When Someone Leaves the Company

Written by Roxanne Brown

When someone leaves the company, it’s not just about that person. It’s about that person and all of the people that are impacted by their departure.

Even if the person’s departure is a relief, it’s still a loss. Even if a person’s departure isn’t voluntary, there’s at least a small amount of envy felt by others.

We often talk about the people that remain with the company as the people left behind, which is a way to put it that sounds a little strange. We say that because it can feel that way to the people that remain.

Naturally, people feel relief because it’s not them leaving. It’s a lot of work to leave a job and find/transition to another. It’s stressful. But there’s also excitement, adventure, and possibility attached to the person leaving. So it partly feels like being left behind.

When someone leaves the company, everyone impacted needs to be cared for because it’s a loss. Even if the person’s departure is a relief, it’s still a loss. People pay attention to how the company handles the departure because they know someday that could be them. It’s another reflection of the company’s values in action. It matters.