No going back
We have all fantasised about the inappropriate things we would like to say to our boss as we march out defiantly on our last day. But before you start working on your speech, think of the consequences
In a few cases, I’ve actually seen the drama unfold in real life. The most memorable was a waitress I worked with who, following a kerfuffle involving mixed-up orders, began throwing plates at the boss, telling him what a loser she thought he was. I secretly applauded her chutzpah (if not her violent streak) as she strode out the door without a backward glance, leaving the pale-faced boss, to, literally, pick up the pieces.
But this girl was 20 and not particularly serious about her long-term career in waitressing. What happens if the bridges you burn are in a sector you’ve spent years training or studying for a career in?
The fear many of us have about a final showdown with our boss was highlighted in an email response I got from a friend during the writing of this article. I’d asked him if he knew anyone who had socked it to the boss on the last day and might be willing to give his or her version of events.
The answer I got back was telling. He said he’d asked around his office, and everyone had replied in the same way: ‘I don't know anyone who has done that — you'd have to be crazy in a small country like Ireland.’
So, it seems, in many cases, fear holds us back from really letting it all out.
High jinx
One man who didn’t hold back recently was Paul Hansard, who climbed a crane at a Dublin construction site in protest about pension rights in connection with his job.
“It was done out of total frustration,” the 50-year-old scaffolder admits. “I was employed by a sub-contractor that wasn’t complying with the mandatory pension scheme supposed to be in place for all construction employees.”
As chairman of SIPTU’s Dublin Construction Branch, Hansard felt he simply couldn’t go on working under such conditions.
“On the day of the protest, I walked away from my employers totally frustrated and the first thing in front of me was a crane. I had no protection, food or water. It was a totally spur-of-the-moment thing.”
Hansard scaled the 150-ft crane and stayed there for six hours, only to be eventually helped down by members of the Dublin Fire Brigade.
Following the protest, he, with the help of his union, came to an arrangement with his employer that he would be paid for the remainder of his contract (approximately three weeks) and would not return to the site. However, he now feels his future in construction is over.
“After this, finding a job in construction will be impossible. I won’t work again in this industry.”
Hansard says that now, at the age of 50, he is looking to retrain, although he hasn’t yet decided the area he will focus on.
“I’ve been working as a scaffolder for 30 years, so it’s all I know. Having said that, I’m certainly not looking for sympathy, because I don’t regret in the least what I did. People from Donegal to Kerry have been in touch, and the support I’ve got has been great.”
Hansard’s story is perhaps unusual, but it gives an indication of how an individual can be driven to extreme lengths if he or she feels unhappy or mistreated at work.
In general though, big showdowns with your soon-to-be ex-boss should be avoided, says John Deely, occupational psychologist with Pinpoint.
“Going forward in your career, that person can be important for a reference and it can make future employment prospects tricky. You certainly won’t be doing yourself any favours.”
Deely says certain sectors are quite small in Ireland, for example, media and advertising. “People talk. A survey by a recruitment company a few years ago found 50pc of jobs are accessed through networking. This is an important reason why you should be careful not to damage your brand within a network that is relevant to your career success.”
Even if you’re moving into self-employment, Deely says it’s wise to think carefully before burning your bridges.
“Many people go into freelancing or consulting, and your first bit of work may come from your former employer.”
But what if you do have a row with that boss or manager you’ve always found impossible to work with? Is it always the latter’s fault?
“If you have anger stored up over a period of time that you only release on your last day, you have to accept it could also be a reflection on you. That’s not a very satisfactory condition in which to work, and obviously these issues should have been aired before now.
“If that’s the case, you should start looking at ways to develop your assertiveness levels and learn methods of communicating your concerns in the workplace.”
Deely says if you’re on the cusp of telling your boss exactly what you think of him or her, perhaps you should re-examine your motives.
“Rather than putting a lot of energy into this big rant, you could maybe focus on not allowing it to happen in your next role.”
But what if an employee has genuine issues he or she really wants to air?
“Write down a few points and read them out,” Deely advises. “If you feel they don’t seem appropriate written down or when spoken aloud, then you probably shouldn’t say them. Secondly, base your statement on objective facts such as ‘I’m the fourth person to leave this department in the past six months’ or something like that. This works much better than turning nasty and just telling your boss ‘You’re a monster’.”
Deely says it’s all about avoiding irrationality, being measured and having the appropriate facts to hand.
“Employers who are very driven are frequently used to a certain level of compliance, but they often respect people who stand up to them. It’s important to focus on the symptoms instead of ascribing value judgements.”
Look before you leap
So you’re thinking of bawling out your boss, stealing some of his or her clients or perhaps taking the company Filofax with all the customer details in it. Well, think again, says Alec Gabbett from Leahy & Partners Solicitors in Limerick.
“In terms of taking clients with you, the main obstacle here will be your contract. Depending on what kind of clause is in it, if you try to take clients, your former bosses could injunct you.”
Another thing you should be aware of is your reference. “As an employee, you have no legal entitlement to a reference,” says Gabbett. “So be very wary of jeopardising your chances of receiving one.”
But what if you feel your boss has bullied you to the point of total frustration and you want to let him or her know exactly what he or she has put you through? Perhaps you may even want to take that person to court.
“Bullying and harassment legislation has become tighter over the past five years, so nowadays companies are more willing to fight rather than just settle. You need a very strong case,” says Gabbett.
He adds that people with genuine cases are often the ones who are so stressed out because of their job they may have become physically or psychologically ill.
“Many of them will present to me in tears because they are at the end of their tether. If you are going to win a case, you need to demonstrate to the Employment Appeals Tribunal that you have suffered tremendous abuse at work,” he explains.
But if you don’t fall into that category and your boss simply annoys you, Gabbett says it’s probably wise to keep schtum on your last day.
“If you are not going down the legal route, then just bite your tongue, because otherwise it could cause you to lose your reference.”
www.emurse.com/blog/2007/12/13/how-to-leave-your-job
© Whitespace Ltd 2008
All content copyright 2008, Whitespace Publishing Agency — all rights reserved
Email: jobs&careers@whitespace.ie
© Whitespace Ltd 2008
- Bernice Mulligan
