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Office Politiking. long.
About 6 weeks ago, the marketing artist in my department resigned. He's a great guy and I had become friends with him, so I was sad to see him go. However, no one without a union contract at my department has been given a raise in about 6 years, if not longer. He's severely underpaid, and frankly was bored. So it's a wonderful thing that he finally left.
When he told me he gave his 2 week notice, I told him "you know this means we're going out to celebrate on your last day, right?" and he said sure, sounds great. Glad someone wants to do it.
In the past, when we have had employees hit their 10 or 30 year milestones of working here (yes, someone hit 30 years in the last few months), nothing was done. No mention of it, no accolades for their commitment, nothing. It made people more sad than angry, really, and most feel that we don't pay enough attention to the good things happening here and are always on edge instead of being more positive.
Cue to about 2 work days before his last day at the office. His boss and the dean/associate dean had not said a word to anyone that he was leaving. There was no mention of a farewell party or gathering, or even a card. I felt really bad for him. The community aspect of our dept is, shall we say, lacking.
Initially, we were only going to have about 5 people go out to happy hour on his last day ( a Monday, strangely enough). Coworker told me why don't we just invite the whole department. I said SURE! So the Thursday before he left, I emailed the whole department saying "as most of you know, David's last day is next Monday, let's send him off with a bang, meet at xx restaurant after work. It's been so great working with you, everyone will miss you" etc etc. Very nice, standard goodbye email.
The next day, the dean asks to see me. He takes me into his office and shuts the door, and very seriously tells me the next time anyone resigns, to ask the person's supervisor before sending out going-away party info. And that the supervisor could have something else planned, etc etc. He assured me that nothing bad happened...THIS TIME. But it COULD. So please don't plan anything like this from now on.
Then a few hours later, his supervisor sent all of us an email saying we're having breakfast on Monday to celebrate the coworker's departure. She flashed me eye daggers for a good week.
My take: basically, she griped to the dean about not being the one to "announce" something first (dude, you've had two weeks. There was one work day left before his last day. Give me a break.) Dean gave me a slap on the wrist for wanting to do something nice for someone but not asking "permission" first.
Neither the dean, associate dean or coworker's supervisor showed up at the restaurant, by the way.
This has nothing to do with the celebration thread, btw.
Re: Office Politiking. long.
You're right, but you're wrong.
Even if everyone is retarded and an asshholole, you still have to go through the supervisor if you're inviting the entire office.
I find that these things are better left done via verbal invite or e-mail only to a small group.
1. Even if nothing had been announced it's never a good idea to assume you know everything that is going on.
2. You made the supervisor look bad in front of everyone. (like they did anyway, but you were like, "hey look I am nice and this meanie did NOTHING!")
In other words, David should have sent the e-mail inviting the whole office.
Yeah that's right my name's Yauch!
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you. My Blog
No good deed goes unpunished.
I get where the dean was coming from (and you). It makes sense. At the same time, barring the business side, it's hard to take the whining seriously.
At first, we did just do a small email to certain people. Coworker felt uncomfortable leaving anyone out, hence the big one to everyone later. Obviously, it backfired.
this falls into 'you can't win a fight with your boss', even when you win a fight with your boss.
Trust me dude, I hear you loud and clear.
My company only recently started doing announcements when people left. Before a month or two ago people would just not be there anymore and no one was ever told who would be taking on their workload. I'm cereal.
Sorry if I sounded jerky, but I have learned a lot in this area and am still learning. Things that you think are totally innocent can bite your ass.
Yeah that's right my name's Yauch!
We just had someone leave our department, and over two weeks in advance the chair told us she was planning a party, passing around a card, sending out emails about the cake and the gift, etc. I can completely see your POV because it's kind of stupid to tell people on a Friday that there will be a going away breakfast on Monday.
But, I suppose this also falls under that old work rule: cover your own butt first. What you did was totally nice, and I'm sure you're right that your boss was only pissed when you essentially stole her thunder (though who knows if she would have planned anything anyways!).
Anyway, I wish you could come work in my department because I'd buy you fancy turkey sandwiches.
Wow...the people in the building I'm in will use any occasion to have a food day and go out for drinks after work. Sometimes it's by word of mouth and others it's a mass e-mail to the whole building. I don't think managers really care who plans it or sends out the e-mails. Most of the time the manager shows up for drinks after work. Management also always gets a decorated bakery cake for anyone that is with the company 20 years or more (in 5 yr increments).
My company doesn't do anything for people who leave. In fact, we don't get any notice at all. We usually find out when trying to send an email and their name is gone.
Personally, I'm not into going away parties. The person chose to leave; I'm not going to spend my money or time on that decision. If I am friends with that person, then I will celebrate with him/her but not as a group work event.
It may sound harsh but then again I come from an industry that doesn't have two week notices (you are gone that moment). No goodbyes.
full time stepmom to SS1 and SS2 since 2010
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Team PINK!!