Burning bridges when leaving

[Westley]

Based on the thread by jasper, wanted to get some examples of what people think constitutes "burning bridges" when leaving a company. General examples welcome, but would love to see specifics that you've actually seen. I'll add some as I think of them.

My point is that I think most people who worry about burning bridges are very far away from actually doing so - the people who are burning bridges are such jerks on their way out that it doesn't even occur to them or they don't care.

[remilard]

Stealing information, anything involving nudity, drunken emails sent to the whole company, smoking crack in boardroom.

[H.R. Paperstacks]

Doing what the guy did on Half Baked after getting fired from that burger joint.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

On the more serious side:
1. Tantrums of a public nature following a firing.
2. E-mail sent anywhere discussing or office behaviors, policies, politics, or styles.
3. One can even burn bridges years after the fact by discussing some jerk of a boss who eventually becomes in charge of actuaries at a major consulting firm or insurance company. Lots of things get back to these people, simply by following who's been where.

[Maine-iac]

No notice. Just walk away leaving your stuff in a mess and your old employer high and dry.

[ReserveRage]

Originally Posted by Maine-iac

No notice. Just walk away leaving your stuff in a mess and your old employer high and dry.

That's the worst I've seen, especially shocking since it came from someone with letters and significant experience, working for a company with very nice people.

[Jasper07734]

This one guy that used to work here was obsessed with diversity, and once met with upper management to try to create some diversity initiatives or something within the company. I don't know the whole story, but I don't think it ended well.

He also was very adamant about refusing to participate in the pet charity initiatives within the company. (For this I don't blame him as much, though he could've been more diplomatic about it. Is it charity if it's coerced by management? I would say not really. But be cordial about it.)

[PinkFloydActuary]

Originally Posted by Maine-iac

No notice. Just walk away leaving your stuff in a mess and your old employer high and dry.

Mine would be along this one. We had a guy who was here for five weeks, during which time, he attempted to order every study material (not exaggerating here - he put his name down for everything and boasted he could pass them all in one shot). When he was turned down for that, he apparently spent off hours photocopying other peoples materials. Finally, after his fifth week, he came in over the weekend and left a note on a piece of scratch paper in his supervisors desk that he wasn't coming back. At least there wasn't much training vested in him.

[actexp]

Had someone who i knew was going to leave (had told me he was looking) but was pissed at my boss (somewhat justified but overdone). Left a note with his resignation on my desk late friday pm after i had left for the day. Told him it was a silly thing to do, but given the specifics of the situation and people and employer involved, it hasn't hurt him as far as i know.

[Westley]

We had a guy leave for more money (whether the company was paying poorly or he was underperforming and being paid less wasn't clear to me, I was happy with my paycheck at the time), made it a point to tell many people that he thought they should look for a better-paying company.