My last day today and nobody acknowledged it

[Iamsohungryy]

I left the company after 1 year (6 months in 1 team, then 6 months on promotion in the second team')
It's really shown me how the office environment can make or break a role. Team 1 was absolutely fine, I had a couple of friends, manager was great, job was fine, I just applied for promotion to team 2 as it was a 5k payrise.

Should say on team 1 I joined with 5 others and that really helped bonding and settling in. Team 2..put in alone with people who'd all been there years and all very extroverted/loved banter. Nobody was nasty but I very quickly got the frequent 'quiet' comments and label. I did make conversation and try, went to the team lunches twice but just always felt on the outside. No friends on that team, nobody to talk to.

Gave my notice in 1 month ago as I got onto a course in an area I'm trying to progress into. Manager announced to the team of 12 in an online meeting I was leaving. One woman (the only genuine one) said 'have you got a new job?) I was told I could wfh for the rest of my notice except for once a week. Nobody asked me what job I was going onto. They knew when my last day was. Nobody said a word to me.

Did handover with manager, gave them my laptop etc. He said good luck and all the best. The woman in my team didn't even look up from her laptop. I just walked out and quit the group whatsapp.

Nobody's said good luck. Not a word. I'm not expecting a red carpet, 6 months is only short but it's basic human decency.

I left a job after 6 months 2 years ago (it was a fixed term role) and I got a card, collection and leaving drinks. It just depends on the culture, I've just never known anything like this. Have I expected too much?

Flashbacks to leaving a company after 4 years, dropping my laptop in my boss's office and not even getting a card. That job nearly killed me. Valuable lessons were learned.

I had the same.

In retail, well known shop.
I changed the branch- was given leaving gifts, huge card and leaving drinks after work- everyone came including all managers etc.
I literally cried the whole journey home as I felt i made huge mistake to move to another ( closer) branch.
In this new branch I didn't existed, I was invisible for next 2 years so decided to move to another branch, also we moved house so it was a sensible decision.
On my last day, nobody even noticed, no card, just nothing..

I was going to say cs! It has it written all over it!
Its not you, its them. They hate your success. Its a cs culture over and over. Yes there are some nice ones but 90% are not nice.
So sorry you experienced it.

Great on you leaving! Wishing you great success in your course.

Did you not say anything to anyone either? Enthuse about your new course...? That's a bit odd too.

You should have got an e-card or failing that some verbal good wishes. It’s the professional thing to do!

It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder about being an introvert though. Some sort of envy or begrudgement of extroverts? Don’t assume this is why you feel excluded. Most people are broad minded and inclusive in an office environment and are used to all personality types. Maybe talk to someone about your feelings about being introverted. Half the population are don’t forget!

Ive found all jobs can be like this. I've worked in factories, supermarkets, cleaning & driving roles. I used to put in for collections when somebody was leaving, then when it came to me leaving they didn't give a stuff. Not a goodbye, good luck nothing. The last job I quit the manager didn't even ask why I was going as there was such a toxic environment. She (manager) resigned 2 weeks after me. Im 52 & i don't think that I've ever had a leaving present or card, its just the toxic nature of some jobs these days.

I don’t think the OP is “….a bit needy.” as you post @Imightbeinthewronghere
She’s not looking for a card or cake.
Just a simple “Goodbye” and/or “Where are you moving to ?” “What job are you moving to ?”

One of my jobs, 1 job in 35 years of employment and maybe 10 jobs?, (sometimes I did 2 jobs at once), once ive been to mcdonalds with 1 employee who said let's go for something to eat as your leaving.
I tend to be introvert & im never in with the clique.
And since, probably 2019 2020 most of my colleagues do not even speak to each other.
Maybe its wrong to blame covid but people are not as friendly as they once were. Last few jobs I haven't even turned up for the last day, minimal skilled jobs & they wouldn't notice anyways. You're not gonna see these folk again, onwards & upwards

My daughter got a card and a mug after one week work experience!!!

If you are working in an organisation with high turnover of staff I can see why leaving collections may have been axed. If there are too many leavers and new starters people get weary of collections for people they barely know.. Personally I think leaving within 6 months is a very brief period and not even be out of a probation periods for some jobs. many people would not expect Collection/card/pressies/ drinks for such a short period of service.

That’s really lovely, but as her contribution (however limited) was free and also her first ever experience of work, that’s a bit different. I would give a token gift and card in that situation too. I imagine the same workplace would not do the same for an adult paid temp working there for a week though!

My dad worked for the Civil Service for 30 years, until he got cancer. He didn't even get so much as a wreath, and only one of his colleagues bothered to go to his funeral.

That’s really miserable what an unfriendly bunch! Hope you’re next opportunity is more positive ☺️

You can't second guess what's going on in other people's heads. You've left, why are you wasting brain time on this?

I think this is the crux. Whist it would have been professional for them to have asked and wished you well, they truthfully probably felt the same about you as you felt about them. You didn’t fit in with the team culture.

Therefore, they probably won’t miss you. I’m not meaning that harshly but they probably didn’t want to come across fake or nosey by asking you when you had no existing relationship.

Im not sure the “extrovert” “introvert” labelling is helpful. Of course you may be quieter by nature, but you can still make friends with people who communicate differently. I think you just didn’t gel and their actions at the end reflected that.

Absolutely they should have sent a quick good luck email to you, but it wouldn’t have been meaningful so I wouldn’t worry. Well done for identifying what you want to do next and taking steps to achieve that, you’ll find the right environment.

Oh, it's definitely upsetting, and makes it worse when you have given presents and made an effort yourself. Once they were trying to get money for a gift for someone not long after my wedding which we had overseas and I said no way they can get stuffed, I got married and not even a card. Got to say felt kind of good saying that, it's a deep insult, but I'm happy so at least I knew what I was dealing with going forward.

So when you said to each colleague 'Goodbye John it's my last day today' or 'Goodbye Jean I'm off now' they literally blanked you? Or did you not speak to anyone?

I work in civil service and 6 months is just reaching probation period and so would be really unusual for someone to leave so quickly as by the time you are all trained up you'd have left. if there is a high turnover of staff, someone who only worked 6 months and worked from home 4 days a week you wouldn't have got to know very well at all. Id definitely say goodbye to someone leaving if I knew they were going but I'm not sure there would be a card or anything like that.

Sorry to hear that OP. My DH works in the civil service and he's had a similar experience in a few roles when he's left then to move on. I don't think it's a bad thing to want some acknowledgement! For contrast, I work in HE and people leaving are always acknowledged, no matter how short a time they've been there.

I absolutely hate a fuss and this would be my perfect way to leave 😂

Youmightbeinthewronghere

I'm about to leave mine after four years and no one gives a shit 😂 I just think it's the way things are going, it's got worse since COVID it's like people have forgotten how to be human!

I left a job after 16 years and got nothing,not even a good luck/sorry you're leaving card,never had any issues with other staff,got on well with everyone,worked hard etc.Made some friends (or so I thought),socialised together,lunches out,went to theirs for coffee etc and always made the effort to go and visit and stay in contact as I drive so it was easier for me to go to them.Not long after I left my son (18) was diagnosed with cancer and I recieved 1 phonecall during the nearly 4 years he was having chemo and treatment,bearing in mind he was very young when i started work there so as we met up outside work a lot,they'd watched him grow up really.
When he died I didn't even get a text or call to offer condolences or to even see how I was and still haven't to this day nearly 5 years later,and yes they definetly knew he had passed away.
I'm just waiting for the day I bump into one of them so when they're all "Hi!,how are you?" I'll relish in telling them to Fuck off.

If I am honest, you are expecting too much after just six months in a job. It takes a lot longer to get to know somebody. If I put money into a leaving card for everyone that left my workplace, it would cost a fortune.

I sometimes think it's a generational thing, I would always make an effort to speak to a new person and be friendly. I have been in the same role for 9 years and have literally seen every other person come and go really lovely talented ppl. Had about 4 bosses in that time and I think that person makes a massive difference to the dynamics of a team. I just got a new job start soon, when I handed my notice in it was only the sectime my boss has smiled at me.🤣 I am not expecting anything as it is to another section but I will take some cakes in just to piss that boss off bedsheets will have to smile for a third time! OP enjoy your new opportunity 💕