I've been fired from quite a few jobs lately. Everytime I'm given the news of my dismissal, I am seated in the Human Resource Director's office with managers and supervisors. I make a plea to salvage my situation, but inevitably I am told I am terminated. At that point, what is the proper ettiquette?
I have always "thanked" each seated person in the room, shaked their hands, and turned in my badge as I'm escorted off the premises. I'm always the one to initiate this action, and I've noticed they are always very hesitant to shake my hand.
What's the correct way to exit gracefully?
2007-03-30 16:56:05 · 23 answers · asked by C-Bag 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
My "thank you's" to my employer have always been expressed as "thank you for the opportunity to have worked for you." And I have always apologized by saying, "I'm sorry for any wrong doing I may have done." And sometimes I have apologized by saying, "I'm sorry I don't meet the qualifications you expected from me."
2007-03-30 17:07:38 · update #1
Take the high ground.
Be gracious and polite, not gratuitous or vindictive.
Break even and expect rewards.
2007-03-30 16:59:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Based on my experience; NO do not shake their hands. At the point they drag you in to fire/lay off you, a plea does not and will not work. The best method is to sit back; take their comments and look professional.
When they are done; thank them for the time you spent with them and ask them if it is ok to use them as a reference for future jobs. Get up and walk out. I worked for the second largest firm (based on mkt cap) and got laid off and now that I'm 6 years removed from that experience and done well for myself I have run across a number of my ex-colleagues. All of them said I handled the situation the best. A few of my colleagues pled for their jobs, a few cried, and a few tried to hug people good bye and shake their hands etc. Just don't do it. Stand tall - know that as a door closes, god opens a window and move on!
Most importantly, use this event as motivation to do better and prove them wrong!!! Go kick some a*s
2007-03-30 17:05:48 · answer #2 · answered by Curious Irish 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you have been fired from quite a few jobs, you might ask for absolute reasons as you must be doing something wrong - repeatedly. Then correct your actions next time.
Shake hands if it feels right. It doesn't help you to get another job if you are obnoxious.
2007-03-30 17:06:45 · answer #3 · answered by howdigethere 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Now what did we learn from Tyler Durden. Rent the movie Fight Club and learn from the best. You don't say thank you. What have you done so wrong, that is my next question. Proper just leave, no thank you or goodbye is necessary. Get your stuff and go without thank you's. That would imply happiness about your dismissal. A graceful finger may do the trick.
2007-03-30 17:02:02 · answer #4 · answered by ~* Garden Empress*~ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Polite behavior is always recommended. Its great that you have the positive outlook that you do and thank them for the time you had there and aplogize for any wrongdoings you may have commited. I have never been fired myself, but have had a supervisor tell me "I was well within my rights to fire you." I am not sure if I was fired how I'd react.
2007-03-31 09:37:45 · answer #5 · answered by terrorfex01 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its someone that has treated you well, and they are firing you because of things beyond thier control (including you putting them in the position to fire you) then it is fine to shake thier hand.
On the other hand - turning in your badge and simply leaving without saying much is perfectly acceptable as well.
2007-03-30 17:03:40 · answer #6 · answered by freshbliss 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on the circumstances of the termination. If you are terminated because you don't have the qualifications they thought you did, that's one thing. If you are terminated because you acted in an irresponsible fashion, then to offer "thanks" rather than an apology seems strange.
I can see a handshake after a lay-off, or such as normal. Being sacked though is usually disciplinary in nature, and implies wrong-doing. Thanking in this case seems strange.
2007-03-30 17:01:19 · answer #7 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
dude are you for re-al?
you have been fired so many times you sound like you are walking into a job interview. you are asking about getting fired etiquette...
this is by far the funniest post i've read since i joined.
the guy wants to know if he should shake hands or not in his next you've been fired interview ( i mean firing)
2007-03-30 17:04:27 · answer #8 · answered by la21unica 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't initiate to shake their hands. Just say "Yes, that is fine with me" and leave the office, pack your things and don't look back.
2007-03-31 04:44:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I would never thank them for a thing, and I would never try to shake their hand. I would just say "OK, is there any paper work I need to sign or can I just go now?" I know it is a bad situation to be in, I wouldn't worry about etiquette.
2007-03-30 17:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by I do what I want.. 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I was recently let go. I thanked them and hugged both my bosses. I still visit them and talk to them.
They are hesitant because maybe they aren't used to that kind of reaction. Thank them for the opportunity, apologize for what ever it was that made them fire you, shake hands, smile (not creepy though) and exit.
2007-03-30 17:01:06 · answer #11 · answered by Chaun 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋