Would you leave a meeting without saying bye?

[GutsyShaker]

I work in a team of about 15 people. I’m the most junior. Work is incredibly busy at the moment.

A colleague pressured me into signing up to do some work for her. Then after saying I had no capacity on a particular day, she pushed me into attending a briefing on the work.

There were 4 of us in the office. 3 people on zoom.

The colleague gave her brief on the work. I understood what was needed. I got a text message from my boss saying I needed to come back urgently to do some other work.

The brief then turned to questions. The colleague gives long winded answers and I had no questions. So as she was speaking into zoom, I quietly slipped out of the back of the room and returned to my own desk to complete the urgent work.

Next day the colleague asks me to her office to ask me if I was ok. I said yes sorry had to slip out yesterday because the super senior manager needed me to do that task I mentioned.

Colleague then says she was really worried about me and in future I should really say something before leaving a meeting.

She couldn’t give a toss about me.

Yes, or I’d have dropped a note into the chat. Just something like, ‘Thanks for the briefing. I need to get back to my desk now. Bye.’

I would usually signal
I'm leaving early either in advance, through chat or as I left. But sometimes (very rarely in fact) I might leave a zoom without explanation if I got an urgent call (but even then I would probably say oh it's John I have to go).

I would not necessarily want to interrupt - I'd make sure I was looking at the organiser and make an apologetic wave once they saw me as I left the room but if they did not notice that's on them really

She didn't know that you were leaving to do urgent work. You might have rushed off with urgent diarrhoea. You might have been going to get something to show to the meeting. I wonder if they sat there debating what your sudden absence meant? Did someone make a comment and then you left, leaving them thinking they had said something that had triggered you? This is why it is important to make your excuses before you leave the meeting.

In a small meeting like that I'd definitely say I was leaving. I'd find it very odd to just disappear. In a large meeting (20 plus people) I do disappear.

No of course it. That’s very poor form. Are you autistic by chance? I think people would understand if you are as autistic people are very task driven and not so aware (often times) of social expectations. But no, to be clear, that is very rude and don’t do that again unless you want to lose your job or be labeled ‘weird’. Your boss saying are you ok is her way of saying what on earth are you doing?

Just put it in the chat - sorry I have to go xyz…

Its basic courtesy.

You sound very junior, very stressed & not very nice. I would worry about you too. No it it's not normal

Right thanks, way to knock someone down based on one bit of info

Take no notice OP. I think you were right not to interrupt the meeting to say goodbye. Perhaps next time you could leave a message in the chat? Don’t worry about it. In a few months time it will all be forgotten