Got walked out today...

[thrown_hammer]

Took a job at a competitor here in town. Felt kind of weird... Been there 16 years.

Something that seemed odd was I have been working on a fairly important project for weeks. I was pretty close to implementing it in production. I was the only one in our company working on it, No one else knew anything about it. I would of gladly sat down with some one and shared everything I had up to this point. No one asked anything. They just walked me out of the building. Seems to me they just lost at least eight weeks of research? Probably alot more. I guess I shouldn't worry about it, but after 16 years I can't help it.

But I did hear that my new employer is opening a plant in California and need people...

[Rot 911]

Congrats Shawn! As for your former employer, they were probably just pissed they were losing you and didn't know what else to do.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Contrats Shawn. Pity they couldn't treat you like an adult, but it's their loss.

[930LDR]

Congrats on the new position.

This is EXACTLY why you should never let it be known that you are even looking at alternative opportunities until you have something and are ready to take it. Most assume that there will be some period or transition or atleast notice but there are employers that simply want to cut ties and move on (even if it is more costly for them).

[jyl]

I assume you gave couple weeks' notice, but they frog-marched you out immediately?

Not unheard of, although kind of shortsighted of them I think. Everyone is worried about employee sabotage but presumably you had plenty of chance to do mischief before too.

If you have any time between today and when you start at the new place, I'd call your former boss, remind him of the project, and offer to come in and brief them to help w/ the transition. Maybe in a nice email that also says how you enjoyed working for the company, and hope to stay friends with all the good people there, etc etc. At least I'd make the offer.

But once you've started working at the new place, you can't do that - unless your new company agrees, and personally I think that opens a can of worms so I wouldn't ask.

[thrown_hammer]

I left on good terms. You never know what the future may hold.

They only walk you out if you go to a competitor, but i would of thought the people at my level may have thought..."Hey if he leaves, we are gonna have to figure this out." But you are probably right, they probably just weren't thinking. I better not get any phone calls..

[frogger]

Congrats on the new job.

[Jims5543]

I warked for a small mom and pop place for almost 12 years. I was VP at the time that I gave my required (employment contract) 4 week notice. 2 Hours after I gave my notice the owner walked into my office and told me to leave right now.

It was really weird, and I can tell you the 1st few weeks of the new gig will be just as weird, you get into a zone working in the same place, a comfort zone, familiarity. That is gone. Everyone is new, the people you considered friends are gone.

But it gets better as the weeks tick off and you get into projects. I can honestly say the first 2 or 3 days at the new job were horrible for me emotionally. It was really hard to go somewhere new.

[Dave L]

I got walked out once. I took the family on vacation to Quebec city, had a great time!

Congrats on the new job.

[cashflyer]

I got walked out of a strip club once....

[84porsche]

Shawn,

Does that mean we need another Welcome to CA BBQ for you? You better hurry up, summer is almost here.

Chris

[widebody911]

Congrats!

I understand their position on the matter. Years ago at a company where I worked, one of the developers was leaving. Late on his last day, he was on his way out, but one of the IT guys noticed he had a large stack of floppies. He claimed they were some 'personal stuff' but they took them from him anyway, telling him he could have them back after the content was checked out. Sure enough, it was a dump of the entire PVCS system - every last byte of the company's source code.

[URY914]

I changed companies a few weeks ago after 5 years. I does feel sorta strange to walk into a new place. They gave me a key to the building the first day. My honest face I guess.

[thrown_hammer]

Chris i will call you guys if we head out that way again...

I understand the "get out" policy. I knew it was coming and was fine with it. I guess I just hate to see them have to start over on a pretty important project.

[einreb]

Originally Posted by thrown_hammer

I knew it was coming and was fine with it.

Did you at least put on a good show? Cluck like a chicken? Drool?
"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!!!!"

Tons of possibilities.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Congrats!

What kind of work do you do? What part of CA are they opening in? Maybe I can be of some help finding people.

[87coupe]

Never been walked out of a job, but I have been walked on a number of times :P

[thrown_hammer]

I didn't scream or anything. But I did walk around for awhile with a shank in my hand.

We do manufacturing of medical replacements such as hips and knees. The rumor I heard was Carlsbad and that they needed everything from machinists, engineers, quality control, to shipping.

[Jims5543]

LOL!! The first thing I just thought of was that hammer should have yelled "Dude don't Taze me" over and over on your way out.

[stomachmonkey]

I've asked several people to leave after they have given notice.

Generally what has happened is they looked for a new gig due to something lacking in their current one or "grass is greener" mentality.

I accepted their 2 weeks and told them i appreciated their staying and finishing their projects.

Then something weird happens. Since they have mentally "left" they end up spending more time wandering the building and being negative than they do producing work.

One of those people I hired back three years later.

It's not personal. Just business.