Things you should not do once you put in your papers

Coming to office as usual, I checked my email for anything that might need my urgent action. My attention was caught by the words ‘Au Revoir‘, and I was curious to know who was leaving. As I opened the mail, I was surprised to know that it was from Raju, one of my dear colleagues, one who I used to meet every day and in fact, had met the earlier day at breakfast. We had exchanged niceties and then shared news about our families – he about his extended family in God’s Own Country, Kerala, and me about my only daughter.

It struck me very sharply that Raju had not said anything about his last day in office even when we had met in person. His mail was very nicely worded and knowing his weakness in English, it was evident that Raju had copy-pasted a lot of sentences from other farewell mails. Yet, he had been careful to share his phone number and email ID, leaving an option for us to keep in touch with him.

No matter how much - or from which angle - I reflect on this sort of behaviour, I realise most people take pride in keeping their exit a secret till the last minute and then send a farewell mail in a desperate bid to make everyone feel that they wish to be kept in touch with.

I request not to be misunderstood. I am not asking for details of the new job to be divulged, but there is nothing wrong in sharing that one is leaving, atleast a day or two before, if not much earlier. Secrecy breeds rumours which are avoidable. I am compelled to put down many more things that a person should not do once he puts in his papers.

Needless to say, these are not exhaustive and are purely based on my opinion.

1.   Do not talk irrelevant

Open offices are quite common these days and working in cubicles in an open office requires you to observe certain constraints, more so when you have decided to leave your current employer. You should not waste others’ time chatting loudly about irrelevant things, for you may have quit, but they still have work to do. It is wrong to waste others’ time and distract them when they are engrossed at work. Your relentless prattle is likely to disturb all around you.

Remember – It can be hard for them to correct you but should someone do it, it can be very embarrassing for you. Also, this time, when workload is probably less, can be utilised productively in catching up with people, something that you could not do before, for want of time.

2.   Do not compare

You have no business comparing circumstances at the current employer with the supposedly good times you are expecting at the new workplace. Be it remuneration, perks, job timing, benefits, or something else, all are different for different roles and responsibilities, and discussing them loosely is not a good thing to do.

Remember – There are good and not-so-good aspects to every job and the new workplace is no exception to this. Unhealthy comparison can end up injecting pessimism into the environment of the current workplace and that’s simply not done. Also, this is the place where you aspired to work in, before joining here.

3.   Do not shirk work

Do not just let go once you put in your papers. You may have handed over very well to your successor but it’s only fair that you work sincerely till the last day of your term with the current employer as you will be paid fairly anyway. It is your one last chance to show your integrity. Indulging in gossip, taking too many leaves, spending too much time in the cafeteria or at the coffee corner – all these smack of unprofessionalism.

Remember – People may or may not remember you for your achievements or capabilities, but they will surely not forget if you shirk your responsibilities in the last lap of your tenure here. This ‘free time’ can be made use of to connect with someone – perhaps your senior or manager – and learn from them something that can help in your next job.

4.   Do not avoid interactions

Do not avoid personal touch with your current colleagues, especially those that have helped you even once. Meet up with all you know, atleast from a few days to the last day. It’s not nice going away silently and then sending a ‘Farewell to all of you’ note saying ‘let’s keep in touch’ when you didn’t mean it anyway. I wonder how many will be willing to help Raju if he calls them for something, for he didn’t take time to meet them before he left his current workplace.

Remember – Contacts are just that – contacts. It doesn’t matter who it is. Smile, shake hands if suitable, say some memorable words, have lunch together, do whatever it takes to stay in the memory of the colleagues you are leaving, for as long as possible. It doesn’t take much for out of sight to become out of mind.