Comment by Valentino Martinez on October 6, 2011 at 6:00am

Jonathan Carroll

Author...inspires.

Comment by Valentino Martinez on October 16, 2011 at 10:55pm

This photo's message was the background visual I used in responding to a blog discussion suggesting that employees take heed and...“Don’t Burn Bridges…Actually, it is never the right time to do such things!”

(My response) Sometimes it is the right time to do such a thing even to the extent of burning a bridge behind you.

While the advice may be logical as in, "Don’t rock the boat", doesn't it also give a pass to a bad employer or hiring manager experience? It’s obvious you’re suggesting, with this advice, that there will be repercussions for whoever does not leave "cleanly".  However, hearing this seems to also say, “It’s sad day in corporate America to know that maybe some of the best career advice is to shut-up, look the other way, and go quietly rather than confront an outrage when you see one.”  Isn’t that sort of condoning bad behavior on the employer’s side if there is bad behavior?

Does this advice also apply to employees who have been wronged, even hurt, by an employer such that they decide it is in their best interest to sue, whistle-blow or voluntarily leave to find a better employer and hopefully better treatment and behavior? 

It seems to me you would appreciate getting the straight-poop on an employer from a friend, or anyone for that matter, who happened to have left the very employer you are considering to pursue for employment.  Doesn’t it also follow that employers, the good ones, certainly would want to rectify a glaring problem if such information was made available during an employee's exit interview?  Yet your advice suggests it’s best to “leave everyone smiling”.  You’re not giving many employers enough credit.  Many would take immediately corrective action to rectify problem situations.  The best employers out there welcome constructive criticism from employees and customers otherwise they run the risk of small problems becoming big problems.

“Mum” or “Getting Out Cleanly” may be the words to be taken seriously when one decides to leave one employer in search of another. Or maybe better words, if they’re warranted, should be:  (see photo)

Comment by Valentino Martinez on January 21, 2012 at 10:46pm

If you must resign, resign with flair...

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