Do you tell colleagues why you're leaving?

[Osory]

I've resigned from a job because I've been unhappy with decisions the boss has been making for years.
I haven't told colleagues the real reason but I have claimed it s for a selection of personal reasons as I don't want to have a negative impact on those still stuck with him.
Someone senior has now asked to meet me for coffee, I assume to find out why I'm leaving. Shall I tell them the truth?

Yes. Quite usual to have an exit interview and if you don't tell them the truth they won't know that the boss's decisions have led to this and be able to review whether they are happy with his decisions or whether gojbg forward there needs to be some form of checks and balances in place.

I did when I left somewhere I liked as I was only leaving for career development purposes. I won’t be when I leave my current role which would have been fine were it not for my awful manager, I won’t be having anything to say and I won’t even do an exit interview if I don’t have to.

Thanks for your replies. It's a school if that makes any difference. I don't think what I have to say will make any difference so don't know whether to keep say it or not.

I once left a job with no new job to go to because my line manager was a bully (which was widely recognised in the organisation). I wrote a very calm and factual resignation letter to her, simply stating that I wished to resign and that my last date in the office would be X. When she received my letter she reacted badly and asked me to write another letter stating that I was leaving to spend more time with my young family. I declined.

I had an exit interview with the CEO and chair of Trustees (small charity) and politely laid out my reasons for leaving. I don't believe in burning bridges, but it turned out that I wasn't the first person to have issues with this individual, and my exit interview helped show a pattern of behaviour.

I sang like a canary at my exit interview.

The HR person was gobsmacked at how my manager had been acting. The last thing she said was “that explains the high staff turnover”. Apparently I was the first to explicitly explain the batshit.

I would tell them everything.

A couple of us gave honest exit interviews at my old job and three months later awful boss left so it can have an impact. Be cool and plan what you say so you seem like the professional calm one

I am about to resign. To quote a PP above, I have sung like a canary already to my area manager about my manager's conduct and I was left completely unconvinced by her reassurance that she would talk to him. Two people have already left, at least five of us are job hunting. So, my colleagues are fully aware of my intentions. My manager, not so much.

They're going to get a massive wake up call.

I have just had my exit interview - I also sang like a canary - nothing will change (school!) and I did try and be as constructive as possible but it was difficult!

I had an exit meeting with my manager and then my area manager ( who tried to persuade me to stay) for the last job I had.

i told the truth that the place was disorganised, understaffed, underpaid and also no support from above the manager for anyone.

once I left the manger left 4 months later, the area manager 5 months later and then room senior 6 months. The place was a total farce!

Thanks everyone. It's a school so things like HR departments and exit interviews don't exist but I'll tell the senior manager my reasons factually.