How an organisation treats its leavers says a lot about its culture.

Every departure, whether a resignation or a redundancy, or somewhere in between, reveals something about an organisation’s culture that day-to-day operations rarely do. 

When someone resigns, the temptation for some organisations is to treat them with suspicion or indifference. In my experience, the best companies treat that person with care and compassion. They fundamentally believe that staff who resign deserve a proper transition, genuine acknowledgement of their contribution, and a respectful exit. 

When someone is made redundant or asked to leave, the stakes are even higher. The way an organisation communicates, supports, and ultimately parts with those individuals is perhaps the clearest expression of its true values. 

Colleagues notice, and they draw their own conclusions about what the organisation thinks of people beyond their immediate utility. For me, this is one of the truest tests of an organisation’s stated values. 

Organisations that handle exits well, with transparency, care, and consistency, understand that the employment relationship does not end at the door. How it concludes shapes how the whole experience is discussed and remembered.