Companies started cutting costs last fall, right around this time, mid-September, when the world of investments toppled. Front page news was how many job losses today, and what companies went bankrupt this week. But really, those who lost their jobs are dealing with it now, moving on, filling in their time with courses and hobbies and other jobs. Forgotten over the past year are those who kept their jobs; those lucky enough to stay working. Employees who have kept their jobs are working harder than ever before, perhaps working 3 or 4 people’s jobs, covering for the layoffs and working an overloaded schedule. Companies laid off as many employees as they could, so the remaining staff have been handling more work with less time off, creating more stress in their lives, and for many, less money. Wage roll backs and cut backs have left nothing in the coffer for benefits, bonuses, or raises. So now that the remaining employees have been pushed to the maximum, many are quitting their jobs as they are fed up with the lack of money, holidays, benefits, friendships, boss appreciation, and everything else that brought them to that job in the first place. The problem is that many employees are quitting “badly”, without any forethought to what will happen next, after they quit. They just kind of snap. Lately, employers are complaining about the “quitting” process; the how, not the why. Employees are quitting via text, email, and even Facebook! They are quitting the day they leave on holidays, with the holiday as their notice period, or the day they get back, and then refusing to train a new person. Employees are quitting and then walking around telling the remaining staff how great the new job will be, how much money they will be making, and how all the stress will be gone! Employees are getting really mad at their current bosses, some yelling that they “quit” to their bosses, in front of others, and stomping out. And finally, employees are taking stuff with them when they go, as they know how crippled the company will be without them and the stuff they have created. These employees are acting maliciously. The thing is, the way in which an employee quits does follow them around to their new jobs, new bosses, and new co-workers. People talk and references are being completed, some on the record and some off the record. It won’t matter how much work was done or how many relationships were fostered or how long an employee stuck it out; how they walk out is what will be forever remembered. For those employees who are fed up, done like dinner, and finished working for nothing, think about the proper steps of quitting and leave with grace. Give proper notice, offer to train the newbie, be available for questions, don’t take anything that belongs to the employer, and stay positive throughout, it will go remembered!
-- Sharlene Massie is the C.E.O. of About Staffing Ltd., a dynamic personnel agency specializing in direct-hire and temporary placements. Questions for Sharlene? Visit the About Staffing website at www.aboutstaffing.com, and click on the link under the Sun logo. This article may be reproduced or transmitted if done so in its entirety, including this copyright line: Copyright 2009, by About Staffing Ltd., all rights reserve.
