Leaving a Job Without Notice. New Wave or Bad Form? Either Way, I am Not a Fan.

In two separate calls with two separate clients on two separate days, I was told almost the exact same story. To be candid, I didn’t believe either one of them initially, but I found out that both versions were true and I’m blown away.

What happened?

Both clients, geographically separated by 1,000 miles, had staff members show up to work on a workday in the middle of the week and then within 30 minutes of arriving, quit. I don’t mean they gave two weeks’ notice. I don’t mean let their boss know they were unhappy. They quit, picked up their stuff, and walked out of the office never to be seen again. And neither was in jeopardy of losing their job. Both were generally considered to be good employees.

I have all the respect in the world for people who want to better themselves. To find new opportunities to help them grow. To make more money. But the story told twice to me is remarkable. As you can imagine, with two smaller offices, this created havoc and chaos for the remaining amazing team members.

I have written about and talked about the “great resignation.” I just never imagined that it would come to this. The standardized, best practice of giving some notice, normally a couple of weeks, seems to have literally “walked out the door.”  I didn’t even know it was an option to just leave and place, the organization, and people with untold extra work and stress.

What does it say about the person who does this? What does it say about our culture, from a professional perspective? I won’t name the individuals or the organization.   I do think it’s worth noting that stress and concern that these foundations endured, in particular to the people who remain, is at a maximum. 

“Ethics and morals be damned.” I guess it’s a new way of looking at the professional world….but I don’t have to like it.