Are exit interviews mandatory or can I refuse?

[PoesyCherish]

I've handed my notice in after being off on long term sick and no adjustments being put in place. HR have asked for an exit interview next Monday. Do I have to attend or can I politely decline?

You don’t have to do them.

I wanted to at one place of work but they didn’t ask, so I filled out the form and posted it in with my reasons for leaving. They generally asked if I had employment to go to, what the salary and benefits weee like in relation to job I was leaving etc...

You can decline. However it might give you an opportunity to ask why no adjustments were offered so you could stay. This could be a worthwhile discussion.

I declined mine at my last job. They didn’t chase it up. Probably because they knew they wouldn’t like what I had to say

Exit interviews aren't mandatory, but they are an increasingly popular HR process meant to help with staff retention because they can reveal failings in current management or processes.

Personally, I wouldn't want negatives recorded on my HR record, just for the instant gratification of being able to say "my line manager was crap and I can't understand why you employed them".

To my mind it burns bridges. The crap manager could end up leaving, potentially giving an opportunity to be employed there in future, but who knows how a future recruiter might draw conclusions about such negative comments (trouble-maker could be one!).

Best to leave quietly and keep options open....

Best to leave quietly and keep options open....

This ^^ and the HR record is exactly why I don't want to do it.

@BubblesBuddy even if they put the adjustments in place now I still wouldn't want to say. I feel it's gone on too long for it to be salvageable from my perspective. Plus the adjustments are not the only reason I want to leave. I could totally see the benefit of the exit interview if there was a possibility (in my mind) of me staying.

they are an increasingly popular HR process meant to help with staff retention because they can reveal failings in current management or processes

I think that's what it's all about for employers isn't it. But if they really cared about their employees wouldn't they frequently ask for feedback from currently employed people, not those who are leaving to which any future changes won't make a jot of difference too?.

I think the biggest thing that upsets me is they think they've done everything to help. They "employed me despite my disabilities" (their words a few weeks back) and now I just think they'll see it as not wanting to employ a disabled person in the future I have spoken to them on a frequent basis about what they can or could have done to help but they just kept saying "what do you expect us to do, we can't do any more than we are doing" which was naff all

Do I just lie at the exit interview and just say I don't think it's working out for me, I appreciate what they've done etc?

OP their words are disgusting and discriminatory.

in terms of lying at the interview, I've done that. I have made broad brush statements like "the company could re-examine xyz procedure" but nothing more critical than that.

Do I just lie at the exit interview and just say I don't think it's working out for me

If. They sent you an Outlook calendar invitation, you could just decline it and say thanks for the opportunity, but I don't wish to take part.

You don't have to say any more, no need for justification and they shouldn't quiz you on your reasons.

It should be easily possible to decline if you are not planning on returning to work. If you are at work it can appear rude.

Whether it is worth telling the truth depends on who is conducting the interview and what your issues are. At my last job my line manager edited out anything that could even vaguely be a criticism of her. I looked at the piece of paper and thought well there is no benefit to me either way because I am never coming back and signed it anyway. Exit interviews should be conducted by an independent manager or they are utterly pointless.

they are an increasingly popular HR process meant to help with staff retention because they can reveal failings in current management or processes

Which is great, unless you have an HR director who doctors what is said so he looks better to stakeholders at head office.

I don't think exit interviews add any real value in the vast majority of organisations. I'd decline.

I’m sorry it’s come to this, I’d be brutal in the exit interview.

I think it depends how you feel about the reasonable adjustments that were not made. I know that’s not exactly why you want to leave but it’s the best angle for a discussion. If the discussion is with HR, then it might alert them to shortcomings. I don’t think it’s ever about building bridges and getting anything for yourself. Most people who are unhappy with an organisation tend to ignore the exit interview. They would be dissatisfied with that too! If you are not happy to do it and feel it’s not worthwhile, then don’t go.

As far as I can tell, it's with HR and my line manager. I do wonder how they expect me to be totally honest with my line manager there.

You can request to have it with someone other than your line manager. I have done this in past jobs.