EXIT PROCESS....

When people are thrown together for hours together and have a common adversary i.e. their Boss, they are bound to bond. So, leaving a bonding that has grown over a period of time has its withdrawal symptoms. As someone who was destined to walk out of jobs due to frequent transfers have had a huge myriad of memories connected to exit processes.

Most work places have no exit processes especially with regard to the human element. Exit processes merely include a series of clearances after which you are free to go. Some places have a mandatory party with a speech thrown in. Most of the time these parties and the speeches reflect the conditions and situations in which the people have rushed for the exit. Either the food ordered is not good, or the speeches rarely exceed a line or two and in worse situations the event itself is given a complete pass over by the Boss. But the notice period is always full of work. There is so much to be handed over that the notice period sees very hectic activity even from those who are generally allergic to work. My experience has been rather good when it comes to Exit processes and notice periods too. Maybe its my blatant honesty vis-à-vis reasons to quit that helps of its just luck; I have had very memorable notice periods and exit experiences; some of them even a little emotional.

The current notice period hence is a kind of surprise for me.

The decision to leave is not easy especially when you build something with your hands. There are a series of umbilical cords that connect you to something that you create and then to snap it all …..just like that…..is certainly not easy.

But today in the notice period when I see the attitude of the superiors, I am convinced that my decision though seemingly a little ruthless; is right.

My superiors all idealists see the world as Black and white. There cannot be room for any grey area. So, the resignation changed my status in a snap. After all the superlatives which was synonymous to my work, I suddenly became a hot potato…too adamant and tough to handle. The stooges or the “eyes” and “ears” of the superiors are now graphically clear as they have all shed the cloaks of friendliness hitherto displayed. With the opinions swinging between the good, the bad and the ugly, it is no surprise to see a complete exclusion from all events irrespective of my expertise and their ignorance. The “eyes” and “ears” of the superiors, are the first ones to give away the so called best kept secret………From the childish “ looking the other way” boiling down to cheap act of not being offered the mandatory cuppa the change in behaviour is irritatingly perceptible. What adds to the despicable attitude is the complete insensitivity to the fallout or the panic caused by their behaviour. Divide and rule a policy long abandoned by the British is used ironically in the cheapest of taste. Juniors are called in secretly and asked leading questions to get an expected answer. The sheer myopia that most people read between lines is completely ignored, leading to wild speculations among the juniors. My notice period in fact can be used as a good example to promote the virtues of “ Vanaprastha”. The eye of the storm , an octogenarian in thick of his adamant, stubborn, scheming , wily , second childhood, is the one who seems to call the shots…….then is it a surprise that disaster waits just round the bend?