Dear John
By Randall Barker, Vice President of Human Resources, A Plus Benefits
One of the things I like about the human resource profession is the interaction with a wide and varying group of people as well as the constant challenges posed by these same people’s actions.
A number of experiences stand out to me, including one where an employee tried to quit by writing a resignation letter using the same format as a “Dear John” letter. This employee had been with the company for many years and was emotionally and professionally invested in the company. She was well liked, respected and valued for her contribution to the team over the years and when she quit it was upsetting to her and the company. In her letter she said:
“I’m not quite sure how to say this, so I will just come right out. I’m breaking up with you. We’ve had some really good times and no matter where life takes me, a part of me will always love you. We have been through a lot together and we did a lot for each other. And while I still love you, I’m not ‘in’ love with you. In fact, I’ve met someone else. We’ve been seeing each other for a while now. We love the same things in life: sleeping at night, seeing our loved ones on a regular basis, and taking a day off once in a while without guilt or repercussions. Being with them made me realize that I can no longer go on living this lie. I’ve been working really hard lately to make things work. But I seem to be the only one working on this relationship.”
In this instance this employee wrote the letter while at work on the company’s dime. She also handed the letter to her boss on her way out the door. Upon receipt of the letter her boss was upset and shared the letter with other executives who were also upset and disappointed by the letter.
Our advice to this client was to check her computer and the company network to make sure the employee hadn’t tried to sabotage her old computer or the company network. Often when an employee leaves and is upset about it they try to find ways to take it out on their employer. In this case with somebody so emotionally attached to the situation we recommended our client check and make sure that everything is secure, including relationships with partners, clients and other employees.
Had the employee done something improper that would be cause to pursue them after she left but as far as the “Dear John” letter that was something that would do the company no benefit to respond to.
About the Author
Randall Barker is Vice President of Human Resources at A Plus Benefits and has been with the company for over 14 years. He has been involved in human resources for over 20 years and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Certified Employment Law Specialist (CELS). He received his master’s degree from the University of Phoenix and has taught Human Resource classes at a local college. He has extensive experience with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and has successfully managed more than 80 discrimination claims for A Plus Benefits clients during the past 14 years in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The content of this blog reflects the views and opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of Utah Business.
Tags: company safey, employees, HR, personnel, quitting