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How to quit like a boss

jmsbrdy.com

151–160 of 171 posts

Re: How to quit like a boss

#151
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with the parent but I disagree with you. I am a manager in a large tech company and we care about our employees. We will not fire/lay them off/relieve them of their duty for any reason or not reason. We treat them as we expect to be treated. We will support them if they have some unusual circumstances. We do this because it is the right thing to do, and because it makes business sense. These are not mutually…

I hear you, but I have been a consultant for very large companies (even mutual insurance cos, with basically zero profit motive), and at the end of they day they will make decisions for the company and not for the person. As in, we got the CEO to fire some of his direct reports that had been working at the company 20+ years. And then it rolled downhill. Don't get romantic with your employer unless you own the company…

Precisely. I have no doubt that there are company that have management that genuinely care.

But they are part of a bigger organization and when it comes time to firing/laying off employees, it’s just impossible not to screw employees over (or at least have them feel like they were screwed over).

You know lay offs are a couple months off but it’s hush hush. Employees will find out in a couple weeks. Your direct report John tells you how excited he is to finally find the right house and he’s about to release the last contingency and can’t back out after. What do you say? What can you say? And even if you could say “id wait another week” John probably doesn’t think he’ll be laid off.

Firing people always makes them feel screwed over. Personal situations can rarely be accommodated with big reorgs. It’s smarter to protect yourself.

Re: How to quit like a boss

#152
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Immigration. When you're in the US on a Visa (maybe not all of them?), you need to have a job or you risk getting deported.

Thats weird, you still get ~ 60 days to find a new job. In case you dont have any lined up.

It’s changed and by the fact they call it INS (and not UCSIS, changed in 2003) makes me think it happened a while back.

I know way back, TN visa holders got no grace period once dismissed from a job. Unofficially it was “24 hours”, and Canadians could always turn around and come back as a tourist to clean up, but that’s a huge kick in the teeth to someone you just fired.

Re: How to quit like a boss

#153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The assumption here is that the employee leaving the company was due to some problems that could not be solved after careful discussion with the manager, skip-level etc. But leaving a company can also happen because another company offers you 50% more money or a different role, or you just feel like changing. For any employee, including managers, directors and up—there is only one thing to remember: when the company…

> when the company intends to let you go, they don't ask for your opinion. Two-week notice is professional and more than enough American culture is so bizarre. Here in the UK notice (in both directions) is usually contractually 1 month after 6 months, sometimes up to 3 months. If they really want to get rid of you they can pay you to job seek full-time for a few months, which is great. In practice, you get several mo…

I’ve worked under both systems and prefer the short notice period (no notice is typical in the US, but 2 weeks is customary).

Landing a new role, then giving notice and working for 90 more days is a huge pain in the ass.

Re: How to quit like a boss

#154
post #137
post #65

This post is filled with bad and naive advice. I have thankfully worked in mostly rational companies and been able to be honest with managers about what is or isn't working. At my last job though I spent more than a year saying repeatedly that I wasn't happy with my project work and that I wanted more pay. Annual review rolls around and they didn't fix it. I had a new job offer in a month and when I put in my notice…

In some parts of Europe (Czechia specifically but I heard it worked similarly in other countries), the standard is two full calendar months, so usually about ten weeks. Some candidates request three months and the employer usually can wait. Because the previous employer will also have to wait for a new hire, he will not want to let you out much sooner. It works the other way round as well. The employer can't fire you…

In Britain the notice period is usually one month, but in some cases (eg academia) it can be as long as three months. (I am currently in month 2 of my notice period…)

Re: How to quit like a boss

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Good experiences should not be translated into advice. Where else would advice come from?

A range of experiences broader than just the good ones.

Frankly, if someone's only ever had good experiences, I'd be interested in their advice.

Re: How to quit like a boss

#156

Great post, it is the kind of things you wish you read 10 years ago. Most negative comments I read here are basically reformulating Talion law. That's not how you make things better around you. You should behave as an employee like the employee you wish was working for you. Two weeks is not enough to hand off your work and allow a company/team to prepare. If your managers are asshole, then maybe you cannot change you…

> You should behave as an employee like the employee you wish was working for you.

Why should I serve my employers interests over my own?

I will behave as an employee in the way that is most beneficial to me personally. How much I care about my employers success is 100% dependent on how much I personally benefit from their success. If my employer wants a better transition than 2 weeks, they need to start thinking about how to incentivize that behavior.

Re: How to quit like a boss

#158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> been able to be honest with managers about what is or isn't working. How often do you fellow HNers disagree with management? Is it that common? I think it's probably the worst part of "working for a living".

I disagree with my manager (and other managers in the org) all the time. It's fine, we talk about the tradeoffs involved and figure out the best path forward. Every time I hear people worried about disagreeing with management, it's because management are assholes. The managers I work with are good people. They're not perfect, but I do (mostly) trust their competency. I'm also senior enough people can't push me around…

How often do you find that when you disagree with management, the answer is almost always "management vs engineer, management wins"?

When are you ever to get management to do anything you need (or want) from them, or is it always on their own terms?

Re: How to quit like a boss

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed with everything you and OP wrote until your very last line: “ If your company needs you beyond that, contract billing should start at 5x your salaried rate, 20 hour minimum.” Now that’s being a dick. Looking out for yourself does not mean being a dick.

This is not being a dick. Before I left a certain job, I had my supervisor (also owner of the company) tell me exactly this. She once quit a job and did exactly this. And was proud of it. Even if I'm happy I no longer work for her, she was completely right about this move.

Your supervisor was once a dick, and proud of it, so it is ok for you to be a dick. Think about that.

Re: How to quit like a boss

#160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed with everything you and OP wrote until your very last line: “ If your company needs you beyond that, contract billing should start at 5x your salaried rate, 20 hour minimum.” Now that’s being a dick. Looking out for yourself does not mean being a dick.

Hey, if they’re willing to pay that much for it; charging any less is charity

I don’t know your situation, but it could also be construed as blackmail depending on the circumstances.
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