I have been a little unhappy with my current job for the last few months. I have put some thought into it and realized the job is not my problem but the people I work with are creating my unhappiness. From the main director (head boss) to a branch head and even a couple of my teammates, that like to rewrite history and ultimately blame me for everything that has gone wrong in the past has made me realize that I need to look for another position.
I work for the government and have made my resume open for selection and have also applied for a couple of new positions. I estimate that it will probably take about a year to get another job as my criteria for a new position is limiting. (I don’t want to travel to DC).
Now to the part where I need some ideas. Where I work, it is normal to give a gift to the person leaving. I was thinking that I would like to give a gift in return… A book of ‘coupons’ that they can use to excuse something that didn’t get done because of me (to use once I’m gone). I know this sounds rude but I have worked with these people for over 12 years and they are very much used to my sense of humor. I’m sure many of you have worked with ‘that’ person that doesn’t have a filter and says things that are not quite right? I’m one of those. I don’t mean to do it, but I’m very much a say what I think kind of person and sometimes the person wanting information doesn’t really want to hear the truth… my problem is that I can never tell when that is the time. So basically, everything just comes out. It doesn’t matter if you are a General or a corporal, it all comes out.
I have an artist friend that does comic books, so I was thinking of hiring him to do a 5-10 coupon book for me. Now I just need ideas. I know we all do it- when a person leaves, if something goes wrong, we blame the newly departed person. So what are some ‘excuses’ I can use in my coupon book?
I have thought of …Chuckle didn’t train us on this, Chuckle forgot to pass this on, etc. but need more ideas. Any thoughts from the venerable CC crowd?
I love a good sense of humor. And I’m happy to make fun of myself as well. But I would suggest leaving gracefully. I prefer that as my last impression.
Good luck on the finding your next position. Working in a negative environment is so toxic.
My thought? I have a quirky sense of humor, but I would avoid doing that, even if your intention is to be be funny without malice. If your coworkers were into the ‘school of blame’ when it came to you (which you implied) then they likely will take it as a parting shot,rather than being humerous. It might be different if the blame game was played by the boss and everyone suffered from it, then it would be commiserating with coworkers, but I still think it would be a bad idea.
Among other things, you never know who knows who, a boss at your old place, one of the coworkers, might know people where you move to, and you could end up through gossip and whatnot getting your reputation made by what someone at your old place said (I have seen this happen more than a few times). If there is something everyone laughed at in common (like if they all hate the boss, getting a pointy headed boss bobblehead from “Dilbert” as a gift for them), maybe, but your best bet is to walk out the door with a smile on your face IMO.
If I’m the left behind team members receiving that well thought out, invested in book of coupons, I’m probably putting it through the paper shredder the minute you walk out the door.
But I do wish you best of luck in finding a new position!
Ok. thank you for the advice. I see what you mean, so I will put this idea in the bin before it goes further.
On a funny note, 7 years after my predecessor left, my boss still talks about how he (predecessor) always left his best slides at home when giving a briefing. “oh sorry guys. i was working on it last night and forgot to bring it in” type excuse. It threw me for a loop because the first year when I would give briefings, they were always surprised I was ready to brief.
You might be able to do this a a funny ‘goodby speech’ at your exit luncheon, oral only, no record. Sort of a self roast.
I would never do this at a government job because YOU WILL run into these people again. Fifteen years after leaving one agency (they actually closed it) I was sitting in front of someone I worked with and reporting to a prior supervisor in an office at a related agency 2000 miles away. Five or six others in the department had also worked with us at the earlier agency.
They’ll blame you with or without the coupon book. They will blame you for everything until the next person leaves the office, then they’ll blame him. What you really want to do is time your exit to leave just before the next person does.
Well, it can be good things Chuckles used to do and now they can see that. No Christmas cookies because Chuckles always organized the cookie exchange, or they ran out of plastic spoons because Chuckles always took care of stocking the kitchen.
I would leave then wishing that they still had you there. In other words, be so kind and generous that they wish they’d been nicer to you. Bring a cake, leave a thoughtful gift–truly thoughtful not passive aggressive.
H was missed so much after he left that they found a way to rehire him for 6 months (as a special short term urgent hire) after he retired, and after that to have him come for lunch periodically. When D and I visited at an open house just before he retired, people kept seeking him out and told him how they’d miss him when he retired.
Yeah I agree, leave gracefully, you’ll feel better doing it. You could joke about it, though. The next time they blame you, tell them to blame Billy Bush!
