Why would an exit interview not be granted to an employee?

surfnwrite

October 26,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

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Why would an exit interview not be granted to an employee?

Several years ago I worked at a job for nearly ten years. I got great reviews for the majority of the time I was there, however toward the end of my tenure, a somewhat psychopathic manager was hired, who I didn't report to directly, but I had a couple of run-ins with. In a few circumstances, I was able to demonstrate this person's deceptive nature.

For career growth and money reasons, I eventually decided to leave the job, and I gave the standard two-weeks notice. Around that time, other people were also leaving. Each of them was granted an exit interview, as was the standard protocol at the company.

In my last week, I kept waiting to hear from HR about an interview, but I never did. My direct boss and colleagues took me to lunch, and one person asked if I had met with HR yet for the interview, and I said I hadn't heard anything. My direct boss remained silent. Why would a person not be given an exit interview? It left me feeling they didn't really value my opinions.

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KarenOctober 26,2022 at 4:05PM UTC
Similar situation happened to me. Crazy new hire, toxic environment, 30+% turnover, no exit interview... You can go around and around in your head trying to figure out "why". They probably didn't want to hear the truth. It's the ostrich syndrome. It had nothing to do with you personally so don't take it personally. You have left and you are in a better position for it. Wipe the dust off your shoes, quit looking in the rearview mirror, and look straight ahead. Your future is where you are going, not where you've been.
AnonymousOctober 26,2022 at 4:07PM UTC
Your direct boss at the time shut it down. The exit interview is basically for the company to gain insight and check that box.
In your case HR and leadership decided you could not provide them with valuable input. So they passed. Whether they were influenced by your boss or not who cares. It's been years.
AnonymousOctober 26,2022 at 5:33PM UTC
I've also heard exit interviews are optional, too. I mean, for some companies it's embedded in their HR policy that you have one but you're not really obligated to sit for one if you don't want to.
As far as not being invited to one, yeah, I agree with what was said below. I wouldn't sweat it. You are moving on and that's most important. To be honest, even if you did sit for one, there's like no real way to know if your feedback will make a difference or not. This is why I 've always had mixed feelings in sitting for exit interviews. I mean, I hope my input is valuable and would be taken into consideration for review, but I'm also not leaving (said company) with that high hope or expectation.
I'd say, not getting an invite is the universe protecting you from something!
Looking for a changeOctober 26,2022 at 5:38PM UTC
Id let this go. As long as you wrote a nice goodbye email thanking them for the opportunity I’d move on. As an aside when I quit my manager bought me lunch but only at where she wanted to order from so at least you got taken out!
Julie HumbirdOctober 26,2022 at 6:58PM UTC
I resigned from a large company after nearly 14 years and they never asked for an exit interview. The HR there was a total mess so I don't think much of it. Use Glassdoor instead.
Shelly EdwardsOctober 26,2022 at 6:59PM UTC
It sounds to me like you got the validation you needed to move on in good conscience. It is possible that HR was just bogged down with other interviews and recruting to replace all of the exiting employees and just ran out of time. It's also possible that after other exit interviewers complained about the same thing, HR already knew your issue with this manager and didn't feel they needed to rehash it. I wouldn't necessarily jump to feeling slighted. It's possible they didn't want your opinion, but does it really matter now? Focus on your new role and keep looking forward, not back.
Bradford McCormickOctober 29,2022 at 12:56PM UTC
You offer very good advice.
As for HR being "bogged down", however, what are they there for? To sit and swivel?
Actually, I;m exressing a broader frustration here. Anybody except maybe a fireman in the middle of a 5-alarmer, should have at least enough time in any situation in life to take 15 seconds and tell you they are too busy right now, but to get in touch with them [fill in the blank time / situation]. Isn't that just basic decency? Can anybody except someone in a genuine do-or-die situation be too busy to be decent? I have learned that many are.
AnonymousOctober 26,2022 at 8:02PM UTC
And you are probably right. If they know you had a really bad experience and if you document it and articulate it to HR, they could fear litigation. At the end of the day, toxic bosses like that don't last. Focus on healing from the horrific experience and look forward to a more productive experience with a new boss.
MarciaOctober 27,2022 at 2:47PM UTC
Unfortunately-sometimes the toxic bosses outlast rounds and rounds of staff. I left a job I loved because I couldn’t stand the toxicity anymore. I love what I do and I truly loved that company but could not stay. Now I’m doing basically the same job, 10k more a year and about 95% less stress! Though I still miss that company…
Afo Ogbeyalu KaluOctober 27,2022 at 1:11PM UTC
You do not have to wait to be invited for an exit interview. You may request one, by booking an appointment with HR.
AnonymousOctober 27,2022 at 3:35PM UTC
I say stop assuming and give them a call. Ask what happened and, if it was to shut you down, then let HR know that you were more than willing to do one. There can be so many reasons you didn’t get one, especially with the size of the company. Even if you aren’t there anymore, call HR and ask instead of wondering. Let them know you had been looking forward to giving one and how it was handled made it appear really inappropriate. They should have that feedback as well. Otherwise it will just keep you spinning and creating stories and assumptions that can make it worse for you and your morale.
AnonymousOctober 27,2022 at 6:57PM UTC
Did you reach out to HR about it? If not, why not? And when was this? I get the impression from how you opened your post, that this was not something that just happened so why is this being brought up now.
surfnwriteOctober 27,2022 at 9:33PM UTC
It was a few years ago and I read something recently about exit interviews that made me ask the question. No, I did not reach out to HR.
AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 12:36PM UTC
If you ever find yourself in a situation like that again, ask. years ago, many years ago now, I actually walked off a job. Out in a blaze of glory. When I took the job, I didn't know the hell I'd be in. A year later, that hell was creating stress that was taking a physical toll on me and I had to leave. After doing so, after a day to calm myself down, I reached out to HR and basically demanded an exit interview. They did not provide me with a face to face or a phone call, but what they did do was give me a form which I completed, leaving nothing out, even attaching an additional sheet of paper - front and back - further explaining myself.
Now that I'm in HR, I try to do an exit interview with everyone leaving (giving people the option).
Robin SherkOctober 28,2022 at 3:09PM UTC
It could have been an oversight that they missed scheduling one for you... especially if they had a handful of other exits at the same time. I wouldn't take it personally. And I agree with the other commenter that leaving reviews on Glassdoor is probably more useful - for current and prospective employees, and HR. FWIW, I've found HR tends to listen to that feedback when it's constructive and actionable.
Bradford McCormickOctober 29,2022 at 12:42PM UTC
Is this even legal? I am not a lawyer. Why shold you care to tell this compnay the time of day, bu that's not the issue here.
You absolutely deserve an exit interview. Even if you wre fired for cause you deserve an exit interview. I've never heard of this. But I guess they have given you the exit interview they intend to give you, that, yes, they do not value your opinion: Stonewalling it. Reading to the end, however, it sounds like the immediate people you are leaving behined as not in for good times, does it? They may be good people who have been intimidated?
Have you understood the message? Remember Lot's wife in the bible.
BethBOctober 29,2022 at 1:36PM UTC
Why do you care? It’s their problem, not yours.
Karen Morris RushOctober 29,2022 at 1:53PM UTC
I was with a company 15 years when another opportunity came to me. I told that company and was asked what number would keep me there. I told them and a few days later my manager said, “sorry nothing we can do.” In my exit interview HR asked what I thought of their counter offer to stay. I was shocked and said I was told there was no offer! Reinforced my decision to leave! And lends proof to the saying that people leave bad managers not bad jobs! I’ve never looked back and me and my family are much better off! Don’t agree just let the lack of exit interview prove to you that you are making the right decision!
AnonymousOctober 29,2022 at 1:58PM UTC
Reading this made me think of a time I received an exit interview as an email questionnaire.. the questions had been designed to mask whatever could have been going on.. ugh..I was finally leaving a company that was very toxic and that was like the icing on the cake! I passed on filling that out, I felt there was absolutely no point.
AnonymousOctober 29,2022 at 3:22PM UTC
I resigned from a position a few years back I was contacted about an exit interview. Fast forward, after worked a few more years I resigned. I knew the process but nobody contacted me. So I contacted them and the exit interview was moved to a questionnaire format. Things were more scattered.
Rupali ArteOctober 29,2022 at 3:46PM UTC
A CEO once told me, if you have something to say that you felt was going wrong in the company, even if you don't get an exit interview, try and get time with the top boss and lay out your case clearly.
A lot of times, the top guy has no clue what middle management is upto with staff. Thought it was surprising at the time, I had always assumed the top guy is the reason for all issues.
AnonymousOctober 31,2022 at 11:51PM UTC
Yes, I am in HR managment and I have worked at places where the top did not want to hear about the exit interviews. However, at my current and last position our CEO and General Counsel were included on all exit interviews for that reason. They wanted to be in on the conversation and see if they needed to make changes. This does not happen often, but it is a nice change of pace when it does.
Kimberly McKenzie-KlemmOctober 29,2022 at 3:59PM UTC
If someone such as your direct hire boss had input into the process of your resignation and notice, there was probably a decision made that your opinions and feedback were already given or known well enough simply because they were familiar with the work situation you were leaving. (Maybe the information in your two weeks letter had enough, too.) The exit interview is often just a courtesy extended for people who need to "let off steam" before they leave and to smooth over negativity running through the job ending processes. I would look at it (after about ten years there) as if they were comfortable with the resignation and not forseeing problems on either side.
Debbie ShapiroOctober 29,2022 at 6:58PM UTC
Honestly, I can't even remember the last time any company I worked for did exit interviews.
Are they even still doing them? For clarification, I've been in the workforce since 1989.
Stephanie F, MSHRMOctober 29,2022 at 7:11PM UTC
Our organization still does them for separations and transfers within.
RiaOctober 31,2022 at 5:07PM UTC
Yes most large organizations do them
Joanna PoeOctober 31,2022 at 1:01PM UTC
You often have to ask for one, and you absolutely can, but they usually don't result in anything like change.
AnonymousNovember 19,2022 at 12:40AM UTC
It was probably an oversight, but you can you can your supervisor or HR for one. I avoid them.