Poisoned Well 3

[BetweenArock]

I worked for a crappy company awhile back that was out of control and a lawsuit waiting to happen. The work environment was pretty out there and when I tell people what it was like I am left with the impression that they think I am making it up or worse that I am litigious in nature and trying to find my payday. When I left, I made my concerns known to HR with the hope that HR and the managers would fix things for those still there. I was extremely angry at the time because another guy left before me and laid it out to HR and nothing happened and they thought it was "just a personality conflict" and didn't look into anything. I like the job that I presently have but I have some worries that my relationship with my boss and/or my coworkers is being affected by whatever is trickling through the grapevine. At times, it is kind of disconcerning.

 

[berkshire]

So what are you asking?
Are you afraid that information is being passed from your old job to your current job?
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[MintJulep]

This is exactly why so many people here suggest that your resignation letter be along the lines of "I hereby tender my resignation effective tomorrow."

And that during an exit interview you say only something along the lines of "I've enjoyed working here, but I've decided to pursue a new opportunity for personal reasons. Good bye."

 

[TheTick]

Tick's Golden Rule of Workplace Anthropology:
Bull$#!+ persists because it is allowed to perist.

Learning this will help one to resist the temptation to damage oneself while attempting to fix things that are exactly the way someone else wants them.

 

[GMcD]

As Mint Julep said- short and succinct and get the heck out. Even if your departure is kept as minimalist as possible, there is nothing you can do about people speaking behind your back. Unfortunately, some people haven't evolved past grade school and take great delight in blaming the recently departed for all the problems in their workplace, and blaming project problems on the person that quit/left/resigned. In North America at least there is a culture of "responsibility avoidance" at all costs, and the easiest thing to do is blame problems on someone else to deflect responsibility.

Follow Dr. Stangelove's advice- stop worrying about the atomic bomb and get on with bettering your reputation and stay the course.

 

[jmw]

And quit talking about your last company.
You've left.
Move on and look forward, be focussed on the new job and your future. Pretty soon people will forget where you cam from and start to judge based on what you do here and now.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[patprimmer]

9 times out of 10 the person who is discrete gets more credibility than the gossip. On the 1 out of 10 there is usually other overwhelming supporting evidence to support the gossip.

If you must criticise a previous employer make sure:-
1) There is lots of obvious supporting evidence.
2) It does not appear you are being malicious.
3) You have no apparent ulterior motives.
4) There was a real need for you to disclose.

All of the above very rarely happen with regards to previous employers.

Regards
Pat
See FAQ731-376 for tips on use of eng-tips by professional engineers &

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm

for site rules

 

[lacajun]

Seems you have some unresolved emotions about your last employer. You can't make people change or see things your way. You can plant seeds but that's all you can do.

TheTick is absolutely right. Most people have a very high tolerance for misery at work because their distaste for change is equally high.

An old consultant said once that most people RIP, Retire In Place, soon after college graduation. Work is not where they derive pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction. Those are gained outside of the workplace for the RIP folks. They know they can get an engineering degree and coast for the next 40 years doing an OK kinda' job and enjoying life.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[FACS]

That's the thing about pouring poison into the well: You never know who's going to give you a bottle of water to drink, and where that water came from.

The most important rule of anything; be it "power" or "influence" or "credibility", is to know when to keep your mouth shut, and your opinions to yourself. In fact, don't even know when to keep your mouth shut, just do it anyway.

Those people you were trying to "protect" at the job...when you left... they don't need your help, they don't care, and they don't have anything to do with you. You poisoned the well to kill those that drink from it.

Now, every time you have to take a drink, you have to think about it... because it's the water that's trickling through that grapevine.


Charlie

http://www.facsco.com

 

[jmw]

Plus, you have to remember that in these days of acquisitions and mergers it is not all that easy to outrun a previous employer. Nor what you say about them.
I have found myself working with the same people time and again because despite "moving on" they caught me up again or I them.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[spongebob007]

I have read the OP several times and I am not sure what they are asking. If it is a case that they are worried that their former employer is badmouthing them to their new employer, it might be time to contact an attorney because it sounds like slander. If OP is concerned that the constant complaining about the old job is making the new coworkers think differently of them or the complaints are finding their way to the new boss, the solution is simple. Just shut up and stop complaining about your old company. It's over, you don't work there anymore, just move on.

 

[moon161]

There's no changing some places.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=303867

Move along, be done. Me and a friend have to redirect or end up reliving the old place.

"How bad was it?"

"You wouldn't believe it. Did you catch the ball game last night?"

 

[berkshire]

spongebob007 (Military)
That was the question I asked, and never got an answer from the OP.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor