How honest should I be in my exit interview?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Mentioning names of those who gave you problems is a must, say nothing about those you like, nothing.

Problem here is that my co-workers in Phoenix are the best. Manager is the best. He knows how badly we've all been jerked around. He's powerless to stop it. He's off these next two weeks, we're all pretty sure he has another job secured and I am almost certain he'll quit the day he gets back because he saw that they wouldn't let me use my last two vacation days and won't pay me for them. The end result there is that, from now on, no one will give two weeks notice. They'll burn up whatever vacation days they have left, either quit by email or come back and quit after lunch in person. Boss's boss got demoted last week, effective Jan. 2nd. So the only person above him is the owner of the company back east. And I know he'll secretly be on the exit interview call. So should I mention to the HR lady that her boss, who's probably sitting next to her on another phone, is the problem? Seems like it'd feel good, but accomplish nothing.

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Got a call from the CEO later that day thanking me for the candid feedback (no he's not supposed to know what I said!?) apparently something resonated. 3 months later my ex-boss got fired for things I mentioned during my interview. Sexist tendencies, fudging sales figures, iron-fist management, and not actually selling with his team.

I had the same thing happen with the VP of a small company I worked for a while back. During the interview I mentioned that the environment was bad - innovation and trying new things were discouraged because all things were shot down (or worse) unless they came from a particular person who was not named. In their quest for glory they had to assure that no one would come up with anything better than this person's ideas and that was part of how they did it, and why the department was stagnating.

She was gone about a month later - I'm sure it became obvious once they realized there was a problem.

[island911]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

...

Now that you know this, why would this seemingly nice HR woman want to give me an exit interview when no one else has gotten one and they have to know how crooked a company they are?

That's says "skip it" - they really don't care what you think.

Edit: well, maybe the HR woman is interested in what you have to say; but clearly upper management doesn't care.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Problem here is that my co-workers in Phoenix are the best. Manager is the best. He knows how badly we've all been jerked around. He's powerless to stop it. He's off these next two weeks, we're all pretty sure he has another job secured and I am almost certain he'll quit the day he gets back because he saw that they wouldn't let me use my last two vacation days and won't pay me for them. The end result there is that, from now on, no one will give two weeks notice. They'll burn up whatever vacation days they have left, either quit by email or come back and quit after lunch in person. Boss's boss got demoted last week, effective Jan. 2nd. So the only person above him is the owner of the company back east. And I know he'll secretly be on the exit interview call. So should I mention to the HR lady that her boss, who's probably sitting next to her on another phone, is the problem? Seems like it'd feel good, but accomplish nothing.

Hell yea! I'm crazy, but if I had a hunch like you do, I'd call them on that ischt too


I'm not in your situation, everyone has a different personality and different comfort levels...but I'd say, whaddaya got to lose at this point?

My old boss got canned, I was able to keep a friendship with a certain co-worker who commended my honesty and has proven to be a keystone in helping me move my career forward.

Rick- Now you got me all riled up

[Rick Lee]

As I learned in the business philosophy thread last week, I will remain the calmest person in the room. On the off chance my feedback will be taken to heart, I really hope to make things better for my co-workers, who are so awesome. If they are just going through the motions, at least the CEO will know that we're not all idiots and are onto his shenanigans. I really think he has lawsuits and labor complaints coming his way. I wouldn't work for this place again for anything. However, I am a contractor and the "mother ship" is a pretty awesome company I would consider coming to work for in the future. I am sure the mother ship will eventually sever ties with "dinghy," but it could be another year or two.

[Gretch]

Everything you do is subject to review, forever. Your ONLY obligation is to work for the best interests of your personal franchise.........

The hell with being right OR righteous....... Move on with your life and take care of YOUR responsibilities.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Gretch

Everything you do is subject to review, forever. Your ONLY obligation is to work for the best interests of your personal franchise.........

The hell with being right OR righteous....... Move on with your life and take care of YOUR responsibilities.

I understand this but the world doesn't move forward with such attitude.

My case: If I had said nothing, my old boss would have remained, firing women after they wouldn't have relations with him etc etc. Now, he's been dealt with and those that remain are much happier. I did my part, makes me sleep better at night.

Just MHO

[jyl]

I'd participate in the exit interview but
- Don't say anything that could remotely be used against you
- Don't say anything that would burn bridges, even though it doesn't sound like there is anything there to want a bridge back to, but if nothing else the HR lady could end up somewhere else
- Don't throw your co-workers or managers under buses
- If they start asking you questions about confidentiality, client solicitation, etc, have a stock non-answer prepared ("I always have and will continue to meet my obligations") and terminate the interview.

[aigel]

The question asked before was "what is in it for you?". IMHO nothing - an exit interview is a formality. It is not the time to cause a big stink on your way out, or even criticize or suggest. It will not make a difference to the company and potentially only puts you in a compromised position. Take the high road ... That's my two cents ...

G

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by jyl

- If they start asking you questions about confidentiality, client solicitation, etc, have a stock non-answer prepared ("I always have and will continue to meet my obligations") and terminate the interview.

This ^^^ is very important. If you do not already have a non-compete, non-solicitation, or non-disclosure agreement in place…DO NOT SIGN ONE IN THE EXIT INTERVIEW. This is a common approach by companies when a good sales person leaves.

In reality, the non-compete is probably only enforceable if you are "fair and equitably compensated" for signing one (varies by state). If you plan to leave this industry, you might negotiate a financial exit package for signing one. Otherwise, like jyl said, if they ask, be strong and end the meeting.

I agree with others, if you are the first to be asked for an exit interview, then they trust and respect your insights. It's likely human resources already knows there is a problem and is just beginning to address it. I bet the HR manager is in the meeting. Then again, they could simply be concerned you'll take business and bully you into a non-compete. One to the other.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by Gretch

Everything you do is subject to review, forever. Your ONLY obligation is to work for the best interests of your personal franchise.........

The hell with being right OR righteous....... Move on with your life and take care of YOUR responsibilities.

some times its selfserving to give em a little piece of your mind, so to speak.


I agree its a bad Idea, but.....................feels good man

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

You can:

1. Be honest but restrained
2. Be honest & burn the bridge
3. Be honest & nuke the valley

If there is any way that this could reflect negatively on your future then just mumble about growth opportunities. Other than that, go for option 1.

Ian

in my experience the problem with #1 is staying at #1

are you sure you won't move to #3 if someone lights the touchpaper?

[nostatic]

If the owner is dishonest and knows it, and will be on the call, there is no upside to even having the interview. I'd politely decline and move on to the next job. A fish stinks from the head down...

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by nostatic

If the owner is dishonest and knows it, and will be on the call, there is no upside to even having the interview. I'd politely decline and move on to the next job. A fish stinks from the head down...

This is what makes it so difficult. I told a few co-workers I have an exit interview for tomorrow and they were all stunned. One pumped his fists in the air and said, "Light em up!"

The mgt. here in Phoenix is great, but they're powerless to do anything. And they're all looking for jobs or about to give notice. I have to wonder why the HR lady back east wants to have this talk tomorrow if the CEO will be on the call. He knows he's FOS and everything he's ever told us turned out to be the opposite of what happened. He really tells it like it ain't.

But I grudgingly have to confess that perhaps no one here has been honest with anyone from day one, the mendacious culture has reached critical mass and no one (who still needs the paycheck) can bring themselves to utter a word of truth without fear of getting canned. So maybe there's a sudden interest in hearing it from someone who's known as a straight shooter.

BTW, when I gave my boss my notice, he whispered to me, "You're doing the right thing at exactly the right time." Later on he was mouthing the words to me, "Text me your personal email address." Everyone around here whispers and looks around before saying anything.

[Shadetree930]

Is the HR lady hot? She may make really good coffee in the morning.

That would be the only reason to do the interview. Nothing else good can come from it if the company is a rotten to the core as you say it is.

[Rick Lee]

They are firing people today. Three just got walked out, one of whom is a close buddy. Last week we were told all is well and no one needs to worry about their jobs.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

They are firing people today. Three just got walked out, one of whom is a close buddy. Last week we were told all is well and no one needs to worry about their jobs.

The exit interview is moot, Rick, just like your buddies...

[Oh Haha]

I think calling in sick tomorrow becomes an option given the latest happenings.

Sounds like the ol' SHTF about now.

[Iciclehead]

Zero, absolutely zero value for exit interview in this case.

If it was a well run organization that was really looking for ways to prevent smart guys like you from leaving, then an exit interview can be useful and can even build future possibilities...long shot, but possible.

In this case, in the absolute strongest terms, do not participate in an exit interview in any way. Your participation give far more opportunities for malfeasance for them than any possible benefit to you or your soon to be former colleagues.

Dennis

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

The exit interview is moot, Rick, just like your buddies...

^^^^ this. They just changed the equation with the firings.

Ian