I'm quitting. I hand in my notice today. (long)

O- Fender · May 9th, 2008, 01:19 AM

I can't sleep, I'm so excited. I'm handing in my notice at work. I'm not sure where to begin, so this might be a bit jumbled.

My wife and I realized we need a change and we're folding our tent and moving on. I was accepted into a post graduate course in the fall.

The job I'm leaving has deteriorated. It was great working for a small television station then it was taken over by a much larger corporation. The pay is bad but the benefits are amazing. I've always had glowing employee evaluations. I'm "a great asset to this company". I've been encouraged to apply for job postings and yet I've been passed over for promotions many times. I'm talented and have a lot to offer but I guess I don't have the right amount of schmooze. I also haven't had opportunity to show what I'm capable of.

There are so many things the company has done and is doing that I disagree with. One was throwing out the archives. About 25 years of local history tossed into the bin. GONE. Yet the company assures us that we're part of the "family" and they care about us and the town.

My boss was fired ten days before Christmas. Friday night was the Christmas party and everyone was buddy buddy and glowing words all around. Monday, he was told "The company is going in a new direction and you aren't the one to take us there." I spoke to him a few weeks ago and other than the corporate speak, he still doesn't know exactly why he was let go.

Another of my bosses was promoted to the regional office in another city. He uprooted his wife and kids (in the middle of the school year) and six weeks later, was let go.

One guy was let go days after he worked on a special project and was told that he was an excellent worker.

This has led to a tense atmosphere at work. I suspect that others are looking at other jobs in case the company goes in another new direction.

December, I was told the company needs an editor and I was going to be part time editing and part time my current position. Eventually I was going to be full time editing. I was given training in December. I haven't touched editing equipment since then.

But this will all be behind me soon. I have a meeting with my new supervisor, a guy hired well after I was and a guy I lost a promotion to years ago (and I'm still in the same place). Then my wife and I are going out to celebrate.
I can't wait.

garytelecastor · May 9th, 2008, 01:59 AM

OF-Seems like you have gotten everything you need out of this situation and it most definitely is time to move on. It never ceases to amaze me how corporations like that demand loyalty but are totally devoid of it themselves. Good for you.
So are you going after you Master's or Ph.D? And in what?

getbent · May 9th, 2008, 02:14 AM

good on ya brother! we packed up and moved to california right after the turn of the century and have loved the total change! Life is short, take some risks and go do something you want to and on your terms.

I told my wife about this thread and she said, "tell them we're rooting for them." and we are! REACH!

markothefish · May 9th, 2008, 02:52 AM

Good for you !!!! I'm willing to bet a year from now you'll be so much more happy and fulfilled , you'll wonder why you didn't leave earlier. I'm send you as much good mojo as possible. Good luck in your post graduate studies ...

maestrovert · May 9th, 2008, 04:15 AM

it doesn't sound like a company i'd want to work for.....an' tossin' the archives ? unforgivable.

Best of everything to you n' yours Bro' !

Tim Armstrong · May 9th, 2008, 04:21 AM

One of the best feelings in the world is the feeling you get when you quit a lousy job!

Congrats!!!

Cheers, Tim

austintele · May 9th, 2008, 05:06 AM

Good on you brother! I quit my job of seven years this last fall and I know it can be a "tough jump".

This is a good decision.

neocaster · May 9th, 2008, 05:08 AM

Go get 'em. I admire your courage and determination. The company's first responsibility is to maximize its own potential. When they burn bridges along the way, it's short-sighted at best. I'm sorry so many of your friends and associates were unable to leave on their own terms. Hopefully the people you leave behind will see this as a reminder that they owe nothing, especially the respect, loyalty and human decency that they are denied daily.

Ricky D. · May 9th, 2008, 05:19 AM

Always change a deteriorating situation! Good luck.

robt57 · May 9th, 2008, 05:50 AM

Another one of the best feelings is: Not having to wonder if you have a job all the time, every day, every minute. Good for you, quit and get out of Dodge. All the best with your re-birth!!!!

Quit now, and you remove getting walked to the door out of the equation. I had that happen in 94. New job, 25 days of a 23k raise and the dept was eliminated, then the CEO and his crony that hired me. I was a little happier when I heard that.

I started my own company with in days, and then stole the guy who referred me away from them with-in 6 months. That is the othe great feeling. ;)

Dan German · May 9th, 2008, 08:54 AM

I quit what passed for a career to go back to school in 2004. I'm still at it, still broke, and happier than I've ever been. If your post-grad school happens to be here in the Red River Settlement, and you need part-time broadcast-related work, PM me. It's what I do during the school year, and it pays a bill or two.

geddins · May 9th, 2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O- Fender

I can't sleep, I'm so excited. I'm handing in my notice at work. I'm not sure where to begin, so this might be a bit jumbled.

My wife and I realized we need a change and we're folding our tent and moving on. I was accepted into a post graduate course in the fall.

The job I'm leaving has deteriorated. It was great working for a small television station then it was taken over by a much larger corporation. The pay is bad but the benefits are amazing. I've always had glowing employee evaluations. I'm "a great asset to this company". I've been encouraged to apply for job postings and yet I've been passed over for promotions many times. I'm talented and have a lot to offer but I guess I don't have the right amount of schmooze. I also haven't had opportunity to show what I'm capable of.

There are so many things the company has done and is doing that I disagree with. One was throwing out the archives. About 25 years of local history tossed into the bin. GONE. Yet the company assures us that we're part of the "family" and they care about us and the town.

My boss was fired ten days before Christmas. Friday night was the Christmas party and everyone was buddy buddy and glowing words all around. Monday, he was told "The company is going in a new direction and you aren't the one to take us there." I spoke to him a few weeks ago and other than the corporate speak, he still doesn't know exactly why he was let go.

Another of my bosses was promoted to the regional office in another city. He uprooted his wife and kids (in the middle of the school year) and six weeks later, was let go.

One guy was let go days after he worked on a special project and was told that he was an excellent worker.

This has led to a tense atmosphere at work. I suspect that others are looking at other jobs in case the company goes in another new direction.

December, I was told the company needs an editor and I was going to be part time editing and part time my current position. Eventually I was going to be full time editing. I was given training in December. I haven't touched editing equipment since then.

But this will all be behind me soon. I have a meeting with my new supervisor, a guy hired well after I was and a guy I lost a promotion to years ago (and I'm still in the same place). Then my wife and I are going out to celebrate.
I can't wait.

Inspirational. I admire your courage and willingness to change. Please keep us all posted on your progressive success....it's coming I just know it!

Charlie Bernstein · May 9th, 2008, 09:13 AM

Good move - congrats!

jimd · May 9th, 2008, 09:15 AM

Good for you and good luck.

It sounds like you were a good employee. Too good to promote in fact. Some places like to keep people like you down in the trenches because of the work you do, rather than reward you. Very short sighted. It's good you got out on your own terms.

purpletele · May 9th, 2008, 09:25 AM

Right on ! I did the same thing 3 years ago. Sooo much better off now. About a month after I left, the company I was working for was unexpectedly sold and EVERONE lost their jobs. THAT was a close one ! It can only get better.

6942 · May 9th, 2008, 10:15 AM

I hope everything work out for you well in the future.

Steve

Gaber_771 · May 9th, 2008, 10:21 AM

Good for you, man... they've proven what type of people they are, and now you get to prove that you won't stand for that... Have you ever seen "American Beauty"? haha...

Edit: Crap... wrong movie referenced.. fixed now...

stephent2 · May 9th, 2008, 11:08 AM

Best O' Luck! Sounds like a terrible place to work w/ the new bosses.

I had a life's too short moment myself recently and as a by product "retired" from the weekly newspaper where I did the support for their Macs. It was a nice gig, worked basically one half day a week and got paid well for the time spent, but I was on call all the time, was responsible for their data and back up, etc,... the server,... and I wanted all that out of my head, i am over it, I'd like that part of my brain back, please.

I thought i was done last Tuesday, but they wanted me back again to train the graphics guy (again) on my routine. But I'm starting to feel less responsible (for other folk's stuff) already, it's a beautiful thing.

wallyw26 · May 9th, 2008, 01:22 PM

Congratulations. You are doing what is right and I can't fault your decision.
I've been in broadcast 35+ years, 27 with the same employer, a major market TV station. The industry now works for wall street "anal-ysts" and really no one else. Even in good operations like the one I'm with it's all bottom-line.

And that's sad. Sad because bottom line easily equates with lowest-common denominator. Why are reality TV shows so prevalent? They're cheap to produce, viewers are voyeuristic by nature and advertisers like lots of warm bodies in one place. Bingo! It's all about bodies through the turnstiles (and overnight ratings).

And the internal politics like you faced, well that happens in almost any work environment but boy, they always seem to be juicer in the media. It's hard to keep yourself out of the loop on that kind of stuff.

Again, good luck to you and your wife. I think you'll be successful in whatever you choose to do. You've battled the pressure cooker of what a lot of people think is a glamourous industry (it's not) and made it out pretty much unscathed.

Dennis68 · May 9th, 2008, 01:29 PM

By all means it sounds like you are going to improve your situation. I wish you and your wife all the best with the changes you are making in your life. And I recognize this was probably not an easy thing to do despite the need and desire to do it. It takes alot of courage to change paths in life when you're already going down the road. Keep us informed on how everything works out for you.

O- Fender · May 10th, 2008, 02:48 AM

First, thanks to all for the kind words and encouragement.

Yeah, today felt goooooood. Just like I knew it would. (aww, shoulda went for the James Brown reference. Oh well.) The new boss was a bit surprised, after all who would want to leave this great company? But my beef isn't with him, so I sugarcoated things just a bit.

I feel better off already and I know that I am.

Then my wife and I took the dog for a walk in the woods and treated ourselves to Subway. (yeah, we went all out.)

What a great day.

O- Fender · May 10th, 2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan German

I quit what passed for a career to go back to school in 2004. I'm still at it, still broke, and happier than I've ever been. If your post-grad school happens to be here in the Red River Settlement, and you need part-time broadcast-related work, PM me. It's what I do during the school year, and it pays a bill or two.

Very kind of you. Thanks but we're heading east to a certain city that the rest of the country pretty much despises. That place in the Red River Settlement doesn't offer the course I'm taking.

Fatmanstratman · May 10th, 2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O- Fender

Thanks but we're heading east to a certain city that the rest of the country pretty much despises.

Wow! You're heading to Manchester in the UK???....

Guitar_Ninja · May 10th, 2008, 04:24 PM

I think he meant Toronto. Or maybe Hamilton. Oh God, it's not Hamilton, is it?

May 9th, 2008, 01:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
O- Fender Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 417	I'm quitting. I hand in my notice today. (long) I can't sleep, I'm so excited. I'm handing in my notice at work. I'm not sure where to begin, so this might be a bit jumbled. My wife and I realized we need a change and we're folding our tent and moving on. I was accepted into a post graduate course in the fall. The job I'm leaving has deteriorated. It was great working for a small television station then it was taken over by a much larger corporation. The pay is bad but the benefits are amazing. I've always had glowing employee evaluations. I'm "a great asset to this company". I've been encouraged to apply for job postings and yet I've been passed over for promotions many times. I'm talented and have a lot to offer but I guess I don't have the right amount of schmooze. I also haven't had opportunity to show what I'm capable of. There are so many things the company has done and is doing that I disagree with. One was throwing out the archives. About 25 years of local history tossed into the bin. GONE. Yet the company assures us that we're part of the "family" and they care about us and the town. My boss was fired ten days before Christmas. Friday night was the Christmas party and everyone was buddy buddy and glowing words all around. Monday, he was told "The company is going in a new direction and you aren't the one to take us there." I spoke to him a few weeks ago and other than the corporate speak, he still doesn't know exactly why he was let go. Another of my bosses was promoted to the regional office in another city. He uprooted his wife and kids (in the middle of the school year) and six weeks later, was let go. One guy was let go days after he worked on a special project and was told that he was an excellent worker. This has led to a tense atmosphere at work. I suspect that others are looking at other jobs in case the company goes in another new direction. December, I was told the company needs an editor and I was going to be part time editing and part time my current position. Eventually I was going to be full time editing. I was given training in December. I haven't touched editing equipment since then. But this will all be behind me soon. I have a meeting with my new supervisor, a guy hired well after I was and a guy I lost a promotion to years ago (and I'm still in the same place). Then my wife and I are going out to celebrate. I can't wait. __________________ "Unless you are the lead dog, the scenery doesn't change much." - Kinky Friedman "If you're married for a million years, does your wedding album go platinum?" - Steven Wright Last edited by O- Fender : May 9th, 2008 at 01:22 AM. Reason: my terrible spelling and grammer. It's probably still bad.

May 9th, 2008, 01:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,084 18 Photos	OF-Seems like you have gotten everything you need out of this situation and it most definitely is time to move on. It never ceases to amaze me how corporations like that demand loyalty but are totally devoid of it themselves. Good for you. So are you going after you Master's or Ph.D? And in what? __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

May 9th, 2008, 02:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 8,732 37 Photos	good on ya brother! we packed up and moved to california right after the turn of the century and have loved the total change! Life is short, take some risks and go do something you want to and on your terms. I told my wife about this thread and she said, "tell them we're rooting for them." and we are! REACH! __________________ I got a room at the top of the world tonight, I got a room at the top of the world tonight, and I ain't... comin'... down.

May 9th, 2008, 02:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
markothefish Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Greenville, Rhode Island Age: 42 Posts: 1,719 7 Photos	Good for you !!!! I'm willing to bet a year from now you'll be so much more happy and fulfilled , you'll wonder why you didn't leave earlier. I'm send you as much good mojo as possible. Good luck in your post graduate studies ... __________________ Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes? Groucho Marx

May 9th, 2008, 04:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 5,835	it doesn't sound like a company i'd want to work for.....an' tossin' the archives ? unforgivable. Best of everything to you n' yours Bro' ! __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 9th, 2008, 04:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 7,672	One of the best feelings in the world is the feeling you get when you quit a lousy job! Congrats!!! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

May 9th, 2008, 05:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
austintele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2004 Location: austin, texas Posts: 1,513	Good on you brother! I quit my job of seven years this last fall and I know it can be a "tough jump". This is a good decision.

May 9th, 2008, 05:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
neocaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester County, PA Age: 35 Posts: 3,399 11 Photos	Go get 'em. I admire your courage and determination. The company's first responsibility is to maximize its own potential. When they burn bridges along the way, it's short-sighted at best. I'm sorry so many of your friends and associates were unable to leave on their own terms. Hopefully the people you leave behind will see this as a reminder that they owe nothing, especially the respect, loyalty and human decency that they are denied daily. __________________ "...You don't need faith if you know it's gonna work!"

May 9th, 2008, 05:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ricky D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 57 Posts: 581	Always change a deteriorating situation! Good luck.

May 9th, 2008, 05:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
robt57 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lost Yankee in Nashville Age: 51 Posts: 2,027 2 Photos	Another one of the best feelings is: Not having to wonder if you have a job all the time, every day, every minute. Good for you, quit and get out of Dodge. All the best with your re-birth!!!! Quit now, and you remove getting walked to the door out of the equation. I had that happen in 94. New job, 25 days of a 23k raise and the dept was eliminated, then the CEO and his crony that hired me. I was a little happier when I heard that. I started my own company with in days, and then stole the guy who referred me away from them with-in 6 months. That is the othe great feeling. ;) __________________

May 9th, 2008, 08:54 AM	#11 (permalink)
Dan German Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rupertsland Age: 47 Posts: 547	I quit what passed for a career to go back to school in 2004. I'm still at it, still broke, and happier than I've ever been. If your post-grad school happens to be here in the Red River Settlement, and you need part-time broadcast-related work, PM me. It's what I do during the school year, and it pays a bill or two. __________________ Higgy

May 9th, 2008, 09:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
Charlie Bernstein Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 2,301	Good move - congrats!

May 9th, 2008, 09:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
jimd Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Age: 41 Posts: 463	Good for you and good luck. It sounds like you were a good employee. Too good to promote in fact. Some places like to keep people like you down in the trenches because of the work you do, rather than reward you. Very short sighted. It's good you got out on your own terms.

May 9th, 2008, 09:25 AM	#15 (permalink)
purpletele Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Morgantown,WV Posts: 644 10 Photos	Right on ! I did the same thing 3 years ago. Sooo much better off now. About a month after I left, the company I was working for was unexpectedly sold and EVERONE lost their jobs. THAT was a close one ! It can only get better.

May 9th, 2008, 10:15 AM	#16 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,362	I hope everything work out for you well in the future. Steve

May 9th, 2008, 10:21 AM	#17 (permalink)
Gaber_771 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Age: 23 Posts: 264	Good for you, man... they've proven what type of people they are, and now you get to prove that you won't stand for that... Have you ever seen "American Beauty"? haha... Edit: Crap... wrong movie referenced.. fixed now... __________________ "floor it... thats a technical term"

May 9th, 2008, 11:08 AM	#18 (permalink)
stephent2 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA. Age: 57 Posts: 2,169 20 Photos	Best O' Luck! Sounds like a terrible place to work w/ the new bosses. I had a life's too short moment myself recently and as a by product "retired" from the weekly newspaper where I did the support for their Macs. It was a nice gig, worked basically one half day a week and got paid well for the time spent, but I was on call all the time, was responsible for their data and back up, etc,... the server,... and I wanted all that out of my head, i am over it, I'd like that part of my brain back, please. I thought i was done last Tuesday, but they wanted me back again to train the graphics guy (again) on my routine. But I'm starting to feel less responsible (for other folk's stuff) already, it's a beautiful thing. __________________ 3. If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers. - - Thomas Pynchon

May 9th, 2008, 01:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
wallyw26 TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Age: 56 Posts: 19	Congratulations. You are doing what is right and I can't fault your decision. I've been in broadcast 35+ years, 27 with the same employer, a major market TV station. The industry now works for wall street "anal-ysts" and really no one else. Even in good operations like the one I'm with it's all bottom-line. And that's sad. Sad because bottom line easily equates with lowest-common denominator. Why are reality TV shows so prevalent? They're cheap to produce, viewers are voyeuristic by nature and advertisers like lots of warm bodies in one place. Bingo! It's all about bodies through the turnstiles (and overnight ratings). And the internal politics like you faced, well that happens in almost any work environment but boy, they always seem to be juicer in the media. It's hard to keep yourself out of the loop on that kind of stuff. Again, good luck to you and your wife. I think you'll be successful in whatever you choose to do. You've battled the pressure cooker of what a lot of people think is a glamourous industry (it's not) and made it out pretty much unscathed.

May 9th, 2008, 01:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	By all means it sounds like you are going to improve your situation. I wish you and your wife all the best with the changes you are making in your life. And I recognize this was probably not an easy thing to do despite the need and desire to do it. It takes alot of courage to change paths in life when you're already going down the road. Keep us informed on how everything works out for you. __________________ -Dennis

May 10th, 2008, 02:48 AM	#21 (permalink)
O- Fender Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 417	First, thanks to all for the kind words and encouragement. Yeah, today felt goooooood. Just like I knew it would. (aww, shoulda went for the James Brown reference. Oh well.) The new boss was a bit surprised, after all who would want to leave this great company? But my beef isn't with him, so I sugarcoated things just a bit. I feel better off already and I know that I am. Then my wife and I took the dog for a walk in the woods and treated ourselves to Subway. (yeah, we went all out.) What a great day. __________________ "Unless you are the lead dog, the scenery doesn't change much." - Kinky Friedman "If you're married for a million years, does your wedding album go platinum?" - Steven Wright

May 10th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#24 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,066 2 Photos	I think he meant Toronto. Or maybe Hamilton. Oh God, it's not Hamilton, is it? __________________ "That's for the prequels, number one!"