Firing them on the Monday before Christmas. Sounds like a great organization. Fuch 'em, move on without a word.

^^^Yes! Rick in this case just STFU, call in "sick" and move on....

I won't get paid if I skip tomorrow, even though I have two days left. So I need to come in. I wish I had known all this before agreeing to the interview, but feel like it's the only chance ANYONE in this org. is going to have to hear some honesty. So I'll try to keep it succinct, professional, honest, calm and make mention of how disappointed I am that co-workers and friends were canned the week of Xmas. Who wouldn't say that? This company will be shredded on Glassdoor before I even get around to posting there.

Rick,

Normally, I agree to exit interviews and provide honest feedback. I am professional, kind to those who deserve it, and factual. I ten to maintain relationships even after leaving and in the long run, has always proved useful to me. Under the circumstances you mention above, I would feign uncontrollable diarrhea before I would do an exit interview with these people.

That said, if you do the interview and conduct yourself like a professional, I would bet they wind up offering you a promotion.

angela

Never ever burn a bridge. It's a very small world and you never know who/when your paths cross. Keep the emotion /rant out of it too.

Very good post Aragorn!

My boss, who's home now and I am sure is just burning up vacation before he quits, just texted me to be brutally honest in the exit interview. I'll be a little more diplomatic. Honestly, the only folks here I'll ever need to stay on good terms with are my boss and his boss, both of whom are good buddies and feel equally shafted by this company.

Still don't see an upside other than making you feeling better for venting. Zero upside, and you don't know who has what deal or alliance. My advice stands, politely decline to do the exit interview. It will not help your position our change the company one iota. Ymmv

I am going to agree with Todd on this one, I have a hard time seeing the upside to answering the questions with anything other than yes or no.

Of course they want you to "light them up" but what good will it do, your co workers are hoping you will the dirty work for them.

You got a new job that is a better opportunity for you personally. Thank you for the employment.

That is all you need to say.

Bill

Ok, so why the hell do they want an exit interview? Do they want me to just reaffirm their BS so they can continue, confident that even one of the smart ones was fooled? What's the purpose of this unless the HR lady just doesn't know any better and hasn't told her boss yet?

Exit interviews are standard HR fare, they may just have noticed that they should be doing these. Coincidence!

I am with Nostatic - no upside - but I'd go further than declining. Attend and keep it nice / general. It is a formality, you are really over-analyzing this one. This is another "Cactus in the Driveway". :D

It is actually cowardly to try to change the company on your way out. Do it while you are in the trenches and you may see it bear fruit. On your way out, it makes zero sense.

G

They're fishing. Hoping they can get some insight on something. Maybe who they can expect to talk to competition, customers, or pursue legal action (if applicable).

Todd's right. Nothing good will come of it, there's no upside.

Answer the questions you can and decline those that would require you to compromise your integrity or future. Remember, you quit for a reason.

Exactly. Your best bet is to let them ask all the questions, and for you to answer in the most general terms you can, or just decline to answer. Offer up nothing new or incendiary. Eventually, they'll run out of stuff to ask; then they'll ask if you have anything to add.

You will have nothing more to add. This is not the time for you to offer up honesty.

Meeting adjourned.

This but be objective and leave any emotion out of it.

Or say nothing. Answer their questions vaguely and just leave it at that. Maybe you don't want to help them after the way they've treated you.

Maybe HR are ducking for cover so they're doing it by the book.

Whatever the reason it really doesn't concern you anymore. Just look forward and get a new job ASAP.

I got a new job, which is why I quit this one. Our own Joeaksa hooked me up.

RUN DON'T Walk. Exit and never say a word.

Wouldn't refusing or canceling an exit interview make me look worse to them than telling them some truth?

You need to ask that question. What is it that makes your opinion so valuable to them ? It is relatively easy to say what the company needs to excel, and what the employees need to thrive. The company simply needs more of certain things.

You don't have to quantify what is wrong at all, and you could just make it as simple as you got a better offer, you appreciate the opportunity they gave you, and this is what you feel you did for them. I myself would stick to this.

You have no idea what they really want, or what they will try to do with it, so keep it simple. And consider that where you are going is really none of their business. Do not mention it in any regard. You already know you can't trust them.

Yes, but the ashes from smoking volcanos destroy jet engines. Best not to pass too close.

Rick,

I worked for an unethical company. They layed me off a few months after I was prominently featured at the National Sales meeting. The company lost several thousand % of value in a couple years. I still don't understand what happened but I have an idea.

Your situation is similar. What is the motivation for the owner here? He is a scumbag. You and your friends have much to lose. Be careful. Your soon to be ex-company is a bad actor. I would think about what lawsuits, coercion, and nasty things can happen from this. Perhaps since you have committed, you give the world's most dispassionate, boring interview?

Good luck. You are a good guy. They have a motivation in this that isn't honorable.

Larry

Apparently you don't understand percentages, either

At least thats how they represent to you. People do all kinds of things in business organizations, make odd alliances and in general try to get others to pull their water.

You escaped - taking shots on the way out will benefit no one and will potentially hurt your "friends" or your reputation as you don't know who's in whom's court. In f'd up organizations lines get drawn and you can think you're helping someone with a comment when in reality you just sliced them in half.

No upside. Seriously. Any comments can just make things worse. If they insist on an interview just don't answer the questions. They can't force you to. You're on the way out - no leverage.

Sounds like lots of potential downside, no potential upside. Skip it. Or if you feel compelled, turn it around and exit interview THEM. YOU ask the questions. "What do you feel is the greatest reason a person would want to come on board with or stay on board with this company?" "What do you think are the greatest strengths this company has to offer that will be afforded to my replacement?" Stuff like that. Have a little fun with it. Don't take it too seriously. It's pretty clear they don't.

Just tell them the TRUTH you are leaving because you found another job. You found an opportunity to advance YOUR career. That’s ALL there is NO point in saying anything else you will Not change anything there. Move on and forward.

I'm sure that an unethical company such as the one you currently are leaving, would have no problem taping the exit interview and reviewing it carefully for their own legal purposes. Be very careful with your words so they can't be construed as something other than what you meant. There really isn't alot of upside here to doing the interview other than feeling of completion of your duties.

A lot of the reasoning for and against doing the interview centres around "What's in it for me?", but no one seems to have touched upon, "Because it's the right thing to do."

I agree in keeping the comments factual and dispassionate. But this is truth time. After enduring years of (dare I say North Korean type) BS, someone has asked for feedback.
You, my friend are in a unique position.
Keep your feelings out of it, but emphasize how the management actions have eroded the function and profitability of the company.
Tell it like it is. If they don't listen, at least you have had the satisfaction of speaking the truth.

Best
Les

Rick,
OldE said it well. Here is one vote for being brutally honest, while staying diplomatic and detached. You will regret not telling them once this opportunity is gone. What exactly is the downside? The HR bimbo blacklists you for being ethical and knowing what you're talking about? For exhibiting superior managerial instinct? Being honest may actually distinguish you from the rest of the hoard who just quits and says nothing.

BTDT..."burned the bridge" with no regrets. Rest of my group saw radical changes within a few months, though the ship was a "Titanic" on the way down, I never regretted it one bit. Did my exit interviews with a senior VP and the director of IT (and I told the truth as I saw it)....would NOT and didn't give a rat's about a worthless HR interview. This was a mega-bank now mismanaged out of existence just a few years later....wasn't hard to foresee. I reckon' the "bridge isn't really burned"....Wells Fargo owes me another pension in a few years :D

I was in a position to immediately replace my job with a much better one down the street and 11 years later was willing and able to "leave" that organization on my own terms too. If you're really concerned about leaving a few days pay on the table then I'd simply stfu and move on...

Rick,

Whatever you do today I wish you the best. SmileWavy

Get pics of the HR bimbo! :D

But really ... STFU. Nothing good can come from you being honest. NOTHING

Interesting thread. I will only add this.

Whenever I am asked questions I am uncomfortable answering my response is always the same....

"I'm not at liberty to say."

Good luck and please keep us posted!

Might "feel good". BFD. You can't make mortgage payments with ego cookies.......

The world is full of drama queens........ go ahead an wallow around in that stupid, useless sauce. See what it gets you.

No posts yet ....

Looks like the really did not like what he had to say.

Hope he knows how to Monkey Roll. :D

It went very well and was not at all confrontational. The HR lady is so nice, it'd be hard to let loose on her and none of it is her fault anyway. I just answered her prepared questions, was very frank and unemotional about it and at the end she asked what they would have to do to keep me. I said double my pay and put it into an iron-clad one yr. contract. Then we both burst out laughing. Really was painless.

Nice job, well done!

You just gave back to those who suffer from unenlightened leadership. Things may not change there, but you did your part and now full speed ahead!

Nice job, Rick. Thanks for the followup.

Onward.....

Pics of HR lady? LOL

Glad it was a no drama experience.

I might be interesting if you get any feedback from your buddies (any that are left) if they learn anything from it later on.

Pics of the nice HR lady or it didn't happen! :D

Good on you and good luck moving forward.