AsianWeek » It’s So Easy to Say Good-bye

It’s So Easy to Say Good-bye

Dear Q: A co-worker is about to leave our company in a few weeks for another job, but in the meantime, he’s been complaining incessantly to me about how unchallenging it is to work here, how lazy everyone is, and how much he’s looking forward to going to his new (and, admittedly, sweet) job. I want to tell him to shut up; we all still have to work here. How can I tell him to leave with grace and not put us and our office down in the process?

It’s So Easy to Say Good-bye

Most people are tempted to make vengeful comments on the way out of a bad situation. If he keeps this up, no one’s going to take his calls, should he need something at his next job. Just tell him that. Ask your friend if he wants his last impression to be, “God, what a jerk; we won’t miss him.” And if that doesn’t work, “I still work here, so shut up” is pretty good. Then, go to your boss and ask if you can organize a nice party for the current staff the day after his departure, and announce it earlier over inter-office e-mail. The middle finger works in reverse, too.

Send your life questions to AskQ@asianweek.com.

Comments

I agree with Q. The departing employee is being immature, unprofessional and a jerk. If s/he needs to complain, s/he should do it in an exit interview with HR with a professional concise list of complaints and recommendations for improvement. It is unprofessional to poinson the current atmosphere. It is common for a departing employee to reinforce their decision to leave by bad-mouthing the current employer over and over again to convince themselves that they are correct in their decision to leave. But the first rule of employment is “never to burn your bridges;” it is bad karma, and in your career you never know who you will see again and end up working for again. Twice in my career, I have brought in donuts or bagels to celebrate the departure of a co-worker who acted as a jerk to us in his/her final weeks.

–Mondoo P on Jan 10, 2008

Post your comments.

Comments using inappropriate language will not be posted. AsianWeek reserves the right to re-publish comments, into "Letters to the Editor," in which case, we reserve the right to edit comments for length and style. If you would like to write a letter to our editor, please email: asianweek@asianweek.com.