Leaving my company after 10 years of service

24 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 8,2023 at 6:22PM UTC

   I was forced out once and it took a few weeks to clean out nearly 10 years of being an employee. Since then I've lived by a one box rule. All I care about will fit in one banker's box. I do have a picture on my wall and I can carry that if needed.

2. AnonymousNovember 8,2023 at 7:52PM UTC

   Of course.
   That's like saying do you give up your pictures, videos, holiday gifts and keepsakes if you divorce.

   The pictures, plaques, momentos are part of your tenure at the company. They are memories and keepsakes that commemorate your happier times at the company. If you need them to serve as evidence as well so be it. Don't lose sight of the good times while you plan your attack. So often people allow lawsuits to turn them bitter.

3. Audrey KirschNovember 8,2023 at 8:04PM UTC

   I say definitely take all those things that you've accumulated over the years. If you have the time, start removing a couple at a time. Then it won't see so overwhelming when you actually leave.

4. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

   Take a little at a time each day before you give notice because once you do there's a chance you'll be walked to the door and not allowed to gather any of your personal belongings yourself.

5. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 1:38PM UTC

   I once did this exact move. After I made my decision to leave, each day I would clean my desk carefully organizing drawers and belongings. If items were staying i.e. top drawer supplies, paperclips, scissors, post it notes, etc. they were organized. Personal items, change, hand lotions, etc. were taken home in my purse. When it came to files and larger items, I did the same, organized and made sure nothing that belonged to company was out of place. At the end of the night, I would leave with a couple of items. I also used my lunch breaks to take items to my car. On the day I turned my notice in, there was one item left which was something I had purchased for the team to use, and it was not a popular item. As I walked out, I grabbed it and brought it with me. No one suspected until the day I was away from that toxic situation. I also know a woman who left and sent any awards etc, right back to the company with the company equipment after working remotely! Bold move but cathartic!! Good luck, chin up! I hope you have something in place you are looking forward to. I know this task is not easy to do.

6. GirlBossanova934974November 10,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

   I think you may be forgetting the most important thing. If you plan on suing the company for harassment and discrimination, you should keep in mind that burden of proof is yours if the case goes to court. AKA you should be collecting every document, every email, letter etc that involves your case. Make sure print out copies of everything and take it home with you or email it to yourself. You will not get a second chance. The personal items are nice to haves. I say this as a person who sued his former employer and won and received a decent 6 figure out of court settlement. It was because I had a stack of documents an inch thick that the lawyers were able to successfully go after the company. A pile of very incriminating evidence. When we got to the Deposition phase, we just read off the documents. The only question was the settlement amount.

7. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 1:56PM UTC

   Wow. What I have are emails that show harassment, abuse, discrimination, and exclusion. I also have dates of events that occurred. I hope that is enough. I am in the process of putting everything together and writing out a detailed timeline.

8. GirlBossanova934974November 10,2023 at 9:56PM UTC

   Very good. Those emails? If possible, please make sure you can find emails which show higher level management knew what was going on. In other words, the company cannot later say that they did not know what was going on... AKA a rouge manager was involved. You ALSO NEED ALL copies of performance reviews. KEEP IN MIND the company may make all sorts of FALSE ACCUSATIONS about you later on to counter your claims. So anyone who might back up your side of the story is good to have. AKA if the company were to say you were routinely causing problems in meetings or you had poor attendance or were late to work on a routine basis, there should be someone who can back up your story. In this case, you would want to get in touch with FORMER EMPLOYEES to back up your story! In my case, my employer made all sorts of false accusations. I had a former employee for each accusation. For these accusations, we just kept adding up the damages!

9. AnonymousNovember 12,2023 at 11:13PM UTC

   GirlBossanova,

   I recently got let go from a company I have worked for for a little over 2 years. My boss had a target on many associates for me to help him get rid of. I told him that I respectfully would like to work with my team and form my own opinion on these people. When I started I had a team of 27 ( 3 of whom were targets). One quit 3 months after I started after working for the company for over 20 years. She said, it’s not you, it’s him (my boss) and she said you just know when enough is enough. My boss has demonstrated a multitude of behaviors that by no means are acceptable. Harassment, racism, favoritism, has consistently lied, done things to cripple myself and my team. Prior to my being let go and over the course of my tenor there, myself and members of my team, had been in the HR office almost once a week due to the treatment and any new incidents that would pop up. After that would happen, he would retaliate against me by saying my performance was unsatisfactory…which it was not. Multiple complaints were launched anonymously and not last year around this time, and yet again within the past few months due to the behavior worsening and seemingly nothing being done by HR. All of these complaints were not investigated thoroughly and closed after not speaking to people who were named having grievances, myself included. I was unable to print emails and keep photos, texts, documents because I had to turn in my work phone and they shut down my computer access. He created his own agenda and documents, that were not company standard, that I had to follow and fill out on top of everything else that was expected of me. My team went from 27 down to 11 and the same work was expected, which is/was impossible. People I know from other companies are saying I should/could sue. I am in a downward spiral right now and honestly still in shock that he was able to to get rid of me with his manipulation and lies. My associates think he is somehow protected, and I agree that something is not right. I could use any advise or comment on my situation.

10. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

    Anything with your likeness or name on it is fair game, but be careful that you aren't taking anything they might consider their property. If there is a question about it and you want it, set it to the side and ask after you give notice. You served the company well for ten years before the new people came on. How could they discredit you? Unless you use them as a reference (which I would advise against. Instead, use a coworker you trust), they can only confirm your employment, title, and the dates you worked there. Best of luck to you, and consider it their loss, not yours.

11. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 1:52PM UTC

    You should seek out an employment attorney. The advice here is not sufficient for the issue.

12. Karen PatwaNovember 10,2023 at 3:13PM UTC

    I'd suggest keeping them, and having photos of them as well, and all relate emails, evaluations etc. They will try to discredit you. I'd also suggest enlisting professional legal support now if you haven't already, for questions similar to this one, so that you can make a plan that's cohesive and you don't miss anything and set yourself up for success as you take steps to leave.

13. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 4:06PM UTC

    I’d photograph the plaques and memorabilia *and* take them with me when I departed.

    They are evidence of the fact that you remained in good standing.After your legal case concludes, you can dispose of these artifacts.

    Hire the best employment lawyer possible (you will be best served by a skilled litigator who specializes in employment law.) Ideally, your attorney can negotiate a substantial settlement without going to trial. If your lawyer works on contingency, expect the law firm to earn one-third to 40% of any settlement.

14. AnonymousNovember 10,2023 at 9:01PM UTC

    Yes, take these items with you. However, I think it would be valuable for you to ask for and take a copy of your HR file. The information in (or not in) this file will play a significant role in whether you succeed or fail in your case.

15. AnonymousNovember 11,2023 at 4:00PM UTC

    yes, in the discovery phase of a lawsuit they will most likely ask you in an interrogatory to provide proof of compliments and photos of these plaques would suffice. If your company uses Slack, and uses the compliments feature, and you have been given compliments take photos of them too with dates. Of course this is a single question, among many you will be required to respond to.

    The one thing I’d like to advise, and I’m someone who sued for the same (and was successful) is IF you did not complain to the Company about the allegations and they were not given an opportunity to fix the situation they can use that as a defense against you. In my case, I was successful because I had excessive documentation about my multiple complaints that never were documented by HR. Talk to an employment attorney before you quit. Get your timeline in order because it’s easier to create when you still have access to your inbox, and you will need to create it for your attorney regardless. You may not find an attorney right away. 3 told me no before I found one that said yes. From start to finish it took 3+ years to conclude but it all depends on how your Company deals with legal issues. Good luck!

16. AnonymousNovember 11,2023 at 4:43PM UTC

    Absolutely! irrespective of what the end result is of your complaints, you earned those accolades. Proudly share those with anyone who wants to know how awesome you are. You might need that for your next role where you will simply say after 10 years you decided to spend your next 10 somewhere new and uncharted.

17. Focused721350November 11,2023 at 4:54PM UTC

    Good Morning,

    I'm so sorry for all the BS you been putting up with. Like my Dr. use to say to me! NO JOB IS WORTH YOUR HEALTH! I would take anything and everything I possibly could for your case. Not only that! KEEP A JOURNAL ON EVERYTHING!!!!

    God bless and best Luck to you,

    Ms. T ;)

18. AnonymousNovember 11,2023 at 7:35PM UTC

    Since you plan to sue, consult with a lawyer before you resign to have a game plan for the whole process.

19. AnonymousNovember 11,2023 at 9:01PM UTC

    I was with a company for 28 years, received many “plaques’, cubes and awards, you can list them on your resume if you want as achievements. I threw all of mine out since they meant nothing once I was no longer there

20. Angie EluezeNovember 11,2023 at 11:53PM UTC

    I'm sorry you are going through this; especially, after dedicating 10 years to a company. Idk about the plaques, but I once threw away someone from a company without fully processing and I regret it to this day. I would say process fully and then let your heart guide you at that time. Prays and Peace your way.

21. AnonymousNovember 12,2023 at 12:48AM UTC

    Yes. Also consider working with an attorney. They helped me not only in terms of a settlement but in advice about healing.

22. Dan NorwoodNovember 13,2023 at 12:12AM UTC

    You should definitely take everything. You earned them! As an employee-side attorney prosecuting discrimination claims now for forty-five years, I too often hear of a story like yours. These days the bad treatment is more often based on age discrimination and that is why five years ago I branded myself the Working Boomer Advocate and started focusing my law practice on fighting age discrimination. My email is: dan@workingboomeradvcacate.com. The first two things you said were an instant sign to me of what was to come. First, you were a long-term employee, which proves you were good at your job. Second, and more important, there is "new leadership" on the scene. Discrimination happens too often when a new manager arrives on the scene, who did not pick the good-performing employee, and who has biases in their heart that are against the law. Unfortunately, upper management and human resources personnel too often fail to prevent that new leader from acting out on those biases. You appear to be the latest victim of the now too common a story.

23. AnonymousNovember 13,2023 at 9:08AM UTC

    Take pictures of all your plaques - you will have a record of them and pictures are easier to attach to legal documents if and when you need them. You might get the legal criteria for what you plan to charge the company with

24. AnonymousNovember 13,2023 at 12:15PM UTC

    You need to check into whether you need to report the discrimination via EEOC & company before you leave. This may be time limited.