Global HO. I casually replied "do you mean the plan I have spent the last 3 weeks trying to find out from xxxx (the MD) exactly how he wanted to play it? The last visit I organised he advised me that security was overbearing and created the wrong impression and that I wasn't to plan or organise anything without discussing with him first"
The GF works for the same company and holds a fairly senior(ish) position she had a second interview with a competitor last week, if she gets the job the MD will probably have a coronary.
Meanwhile I'm going to enjoy my Gardening Leave before starting my new job
As a contractor, I tend to leave jobs quite regularly. I my average contract lasts 1.5 years.
My last contract ended badly, I got on with my manager very well, I quite liked him on a personal level, but some of his business decisions were strange, such as being asked to do 10 hour days (I was on a day rate) even though I was constantly asking for more work as I was only 50% loaded.
So, I gave my notice.
I got two days into my notice when I was just asked to leave, I pointed out that we had a contract and I was obliged to work my remaining notice and that they were obliged to pay me for it. My team leader then informed me that I would be paid for the full week. I asked for this in writing. I then got an email from my manager stating that I would only be paid for time worked.
Again, I was asked to leave. I said no, so my team leader (who was asked to get rid of me by the manager) literally pulled up a chair behind me and glared at the back of my head for the best part of an hour.
Anyway, I compromised and left before the end of the week, I did go to the HR department and complained that the manager wasn’t honouring our contract and was putting undue pressure on me to leave. I did comment that I thought he was taking me giving notice personally. Complaining is something as I contractor I have never considered before.
Then the fun really starts, as the manager refuses to ok my invoice (for time worked, I didn’t invoice for the time that was covered by my notice period but that I didn’t work), stating that I still had property of the company that I needed to return. Small items such as a phone charger etc etc. One of the items he wanted back was a security pass card that I was required to pay £10 for when I started.
My come back to this was that most items were generic and were in my draw when I left or were removed from my draws when my desk and effects were moved while I was traveling on business.
So I went onto ebay and added up the total cost of replacing everything plus postage etc etc, I added it up generously as I wanted to unblock my payment and made a new invoice less the cost of replacement. When I gave this to my agency I asked them to contact the HR person I originally complained to.
My invoice was then rejected again (!) as it wasn’t made out to for my full contract period and I was entitled to the full week, also that they agreed that as most of the items they wanted back were missing after my desk and effects were moved in my absence they agreed that I was not liable (result!). New invoice for full amount was accepted job done, I move on with my life.
Now 5 months later, they have sacked the manager and have asked me to go back.
My last contract ended badly, I got on with my manager very well, I quite liked him on a personal level, but some of his business decisions were strange, such as being asked to do 10 hour days (I was on a day rate) even though I was constantly asking for more work as I was only 50% loaded.
So, I gave my notice.
I got two days into my notice when I was just asked to leave, I pointed out that we had a contract and I was obliged to work my remaining notice and that they were obliged to pay me for it. My team leader then informed me that I would be paid for the full week. I asked for this in writing. I then got an email from my manager stating that I would only be paid for time worked.
Again, I was asked to leave. I said no, so my team leader (who was asked to get rid of me by the manager) literally pulled up a chair behind me and glared at the back of my head for the best part of an hour.
Anyway, I compromised and left before the end of the week, I did go to the HR department and complained that the manager wasn’t honouring our contract and was putting undue pressure on me to leave. I did comment that I thought he was taking me giving notice personally. Complaining is something as I contractor I have never considered before.
Then the fun really starts, as the manager refuses to ok my invoice (for time worked, I didn’t invoice for the time that was covered by my notice period but that I didn’t work), stating that I still had property of the company that I needed to return. Small items such as a phone charger etc etc. One of the items he wanted back was a security pass card that I was required to pay £10 for when I started.
My come back to this was that most items were generic and were in my draw when I left or were removed from my draws when my desk and effects were moved while I was traveling on business.
So I went onto ebay and added up the total cost of replacing everything plus postage etc etc, I added it up generously as I wanted to unblock my payment and made a new invoice less the cost of replacement. When I gave this to my agency I asked them to contact the HR person I originally complained to.
My invoice was then rejected again (!) as it wasn’t made out to for my full contract period and I was entitled to the full week, also that they agreed that as most of the items they wanted back were missing after my desk and effects were moved in my absence they agreed that I was not liable (result!). New invoice for full amount was accepted job done, I move on with my life.
Now 5 months later, they have sacked the manager and have asked me to go back.
Pagey said:
The GF works for the same company and holds a fairly senior(ish) position she had a second interview with a competitor last week, if she gets the job the MD will probably have a coronary.
Maybe that's why he went all Billy Big Balls on you! Mind you it sounds like the Company isn't paying enough or keeping people happy.Mine have all been fairly amicable apart from one where my boss and i loathed each other - i waited around until i got my annual bonus and then I'm not sure who was more relieved that I was leaving 
. I have to admit some schadenfreude when he left the company "to explore other opportunities" 12 months later.
. I have to admit some schadenfreude when he left the company "to explore other opportunities" 12 months later.1st boss wasnt surprised. They didnt have the work for me, and I wasnt doing the work I wanted to do. We parted on very good terms, and still talk from time to time - this was 15 and a half years ago.
2nd boss was surprised, offered me £425 a year extra to stay, and tempting as it was (mainly because it was 5 minutes from home, and therefore cost me next to nothing to get to work) I needed more money on paper as I was planning on getting a mortgage. It was a small team of support staff, he was the owner and there was no one "under" him. Perhaps I should've asked for some responsibility / share in the company. Who knows, but again, we left on good terms and I've seen him a few times over the years.
3rd boss, I didnt even give them a chance to keep me. I wanted nothing to do with the company anymore. I hadnt been a model employee, but they hadnt been model employers. I actually took a pay cut to leave.
So here I am, 4th set of employers, but not on the same "contract" I was on before. I've had just shy of a £7k pay rise in 12 months (nearly 30%). I am very stagnated though, and I have told my manager and his manager that I am not happy on this contract and that I would like to do something else more technical (there are so many times you can fix someones copy of MS Outlook by re-creating the profile, or asking an outsourced server management company to add an email / web site address to the white list), but staying with the company. Failing that, I shall look for something else, and hope that we part on good terms.
2nd boss was surprised, offered me £425 a year extra to stay, and tempting as it was (mainly because it was 5 minutes from home, and therefore cost me next to nothing to get to work) I needed more money on paper as I was planning on getting a mortgage. It was a small team of support staff, he was the owner and there was no one "under" him. Perhaps I should've asked for some responsibility / share in the company. Who knows, but again, we left on good terms and I've seen him a few times over the years.
3rd boss, I didnt even give them a chance to keep me. I wanted nothing to do with the company anymore. I hadnt been a model employee, but they hadnt been model employers. I actually took a pay cut to leave.
So here I am, 4th set of employers, but not on the same "contract" I was on before. I've had just shy of a £7k pay rise in 12 months (nearly 30%). I am very stagnated though, and I have told my manager and his manager that I am not happy on this contract and that I would like to do something else more technical (there are so many times you can fix someones copy of MS Outlook by re-creating the profile, or asking an outsourced server management company to add an email / web site address to the white list), but staying with the company. Failing that, I shall look for something else, and hope that we part on good terms.
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