Adieu Adieu

I believe I have left behind me an abundance of goodwill.

I really appreciate what my head of department and director have done for me. It was them who approved my transfer to a new team/role two years ago and it was them who lent their moral support during the difficult period of estrangement with my manager. And to think, I am leaving them after all they have done and after collecting my big, fat bonus. So I decided to buy them each a gift. In return, they decided to give me a lunch treat.

I was teary when I gave my head of department a pair of gift wrapped cuff links. I believe he was surprised and touched by my gesture. The director appeared quite happy with his new shirt (a gift shared between three of my colleagues and myself), too. My bosses' boss also got a 2002 red wine from France. Not sure if he was glad or not. He did not turn up for the farewell lunch.

Besides the big shots, my nice colleagues who pooled and bought me a Coach key change pouch also each received a glitterly and elegant (at least I think so) hair clip from me. The male colleague got a Sins chocolate cookies, for being so helpful to me the whole time, despite the fact that he is someone who does not mince with words and can be quite hurtful at times. The manager and her pet got the hair clips, too, as they bought me Christmas gifts. Besides, the manager also gave me a farewell treat (on the company) and a diamond pendant (also on the company).

As for the rest of the people, I gave away more Sins chocolates, shared light hearted conversations and, exchanged warm handshakes and holiday cheers all round.

I have no regrets now. Besides, there is no looking back. The future looks bright and cheery henceforth.

Farewell

She bought me a bouquet of flowers...it was really unexpected! A colleague, who knew about the gift, asked jokingly, if I was moved to tears? I just smiled, little did she know that tears really welled up in my eyes.

She told her pet that she was going for a meeting and would like to bid her a happy new year, in case she comes back late and her pet has left for the day. Hmmm...she totally ignored me, the one who is leaving for good. I must say I was really mad at her inconsiderate behaviour and decided to exclude her in my farewell note to everyone. No chocolates were left at her table either. And she will not be expecting me to be in touch. Period.

Professionalism

After much thinking long and hard, I finally mustered up enough decisiveness to put my intent to resign on email to my superiors. I wasn't expecting much resistance from my immediate superior, but I was definitely not expecting her to say, Why did you write your resignation letter like that? The only answer that I could think of was, You mean it's not like that? How should I write it then?

She appeared to have got her priorities a little, teenie, weenie bit mixed up. The issue here is not quite why I wrote the letter in the way I did (which I thought was perfectly fine), as it is, why did I resign? And, obviously, she was not interested to ask me to stay. After the surprised query from her, she turned back to her reading of the morning newspapers. That was that, I did not hear a single squeak from her there after. Or, so I thought.

But I was wrong. I was to hear alot more from her. Not words, but actions (which speak louder than words?!). She had forwarded my email to another team's manager. How did I know? That manager had left the email exposed in his computer for all to see while he rushed off to a meeting. Later, I was to find out that they have both headed off to a meeting room to discuss my resignation?! How this other manager figure in this whole scheme of MY things? I'm still trying very, very hard to figure out. The very private & confidential letter was intended for my immediate superiors only, no more no less. How much unprofessionalism can one take in a day at the office!

And just when you thought things could not get any worse, the other team manager, after finding out that some colleagues may have chanced upon that email, approached his subordinate directly behind him and asked if she knew of my resignation. Wow, that's a really smart move! So even if she doesn't already know, she definitely knows now!

Now, slowly but surely, the whole world knows I'm leaving, even as my head of department is asking me to reconsider my options. There's no turning back now - it's no loss to me. Period.