Over six years, an employee contributed to multiple teams and built strong peer relationships. Most of the experience was positive. The resignation process, however, was hostile and unprofessional.
After submitting a resignation already discussed with their supervisor, the employee was pulled into a meeting by someone outside their reporting line. The person criticized the notice period, speculated about future employment, and ignored boundaries. They referenced alleged negative feedback from a former supervisor and applied pressure to reconsider the resignation.
The next day, a second meeting was held without HR, the supervisor, or practice leadership. The same individual continued pressing about the departure, made sarcastic remarks about PTO, and claimed the employee held “company secrets.” The employee’s final day was made immediate. Personal items were packed without consent, and the employee was followed to the lobby despite requests for space.
The offboarding was coercive. No apology was offered. No opportunity to transition work or say goodbye. No information was provided about benefits or final pay. The employee was locked out of their computer before departure.
The exit process revealed a toxic culture. Boundaries were ignored, gossip was used as leverage, and intimidation replaced professionalism. After six years of service, the employee was treated like a problem to be removed.
