Some Workers Lack Quitting Skills

Nearly nine in 10 (86%) human resources (HR) managers interviewed said the way employees quit a job at least somewhat affects their future career opportunities.

HR managers were asked by OfficeTeam to recount the most unusual way they have heard someone quit a job.

Instances cited include:

• “A marching band accompanied one guy in his announcement.”
• “The worker threw a brick through the window with the words ‘I quit’ written on it.”
• “An employee left a sticky note explaining he was quitting.”
• “The individual sent an email blast to all staff.”
• “A worker threw a cup of coffee and walked out.”
• “One employee bragged to his colleagues that it was his last day, but failed to let the HR manager or his boss know.”

Some workers chose to use technology to quit:

• “A worker sent his boss a text message.”
• “One person quit via Facebook.”
• “The employee submitted a message through the company website.”
• “Someone resigned on a video conference call.”

A few employees had someone else do their dirty work:

• “One person made his wife call to say he was not coming back.”
• “The worker sent a text to his colleague and asked her to forward it to management.”
• “An employee’s parents let the company know their son was resigning.”

Others did a disappearing act:

• “A person went to the bathroom and didn’t return.”
• “One worker packed up her belongings and walked out without a word.”
• “Someone left for lunch and never came back.”
• “A worker stormed out in the middle of a meeting without explanation.”
• “The employee said she was stepping out to buy new boots, but was never seen again.”

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 600 HR managers at companies with 20 or more employees in the United States and Canada.