Employee “disengagement”

I recently read the results of a survey which showed that - amongst other things - of employees who had resigned from their organisation

…. 42 per cent while away the hours scouting for venues for their leaving party, with a quarter admitting to taking longer lunch breaks, planning a holiday (16 per cent) and spending at least two hours a day emailing friends and social networking (13 per cent).

http://www.hrzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=176032&d=1064&h=387&f=388&dateformat=%o%20%B%20%Y

I suppose that comes as no great surprise that they have disengaged themselves from the organisation already.

I think employers should be more concerned about the employees who are disengaged but have not resigned. Because you can bet that they are doing similar things on a daily basis and there will be no end in sight.

However, according to the same survey almost half will end up working with an ex-colleague at some point in the future.

It obviously must happen but can you imagine having told all and sundry what you felt about managers/team members in no uncertain terms only to find them sitting next to you a few months later? How could you re-build those bridges?

Let me make a case for leaving graciously

if the job has been really so bad that leaving was the only alternative accept that and move on. It’s in your control.
if you told people who could do something about your situation and they listened and did what they could - but it was not what you were hoping for - accept that and move on.
if you believe that they did not do what they promised - tell them. What do you have to lose?
if they did not listen either speak to someone else who might be able to - or move on.
think about the possibility that you will come into contact with clients/customers at some point in the future and what impression they may have of you leaving.
think very carefully about the implications of bad-mouthing your ex-employer to a client - old or new.
for that matter - think very carefully about bad-mouthing your ex-employer full stop! In the world we live in it could come back to bite you.
Think about what you gained from that employment - even if you really only believe that it was just that you were paid on time.
And remember it is rare that a relationship going bad is only because of one of the parties. Vow not to make the same mistake(s) next time