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I don't want to complete a blooming exit questionnaire/interview!

42 replies

Spinningdinos · 10/06/2026 18:21

I'm being made redundant next month. Have worked for a small charity (less than 10 people) for nearly a decade and I'd say for the last 3 years I've been openly saying in reports to directors and senior management that the department isn't financially viable in its current form. I've kept meticulous records, have rewritten policies and procedures to try and make the role work, worked for free (my choice), made suggestions about alternative structures and ways it could move forward even though realistically the changes would mean downgrading the role and at that point it wouldn't work for me from a time/money perspective anymore. I've got it as good as I could but especially in the current economic climate, it isn't working. It's been a lovely job and I didn't want to quit, but it's felt that a restructure has been on the cards for ages for good of the charities long term interests. Now that the department is set up and running they could have part time, cheaper people running it and it'll be more viable financially. I've been so certain this day was coming I've been steadily writing a handover document for the last few years to be sure I captured everything in the role ready for whoever takes over.

A couple of months ago they engaged an external company to look at the role descriptions etc, basically a very cloak and dagger restructure process began but noone would call it that. During this time the senior team completely changed their behaviour to the staff, stopped being open and friendly etc (We used to have team meetings where we'd talk about the weekend, update on family life etc and it all stopped and became very professional and perfunctory).

During the process the external team called into question my loyalty to the company, my ability to do the job and basically asked me several times to justify my presence. I openly said that I thought it was in the charities best interests to be restructuring and that the questions were confusing me as there's written evidence going back years of my opinions on it. It got ugly and uncomfortable. I tried to distance myself from it and tell myself there are just procedures and boxes to tick and it isn't personal but some of the things they said blooming felt personal (like I'd organised the calendar to suit my own social life rather than the good of the company, most of the team are part time working parents so it's completely common for people not to book things during the holidays for example, but it was made to sound like it was just me and I'd done it to be lazy and take advantage). They were SO rude, but the worst part of it all was my manager being unable to even look me in the eye or speak to me afterwards. They've announced a new role (surprisingly the one I had previously suggested) and I accepted redundancy. But the way it was handled has left a bitter taste and I can't wait to leave which is a shame because I have genuinely loved working there up until the last year or so.

The general manager and lead director are now asking me to complete an exit questionnaire, with an interview on my last day, with one of the team from the external HR company. Have looked through it and the questions have made me see red. I have already answered them in various guises, reports, emails, meetings etc for years. There's no question in there they don't already have an answer to. It's a generic, box ticking bullshit form and the interview will be similar. I don't want to waste another moment of my time on it or spend another moment in the presence of the HR 'professionals'.

If my boss/the HR team had treated me with the openness, honesty and respect I've treated the company with I'd be more than happy to continue being helpful, but at this point I don't feel like I owe them a scrap of anything and am not in the mood to be of any further help.

TLDR: Am being made redundant after an ugly restructure. Can they make me complete an exit questionnaire and interview or can I refuse to cooperate?

OP posts:
Dolphinsarejerks · 10/06/2026 18:28

I’m not reading all of that but no, you don’t have to complete an exit interview.

2msoundsright · 10/06/2026 18:30

Just say no.

tsmainsqueeze · 10/06/2026 18:30

'If my boss/the HR team had treated me with the openness, honesty and respect I've treated the company with I'd be more than happy to continue being helpful, but at this point I don't feel like I owe them a scrap of anything and am not in the mood to be of any further help.'

Say this at the interview, you don't owe them anything.

Spinningdinos · 10/06/2026 18:30

@Dolphinsarejerks fair enough, I totally used that as a cathartic ranting opportunity. It got long! Hence adding the TL:DR.

There's no repercussions to redundancy pay or anything? My redundancy letter doesn't stipulate that it's dependent on completion of an exit interview so I'm assuming no.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 10/06/2026 18:30

Just don’t. I didn’t bother at my last employer. Don’t think they cared very much.

hellospring26 · 10/06/2026 18:31

Just don’t.

TinyBlueDent · 10/06/2026 18:43

Your opening post wasn't particularly long.

Is the interview in person? Either don't do it, or waste some of their time by going, give a very short statement about the way they've behaved, and then end the interview.

Some of the 'allegations' they put to you sound as if they were bordering on defamatory. If you have several examples, I would write to the CEO with a complaint. (After you've left and received your redundancy payment.)

Dolphinsarejerks · 10/06/2026 19:28

Spinningdinos · 10/06/2026 18:30

@Dolphinsarejerks fair enough, I totally used that as a cathartic ranting opportunity. It got long! Hence adding the TL:DR.

There's no repercussions to redundancy pay or anything? My redundancy letter doesn't stipulate that it's dependent on completion of an exit interview so I'm assuming no.

Edited

By all means rant away! It’s healthy.

Unless your contract states in obviously professional/legal terminology “attend or be fucked over” you have the option to not go.

My company is currently making a whole department redundant and has invited them to exit interviews, so far 3 have agreed in the hope of either getting a position elsewhere in the company or improving the unimprovable and the last has told them to “sit on a spike, just gimme the cheque” ( her words, not mine)

EmeraldRoulette · 10/06/2026 19:32

I don't agree with asking people to do this when their post has gone

just say no.

Spinningdinos · 10/06/2026 19:36

Sit on a spike 🤣

Okay great. Gonna give myself a free pass on that one then. Will be the first time in 20 years of working that I haven't dutifully done what's been asked of me even when it's felt like a waste of time or been something I'm uncomfortable about.

OP posts:
ChaToilLeam · 10/06/2026 20:03

You owe them nothing at this point. Don't allow them to waste any more of your time and energy!

Pinkandbluestripeswithatartanborder · 10/06/2026 20:26

I worked for a charity that I felt very passionate about, I previously worked in HR so used previous knowledge to draw up new procedures around changes in legislation , risk assessments, supervising volunteers etc. Original manager left, new manager joined they were an absolute nightmare, many staff left, some even without another job to go to.
New manager hated me, said things like you’re not in HR now ( which I absolutely knew I had taken a lower level job because of caring responsibilities and I really “ didn’t think I was all that”) I loved what the charity did so I stuck it out and was “allowed” to do certain tasks as long as I didn’t take credit for them.
We went to the charity board members they did nothing, anyhow i kept notes, there was a question of financial impropriety as well. Eventually I started looking for another job when I got a new job, I agreed to do an exit interview was blisteringly honest handed over my notes, reminded them I was the only original member of staff still there from when new manager had started. I already had my reference ( from previous manager) so I had nothing to lose.
Having done all that absolutely nothing happened manager is still in post in fact, so spare yourself the aggro it probably won’t achieve anything

compactmotif · 10/06/2026 21:51

There's no point saying anything at exit interviews anyway because it won't be acted upon. Just bland empty pleasantries is the best policy. I wouldn't want to engage with it in your shoes either.

Mischance · 10/06/2026 21:58

Puts you off giving to charity. If even such a tiny group needs to waste money on an "external team" to sort out their staffing then I think I will keep my money and give it to family.

NoisyMonster678 · 10/06/2026 22:04

You do not have to do an exit interview, you owe them nothing and your time and your priorities have changed

AImportantMermaid · 10/06/2026 22:08

Just say no - you’ve said everything you needed to say during the review. You’ve had a great time working for organisation and wish them well in their future endeavors. Don’t ever burn your bridges. I got made redundant 20 years ago, played nice, stayed in touch with a couple of the directors and now one of them offers me regular consultancy work. You just don’t know where your next opportunity lies. Revenge is sweet but momentary. Think long term and in terms of what would benefit you the most.

Pleasering · 10/06/2026 22:08

Spinningdinos · 10/06/2026 19:36

Sit on a spike 🤣

Okay great. Gonna give myself a free pass on that one then. Will be the first time in 20 years of working that I haven't dutifully done what's been asked of me even when it's felt like a waste of time or been something I'm uncomfortable about.

Quite right OP. Wave the form at them and tell them to stick it up their arse and smoke it.

1dayatatime · 10/06/2026 22:18

The main purpose of exit interviews/ questionnaires are to cover the company's arse in case you decide to go legal at some later date.

HR and the companies certainly never ever learn from them or use them as feedback to senior management.

I remember a specific example where in my department, two people left one month both stating in their exit interviews that they had been offered a 50% pay rise to move and that the company's salaries were out of line with the market. The following month another person left and exactly the same thing happened. The third month another person left and again the same explanation.

When I asked management what they thought was going on here, they mumbled something about them being unhappy in their jobs and wanting to leave.

myyoungerself · 10/06/2026 23:04

Didn’t know you could expect an exit interview on redundancy.

when made redundant in 1999, 2007 and 2013 no one offered an exit interview.

Think my last exit interview was 2022. Evan a year ago I was asking repeatedly to see occupational health/reduce hours with no one listening and no return to work interview ever completed, I’d be shocked if they ever completed an exit interview.

MauriceTheMussel · 10/06/2026 23:05

I can’t work out if you’re admirable for giving so much free time and mental bandwidth to a charity/job or incredibly naive.

But bin off the exit interview.

Meowyme · 10/06/2026 23:08

Phone in sick and give yourself a day off. I wouldn't normally recommend this kind of thing, but I would say you deserve it.

HighHeelsRedLips · 10/06/2026 23:15

Dolphinsarejerks · 10/06/2026 18:28

I’m not reading all of that but no, you don’t have to complete an exit interview.

This is all you need to know OP.
You don’t have to!

FloofyKat · 10/06/2026 23:18

I was made redundant due to a restructuring and shrinking of the workforce. I unwisely went tona sort of exit interview after I’d formally left the company. My manager was astonishingly rude to me, lied about what I had and hadn’t done and blamed me for the fact my house had taken too long to sell after they relocated me to another area (and their appointed relocation company was responsible for the sale, had zero to do with me). I was so shocked I didn’t respond and went a cried on a lovely colleague’s shoulder.

Which is a long way of saying no, just don’t go!

WinterBlues26 · 10/06/2026 23:19

I have already answered them in various guises, reports, emails, meetings etc for years. There's no question in there they don't already have an answer to.

If they insist on you doing it, or because you need a reference from them, then do the equivalent of no comment. "Asked and answered" should cover it, but it's very weird that they are doing an exit review for redundancy - it's not like you had a choice in leaving!

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 10/06/2026 23:22

And not doing so doesn’t affect maternity pay or anything to do with the redundancy. You presumably have the calculations for the money you will receive? I’d just say no thanks, you already know my opinions.