This Digg article The Most Egregious Reasons People Quit Their Jobs On The Spot reminded me of the I quite a job without giving notice, without looking back, without being concerned about bridges burned.
At the time, Calabrio emphasized its corporate culture – at times more so than delivering solutions (and I have examples IKYN) – which included community involvement and helping those less fortunate than yourself. Previous employers supported this: providing PTO for volunteering, matching your charitable contributions, and partnering with or creating charities to support various goals. It’s a personal decision if and how you participate, no guilt if you don’t.
Calabrio went farther: new employee training included an afternoon volunteering for a local charity by making sandwiches for the homeless in downtown Minneapolis. To repeat, I do not have any problem with corporate volunteering programs, except this wasn’t voluntary: thou shalt make sandwiches.
So I walked. My boss confirmed that employment is contingent on completing new hire training, including the not-so-voluntary activity. Dropped off my card key and MacBook. Did a perfunctory exit interview with an HR person who didn’t care. Said goodbye to the few I knew and liked. And left, never to return. Best decision for all involved.
After I left, I spoke to those who knew of Calabrio’s obsession with corporate culture, one even labelling it a cult. I likely missed/ignored red flags during the interview process, but fortunately I got out before I had been assimilated.
Image Credits
“Time to quit written on paper note” by wuestenigel is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
