If you are one of the employees who think that way, I strongly encourage you to think again carefully.
People come and go within a corporation/company. The bigger the company is, the higher the turnover rate will be. And no matter how good the company is, it will never be perfect. Everything has its pros and cons. And believe it or not, no matter where you are working, you will surely meet up with someone who is very unhappy with his/her company.
These kind of people feel they have been “bullied” by their employers. They have been asked to work extra hour for a pay which is way below the market price or whatever they (as the employees) are worth. Or worse, they have been made a scapegoat for something they didn’t do.
These things do happen to people, whether you like it or not. In this world, there will always be some idiots out there pulling the strings of all these evil master plans to irritate you. Either the idiots are you yourselves (sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy), or some other people…. in the end, it’s still the same answer – you feel disappointed and you seriously feel you want to “repay this kindness” …maybe in two folds, 3 or 4…
I’ve experienced this myself….and I know how useless this could be. Some people will take their revenge by screwing up the jobs or their responsibilities. If this is what YOU are thinking….well, do take some time to think about the possibility of getting a testimonial from this same employer you are trying to get your revenge on. Some companies have certain recruitment policies where you need to get some positive testimonials from your previous employers in order to pass their “final screening“. If you managed to screw up your previous job, I am pretty sure your ex-boss will be quite unhappy with you. So…there goes your hope of getting a testimonial, and maybe a new job.
There are also some people who prefer to keep quiet. They will not say a single word even if they have been forced to a corner (again, either by themselves or by other people). They will control…and control…and control… until one day when they couldn’t stand anymore, they will resign. And well, these people will normally think that the company cannot do without them…and the company will be in deep sh*t if they left… “They will never find someone as good as me“, “They will surely have to pay 2 times what they are paying me now to get a replacement“, “They will regret this“. Well, the problem here is…….a company should and will never be relying on one single person. If it does, then the company’s management sux. A company’s management should know that one person does not equal to the whole company. Always be prepared to replace the person with someone else….to the company, everyone within the company can be replaced. This is the way it should be run. So if you think your resignation will make your current company suffer…….well, think again. 
In the end, you will be the one who suffers.
My point here is that, nobody should ever think of getting their revenge against their company or bosses. It will never work out for the better. Always remember to keep a good image of yourselves no matter how bad they are. Leave your company with a good reputation.
If you really want a revenge, you can choose to buy over the company. But again, if your company is so bad that you wanted to take revenge on it, then… no point buying over it right since it will perish sooner or later (provided the company is the one having the problem, not you).
Again, hope it helps.
12 comments
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May 12, 2007 at 9:08 am
Angie Tan
First of all, companies are run by people. People are flawed, hence there is no perfect company in this world.
Frankly, a lot of people goes into a company looking to see if the company fits them rather than the other way around. This is hard to determine during a few interview sessions which lasts from 30 minutes to a couple of hours because during that time, you know about the company through rose-tinted glasses. You won’t know if you fit into that company’s culture until you work there.
Anyway, I find that trying to “seek revenge” against the company is rather childish. Frankly, if you are not happy with the company; just get up and move on. Be professional. Complete your tasks and leave without burning any bridges.
I have been in nasty situations where my employer refused to release me from the company, even though I have tendered my resignation. In fact, they wanted to keep me beyond the termination notice but they did not convey this to me. At the end of the day, I had to take drastic action by informing them that I would be leaving by a certain date. However, I told them that I would be happy to help them once they got a replacement by meeting with their new staff after office hours to brief them on what needs to be done.
My advice is, when push comes to shove, it is always better to come off as being the “bigger person”; not so much as to put guilt in management for treating you badly (if they ever realize it), but it is all boils down to professionalism.
It is hard to keep such emotions at bay when you’re in a nasty situation where you feel victimized, but take a few steps back and think before you act.
May 12, 2007 at 10:01 pm
the drowmage
Good post here. I daresay I always fall into the 2nd category of ‘tahan-ing’ the situation…. and it’s true how no matter what… we are all replacable (unless you don’t eat, sleep and drink and can work 24×7 without losing it… then I don’t know what to say) in the eyes of the company. Leaving? Good for you, there’s the door right there, they’ll say.
No matter where you go, I guess you’ll still have your typical stereotyped office colleagues and management that’ll drive you up the wall. Quite depressing when you think about it eh?
May 13, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Tie Sing Chie
I agree whole-heartedly. Disappropriate deeds can only go that far anyway…
May 14, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Alvin
The main thing here is to be professional no matter how you hate your company. The industry u working in is most probably not that big anyway. It’s good to keep a good impression/image of yourslf.
And well, true, it’s a bit depressing when we realize our “master plan” to make the company suffer after our resignation did not work out. It never will, unless the company’s management sux.
Therefore, why bother to have this “master plan” in the first place? Just do your work and leave peacefully.
May 22, 2007 at 2:23 am
nkilkenny
Great points. It’s always best to leave on a good note and never burn bridges. You may disagree with the way you have been managed or how things were run, but really, there’s not much you can do to fix it. The best you can do is find another place that suits you better.
May 22, 2007 at 10:22 am
Alvin
Yeap. Sometimes, the more you want to change something, the worse it’ll become. It’s always better to leave on a good note. I’m sure there are some companies out there which are suitable for you. If there isn’t any….maybe you are the one with the problem.
June 18, 2007 at 9:59 am
cirnelle
The world is way too small for burning bridges to be worth it. Unless you won a national lottery and you can retire early. Even so, you may end up one day needing the services of the company you dissed. Go home and blog about it, vent your anger anonymously, but leave it at that… words of a disillussioned employee who gives that plastered smile to the boss the very next morning. *grin*
June 18, 2007 at 10:22 am
Alvin
Well, even if you won a national lottery (big sweep or jackpot, whatever it is)…u still need to work at the end of the day. Nothing last forever, including the money that you’ve won.
Some companies are just quite screwed up and they don’t deserve any respect from the employees……..but that doesn’t mean we should be as screwed up as they r. Just be civilized. Find another company. Leave with your head held up high (not too high).
Even if you hate your bosses…you will never know when you 2 may cross path with each other again.
So..be nice!
August 28, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Hakan
I recently worked for (a not so big just average) company and was a happy and a hard Worker their since the first day I began, always alert, probably one of the most talented employers. The Boss came up to me day 1 and thanked me for doing a marvelous job on the foyer and floors and for watchign out. Instead of doing my best I then improved in a lot of certain things around their like customer service etc and would do extra mileage to satisfy my Job employment in such a short space of time, becasue I was getting paid to do a job i worked relentless. What I did not realize when you work so hard and others that dont work so hard like yourself, you are found and seemed to be guilty at what you are doing. Some of the workers would come up to you and say sarcastic comments and should not be doing that or thats not the way it should be done at all and tell the boss to make you look bad. I was made fun of sometimes for overdoing it a little i never wanted to make an impression it was just in my nature to work hard. I always felt if i just worked a little extra harder and concentrated more I would get the job done in less time and then do something else their with that extra bit of time on my hand.
But instead of been congradulated and thanked I was made a scapegoat for something I didnt do. So if you thought the people around you were friends of yours and not envious of you..think again. Becasue now they can rest happy I dont have a Job with that company nor another job to lean on at the moment and the Bank is forcing to sell my mortgaged home all becasue I worked so hard out of nothing. I feel silly sometimes and say to myself why such compassion in my job.
Question: Why is the Human Race so Jelous can someone please explain ? I wil leave an email if anyone has ideas or supporting comments on this topic. I even thought about getting revenge but thats not in my nature to do that.
August 28, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Alvin
hi Hakan,
sorry to hear bout your lost of job and your scapegoat issue. I’ve been made a scapegoat myself before by some irresposible fella. My case wasn’t as bad as yours though.
You know what i believe in? Work hard…be yourself…and at the same time, be good with people skill. There are surely some people out there who appreciate your hard work. The bunch of jealous idiots are just a small group of the people you can meet at a workplace. Don’t give up hope my friend.
The problem here, i think is that most people donno u or most of the ppl around u at that time belong to the stupid n lazy bunch of idiots. They’re jealous because you’re more hardworking.
Remember to protect yourself a little next time. Always make sure there are black n white so that nobody can easily pick you as a scapegoat.
Hope things will turn out better for you.
November 11, 2008 at 1:16 am
Simon
I have worked for some 22 years in my life and I totally disagree with the above statements and articles. You can get revenge, you just have to be smart enough to know how to get away with it. I have “burnt” several bridges in my life and have never regretted it. One of the secrets to burning a bridge is to never cross back over it again. No one makes you go back and work that job again. There is a reason you left to begin with.
Jobs are about relationships, so if you break up with someone why in hell would you want to go back to that same person. There is a reason you broke up to begin with. NEVER GO BACK, to a job or a person, because it’s never the same.
And you don’t need to depend on references from former employers. Here’s how to beat that rap. Bring home some company letterhead which should be readliy available and then type your own positive testimonials.
If someone wants to call a former employer, just give them your best friends phone number and have him tell them exactly want you want them to hear. Sorry but it sounds like there are a lot of wimps on this website who are afraid of their bosses and I got tired of being afraid of mine way back and started doing something about it.
Remember everything isn’t about the company. If they are up to illegal, immoral or unethical practices or bullying behavior then bust them on it. Let the HR department know that you are documenting against them. Everything doesn’t just go the companies way. They are accountable to you the employee and so is your boss. If you live this and follow through with what I said you will do fine. Take control, and live happily with no regrets about it. Someone has to teach companies and bosses that they can get into trouble also.
I hope this helped.
November 11, 2008 at 9:28 am
Alvin Lim
Simon, first of all, why do you want to lead a life full of lies? And why do you want your friends to be dragged into this mess? You and your company – that’s it. Period. No point pulling your friends and make them tell lies and pretend to be the employers.
And for typing your own testi, it’s good that you have not been caught now. By copying such illegal documents, you might end up in very very big trouble. First, illegal usage of company name. Second, using the company letterhead without any consent. These 2 might really bring you down if you’re not careful.
I do agree that there’s no point going back to the company you’ve left or the people you’ve left. This, I truly agree. What I’m saying is, companies STAY but people MOVE AROUND. In this industry, you will never know who you might meet in the end.
In the 1990s, my country has a lot of different banks. One of my friends got cocky and vowed never to work with that stupid employer or boss ever again. In the end, 3 years later, his new bank and the previous employer merged. He was forced to go away again, with a much lower pay just to feed his ego.
The best way to this problem is still to consult the labor department of your country, or even consult your lawyer friends. If not, just leave peacefully and don’t give it to your moments of foolishness. This is not about being a WIMP or not.
Successful people NEVER burn their bridges even though there are bunch of idiots on the other side.
That’s my view.