Most Fun Way to Leave a Bad Job?

medscaper asks: "I have an awesome opportunity this morning. Since the market is opening up, I was offered a great new tech job over the weekend, and have been stuck in a miserable one for the past several years. I spend more time stressing out and anxious about keeping my job than getting any quality work done. I'm SO looking forward to walking into my boss's office this morning to let him know that I'll be leaving. I'm tempted to do it with style, especially because I got a (completely unwarranted) PHB-style threatening lecture last week about my work habits. I really don't need the recommendation or a reference, so it doesn't matter much how I leave. Should I politely give the standard 2-weeks? Or should I have a little fun with it and burn some bridges? Anyone have any stories to relate?"

Na dun burn bridges

[NanoGator]

Yeah, it might be fun, but you never know when you will bump into people you worked with down the road.

Don't Burn Bridges

[Anonymous Coward]

You NEWER know where someone will end up in 5 years. The Boss you screw over today could be interviewing you in 5 years at some other company.

I know a guy who used to work in a specific industry, then went to work for one of the large consulting firms. He was sent to one of the companies to pitch a $30M project. He ended up pitching to someone he had seriously screwed a number of years earlier. Needless to say regardless of his current companies abilities, they didn't get the contact.

MOD PARENT UP

[SewersOfRivendell]

Seriously, AC is giving you solid advice -- don't burn bridges. Doesn't matter if he's an asshole. You never know who you're going to work with again or why circumstances should conspire to make you do so...

ok, so I feel old saying this but...

[tvadakia]

never burn bridges.

Re:Na dun burn bridges

[kwerle]

The only time I'd really be tempted to issue the big FOAD is if I was leaving the area, and/or the profession. Even then, I'd make it real clear who the FOAD was for, who it was not for, why I was stating it, etc.

I have ALWAYS insisted on an exit interview, and one time I was not real nice - another time I was very clear to HR that I would never ever work for so and so ever again.

If you go for the FOAD, I suggest you do the exit interview first.

Re:Leave the Fight Club way

[Directrix1]

Well, you could do that. Or you could go a step further and: replace everyone's desktop with a bitmap image of their desktop (of course I like to make a batch file that runs at startup and just continuously renames the desktop so icons disappear and reappear), sign up the companys mailing lists to as many spam lists as you can find, jam pencil leads in the dollar slot of the vending machines, wd-40 his break pads, leave sexually harassing notes for your coworkers from your boss, and eat all the good donuts in the breakroom. Of course if you had a single neuron in that skull of yours you would not have the audacity to assume that you're new job is going to work out. Assume for just one moment that maybe having options to fall back on is a good thing. Now quit posting to slashdot and decide something for yourself. I think you know the answer already.

Don't do anything rash

[jezmund]

Don't piss anyone off! While it may be satisfying to finally tell some one off, it's just not worth it. Look at it this way; it doesn't cost you anything to just quietly and politely leave. Whereas your boss or some one he knows may one day be in a position to make life difficult for you. I've burned bridges in the past, and have almost always regretted it. I have never had occassion to regret the few opportunities I've been smart enough to take the high road. You can certainly express unhappiness as you leave, but I would avoid doing anything rash. Just my two cents.

Better be nice

[dtfinch]

I've known _of_ employers who would offer a job but not follow through if the prospective employee was willing to dump their previous employer without notice.

So, you say you're already employed?
Yes, but I'm not very fond of the work

So can you start immediately?
Sure.

Sorry, can't hire you.

Bad Move

[Dr. Bent]

Taking a promotion or a raise instead of leaving for a new job is usually a bad, bad idea.

1. They think (know) you're disloyal. When it's time for layoffs, you'll be the first to go.
   
2. It's possible they're just giving you a raise to give them time to find your replacement. Whenever they're ready, you might be out the door (having passed on your other job offer already).
   
3. To use a poker analogy, managers don't like being check-raised. If you think this won't effect their professional/personal opinion of you in the long term, you're wrong.
   
4. Most importantly: If you hate the job enough to look for another one, why would you stay? Is the raise/promotion really worth it?

Re:Burn the bridges

[bigsteve@dstc]

I guess that was a joke ...

But seriously, before you go over the top in plotting your revenge on your current boss, don't forget that he can do other things than sack you. He can withhold your last paycheck, your accrued holiday. He can track you down at your new job and spill the beans to your new boss. If you do something illegal, he can call in the police. Or much, much worse!

Make them know why you're leaving.

[arcade]

This will certainly burn some bridges, but if you think it's worth it - and that you are wroth it - then do it.

Please remember, it's not a good thing to burn bridges at all if you're not outstanding at what you do - but if you're one of the most excellent people at our place, and you will be missed due to your skills, then it may be worth it.

However, from your story - it seems that your workplace isn't very fond of you, and that it will be interpreted as sour grapes if you do anything. That will not be a good thing.

Anyways, if by chance, you are a very productive, very well skilled person - then write up a letter on why you are leaving the company, why your direct superior is an asshole, and so forth. Tailor several letters. The one about your superior should be slipped to his superior. The one about other people should be slipped to their superiors. Make it perfectly clear why you are leaving the job - and make sure to let the real bosses know what work you've actually done that is very, very good.

Normally, though. If it's you that do not fit in, don't play any pranks - just inform your boss that you're not happy with the work environment, and that you've found another place where your skills will be used properly. That you wish this would be the case at the place you're leaving - but that the situation wasn't working out.

Re:One day I quit my phone tech support job...

[cujo_1111]

That is a really pissweak way of quitting if you don't mind me saying so.

Running away isn't going to fix anything. You should have given your original presentation and added a slide to the end saying that if the trainees have any questions, please see the person who made the process changes.

You would still have a chance at losing your job but you would have a ton more fun in the process.

Re:Na dun burn bridges

[Nos.]

Precisely, but ask for an exit interview. Explain why you are leaving, and why you don't like the position. If nothing else, your (former) co-workers might get a bit of a break. Also, sometimes management may not actually realize the environment they're creating.

Re:My stint at walmart

[Peterl]

If the market is so bad, why can't we find any programmers to hire who can pass a dead-simple programming test?

Don't be Juvenile

[fuzzybunny]

Discretely pack up your things and save any documentation or files you want to take along, and write a polite letter giving two weeks (or however much you agreed on) notice.

Ask if "they" would like feedback, and write a list of what bugged you, what was good, and what could have been done better.

Finish what you were working on if you can, offer to take care of any handover work, as you firmly should state that you will not be available for it after you have left.

Don't burn bridges; it's not so much that these people might come back to haunt you someday, as that it's an adolescent thing to do.

Re:OT Re:Just leave

[Anonymous Coward]

you are a truly pathetic individual.

Re:Piss on servers

[Hank Reardon]

Your company can't take any legal action against you because of this. You didn't degrade the network nor the hardware. You didn't hurt anyone. But they will have to tidy up :)

Actually, they can take legal action. Criminal legal action, at that. Any damage done to the machines would count as vandalism; over a certain threshhold of monetary damage and the action moves into felony range.

There are also laws on the books regarding not only relieving one's self in public, but you could probably fit excreta into the definition of hazardous or medical waste; certainly improper disposal laws would apply in this case.

Finally, if somebody happens to walk in during the... er... process of elimination, it's called indecent exposure. Were he to be convicted of that last count, it means manditory registration as a sex offender.

As fun as it might sound, I wouldn't consider it worth the risks.

Two Basic Approaches

[fm6]

1. Do some kind of childish stunt. That might make you feel good for a while, but it won't convince your asshole boss that he treated you badly. In fact, he'll use your childishness to justify his assholedness. "You see why I was easing him out?"
2. You can find some way to make upper management aware that you're leaving in part because your boss is an asshole. Think out that will make him look with his boss.

That's the basic choice. I'm sure you can fill in the details yourself.

Re:Don't Burn Bridges

[jamesh]

In addition, don't burn bridges for your co-workers. I used to work in a manufacturing plant for a major computer company. The plant was sold to a contract manufacturer startup, with the original owner being the major client. After a while things weren't going so well, and some staff were layed off. On his last day, some fsckwit sent an email addressed to 'l.gerstner' (the head guy at the original owner and major client).

The email contained an ASCII moon, and not the kind you'd normally see hanging in the sky.

Chances are Mr Gerstner never saw it, one would assume that he'd have email monkeys vetting his mail first, but it sure made us look bad.

I have refused people jobs on this account

[pkphilip]

The scenario that you have just presented is something that I have personally dealt with..

I had someone who applied to me for work and as I interviewed him, it became clear to me that he was quite good and I fully intended to recruit him.

But towards the end of the interview when I asked him when he would be willing to join, he stated something along the lines that "sooner is better" since he wanted to slight those who were then employing him.

I told him that I couldn't employ someone with that attitude and he lost, what would otherwise have been, an excellent job.

Take the high road

[codejnki]

Be faithful and give your two weeks. Let them know that this new oprotunity will give you more room to grow than you've felt that your current working conditions will currently allow for. And for added bonus, bring in bagels or doughnuts on your last day. That my friend, is style.

Re:Burn the bridges

[theonetruekeebler]

the only things you can really reveal about a former employee are their hire dates, salary and whether they're elligable for rehire.

"Mr. Smith? Hi, this is Mr. Anderson over at Fubarco? You hired one of our former employees, a Mr. Jones? I just needed to tell you that his reference status has changed---he is no longer eligible for rehire. Federal law prohibits me from specifying the particulars behind why there's not a chance in hell we would allow Mr. Jones to work here ever again. Just thought I'd let you know. Which reminds me---and this is a completely different and unrelated topic that has nothing to do with the reason we won't allow Mr. Jones to work here ever again---do you have any knowledge of how to remove dead fish from a ventilation system? No? Just thought I'd ask. Well, best of luck!"

Going out with a thud

[qwijibo]

It may feel good to go out with a bang, but other than that, what's the point? Anything dramatic that you do will just reflect negatively on you. Not only with management, the people who are the butt of the joke, but with other coworkers that you have nothing against, some who you may even get along with.

If those people who respect you know that you're leaving because of the BS environment, but you're still professional, give two weeks notice, etc, they may look you up in the future when they need someone with your skillset.

I once worked for a company where management would throw temper tantrums and threaten to fire everyone. That's how hostile they were. For my review, my performance and productivity was praised, and I was offerred a "promotion" from hourly to salaried at the same rate. Since this company actual docked people's pay for showing up late and/or leaving early, and required salaried people to work unpaid overtime, I recognized this as the paycut it was. While it may have been fun to screw over the company, I did something much worse. I left, giving about 10 minutes notice. The people I worked with knew it was because of the hostile and dishonest management. Apparently they had some serious problems after that.

I've never heard anyone look back on what they've done in the past and say "I wish I had been less professional at that job". On the other hand, I've heard of things that people have done in the past that I would hold against them if I were doing the hiring.

Revenge is fun and intensely satisfying. However, it's a tool that can only be used for evil, never for good. What goes around, comes around. Those who treat people poorly will get theirs. Do you really want to get yours?

Re:ok, so I feel old saying this but...

[Zardoz44]

Hey Fred. Nice day for a BBQ. Have you met my Wife? ... Btw, I just got this resume from a guy who says he used to work at your company. Ever hear of Medscaper?

Fuck yeah! You want to know what he did when he quit? Don't hire that asshole. Don't waste your time.

Small world. Good thing I talked to you first.

---------

I can't tell you how many stories I've heard of burned bridges haunting someone years down the road. Do you know the phrase I'm about to butcher? Treat a customer well and they'll tell two people; treat them badly and they'll tell ten. Same goes with burnt bridges. People remember bad things.

I would agree, however...

[StressGuy]

If instead of coming at them with "give me what I want or I'm out of here", you instead make the case that you are actually worth more on the open market, you won't necessarily be putting your employer in a box. He can, in fact, look at it one of three ways:

1) He could disagree, in which case you can turn that into an amicable parting of the ways. I.e. I've found an offer more suitable to my career growth and I've decided to take it. I left a job like this once. I was turned down for a promotion, but a former partner of thiers offered me a position in thier company similar to what I was trying to get promoted to.

2) He could agree, but decide that he doesn't require an employee of your skill level. In this case, it becomes clear to both of you that it's time for you to leave in order to grow in your career. When you do move on, both sides understand and agree as to why.

3) He could agree, at which point it is up to him to decide if he can pay you an appropriate "market value" or tell you that he can't afford it. If it's the former, you've made your case and there is no loss of respect, if it's the latter, both sides understand why it's time for you to move on.

Get an offer letter... FIRST.

[Fished]

When I've switched jobs (quite a bit in the 90's) I always insisted on getting a written letter of offer stating my salary etc. before I would say _ANYTHING_ to my currenty employer. Many people have been burned by moving to a new job, only to "discover" that the salary and benefits discussed were "talking points" and "accounting won't let us do that." With an offer letter, you can sue for all kinds of damages. Without one, you get butkis. I read a book on employment law a couple of years ago, and his remark was that, inevitably, the side with the biggest stack of paper wins.

Also, I would strongly urge you not to quit "with style." What you call "with style" is really anything but. You should always try to maintain cordial and polite relationships with your former employer. Every job I've ever left, I've given a written letter of resignation, naming my last day (at least two weeks, sometimes more) and letting them know that I would be available free for "quick questions" on a short term basis to ease the transition. (I did not state, but implied, that if it was more than a "quick question" they should expect to pay me for my time.)

In 2000, this served me well. I had just left a large Internet Company, and discovered the company I went with was going out of business after only two months. I went back to work for the Internet Company, got a pay raise and full-time telecommuting. And that's the job I've held for the past 4 years through a crappy economy while all the other geeks were whining about outsourcing.

Bridges are good, a thing of utility and a thing of beauty. Never burn them unnecessarily.

Re:Don't Burn Bridges

[bwt]

In addition, don't burn bridges for your co-workers.

I agree. Be classy. People will remember how you left. If your real motivation is to screw the company, do it with a smile while being polite -- put in two weeks notice, actually do your work, and quietly try to recruit other key people to leave too. This way, your coworkers will remember that you were a good guy (whether they follow you or not).

Re:Don't Burn Bridges

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

The Boss you screw over today could be interviewing you in 5 years at some other company.

Perhaps more significantly, your boss's boss or peer, who had nothing against you until they heard from your boss how you screwed him, could be interviewing you later on somewhere else.

Never burn bridges, ever. It's unprofessional, and your professional reputation is worth more than any temporary smugness you might achieve.

Re:Just leave

[Not_Wiggins]

I agree with everything except the negative sentiments towards your old job (even if talking with a new company).

ALWAYS present leaving a job on good terms, if you can.

You might not think about it now, but do you really want a future employer to even have to decide if you left because your old boss was a jerk or you were the jerk?!?

Bad jobs happen... people have bad worker/employer fits all the time.

You want your future employers to see that you were able to handle a bad situation gracefully; it'll add to your credit.

(Although not in the parent of this reply, but from the original poster): "you're not going to use them as a reference" suggests you'd rather have a multi-year gap in your employment history than show you were gainfully employed? Bad move.

Re:Just leave

[ringfinger]

I had a bad job and quit once. I gritted my teeth on the exit interview and said my boss wasn't the reason I quit. This was even though the HR manager already knew I hated my boss -- and that the boss was an asshole. Well, a year later I ended up needing a reference and I called the asshole boss. It was like we were old friends. He gave me a glowing reference. He also asked if he could use me as a reference someday if he needed -- see, he figured if he helped me that I'd help him. After all, no one else at that place would've been a reference for him because he's such a dick. It's like we knew we never liked each other, but needed each other for our own reasons. Weird, but true.

Re:Leave "gracefully"

[Anonymous Coward]

So what I'm hearing is, you should screw over all the (former) coworkers still suffering under your former PHB, some of whom may actually *need* their jobs and not have an opportunity to leave like yourself? Just to make some clumsy jab at the efficacy of your business unit, even though you couldn't possibly predict whether or not it will actually cause long-term harm to the company as a whole?

How immature and unprofessional

[Billly Gates]

I have been mad and fired from many employers and understand the need to get angry.

But leaving a job this way certainly is not good and makes you look worse than your boss you dont like.

Why did your boss complain of your work style and you? Not pointing fingers here per say, but if he dislikes you and not your fellow employee's then the problem is not your boss but perhaps yourself.

A new job wont fix that either.

Sure personality conflicts happen all the time but the mature adult way is to find away around them. If its a boss then just leaving would be the proper way. If he is an asshole, HR will notice the turnover and fire him.

Time wounds all heels

[mhollis]

Insert obligatory statement on karma here

A woman I know was "downsized" by a large newspaper corporation some years back after she got pregnant. Out of five groups, her group was the second in performance, so there was no justification other than that of her pregnancy.

Her boss called her into his office and told her, after she took several hours off for a doctor's visit to get an amniocentisis, that "she had better get her priorities straight, and that when she decided her priorities, the manager would decide how valuable she was to the company."

This matter is in litigation presently, with the United States EEOC well involved. The thing that is funny is that the company who let her go had an opportunity to offer some half a million in order to get her to drop her (very good and well-documented) case. Presently, the EEOC is suing the company for "an injunction requiring the [company] to abstain from discrimination. It also seeks back pay with interest and other 'affirmative relief ... including but not limited to reinstatement,' punitive damages and reimbursement of the commission's legal expenses." Since the EEOC is a federal commission, they have unlimited means to sue the company. Half a million will look very cheap when all of this is sorted out.

Since she was let go in early 2001, they're looking at back pay that will total nearly half a million without any further damages, which will be considerable.

My best advice, if you work for a company that commits "bad behaviors," keep a complete record of everything. It's a better bet than winning a lottery.

In her case she did not burn any bridges. That would have been held against her in her case against the company.